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Number 338
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Number 338
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The
Word of Hope
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INSIDE: Bethlehem Eager to Know
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| WORLD |
| EUROPE-MIDDLE EAST |
| AFRICA |
| AMERICAS |
| ASIA-PACIFIC |
| FUNDRAISING IN THE UBS |
WORLD |
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The United Bible Societies (UBS) seized the unique
opportunity to share the way it helps to provide churches with the Scripture materials for
their ministries at the Eighth General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in
December.
More than 5,000 people from nearly every country of the world attended the Assembly held
in Harare from December 3-15. The UBS, in partnership with the Bible Society of Zimbabwe
(BSZ), had a very visible presence at the Assembly through a variety of activities and
programs.
It was also auspicious that at this Assembly the UBS became one o f six organisations officially recognised as “International Ecumenical Organisations in working relationship with the World Council of Churches”.
Every person attending the Assembly – delegates and visitors alike – received a Scripture Portion in one of the five official languages of the Assembly (English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish) specially prepared by the UBS. The biblical texts were then used in the worship sessions and in Bible study groups.
The Portion, with a colourful cover designed by an African artist, was immensely popular and widely used. Included at the end of it were the addresses of all the national Bible Societies in the world, which will be of use to participants once they have returned home.
The UBS was given a prime location for its exhibition on the campus of the University of Zimbabwe where the Assembly was held. Attractive banners and displays of coloured photos caught the attention of the people passing by.
Included in the exhibition was a continuously-playing video with samples of Bible Society video productions, an audio-scripture listening table, and a computer set up with a database of available Bible translations.
Samples of New Reader Scriptures, Children’s Bibles, Study Bibles, media Scripture materials, and Scriptures for witness and dialogue with people of other faiths in a variety of languages were on display.
A special brochure published in English and French telling about the work of the UBS and its service to the WCC and member churches was distributed. The BSZ also had a section where it displayed its products.
Before the Assembly, invitations to a reception were sent from the BSZ through every national Bible Society to Assembly delegates who had been involved with the national Societies.
This reception was held near the beginning of the Assembly and the BSZ board vice-Chairman, Elijah Munetsi, and the BSZ General Secretary, Gaylord Kambarami, welcomed the visitors and spoke of the work of the Society. The Southern Africa Regional Secretary, Peter Mkolesia, and the UBS General Secretary, the Rev Fergus Macdonald, both also gave presentations on the work of the UBS. Both were official UBS representatives at the WCC Assembly. A number of WCC participants who were members of national Bible Society boards made a special effort to attend the reception.
During one week of the Assembly several hundred events or programs were presented by various churches and organisations. The UBS presented a one-and-a-half hour program each day. One program repeated four times was on the theme “Bible Societies Serving the Churches”.
Dr Mae Alice Reggy, the UBS New Reader Consultant, arranged for a literacy class from the Epworth Methodist Church in Harare to give their testimonies about what learning to read and write meant to them. Everyone was amazed at the changes this had made in their lives after only six months of classes using the Bible Society New Reader Portions.
Dr Basil Rebera, UBS Translation Services Coordinator, gave an illustrated presentation on the development and use of Study Bibles, and Dr Valdo Bertalot, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Italy, demonstrated through the use of video clips and audio cassettes, how Bible Societies are reaching various audiences by way of new media.
The way Scriptures are prepared for witness and dialogue with people of other faiths was presented by the Rev Dr Kenneth J Thomas, UBS Translation Consultant, with samples from Asia and Africa.
Another program by the UBS were four presentations on the theme ‘Reading the Bible in Today’s World’, by Dr Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenya), Dr Petros Vassiliadis (Greece), Dr Wesley Ariarajah (Sri Lanka), and Dr Musa W Dube Shomanah (Botswana). (Please see World Report January 1999, 337/25).
At an evaluation session by the WCC Committee assessing the events and programs, both UBS programs were highly commended as demonstrating the important work being done by the Bible Societies and the valuable contributions they are making to the churches.
Not everything was plain sailing, and several difficulties were experienced in getting all the materials that had been shipped by the beginning of the Assembly, and setting up the exhibition.
