TBILISI, Georgia — In September 1997 the first Bible shop opened since the fall of communism. (Please see World Report 328/12, February 1998.) To mark this occasion the Bible Society produced extensive publicity about Bible work in Georgia, past and present.

The material was compiled by Professor Zurab Kiknadze, of the University of Tbilisi, who is Chairman of the Bible Society board, and by Nugzar Papuashvili, the Bible Society editor. Of particular significance is the history of Bible work in Georgia published in a brochure format – the result of extensive research in state and historical archives.

The brochure was sent to the Society’s list of churches, as well as individual supporters, and it was given to customers at the new Bible shop.

“What we hope is to bring to the people of Georgia the light of God’s Gospel, and the new Bible centre here in Tbilisi will not only help to do that as a place where people come to get their Scriptures, but will be a centre of witness to the people of Georgia,” said the Rev Garry Azikov, a member of the board of the Bible Society in Georgia.

“Whatever the church they come from, people can meet here as brothers and sisters in Christ, at the centre,” he said. Mr Azikov is a Lutheran pastor in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The Lutheran church has 500-plus members.

Speaking about the work of the Bible Society he said: “All the Christians here want access to the different Scriptures as they become available. And it is so much easier to have them come from an organisation like the Bible Society which is specially set up for such work.”

He added, “Hopefully, our Bible Society might one day even have its own printing press so that we can print and publish Bibles in our own country.” (WR 329/7 - 3.98) [PHOTOS]