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l Bible Cited as Liberating Force in Philippines l News from Micronesia l New Bible Society Buildings for Oman and Gaza l Honduras Bible Society Moves in Wake of Hurricane ‘Mitch’ l Brazil Celebrates 50 Years of Bible Society Ministry l Venda Bible Launched in South Africa l Two New Translations Make History in Senegal
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Contents
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Scriptures
Under Siege in Asia and Africa
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BACKGROUND
Research into the history of Christianity in the Philippines has shown that the Bible had come to the people of the islands long before the country was opened to foreign missionaries. Building on 300 years of Catholic Christianity, many Filipinos wanted to be able to study God’s Word for themselves. Research by the Institute for Studies in Asian Churches and Culture indicates that by the time the missionaries arrived and began distributing Bibles, Filipinos had already organised small congregations who had a hunger and thirst for God’s Word. One early “Bible distributor” was a British merchant. Many years before the end of the Spanish rule, he would often walk along the dark streets of Manila, carrying with him copies of the Scriptures. He would place these Bibles in empty carriages while their prominent owners were spending the evening at the theatre. On their return, they would receive the book with both excitement and fear – excitement because of the importance and popularity of the Bible, and fear because to own a copy was an act of insurrection. |
In celebrations marking 100 years of biblical Christianity in the Philippines, a commemorative Tagalog Topical Study Bible was showcased in a centenary parade at the famous Quirino Grandstand.
The special edition Bible was a joint project of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. Both organisations, together with many Protestant church groups, took part in the centennial event, which featured singing, dancing, prayer and reminiscence of God’s faithfulness to early Christians.
The Bible first became open to all Filipinos when the country was freed from Spain in 1898. Yet even before that time, and despite the persecutions suffered by Bible believers, God’s Word was gradually weaving its way into the consciousness of the islanders.
There was great rejoicing 100 years ago when people were at last able to own a Bible without fear, and this joy was echoed during this year’s celebrations as the Filipinos gave thanks for their freedom from spiritual bondage.
During the day of praise, PBS General Secretary Dr Medarlo Rivera presented Mr Ramos, the nation’s first Protestant president, with the special Study Bible. The former president was also given a copy of the Revised Ilokano Popular Version – Today’s English Version diglot Bible, commemorating the Centennial of Methodism in the Philippines.
With a huge smile, Mr Ramos proudly displayed the copies to the crowd. And the event was symbolic of the great change the Bible has brought to the country – from leaders carrying guns, to a former president carrying the sword of the Spirit.
This celebration also set the stage for another grand centenary in 1999, which will mark 100 years of formal Bible work in The Philippines. (WR 336/1 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
From Scripture distribution at a jet-ski club to proclaiming the Gospel to newly-wed tourists, Micronesian Christians actively share their faith – despite the difficulties of reaching almost 400,000 people of different ethnic groups scattered over 7,000 square kilometres (4,375 square miles) of ocean.
Yet, thanks to excellent cooperation
between the churches and the Bible Society of Micronesia (BSM), many of
these programs are proving effective in introducing people to the Christian
faith.
Palau
in Palau
Sometimes, special events give their efforts a boost. Recently, an estimated 10,000 people packed into a baseball ground in Palau’s capital, Koror, to hear international evangelist Dr Luis Palau proclaim the Gospel.
Over the course of five evenings, about 500 people, young and old, responded to his invitation to come forward in faith. To help them understand their decision, and to guide them in beginning their new lives, those who responded were counselled by Christians specially trained for this ministry – including Ms Esther Tarkong of the Bible Society of Micronesia. And each new Christian received a copy of the New Testament in Palau or English to help them on the first steps of faith.
An entrepreneurial spirit
And while events like the Palau mission give definite boosts to the local churches, at the heart of the islanders’ witness are ongoing ministries like that of Betty Santos.
Ms Santos was looking for a way to share her faith through her work at a beachside jet-ski club on Guam when she hit upon Bible distribution as one answer.
Working with Youth with a Mission and King’s Kids, she now attracts tourists with a programme of jet-skiing, snorkelling, dolphin watching and live entertainment – all staffed by Christian people who, as part of the activities, distribute the Japanese/English diglot Portion Jesus, Who is He?
A long-time supporter of BSM, Betty knows that God will use these Scriptures to bring many of her visitors to faith in Jesus Christ.
A gift of love
Another unusual Scripture outreach is taking place on Guam – among Japanese newlyweds!
After a civil marriage service in Japan, many couples visit the island of Guam for their honeymoon, and for an American-styled “religious” wedding ceremony. The services are conducted in chapels specially built by tourist hotels, and it is estimated that about 200 take place each month.
The clergy who conduct the weddings buy Japanese Scriptures from the Bible Society and present them to the couples during the ceremony. The Scriptures, produced by the Japan Bible Society, include a Japanese language “love” Selection, as well as the Japanese/English diglot Jesus, Who is He?.
Scriptures on the airwaves
Of course, not all witness in the region is through printed media. Guam, the westernmost outpost of the United States, is also host to one of 12 transmission sites for the global Christian broadcast ministry, TransWorld Radio (TWR). But as well as its international transmission, TWR also operates Guam’s local Christian radio station, which provides news and music as well as Christian programmes.
The station – KYWG 800AM – is a strong Bible Society supporter and takes part in its Bible Week, Prayer Breakfast, and Quiz programmes. On one occasion, when an Indian man contacted the station seeking help in finding the Scriptures, TWR contacted BSM representative Esther Tarkong, who acted quickly to fulfil his request.
One Prayer Breakfast featured former basketball professional Claude Terry. The theme of the breakfast was the importance of the Bible for people in all walks of life.
