Malta’s Youth Face Bible Challenge

Hotels to Receive Millennium Scriptures (Italy)

Open Book for a ‘Closed’ Nation (England)

Called to Give Account of Your Faith – on Television! (Turkey)

Challenge of the Most-Read Book (Hungary)

Spiritual Hunger in Romania

New Translation Brings Focus on the Word (Sweden)

New History Book Highlights Bible Society Role in Russian Bible

FLORIANA, Malta — “Young people breathe fresh air into any society. They are dynamic by nature and constantly open to new ideas and challenges. Based on this understanding, it is our responsibility to invest time and energy in our youth, because they are, after all, the future of this world.

The Malta Bible Society (MBS) has an active youth ministry, making young people one of its most important audiences. A new staff member was recruited to promote the Bible cause in schools, where the majority of youngsters spend most of their time. If young people are taught biblical truths at an early age, when their minds are open and they are eager to learn, then there is hope for the steady development of a Bible-based culture in our country.

Our main annual event for young people is a Bible Quiz, organised in secondary schools. Teachers of Religious Education (R.E.) encourage their students to delve deeply into a particular Book of the Bible. Participating schools then select three students to represent them in the Quiz, during which they answer simple questions about the Book allocated for that year.

This year there are 12 schools taking part in the Bible Quiz, and the chosen Book is the Gospel of Luke. There are three rounds: the quarter-final, the semi-final and the final. All teams carry their points forward from one round to the next, and at the final encounter, the team which has accumulated the highest score wins the trophy.

Rivalry

While this might seem a competitive approach, the ‘rivalry’ between the teams is friendly, and the youngsters enjoy the stimulation of the Quiz. The hosting school prepares a short introductory program, including a biblical message, for the other participating schools. For some students, this may be the first time they have ever thought of reading the Bible.

At MBS we hear many encouraging comments from students: some say that reading the Gospels gives them a better understanding of who Jesus Christ is; others say they are learning to love the Bible and believe it is the Word of God. We also receive positive feedback from teachers and parents, who say that they, too, have benefited from the Bible Quiz.

Activities of this type are organised in various parishes around the island, and MBS often helps youth leaders with the preparation and follow-up involved in such events. In today’s social climate, it is not easy to entice young people to attend Bible studies, or to commit themselves to Bible-related activities. So we try to reach out to them through events that interest them.

In accordance with the school curriculum, we organise activities that make R.E. lessons come alive. Our aim is to show young people that the Bible is the foundation stone upon which religious instruction is built. We visit schools and give talks, show videos and lead workshops based on a particular theme being covered in their syllabus. Students enjoy having speakers or facilitators from outside come to replace their teachers from time to time!
 
Bible Club
 
To keep in contact with the students we meet, we thought about forming a Bible Club. We have discussed the idea with the head teachers of various schools and with those teachers who are prepared to run the club in their school. MBS will continue to visit schools to run Bible-based activities, but every school is encouraged to create its own initiatives to promote the Bible cause among its pupils. MBS hopes to launch the Bible Club project formally in the near future.

Our contacts with schools have brought about collaboration in several areas. During a national bookfair, the opportunity arose for exhibitors to stage a show to promote their exhibits. MBS produced a musical based on the story of Mary Jones: the music was composed by a teenager who is a friend of the Bible Society, and the cast came from different schools. A brochure was prepared for the occasion and distributed among the young people visiting the bookfair.

Bible Sunday provides another opportunity for MBS to work with schools and colleges. On the second Sunday in February, a Mass is broadcast on national television, and this year it was led by students from five different schools. Posters were sent to all schools, and head teachers were encouraged to dedicate time to Bible reading during morning assemblies.

Bible Camps
 
We also organise Bible Camps for young people, inviting them to attend a day seminar during which they can discuss the relevance of the Bible in today’s society. Usually a biblical character is chosen and the relevant Bible passages are read and discussed in small groups. As well as being portrayed in its biblical context, the character is considered in relation to popular idols and in the light of the students’ personal experiences.

We have been running a course about the Gospel of Luke at Bible House, for young people in post-secondary education. Each of the 10 sessions had time dedicated to study and discussion of particular Bible themes. Videos and slides helped us deliver the message with greater impact. The participants showed a keen interest in this course and responded positively to the Bible’s message.

