Power Tool for Prayer
READING, England — As April heralds the beginning of the
preparation for next year’s UBS Prayer Booklet, it was felt timely to take
a brief look at the progress of this publication over the last few years.
In 1990, the Prayer Booklet was translated into four languages and had
a circulation of about 150,000 copies throughout the world. The 1998 Prayer
Booklet was prepared in English and then translated into French, Spanish,
Afrikaans, Brazilian Portuguese, Arabic, Dutch and Swedish, and about 240,000
copies were distributed in some 180 countries worldwide. It is distributed
with a desk calendar that reminds people to pray for Bible work.
Interceding
When followed on a weekly basis by Bible Society personnel and supporters,
the Prayer Booklet represents a powerful tool for interceding on behalf
of Bible work in every country where the Bible or parts of it are being
made available. Through this booklet we even pray for countries where Bible
work has either closed down, or where there has never been a Bible Society.
Through this booklet we unite in prayer for different countries and regions
each week, and bring before God some of the major specific needs of each
national Society.
People have written in to commend the Prayer Booklet. A letter from
a prayer volunteer in Sussex, England said: “This is just a note to say
how much we enjoy your brilliant photos. They give incredible atmosphere,
especially in the yearly Prayer Booklet, where I find they help me to pray
and produce the feeling and interest of the country we are praying for.”
The gap
Miss Harper from Canada writes: “Congratulations to all those who have
worked so hard on the Prayer Booklet. Your prayers are up to date and your
maps and place-names are even clearer and easier to relate to than before.
I take to heart what was written in the General Secretary’s letter about
the gap between resources and the ever-increasing needs for Scriptures.”
A couple wrote in from Essex, England: “One of the reasons why prayer
[for other countries] is often hard is because there is not enough information
given, but the detailed and full information given in your Prayer Booklet
is really helpful, and we are happy to have the privilege of joining in
the work of the Bible Society to this extent.”
Just as we are seeing many churches challenged and renewed by listening
to the New Testament on cassette tapes in the Faith Comes By Hearing program,
so Bible Society work could be revolutionised if we were to increase the
number of people who pray faithfully for the work, and one of the best
tools to promote prayer for the worldwide work of the Bible Societies is
the Prayer Booklet.
Suggestions
Of course, it is not perfect, and suffers, like other publications intended
for such a wide and varied audience, from trying to please every national
Bible Society support group. Every year suggested changes are considered,
and some are incorporated if they come within the limitations of the publication
and are generally beneficial. You are encouraged to make any suggestions
for change when completing your orders for next year’s Prayer Booklet.
You are also encouraged to think of ways in which this booklet can be
more widely and effectively used in your country. For those ordering more
than 1,000 copies, the address and logo of the national Society can be
printed on the back. We hope that the 1999 Prayer Booklet will be even
better than those that have been produced to date. (WR 330/13 - 4.98)
This page was last updated on Wednesday, 8th April
1998.