Mr Terry, formerly of the NBA Denver Nuggets, is now the director of the Pro Basketball Fellowship in California, which provides chapel services for NBA teams. During the breakfast at a U.S. Navy chapel, the former player spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ and the difference it makes in his life.
The breakfast also featured a presentation
by Bible Society Vice Chairman Patrick Wolff and BSM representative Esther
Tarkong. Bible Society volunteers also gave a special presentation in sign
language. (WR 336/2 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
Micronesia – an overviewThe different Melanesian people who live in Micronesia have for centuries been dominated by other nations, including Spain, Germany, Japan and the USA. This, combined with modern migration patterns, has resulted in a mix of ethnic groups on many islands. Due to persistent mission activities over the years, Christianity is the faith of most islanders, with an even division between Protestant and Catholic. But while family traditions are strong in these cultures, materialism and consumerism are bringing conflicts and change. Tourists provide a large part of the income of some of the islands, especially those famous as diving venues. Tourists come from Japan, Taiwan, Korea and the USA to enjoy the tropical weather, beaches and water sports. And as a result of outreach programs initiated by Melanesian Christians, many of these tourists are returning home with copies of God’s Word – provided by the Bible Society in Micronesia. |
That’s why the Palau Translation Committee is working to provide a fresh translation of the New Testament – originally published by the American Bible Society in 1964 – together with a Shorter Old Testament. Today, the committee is waiting for the final correction processes to be completed before handing the new translation over to the BSM for publication – and bringing the Palauan people one step closer to having the complete Bible in their own language.
The Bible Society of Micronesia board is made up of representatives of each island nation, and with eight indigenous languages, translation has a high priority. So the Palau translation is just one of several in which the Bible Society is involved.
Others include translations in Chamorrow (Guam), Marshallese, Nukuoroan and Yapese. Distribution is arranged from the Bible Society offices on Guam, and is carried out by the churches, the clergy, and bookshops on each island.
Because of the vast area to be covered, Bible work in Micronesia is expensive and time-consuming. Travel and communications are a challenge. But the Christians are committed to Bible work and are giving toward the support of their Bible Society. But help is appreciated, and individuals and churches from around the world can play a role in sharing God’s Word with the scattered people of these beautiful islands through their prayers and gifts. (WR 336/3 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
“We set out from Koror, the capital of Palau, in a boat belonging to Rev Billy Kuartei – who is also the president of the Bible Society of Micronesia and the Palau Minister for Education. We were heading for the village of Ngaremlengui, stopping along the way to pick up some passengers from another village church.
With a boatload of people, plus some food, we pulled in about 45 minutes later to the jetty at Ngaremlengui, where the richness of the fishing catch provides the people with their food and livelihood.
Following greetings, and a change into more formal clothing, the Sunday morning service began.
Then a quick, but somewhat bumpy ride by pick-up took us to another village, where Rev Kuartei shared communion with a Christian lady who had just returned from the Philippines following brain surgery.
Then it was back down the same bumpy road to Ngaremlengui where the congregation had prepared lunch for their visitors. This was a fellowship meal, island-style, with fresh seafood and local vegetables the speciality. Later, for the journey back to Koror, the boat was reloaded with passengers and gifts of fresh fish.
For the people of Palau, it was
a typical Sunday morning. For me, it was a reminder of just how diverse
God’s Church is, and what a challenge we have to share the Scriptures throughout
the world.” (WR 336/4 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
The Bible Society of Papua New Guinea is responding to this need by using New Reader Portions to help children learn to read or re-develop their reading skills. In 1997, thanks to the worldwide Bible Society fellowship, more than 700,000 of these Portions were distributed in areas where education had been put on hold.
The literacy plan began with a great vision, but few resources. Some funding has come from within Papua New Guinea, but every year the Bible Society supporters in other countries have added their very generous support – particularly through the Bible Societies in Australia and Germany.
Fundraising efforts for the program have also contributed, including Mr Daure Kota’s “Wheels Around the World” ride across Canada. Mr Kota, the sole representative from Papua New Guinea, presented the Bible Society with a cheque for 4,000 Kina (approximately US$1,600) raised from sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the German Bible Society held a “Bike for Bibles” ride to support the Papua New Guinea literacy program at a time when floods were raging through parts of Europe. Their faithfulness was highly commended by the people of Papua New Guinea.
Thanks to friends like these around the world, the literacy program in New Guinea continues to touch lives – both with the gift of reading and the gift of God’s Word. (WR 336/5 - 12.98)
As Senior Constable Dallas Stirton patrolled the park, he spotted his chance to join the party, and with lights flashing and siren wailing, drove his patrol car over to the delighted crowds. Children queued to use the loudspeaker and dads discovered everything they ever wanted to know about police cars!
Each child later received a bag full of Bible Society products, while Jane Mackie and the Children’s Prayer Network provided a fitting conclusion to what promises to become an exciting entry on the Society’s calendar.
Nationally, there are 2,286 members of God’s Gang. All receive the quarterly magazine, SEEDS, which contains puzzles, stories, and encouragement to read the Bible.
“No-one else seems to write to children,
and it’s good to see the excitement when the postman brings SEEDS
for my children,” said one parent. (WR 336/6 - 12.98)
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The solution, as two theology students recently discovered, is often found in the presentation of biblical truth to those involved.
When 20-year-old Wang Qingling set out for her theological training in southern China’s Guizhou Province, she had a very clear aim in mind: to return to her home village of Pan County and rescue the believers there from the grip of a heretical sect.
Three evangelists had previously tried to win back the people, but to no avail. The evangelists eventually left the area, vowing never to return.