One of our top priorities at MBS is the publication of Children’s Bibles in Maltese. There is a high demand for this category of Scripture. We believe that by producing Bibles for children and pre-adolescents in a format that appeals to them, we are making the message relevant to them at an early age, and their interest in God’s Word will continue as they grow up. We are also working on the production of attractive colouring and activity books in Maltese. The preparation team is made up of six teenagers who are studying graphic art.

One of MBS’ ongoing activities is the compilation of a hand-written Bible. This world-wide fundraising venture has enthused many young people in Malta, who have become involved in it through their school or church. In fact, this activity inspired two young girls to keep in contact with the MBS. One of them has taken up part-time radio broadcasting, and has invited us to participate in her programme for 10 consecutive weeks. The other girl has become a member of the MBS and is organising a fundraising event to provide family entertainment. She hopes to recruit other youngsters to help her stage the show, which will emphasise the satisfaction of working for the Bible cause.

There are many ways of reaching young people and it is our responsibility as a Bible Society to be constantly aware of new trends in youth development so that we can adapt our outreach accordingly.” (WR 332/1 - 7.98)

ROME, Italy — “Our plans for the Millennium celebrations involve the production of a multi-lingual Gospel of Luke. The Gospels will be distributed mainly in the hotels in Rome, but copies will also be made available to hotels in the other main towns in Italy,” said Valdo Bertalot, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Italy (BSI).

This Millennium edition of Luke’s Gospel has been translated into Italian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese, to cater for the flood of tourists expected to converge on Rome for the year 2000 celebrations.

It was at the request of the Roman Catholic Church that the BSI began working on this multi-lingual Gospel. The Church asked the Bible Society to supply the Scriptures because they wanted an interconfessional, common language translation, symbolising the unity of the churches around God’s Word. The BSI is responsible for the editorial work and the distribution of the Gospels, while the Church will be responsible for the production.

“The aim of this campaign is to reach those people who will be coming to Rome in a tourist capacity as well as those coming on religious pilgrimage. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to read the history of Jesus Christ and discover that he is the true source of peace and hope,” said Mr Bertalot.

The project confirms the commitment of the Roman Catholic Church to reading and studying the Scriptures, and shows that the Bible is increasingly at the centre of its activities. The Church seeks to cooperate more and more with the Bible Societies, both on a national and international level. In planning for the Millennium campaign, the BSI, the UBS, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church in Italy are all working together towards a common goal. It is hoped that local and national authorities will also support their endeavour.

When asked why the BSI had chosen the Gospel of Luke for the campaign, Mr Bertalot explained: “Luke’s Gospel was the first one to be produced; it portrays the life of Jesus clearly, and we consider it the most effective in evangelism.”

The BSI has funding for the distribution of 100,000 copies of the Gospel during the Campaign. However, Mr Bertalot has higher expectations: “We hope that the other Churches and Christian organisations in Italy will join in and support this project, so that we can increase the quantity of Gospels to be made available to the hotels,” he said.

Regarding the outcome of this campaign, Mr Bertalot said: “I hope to hear of people picking up the Scriptures they find in their hotels, discovering the Truth, and taking it back with them to their individual countries.” (WR 332/2 - 7.98)

Open Book for a ‘Closed’ Nation 

Providing entertainment on the huge mobile stage was the London Community Gospel Choir, in full harmony. Also there to entertain the crowd were members of the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association, on bikes and in full leathers!

The Open Book is a joint venture between the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) and Churches Together in England. This ecumenical initiative was developed from an idea by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey. The focus is on five key Bible stories: Identity (Creation), Freedom and Liberation (Exodus), Justice (Exile and Restoration), Hope (the Christmas story), and Forgiveness (the Death and Resurrection of Jesus). The aim is to influence four key areas of modern culture: the arts, the media, politics and education.

Dynamic story

The campaign concentrates on motivating Christians to “open the Book to the people and the people to the Book” by sparking a renewed interest in God’s dynamic story. The Open Book provides people with the resources to bring the Bible message alive through music, drama, poetry, art and animation. Many of these methods were demonstrated to visitors through a program of events at the Exhibition.

A Church Activity and Resource Planning Pack was also made available. This contains ideas on how churches can work with their communities. According to David Spriggs, Project Director for The Open Book: “The Pack is not a ‘how-to’ manual, but rather a tool to channel creativity, and will empower many Christians whose abilities, energy and perceptions have lain dormant over the decades.”

