Latest News #287 – Guadeloupe
August 25, 2004

Bible Society enjoys high profile during Guadeloupe cycle race

ABYMES, Guadeloupe — People in Guadeloupe are passionate about cycling, and one of the most important events on their calendar is the Tour de la Guadeloupe – an international 10-day cycle race that takes place each August. Thousands of spectators flock to the towns and villages on the route to cheer on the hundreds of local and international competitors.

This year, as well as enjoying the festival atmosphere of this colourful sporting event, thousands of people encountered the Bible story through a special sports Scripture, Beyond the Trophy, published and distributed by the French Antilles Bible Society in partnership with a number of Christian organisations and churches. This bilingual edition of the Gospel of Mark in French and Creole includes photographs of cyclists and the testimony of Richard Bernard, a famous Guadeloupian cyclist who won the race in 1958.

"I know that I did not have the strength in myself," he says in the booklet, "but it was through God's strength that I succeeded. At the end of my cycling career I stayed close to God in my daily life. Reading the Bible and praying have become regular exercises for me, and through them I continue to strive towards another goal - not winning a trophy but a happy and eternal life."

A team of more than 200 volunteers joined the crowds each day, telling people about the Bible Society and handing out copies of the new Scripture. As part of this outreach, the Society allocated a theme to each of the 10 days of the race, taken from a list entitled Ten principles for success, which are featured in the booklet. These principles include determination, courage, discipline and team spirit, and volunteers would talk about the day's theme with people and show them the relevant section in the booklet.

In every town, people responded very warmly to the volunteers and would go in search of the Bible Society stand to find out more about the Bible. More than 400 copies of Beyond the Trophy were distributed from the stand each day, and a considerable number of New Testaments were sold.