On her return to Pan County, Wang began to understand why the other evangelists had given up. She was shunned by the local believers. When she drank from the common water tank, the ladle she used was smashed as soon as she put it down. After eating, Wang would place her bowl with those of other church members . . . but they would make a point of picking it out and putting it to one side.
Cheng Bujiang was another theology student with a heart for a remote village. And when he arrived in Yezhong Village, he too faced an unpleasant challenge.
Cheng describes himself as a “Guerrilla Warfare Soldier for the Lord”. And what he found in the church in Yezhong were congregations engaged in bitter internal struggles for power and leadership.
His search for a solution resulted
in a weeklong lay training program. Cheng gathered together the leaders
of the meeting points and shared some of his biblical training with them,
emphasising care for believers’ needs, rather than concern for power or
status. The message was received, and a spirit of change was in the air.
(WR 336/7 - 12.98)
The Shanghai-based press, established in 1990, is known as “Ai Ji” (“love Christ”). Today it has been transformed from a 100 square metre, poorly equipped and under staffed site, to a 3,000 square metre home for the latest technology and skilled printing technicians.
At the opening ceremony of the renovated plant, Luo Guanzong of China’s Three-Self Patriotic Movement, hailed the press as a “testimony to good co-operation between overseas and Chinese churches.”
Ai Ji has expanded with the support of the Lutheran Laymen’s League in the United States, which has also helped the church in China set up recording facilities to produce audio Bibles and devotional material on cassette tape.
The success of this continued co-operation was due to the fact that both sides shared the common goal of spreading the Gospel and helping the work of the Chinese church to flourish, explained Dr Han Wenzao, President of the China Christian Council.
Bibles will continue to be produced by the Amity Printing Company, while the Ai Ji press will publish materials for the church nationally, together with special print-runs for regional Christian Councils and churches.
The Ai Ji press will also be used
to print the monthly magazine of the Chinese Church, Tian Feng.
(WR 336/8 - 12.98)
The United Bible Societies have pledged US$50,000 towards a US$73,415 goal to provide 50,000 copies of the Scriptures for the free distribution project.
Torrential rains battered the northern part of Fujian province, causing fatal landslides and bringing devastating damage to more than 1,000 villages. People lost their homes and their livelihoods as fishing areas were submerged and crops destroyed. Others lost their lives.
Churches in the Nanping area also suffered greatly. Three church buildings collapsed, and seven others in neighbouring counties were flooded. Christians in the area responded by setting up a disaster relief fund and organising a special offering for the victims, as well as collecting goods and clothes for those who had lost everything.
The special distribution of Bibles
has been organised by the China Christian Council. (WR
336/9 - 12.98)
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The attack, according to reports by the Evangelism and Missions Information Service, was launched because “the militants were furious that the students had accepted New Testaments from the Bible Society of India.”
One student was severely beaten in the attack.
Reports of violence directed toward Christians have increased in recent years, partly fuelled by India’s Hindu lobby. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and its allied groups want to transform India from a secular state to an officially Hindu nation.
The radical RSS (National Volunteer Corps), a BJP ally, has long engaged in attacks on evangelists and churches, and has stepped up its campaign to make India a radical Hindu nation.
In the face of such opposition, India’s Evangelical Fellowship convened a National Forum to develop a procedure for reporting violations of religious liberty and to help local congregations deal with the dangers.
More than 150 church and denominational
leaders from 20 states attended the forum. (WR 336/10 - 12.98)
According to the Rev Henry Kathii, General Secretary of the BSK, the ruse has been going on since April.
The plan has been simple and effective. Young men enter the offices of the Bible Society and other Bible agencies asking for Bibles to be used in small group Bible studies, evangelistic crusades, or other legitimate-sounding events. The “con” men then take the Scriptures and burn them.
“Since the beginning of September we have received story after story of churches, schools, institutions and individuals who have given Bibles to such people,” Mr Kathii said. “They have waited in vain for the Bibles to be returned.”
In August, the BSK board asked Mr Kathii to follow up on the issue, and in early September he sent letters to churches drawing their attention to the problem. By mid-September, two national daily newspapers had run front-page stories about the anti-Bible efforts. Later, a broad range of Christian ministries drafted a statement alerting the public to the problem. Funds were raised to place the statement in three major newspapers and on the radio.
“We hope that the number of Bibles lost will be known in the next few months,” Mr Kathii said. “Churches, schools, and individuals have been asked to send any information they have on these crimes to the Bible Society of Kenya.”
He added that the issue is one that
has brought the churches of Kenya together, and he asks the prayers of
the UBS fellowship for Kenya’s believers as they remain the targets of
such anti-Christian schemes. (WR 336/BN1 - 12.98)
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is, indeed,
a dream come true |
The magnitude of the dream was apparent when visitors from the United Bible Societies, the American Bible Society, and others arrived for the celebration.
Not far from the new mosque, after leaving the highway for the Christian compound in Ghala, a green and white directional sign in Arabic and English says simply, “The Church”. Christians here worship on Friday, sharing the holy day of their host country. On the Friday morning that was Bible Day in Oman, the church was filled with enthusiastic worshippers.
On this, the second day of the celebrations, the Ghala Centre was dedicated between the morning and afternoon services. More than 100 people attended the ceremony, which officially opened a “portakabin” (mobile building) that now serves as the Bible Centre. It is designed to meet the Scripture needs of the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox congregations in the Ghala compound.
On Saturday morning, a Bible Society delegation met with the government’s Director of Censorship to express thanks for the government’s cooperation with Scripture importation.
That night, more than 300 people attended the dedication of the new Bible Society headquarters in Ruwi. Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christians marked the dedication of the new Bible Society Centre in the Gulf with songs and prayers of thanksgiving.