Dr Colin Greene, Head of Theology and Public Policy at the BFBS, says the aim of The Open Book campaign is to establish “a much more credible, imaginative and engaging encounter between ordinary people and the story that unfolds within the Bible.”

Later this year, The Open Book will be hosting an important conference in London, called ‘Imagining Tomorrow’. The conference will be a forum for debate and for the development of research between influential figures in the media, politics, education and theology. (WR 322/3 - 7.98) [PHOTOS]

IZMIR, Turkey — Attending bookfairs with the Bible Society’s stand, Ameniel Bagdas is used to the barrage of questions the staff regularly face: why are there different versions of the New Testament – isn’t it corrupted? How can Christ be God? Such questions are always treated with respect and answered with patience and love.

But Mr Bagdas was somewhat surprised this year when the local Sky Television unit approached him and asked for an interview. “I have to confess that at first I thought I did not have the courage for this,” Mr Bagdas said, “then I remembered the guidance of Scripture: ‘“Fear not for I am with you,” says the Lord.’ 

“I started the interview by giving a short history of the Bible and talking about the Bible shop in Izmir. The presenter pointed out that although the community is 90% Muslim, there are still missionaries everywhere proclaiming their faith. The programme showed stands at the fair and then focused on our stand. Then the presenter asked me if I was a Christian,” said Mr Bagdas.

“I replied that I was and explained that I began by searching for the truth. I read the Koran and the Bible, and felt drawn to the Bible. It was with my own will that I decided to follow Jesus, and this has made me very happy.

“Then he asked why we were selling the New Testament so cheaply, and I replied that our aim was not to make a profit but to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to read the Bible. He also asked me if I was a missionary, a word which has a negative connotation in Turkey. I explained how every Christian was called to be a missionary according to the meaning which I gave.

“Christianity is more than a religion: it is a way of life, and this way has changed my life completely, I told him. I said that when I had committed my life to Christ he had given me his Spirit, and as a consequence my burden of sin had been removed.

“‘Is anyone influenced by what you tell them at the bookfair?’ the interviewer asked me. I replied that if someone who has read the New Testament sees that he is a sinner and needs a saviour, that is the first step to becoming a Christian: then he will turn to Christ.

Our purpose

“Then the presenter brought in someone who had phoned in to the programme: Mr Akyuz said that the Koran had not been altered in any way but even the Gospels in the Bible differed one from another – they had all been corrupted. Why had I left Mohammed to follow Jesus when Mohammed had revealed everything to his followers?

“The presenter turned to me and asked me to answer the questions. I was careful in what I said, to avoid causing problems. I tried to answer with kindness: Jesus himself had not written any book; he had proclaimed the Good News. It was his disciples who had been inspired by the Spirit to write down the story of Jesus’s life. I did not want to compare Mohammed and Jesus.

Source of life

“The presenter then asked me about the United Bible Societies whose imprint was in the New Testament. That allowed me to explain the structure of the UBS and our purpose. Finally, the presenter thanked me: the interview was at an end!

“During the dwo days after the programme was broadcast, we received several orders for New Testaments and complete Bibles, and many people made a point of coming to our stand to buy Scriptures.

“An 18-year-old came to the stand and spent a long time talking to us. He wanted to know why there were several Gospels; he believed that Jesus had not been crucified. We answered him by saying that the New Testament was not like other books, but it was the source of life; it contained the Good News and explained how Jesus came to die on a cross for our sins. We referred to texts from the Old Testament, and I told him how I had become a Christian. I also urged him to read the whole of the New Testament.

“The following day the young man returned with an Islamic book. He asked why Jesus had cursed the fig tree when the fig tree had done nothing wrong. We explained the symbolism of the fig tree and said it was like us and that if we did not bear fruit we would become like that tree. Then he asked us for the address of a church. We were thrilled to see that young man in church the following Sunday,” Mr Bagdas said.

In the last few days the crowds seemed to swell and make up for a poor showing at the start of the fair. There was a lot of interest in the Bible stand and almost no negative reaction. Seventy-one Bibles, 591 New Testaments, 916 Portions and 15,000 Selections were distributed at this year’s Tuyap Book Fair in Izmir.

Bravo!

Previously the Bible Society had attended the First International Istanbul Bookfair, which had 133 bookdealers and publishers exhibiting. “Although the site of the bookfair adversely affected attendance, our stand was always busy. People would come over, look at the books and say with a smile: ‘Bravo! How courageous you are!’” said Mr Bagdas.