Others participating included Bible Society General Secretaries Jamal Hashweh of Jordan, Ramez Atallah of Egypt, and Morton Aagaard of Denmark. Also attending were Anup Patro, UBS Distribution Consultant for the Indo-Pacific Region, and Mike Maus, Director of Communications for the American Bible Society.
The facility, a two-storey, white-painted building, houses a major bookstore where visitors can purchase Bibles and other Christian resources, a video and audio duplication centre, and offices for the Bible Society in the Gulf.
There is also a meeting room dedicated to the memory of the Rev Fouad Accad, who headed the Bible Society in Lebanon (BSL) and was a pioneer of Bible work in the Gulf for many years. (His son, the Rev Lucien Accad, is the current General Secretary of the BSL.)
“At the dedication service, an inter-church choir of 50 members sang,” he said. “The choir was multi-national, multi-cultural, and multi-denominational. However, they were all singing the same words for the same cause and for the unique book: the Bible. Their hearts were filled with joy because the Bible Society Centre had brought them together.”
During the celebration, he noted, Bible Society representatives visited about 25 churches in the Muscat area. The challenge of Bible work was presented in Arabic, Urdu, Tamil, Malayalam, Tagalog, English and other languages, among Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, Pentecostal and Mar Thoma churches.
Few people are as much in need of
the Bible’s hope as those in Gaza. Part of the Palestinian Authority, Gaza
has a population of one million – 65 percent of whom are housed in refugee
camps. While only a small minority are Christians, there is a definite
openness to the Bible among these people.
“I am honoured to have such a service provided through my building,” said the Muslim owner of the building.
Mr Hartberg said the goal of the centre is “to encourage the small minority of Christians in the Gaza Strip” by providing them with Scripture resources, and to “provide the main public of non-Christians with Bibles and New Testaments.”
The two full-time staff members
will be under the care of the Bible Society in the West Bank’s offices
in Jerusalem. Funds for the office purchase came from the American Bible
Society and European Bible Society resources. (WR 336/12 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
The
long-planned trip led by Alexei Bulatov, Director of the BSR’s Siberian
Branch, took place in August. It was part of the Society’s ‘To the Ends
of the Earth’ program, whose purpose is to take Scriptures, food and medical
supplies to the nomadic Nenet people. (See World Report 334,
October 1998, pages 8-11, for information on a previous visit to this area.)
Transported by cutter along the
Pur River, the Bible Society team visited several of the nomadic camps
of the Nenets, and were amazed by the people each time they stopped.
The only settled community they
encountered on the way was the fishing village of Samburg, located some
130kms (81 miles) from Old Urengoy. According to local residents, this
time of year normally brings protracted periods of cold rain, but this
year the temperature in August was about 20 degrees C, which is why they
had encountered the swimming children.
In this town beyond the Arctic Circle, an Evangelical church with 12 members has been holding worship services for over a year, and construction of a new place of worship is under way. One of the members left a lasting impression on the visitors:
When both traditional shamanism and modern medicine failed, Valentina began to lose all hope. Then one day she turned to God.
“As a last resort, I grasped for Christ,” she remembers. “He helped me overcome my fear of the unknown, and gave me salvation and eternal life!”
Some 5kms (3 miles) along the shore
from Samburg, the Bible team came across two Nenet families living in tents
or chums (pronounced chooms). It is estimated that there are 110
chums altogether in the region.
For a long time, the timid Nenets
kept their distance and would not speak to the visitors. They were self-conscious
and ashamed of their impoverished living conditions. However, after prolonged
attempts by the Bible team to communicate with them, the Nenets gradually
agreed to let the strangers venture inside their dwellings.
“In one of the chums, we found a family of seven (five adults and two children) living with their pets – a dog, two puppies and a cat – in a stuffy tent filled with flies and mosquitoes. We were struck by their poverty. There was no floor, no stove, no dishes, no bed, no children’s toys, or any of the other daily items we take for granted,” said Alexei.
It is hard to tell people’s ages, and the average life expectancy is 50 years. The short lives of these men and women are spent in hard work, pagan religious practices and drunkenness. Most of them are without Christ.
In another nomadic camp, about 70kms (44 miles) from Samburg, the visitors met a young man who had recently been cured of alcoholism. He invited them into his chum, where all the residents of the nearest two chums also gathered.
The Bible team talked about Christ and salvation, and the Nenets asked many questions. They also asked the visitors to pray for their sick relatives.
Special gifts were given to the listeners: Bibles for the adults, biblical story books for the children. One woman said she had already read the entire New Testament, and asked if she could please have a copy of the Old Testament.
The team travelled further, entering Ob Bay, and heading for the chums along the shore. There, an entire fishing crew was gathered, but suddenly the Bible boat ran aground!
“We explained why we had come, and asked them to take us to their camps, along with the foodstuffs and other humanitarian aid,” said Alexei. “And after another two hours, we were heading, in over-loaded boats, to meet the fishing crew.”
Expecting to find about five or
six chums as they rounded a small island, the Bible team opened
their eyes wide at the sight of an entire village of 15 chums along
the shore! There were about 20 families, consisting of 130 people, living
in this area, and all of them seemed to be occupied when the visitors came
ashore.
“Our arrival hardly disturbed their
regular rhythm of life, and they did not pay us any attention,” said Alexei.
“The children were the first to become curious. They approached us timidly,
staring at us for a long time, but were afraid to talk to us and kept running
to hide in their tents.
One member of the visiting group had been here before to bring humanitarian aid, along with books and a copy of the Jesus film. When they recognised him, the locals shook his hand and called him “brother”.
This opened up the conversation for the rest of the team, and they were able to tell the Nenets about their own learning experiences of God through the Bible.
“I watched the children sitting on bags full of toys, not even looking to see what was in them. They had forgotten about everything else, and were engrossed in the Children’s Bibles we had given them. They were reading stories about Christ, with eyes open wide!” said Alexei.
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Parents with young children, even busy commuters, are among those who set their alarm clocks to catch the readings, which are brought to life in a new, fresh way when read aloud.
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Over the past two years, in the midst of the morning bustle, actors have read from various books of the Bible. Sif Ruud has read the Creation Story in such a way that some listeners say the hair on the back of their necks has bristled. Thorsten Flinck has put fire and sparkle into the Psalms. The result has been that the number of listeners has been on the steady increase.
The readings have made a forthcoming new Bible translation a subject of interest. The programs were not, in fact, intended to be made or broadcast before 1999, but since some portions of the new translation were finished, an early start was made.
The Book of Psalms was first off the press, and it was decided that the entire Book would be read by actors, with their contributions transmitted over one year.
“If any book of the Bible ought to be read in its entirety it is the Book of Psalms,” says Dag Tuvelius, managing editor for Radio Sweden’s Religious Department. “It has been a popular book and can certainly become one again due to the new translation.”
“The actors read in a way that helped us get over and beyond the clichés,” Mr Tuvelius said. “That is important, since the new translation is intended both for those who know their Bible and those for whom the text is new.”
After the Psalms, the actors read a selection of the most interesting texts, as well as those that reveal different aspects of the Old Testament. Meanwhile, listeners have been provided with factual information about the Bible by Sven Hemrin, an expert on the Old Testament.
“One cannot take for granted that people outside the churches or theological circles are aware that there is new information on the texts,” Mr Tuvelius explained. “Hopefully this will serve to rouse listeners’ curiosity and hunger.”
Readings from one of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation are also on the agenda – although Mr Tuvelius has highlighted certain problems that could arise. He pointed out that there are so many well-established interpretations of the New Testament that they are like ‘millstones’ to the text.
Radio Sweden will continue with the readings from the new translation during 1999, culminating in the finale when “Bible 2000” comes out on the first Sunday of Advent. Repeats of earlier readings will be transmitted, and there will be reports on the work behind the new translation. Listeners can also look forward to a large number of programs on the theme of “Bible 2000”.
During the course of the year, Radio Sweden will be focusing on certain texts in order to establish whether and how they have changed in comparison to the old translation – and what the theological consequences might be.
The station will also be researching the function and status of the Bible in present-day society and the church, asking questions such as: “What do people think of the Bible?” and “How much authority does it have?”
“There is a gap between what priests
and pastors learn in seminary and what they later preach,” says Mr Tuvelius.
“That is why we want to report on the state of biblical research.” (WR
336/14 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
“There have always been ‘unofficial’ readings for Bible Sunday,” explained a spokesperson for the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), which serves England, Wales and Gibraltar, “but now there are actual ‘readings for a Bible Sunday’ in Christian Year.”
Christian Year, which includes the Church of England calendar, lectionary, and collects, places Bible Sunday on the last Sunday of Trinity – October 25 this year.
Originally, Bible Sunday was celebrated in early March, on the anniversary of the founding of BFBS in 1804. In this century it was moved to the second Sunday in Advent (early December).
Regardless of where it falls in the church year, however, BFBS says it may be celebrated at any time.
The theme of the 1998 Bible Sunday is “Opening Hearts and Minds,” a continuation of the Bible Society’s effort to overcome indifference towards the message of the Bible.
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l TCHAD
— Civil war has brought further destruction to this country, whose people
were already struggling to survive the famine caused by last year’s drought.
Since March, there has also been serious flooding throughout the country,
leaving thousands homeless. The worst-affected areas are in southern Tchad,
where 90% of the churches are based. Scripture distribution is at a standstill,
and the Bible Society requests the prayers of the Fellowship at this time.
(WR 336/IB2 - 12.98)
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The Bible Society offices, along with all of their contents, were a complete loss after being hit by the fury of Hurricane Mitch.
Bible Society General Secretary Jorge Gómez reported that his staff had held their first devotional meeting in their temporary accommodation, and were pressing on with the work. In his communication, he also issued a call for continued prayer for his staff and all the people of the country.
Mr Gómez also asked prayers for his people’s health. “We fear the diseases that might spread as a result of so much polluted water in our city,” he noted. “Authorities believe that dead bodies have contaminated the water. Some believe that the worst of Mitch is yet to come.
“There is also a shortage of food due to the loss of crops. All the banana plantations were lost. The companies say it will take three years to bring the plantations to their previous levels of production”.
The storm is being called the worst natural disaster in the Americas this century. Others have declared it the most destructive storm in 200 years. Regardless of the scale of comparison, development experts fear it may be 20 years before the region recovers fully.
Mitch’s heavy rains hit the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa in the middle of the night on October 30, swelling the Choluteca river which bisects the city. The Honduras Bible House was located close to the river.
“We praise God that a few years ago our main warehouse for the Bible Society in Honduras was moved to the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, some 15 miles (24 kms) away,” said UBS Regional Secretary Guillermo Luna. “All Scriptures from recent production were spared and are ready for distribution as conditions improve.”
Mr Gómez managed to get an email message out of the stricken area a few days after the storm. At the time, he was writing by candlelight, taking daily journeys into the city to charge batteries for his computer and for lamps.
“We still cannot get to the building”, Mr Gómez explained. “We saw it from afar and it looked like an empty casket. The windows are gone, along with everything that was in it.”
He described the night that the hurricane hit his home as “a nightmare. Around 150 pine trees came down like little weeds, and fortunately only one hit the roof.”