They gave a Bible to prominent author Dogan Hizlan, who writes for the Hurriyet newspaper. Another author who was visiting the fair to sign copies of his book was Ali Erkan Kavurmaci, who also went to the Bible stand and asked a lot of questions. The staff told him that apart from serving all the Christian churches, the Bible Society also provided Bibles for wherever they were requested, such as Islamic Theological schools.

Mr Kavurmaci said he was moved by the answers he had received and that he realised he had been prejudiced against Christianity. He asked for the address of the Bible Society and said he wanted to keep in touch.

“A man from Azerbaijan came to look at our books,” said Mr Bagdas. “He wanted to know the prices, and when I asked him where he was from it transpired that he was a member of the Azerbaijan Parliament. His name was Yakup Zalimkan. We had a good talk together, and when I presented him with a copy of the Bible he gave me one of his own books in return.”

In this way the Bible Society is able to make contact with individuals and build good relationships with other publishing companies and bookdealers. In this way many more people become interested in God’s Word and have the opportunity to obtain copies of the Bible in a land where missionary activity and active distribution of Scriptures is discouraged. (WR 332/4 - 7.98) [PHOTOS]

BUDAPEST, Hungary — “ The whole of the  Hungarian culture depends upon the Hungarian Bible, which was first published in 1590. This means that the Hungarian Bible has great influence even outside the church and the Christian community.

During communist times, from 1948 when the British and Foreign Bible Society had to withdraw and the national office became autonomous, we continued to serve the churches with the Scriptures. This was our major task then; but since the fall of communism the emphasis has changed. Now the main challenge laid down for the Bible Society to face is: what is the real meaning of the Bible today?

Bible culture

We have a new Bible culture in Hungary, people who are interested in finding out more about the Bible. Yes we have Bibles, the older Protestant Bible (K‡roli) which serves the older church people and  the new translation which is very popular. But to respond to the demand for a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures we have developed the Study Bible, based on a work initially prepared in German.

The Study Bible is a huge success here. We have distributed 10,000 Study Bibles in one year among a Protestant population of some three million. That is not bad for one year. Radio and television programmes have dealt with the importance of this Study Bible, while clerical and secular journals have analysed its scientific and applicable values. In other words, it has had a great deal of publicity. It is also a promising tool for use in schools and colleges,

Two years ago, the Bible Society decided to do some research into the use and interest in the Hungarian Bible among the 12 churches that are members of the Society. The Ecumenical Study Center gathered responses from 312 pastors and 10,743 members of congregations. We wanted a picture of the views, expectations and needs of our member churches and their congregations concerning the Bible, and to find out more about the role of the Bible in Hungarian cultural life.

From the results of this study we are developing our plans and programs in publication and distribution for the future. To give an example of some of the conclusions we are drawing from the information collected: “The Bible is the most frequently read book in our country. The cultural level of those reading the Bible differs widely from the most educated to the least educated people.

“As the generations change, so there will be a change in preference, with the younger generation favouring the new translation.” We intend to continue to bear all generations in mind in our publishing programs. In the last six years we have distributed half a million copies of the two editions of the Bible, the older K‡roli version and the new translation.

Social issues

We recognise that fundraising is one of our weakest points and we will endeavour to do something about this in the near future. Also, we plan to develop more human needs-centred Scriptures, to support the church as it faces an increasing number of social issues.

Concerning new publications, we are aware that as interest in the Bible grows, some profit-oriented publishing houses will be keen to cash in on it and produce versions and publications with a broad appeal but with little consideration of quality or accuracy. I believe we have a role to play, as the Bible Society, to maintain the standard of translation in all biblical publications. We should not be worrying so much about publishing the Bible “without note or comment”, which is a respected 19th-century principle, but is overdue for revision.

Youngsters

Providing people with God’s Word in whatever format will get them to read and understand its message is our main motivation. The Hungarian Bible Society was aware that publishing a CD-ROM Bible would only target a relatively small segment of the market; but it is full of youngsters and probably those who will be our opinion leaders tomorrow.