Mr Gómez requested an immediate US$40,000 in emergency funds to help the Bible Society meet the immediate crisis. In all, he estimates a total of US$102,000 will be required to sustain the work over the next six months. Then plans for rebuilding will begin.
Soon after the tragedy, UBS General Secretary Rev Fergus Macdonald issued an appeal to the Bible Society fellowship to come to the aid of their stricken colleagues.
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One Bible Society immediately pledged US$10,000, another pledged US$6,800, and still another pledged US$5,000. And one General Secretary, whose Bible Society had no funds available, wrote to say that he and his family were giving up a percentage of their salary and scholarships over three months to help.
Rev Macdonald emphasised the importance of undergirding Bible work in Honduras in the wake of the disaster.
Mr Gómez feels that the tragedy of Mitch is opening many people’s hearts to the Gospel.
“God provided a building for us to rent”, Mr Gómez explained. “The building had been empty for a year. The owner is an Arab businessman who did not want to rent it to anybody – until we showed up. He has lost several million dollars due to Hurricane Mitch. When we visited him we were able to pray for him and read the Scriptures from Job.”
“And the government has asked the churches to handle some of the help provided by different foreign countries in order to keep transparency before the people. It is a good sign. People are very sensitive to spiritual things now that the wound is open. We pray that God will intervene before those wounds close.”
Help for the stricken Bible Societies
in the region may be sent through national Bible Societies to the UBS World
Service Center (WSC). The WSC stands ready to immediately channel all financial
aid received to the points of need. (WR 336/16 - 12.98)
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The program at the Palácio das Convenções at Anhembi featured performances by various musical groups, including a 300-voice choir and a 95-piece symphony orchestra.
The Rev Luiz Antonio Giraldi, BSB General Secretary, gave the audience an insight into Bible Society history. A presentation about the Society’s Braille Project was highlighted by a solo by visually handicapped flautist, Paula Regina F Ribeiro. Ms Ribeiro is also a Bible Society volunteer who distributes the Bible among the visually handicapped.
A final highlight of the celebration was that those present received copies of a special Jubilee Bible as a reminder that the work of the Bible Society is to put the Bible in the hands of all people.
Messages of congratulations and appreciation were received from the president of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Santa Catarina, the Town Council of Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, the Town Council of Jundiaí, the Governor of the State of São Paulo, and the national board of the Methodist Church.
Even the Brazilian Post Office took part in the celebrations. In a ceremony held in the Bible Building, the Post Office launched a postage stamp marking the historic event. And in the nation’s Senate, a formal session paid tribute to the Bible Society. The ceremony was initiated by Congressman Peniel Pacheco, a member of the Bible Society Consultative Council, and Senator José; Roberto Arruda.
In Brazil’s Federal District, 150 pastors attended a commemorative event hosted by the Council of Evangelical Pastors. BSB President the Rev Guilhermino Cunha was the featured guest.
The Word with Art saw participants divided into four categories, according to their age and scholastic level. For The Bible Sings, Christian composers were challenged to put to music at least three verses from the Today’s Language Bible, without any alterations to the text. Prizes ranged from a trip to the Holy Land to CD-ROM and print Bibles.
Another contest, broadcast by a Brasilian radio station, challenged 29 teams to “Discover the Bible!” – an event which culminated in a gospel music show attracting about 3,000 people. The contest included collecting food for drought victims, searching for the oldest Bible they could find, finding the largest number of Bibles with different coloured covers, and using clues broadcast over the radio to locate a hidden Bible.
The people of Paragominas town, in Pará State, gathered to read and publicise the Bible during a week-long celebration sponsored by evangelical churches and the town council. The council and churches also made a contribution of $3,000 to the work of the Bible Society.
In Pará’s capital, Belém, the Bible Society’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated with a Town Council ceremony, a commemorative thanksgiving service, and a popular exhibition telling the story of the 50 years of the BSB.
On the same day, Brazil’s President visited the Bible Society’s Regional Secretariat and took part in the work carried out in the city of Belém on board the boat Light of the Amazon II.
Other events marking the Golden Jubilee took place in Bahia, Recife, Rondonia and Rio de Janeiro, among other locations.
In Rio, in the same church where the Bible Society was founded 50 years before, a service paid tribute to one of the BSB founders, Rev João Filson Soren. Ill health prevented Rev Soren from appearing personally at the service, held at the historic First Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro. At the service, the church’s Pastor, Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos was made an Honorary Member of the Bible Society.
For the people of Brazil, the Bible Society’s 50th anniversary was far more than the observance of an organisation’s birthday – it was the celebration of how God’s Word has made a difference in their lives. (WR 336/17 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
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The adopted motto was, “Giving the Bible to the Country”; the objective, “to make the Bible the Book of Brazil.”
The two Societies jointly sponsored a new translation early in the new century, finally merging their Brazilian operations in 1942 as the United Bible Societies.
In 1956, therefore, while continuing to publish the existing versions, the BSB launched the Revised and Updated in Brazil Version. Then, at the end of the 1960s, the BSB began a project for translating the Bible into Today’s Language, intended for new Brazilian readers. Made available to the public in 1988, the Today’s Language Bible began to be used by churches to spread the Gospel.
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In 1997
the BSB distributed
3,045,479 Bibles
—
the most achieved
by any of
the 135 Bible
Societies
around the world.
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With high circulation – more than 10 million copies – Selections could be produced at much lower cost than Testaments or Bibles. And, meeting pent-up demands for the Scriptures, they enjoyed extraordinary success.
The distribution of Selections continued to grow in the following years, reaching the historic landmark of 500,000 copies a day, or 180 million a year, in 1997. This was more than the entire Brazilian population. With this project, the Bible Society of Brazil became the first-ranked in the world in the distribution of Bible publications.