However, presenting a text like the Bible to be ‘read on-screen’ is a daunting prospect without a guiding word, cross-references, illustrations and much more. The thought of an encyclopaedic Bible on computer is one that seems to exceed the intellectual potential of one Bible Society only. I would hope that the UBS can offer stronger guidance in this area, because I believe this is a challenge faced in varying degrees by most Bible Societies today. I would challenge any Society in our fellowship that has had to tackle this issue. Maybe they have been faced with the same daunting prospect; maybe they can supply answers or guidelines. At all events, I would like to see more information shared about the Bible in electronic format for today’s IT generation and tomorrow’s decision-makers.” (WR 332/5 - 7.98)

NAVODARI, Romania — Last year, an outreach group from Valley Christian Fellowship church in Canada visited an orphanage to bring them almost $30,000 (Canadian) worth of medical supplies and foodstuffs. 

While they were there, the team put on a concert in the town centre, at which they distributed packets of seeds and Romanian Bibles supplied by the Bible Society of Romania.

Writing to the Canadian Bible Society after the trip, Mark Biech, one of the leaders of the project, said: “Thank you so much for helping us arrange the pick-up of Romanian Bibles in Bucharest. Our trip was a wonderful success. As a result, we are setting up a missionary base in Eastern Europe, to facilitate the training of missionaries going into this area as well as the distribution of medical supplies and Scriptures. I am writing now to request your assistance with as many Romanian Bibles as we can lay our hands on.”

Cargo of mercy

One of the group in the trip report writes: “After months of planning, praying and doing, we began to unload our cargo of mercy – hundreds of pounds of powdered milk and bags of much-needed medical supplies. We even managed to squeeze in a few toys.

“To see the staff’s appreciation as they saw our expression of love in the form of a mercy cargo made all the investment of time and travel so worthwhile. We soon learned, as we spent hours at the facility, that the medical supplies and powdered milk were just the tip of the iceberg of their needs.

“Some babies were quite ill and seemed frightened by us, while others received our touches with no fear, but also no real eye-to-eye contact or response. However, as we spent time with each one, some began to slowly come to life, responding with smiles and arms reaching out towards us.

“Two little boys who shared a crib began to smile and baby-talk when one of the team members sang over them and cooled them off with a makeshift fan. Each room was stifling hot because of a summer heat wave and it became evident that there were no electric fans to help relieve the babies. Once a room door was closed, it could be a long time before one of the staff would have time to return and give the babies the attention they needed.”

Crowd control

Then came the news that the authorities had given permission for the group to put on a concert and preach in the town centre. “The band members jumped into their van, crammed full with musical equipment, and took off to set things up. Before they had unloaded the equipment a crowd of children had formed and became so numerous that we had to organise some sort of crowd control before the first song.

“Our worship leader, Norm, pulled no punches, announcing in the introduction that we were followers of Jesus. Then a Romanian pastor approached us with the offer that his son could translate for us. The people listened to Pastor Guy preaching with intense hunger as the message went right to their hearts.

“During the break we handed out seeds and Bibles, and the crowds pressed in so hard that it became dangerous. Such a hunger we had never seen. Later that day, as we drove away, there were no words to express what we had experienced – the love of the father for a rejected people.

“As we drove out of town the next day, we saw an old man sitting on the side of the road, peacefully and carefully reading a book. It was so gratifying when we realised he was reading one of the Romanian Bibles we had handed out.”

l Since this report was filed, Mark Biech and his wife Coreen have left for Romania and feel led to establish their centre in or close to Navodari. They are in contact with the Bible Society of Romania who will supply them with as many Scriptures as possible. Mark and Coreen Biech were the first Canadians to journey to Romania in 1990, following the collapse of the Ceaucescu regime, and the first to legally adopt a Romanian orphan opening the door to many more adoptions that followed in Canada. They then adopted two more orphans from Russia, and for the past seven years they have been in and out of Eastern Europe continuing to deepen the relationships they have made. They have gained the trust of the authorities and staff at the state-run orphanage at Navodari and have an open invitation to return whenever they can. (WR 332/6 - 7.98) [PHOTOS]
 

New Translation Brings Focus on the Word
In a recent interview conducted during the Europe–Middle East Bible Societies meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus, earlier this year, Anders Alberius, the General Secretary of the Swedish Bible Society (SBS), spoke of the development which has taken place in the Society over the past five years, and some of the exciting new projects which are drawing people back to the Bible.

SWEDEN — “You can measure the development of our Society in several ways: in figures we have increased our budget balance from 2.5 million Krona to 9.1 million this year. Five years ago we raised 1.2 million Krona, today we raise 5.5 million.