In September 1995, the Bible print shop was inaugurated – the largest printing operation in Latin America solely dedicated to printing and binding the Scriptures.
Located in Tamboré, Greater
São Paulo, the print shop was built with a production capacity of
eight million Bibles a year. With its own operation, the BSB improved the
quality of its Bibles and lowered production costs. With a production capacity
greater than domestic demand, it began to produce Bibles in Spanish for
other Latin American countries.
In 1997 the BSB distributed 3,045,479 Bibles – the most achieved by any of the 135 Bible Societies around the world. It had come a long way since the 100,000 Scriptures it published in its first year of existence.
With the increase in print-runs and with the construction of its own print works, the BSB has managed to reduce production costs and provide the Bible at low prices without help from abroad.
Today, with more and more help offered by Brazilian Christians, the Society has not only been able to sustain its free distribution programs in Brazil, but also to cooperate in the task of spreading the Word of God in other countries.
The answer was a boat named the Light of the Amazon. Thus was born the Bible Society’s first social project. As well as distributing Scriptures, the project offered medical and dental assistance to the poor people of the Amazon region.
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In Brazil,
churches are becoming ever more vibrant and strong, and the demand for
the Bible will undoubtedly continue to grow in Brazil in the 21st
century. So the challenge in the new millennium will be to ensure that
there is no shortage of Bibles for the Brazilian people.
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For a deeper study of the Word, the Online Bible also contains references to the grammatical and verbal structure of the words in the original texts in Hebrew and Greek. It has a list of maps for the geographical location of the places referred to in biblical texts and a dictionary with 6,500 entries.
“We on the BSB’s information technology team, call ourselves the ‘technology missionaries,’” says the Bible Society’s information technology secretary, Cyro de Aguiar. “It is in this Christian spirit that we combine our technical knowledge with the evangelical mission to ‘go forth and preach’ called for by Jesus in Mark 16:15.”
In addition to printed Bibles and CD-ROMs, the Bible Society of Brazil is also communicating God’s Word through radio, cassettes, television and video, and the Internet. And all of these forms are needed, because the BSB faces a growing demand and need for the Scriptures.
Unlike 100 years ago, there are now more Christians in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern. And the Christian population is still growing faster in the South than in the North.
In Brazil, churches are becoming ever more vibrant and strong, and the demand for the Bible will undoubtedly continue to grow in Brazil in the 21st century. So the challenge in the new millennium will be to ensure that there is no shortage of Bibles for the Brazilian people.
But the BSB is looking beyond its
borders. It is working to develop a missionary program to take the Bible
to other peoples of the world. The Bible print shop will have to increase
production to produce Bibles not just in Portuguese and Spanish but in
other languages, such as English, French and Dutch, to serve all the countries
of the American continent. (WR 336/18 - 12.98)
| . . . Nation Honours Bible Work . . . |
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Joining 14 other evangelical organisations on the Brazilian Association of Christian Publishers’ display, the BSB organised workshops, children’s activities, launches, and an exhibition of rare Bibles.
The fair was an opportunity for the Society to publicise its 50th anniversary by presenting commemorative editions of the Bible in four versions – the Almeida translation (two versions), the Revised and Updated, and the Revised and Corrected. In addition, a pre-launch of Faith Comes By Hearing was held – a program made up of 12 cassettes or CDs dramatising the New Testament.
One of the highlights of the bookfair, however, was the New Testament with Christ’s Athletes. Produced for the World Cup, this New Testament in Today’s Language features interviews with 12 well-known soccer players who have played for Brazil.
Also presented at the fair were
the Online Bible, the largest online library of the Bible on CD-ROM,
and eight volumes of the Bible Adventures series, a children’s publication
in the form of a mini-book telling some of the best-known Bible stories.
(WR 336/19 - 12.98)
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) adopted the pocket-sized BSB missionary Bible for distribution via its churches throughout Brazil – presenting the BSB with its largest-ever order.
To commemorate the achievement,
the Reverend Luiz Antonio Giraldi, General Secretary of the BSB, visited
the IURD headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and presented the millionth Bible
to Bishop Carlos Alberto Rodrigues. He also presented a new proposal to
extend the Bible distribution campaign. (WR 336/20 - 12.98)
“The first complete Bible in Bolivian Guarani – also known as Chiriguano – translated by indigenous Christians from the eastern part of the country, is one of the Bible Society’s main achievements of this year,” said BBS promoter Rev Carlos Huaynoca.
Due to be published by the end of 1998, it is anticipated that this Bible will be snapped up by Guarani believers impatient for its launch. Translators are working hard to complete a concordance to accompany the new Bible, and the Catholic team are making progress on the Deuterocanon.
Rev Huaynoca reported that the second edition of the Bible in Aymara was also in high demand. “In two months we sold 6,000 copies,” he said, adding that the same was true of the third edition of the Bible in Quechua. (Aymara and Quechua are indigenous languages spoken in the Andean highlands.)
Whereas the first translations of the Bible into Bolivia’s indigenous languages had taken many years and required many resources and people, Rev Huaynoca emphasised that the use of computer technology has meant that recent editions of the Bible in Quechua, Aymara and Guarani were produced in less time and with fewer resources.
Audio Scriptures are also being developed. “The first recording of the New Testament in Aymara will mark the closure of the Bible Society’s 1998 activities,” explained the pastor. In addition, a dramatized recording of the Book of Ruth was distributed to Guarani speakers earlier in the year.
Audio and New Reader Scriptures were also produced in Hiquitano, Guarayo and Ignaciano, including 500 cassettes and 3,500 New Reader Portions for each language.
The Bolivian Bible Society achieved record-breaking sales in 1998, selling a total of 173,000 Spanish, Quechua and Aymara Scriptures. “The Neopentecostal churches request the largest number of Bibles,” said Rev Huaynoca. “They are always active in plazas, parks and cinemas. On the other hand, the traditional churches have also increased their demand.”
A translation workshop for seminary professors, teachers and pastors was well attended this year. Some 80 participants met and worked with UBS Translation Consultants Drs Edesio Sanchez and Plutarco Bonilla in Cochabamba. Each participant received a copy of the handbook ‘Discover the Bible’.
In December, the first CompuBíblia
will be in circulation. This is a CD containing three versions of the Bible
in Spanish, as well as a concordance, maps, and other supplementary material.
The Bible Society anticipates an enthusiastic reaction to this product,
especially from the younger generation. (WR 336/21 - 12.98)
While the main aim was to provide every first-year student in Chile with a New Testament, the distribution was not restricted to university newcomers. In addition to the modern-translation New Testaments, the students were provided with a book of Bible studies on specific themes.
In the town of Valdivia, Bible stories in cartoon form were shown in the university cafeteria, and this was followed by brief student presentations. Also, the weekly Christian students’ meeting, normally held off-campus, was held at the university for a few weeks. “The response has been good, but as always, the big challenge is the follow-up,” said Jane Peters, one of the Christian workers involved in the distribution in Valdivia university.
The outreach team and the Christian
students will continue praying for those who showed an interest in the
Christian faith during the mission. Practical ways of helping young people
find out more about the Bible are also being planned. (WR 336/22 - 12.98)
[PHOTOS]
“Translating the Bible is one of the main projects being developed by our Fellowship,” said Dr Samuel Escobar, the UBS President. Translation teams all over the world are currently working on more than 600 Bible translation projects, reflecting the aim of the UBS to provide as many people as possible with the Word of God in their own language.
On August 29, the UBS mission received further attention during a breakfast conference organised by the BSM. Dr Muñoz thanked the churches for their support in preparing for the Bible Month celebrations.
“We are deeply grateful to the churches
and individual Christians who prayed for and made financial contributions
to Bible Month activities. Their participation made all the difference,
exceeding all Bible month results since 1992! To God be the glory, who
in his mercy has blessed us with his Word,” said Dr Muñoz. (WR 336/23
- 12.98) [PHOTOS]
“Since August, we have placed 1,000 ‘Read-the-Bible’ signs on the back of public transport vehicles. We plan to produce and distribute a further 2,000 signs by the end of the year,” said a Bible Society official.
“One company even granted us permission to print Bible texts on the back of bus tickets: we have printed Scripture verses onto one million tickets so far,” he added.
Neither does the campaign concentrate solely on publicity. Each driver is given a Bible and a Bible story book for their children. The drivers are also provided with a Bible reading guide and a Christian contact address should they require additional help.
The Peruvian Bible Society has distributed some 150,000 Bibles during the past year, as well as 40,000 New Testaments, 200,000 Children’s Bible stories and six million Scripture leaflets. Many of these items were made available in indigenous languages as well as in Spanish, the national language. The Society also provided 300 churches in Lima with copies of the dramatized New Testament on video.
It is hoped that the ‘Read-the-Bible’
campaign will bring in a flood of requests for Scriptures in the near future.
(WR 336/24 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
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“Whenever the rule of the power of darkness comes to this country, Venda believers will die defending its message,” declared Professor J A van Rooy, who had been involved in the project since its inception.
The modern-language version is the first new translation of the Bible in Venda in over 62 years. It was published by the Bible Society of South Africa to fill a need among the 600,000 speakers of the language. Venda, one of South Africa’s official languages, is spoken mainly in the country’s Northern Province.
During the ceremony, held at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Rev Gerrit Kritzinger, General Secretary of the Bible Society of South Africa, pointed out that it is not the Bible message that has changed, but the Venda language which people use in their everyday lives.
“It is a great privilege for the Bible Society to place the modern Venda Bible in the hands of Venda-speaking Christians,” he said. “This translation is not intended to replace the previous one, but it is our prayer that the Word, which has been constant through the ages, will reach Venda speakers, especially young people, in a new and dynamic way.
“We give you this book with the message, ‘Take it, multiply it, like our Lord multiplied the bread in the desert; spread it among the Venda people,’ ” he charged.
Bishop J Mulaudzi, Chairman of the Venda Ministers’ Fraternal, thanked the Bible Society for the precious gift of the Bible. “We shall use this Bible because to Africa it is freedom. We have been given life by this Bible. We have been given light by this Bible. Darkness has been abolished. Light has come. Thank you Bible Society,” he said.
The decision to begin the translation project was made in 1973, when it became evident that the language had changed considerably since the 1936 translation. Advancements in biblical research also made the new translation advantageous. The Gospel of Mark was the first book completed, being published in 1976. The New Testament and Psalms followed in 1989.
“We worked for 20 years on this book,” Prof van Rooy noted. “We spent the prime time of our lives on it. But we didn’t work on the book in order to speak about our work, we did it so that this book might speak for itself.”
Dr T S Farisani and Mr A M Mahamba were the first full-time translators and Prof van Rooy was appointed project co-ordinator. From 1982 Prof van Rooy, Mr F C Raulinga and Mr A R Mbuwe worked on this project full-time. Several others also helped with translation work and served on the Review Committee.
The ceremony was attended by church leaders, the translators involved, and a number of other dignitaries. Many Venda-speaking Christians flocked to the venue to share in the wonderful event and received more than 500 copies of the new Bible in their language. (WR 336/25 - 12.98) [PHOTOS]
In fact, only one pre-press copy was created, but it caused quite a stir when Father Maheme, also the co-ordina