In terms of staff: five years ago we had one and a half people on our staff; now there are eight people working in the office and others, translators for example, work from home or elsewhere. We thank God: it is his work, and we start every morning together, all the staff at the office, with morning prayer. It gives us a sense of belonging to a spiritual community, a togetherness not only in sharing tasks but also faith.
 

Of course, the new translation of the Swedish Bible which is underway – and which will be ready in less than two years’ time – has become the focus of much interest among the churches. They are getting ready for it, and the excitement we feel and show generates excitement among people who hear or read about it.

Higher profile

We have been very upbeat about this new translation, claiming it as a success story, which of course it will be; but this is good psychology: it gets people interested, and they then take a real interest in the Bible Society. There is not often something new in the church, so we are making the most of this new translation.

In general we have a higher profile in Sweden now than we did before. Years ago people knew that there was a Bible Society: inside every Bible it was printed ‘Copyright Swedish Bible Society’, but it did not really mean anything to them.
Even today for many the Bible Society is something grey – they are not clear about us or what we do. So we promote ourselves, our translation work, and our global ministry, to show what Bible Societies are doing for people everywhere.

Life-size whale

The Rev Dr John Erickson used to say that the Bible Society should be a sort of channel from the donor to those who need the Scriptures in Africa or elsewhere. What we try to do is to give a face to the need so that our donors can feel closer to those who receive their help. We now spend time with information and fundraising.

But our main activity centres around the preparations for the new Swedish Bible. It is important that this Bible will be read, used, and believed; we don’t just want it bought and left on the shelf. And of course we want every congregation in every church to make use of it.”

At the annual Nordic Bookfair in Gothenburg, the SBS presented the Jonah Portion in the new translation. Alongside the stand was a life-size sperm whale – eight metres long – with steam spouting from its blow hole and Jonah in its stomach; there was also a television set in its mouth. In four days 4,000 visitors came to the Society’s stand.

In May this year representatives from the SBS visited the Minister for Culture, Marita Ulvskog, to present the SBS’s Big Bible Campaign for ‘Bibel 2000’.

Many people still choose to name their children after biblical names which are associated with dates in the Swedish yearly calendar. In a new teaching aid, the SBS has prepared a book which tells the stories of all the Bible personalities associated with the calendar.

Biblical exercises

‘Names in the Bible and the Calendar’ is a compilation of biblical material and exercises for junior and secondary school teachers to do with their pupils and which ties in with the emphasis placed upon cultural heritage in Swedish schools.
Published by Studentlitteratur in co-operation with the SBS, the book is a selection of texts relevant to modern Swedish society, and which deal with problems and questions that concern people. It is part of the preparations for the new Swedish Bible due to be released by the year 2000.

A video has also been produced by the SBS focusing on the 30-year task of translating a Bible. Translation in Progress is a documentary which aims to prepare people for the release of the new Swedish Bible, and contains comments from many people including the Minister of Culture, Ms Ulvskog, a well-known journalist, and the translators.

Actors Sif Ruud and Krister Henriksson read samples taken from the new text, and the film ends with a musical setting of one of the psalms sung by the Schola Cantorum Scaniensis choir. The 500 copies produced in the first edition of the 19-minute video quickly sold out, and more are being produced. (WR 332/7 - 7.98) [PHOTOS]

ST PETERSBURG, Russia — The Bible Society in Russia (BSR) presented the first, pre-print edition of a work entitled The History of Russian Bible Translations at the Theological Academy in St Petersburg on May 5 this year.
    The presentation, which was jointly organised by the St Petersburg branch of the BSR and the St Petersburg Theological Academy, attracted more people than the 350-seater hall could accommodate, and was attended by many Christian church leaders, scholars, reporters, staff and students of the Academy.
    The book, which is by former Academy professor, I A Chistovich (1828-1893), relates the history of the establishment of the first Bible Society in Russia in 1813, and the role it played in accomplishing the first translation of the Bible, which was later adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church.
    The speakers, including Vladimir Sorokin, Professor of the Theological Academy, and Anatoly Alexeev, Professor of the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted the significant contribution made by the BSR in translating and distributing the Scriptures.
    There was much interest expressed in the present-day activities of the BSR – in the publication and distribution of Scriptures in other formats, such as the large-print editions, and in the Society’s activities in the fields of research in Bible studies and translation into modern Russian and other national languages.
    The presentation was preceded by an exhibition of Scriptures published and distributed by the BSR, and the items exhibited were donated to the Theological Academy. (WR 332/8 - 7.98)