However, lessons can be learnt for future presentations, and the ongoing presence of the UBS at international functions and meetings such as these should become a target for the future. It is clear that through such contacts between the UBS and international church organisations, national Bible Societies can establish better contacts with the churches. They can also raise the profile of their work and demonstrate the variety of Scripture materials available to assist churches and para-church organisations in their task. (WR 338/1 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
EUROPE-MIDDLE EAST |
BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Fears that the renovations taking place in Bethlehem’s Manger Square would prevent people from gathering this year on one of the holiest nights in the Christian calendar – Christmas Eve – proved unfounded. Work on the Square was completed in time for the visit of the United States President, Bill Clinton, a few weeks before.
“We can thank God for Bill Clinton’s visit,” said Labib Madanat, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in the West Bank. “The renovations for the millennium were completed in record time, enabling us to plan a distribution of Scriptures on Christmas Eve.”
Traditionally, people of all faiths have gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, while many Christians attend the churches adjacent to the Square. The Bible Society has taken advantage of this opportunity to distribute Scriptures telling people more about the story of Christ’s birth, life and death almost 2,000 years ago.
This year, again in a joint venture with Campus Crusade, the Bible Society provided New Testaments to be placed in 8,000 gift packages which also included other Christian literature and a Scripture cassette. Volunteers prepared the packages on December 19, and teams of 20 local believers prepared themselves to share their faith among the crowds at the square.
During the early evening the believers spoke to people and told them the real story of Jesus, asking them what they knew and whether they believed in Christ as a historical figure. They then gave their testimonies and talked about the power of Christ to save spiritually and to help people in their day-to-day lives. One man found himself surrounded by up to 20 young people eager to hear more about Jesus.
Before the crowd began to disperse, four teams set up stands at the exit points from the square, and as people drifted past on their way home they were presented with the package of Scriptures.
“We know that the people enjoy these gifts and read the New Testaments,” said Mr Madanat. Some people responded positively to the message of Christ and many showed a high level of curiosity.
“Last year, a young man rang us up the day following the distribution, asking for more information,” said Mr Madanat. “He had been up all night reading his New Testament, and then he had fallen asleep and had the most weird dreams. He was so troubled he decided to ring for more information.
“Although the Bible Society is not involved in the follow-up process, when letters are received the writers will often be sent a copy of the Bible and other Scriptures they have requested. There are teams of believers provided by the churches that deal with the follow-up,” he said.
This year, some 3,000 packages were distributed at Manger Square, and the rest were taken for distribution to students at Bir Zeit and Jerusalem Universities. Some went to Gaza.
“The Gaza Bible shop is almost ready,” said Mr Madanat. “We are hoping to hold the official launch in March. At present (early January) we are putting up shelving and moving stock there, so that we will probably be starting to make the Scriptures available some time in February.”
The Bible Society is also preparing to open a new Bible centre to be called Immanuel House in Bethlehem; the final signing of the deeds took place in January, and work on the Bible centre then began in earnest.
“The sooner the Bible centre is completed, the sooner it will be opened and serving Christians and non-Christians in addition to pilgrims and tourists in this, the cradle of Christianity,” said Mr Madanat.
The Palestinian Bar Association – the main body of the legal profession here – has agreed that the Bible Society in conjunction with the organisation Open Doors will provide every lawyer and member of the association – there are 750 members – with the gift of a Bible. This distribution will take place in Gaza.
In another distribution opportunity, the Palestinian Deaf and Mute Society made a request for Scriptures. Following the supply of a small quantity of Bibles, the Bible Society received a letter of thanks commending them for the provision of these Bibles.
“God is opening new venues for Bible distribution, venues we would not have thought possible,” said Mr Madanat, “and the more we become involved in the community and its cultural life, the more the Bible Society is recognised and involved beyond its traditional mandate to supply only the churches with Scriptures.” (WR 338/2 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
BAGHDAD, Iraq — “We send our love and greetings to the churches around the world and thank the Christian community for praying with us and for us,” was the comment heard time and again as Tom Hoglind, Distribution Officer working with the Bible Society of Lebanon, contacted church leaders and priests by telephone in and around the shaken city of Baghdad in the week following the December bombing by British and American forces.
“The priests promised to relay our greetings of peace to their own communities, where they will continue to boldly proclaim the angels’ message even during these times of hardship,” Mr Hoglind said.
“They told me how they continue to witness the Christian message being put into practice on a daily basis among the Christian community. Our friends in Baghdad told us that everyone was well, including all those we have got to know since we started to take Scriptures into Iraq after the Gulf War, and their preparations for Christmas and New Year had proceeded normally.”
Jamal Hashweh, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Jordan, from where the Scripture shipments to Iraq have been made, spoke of the recent bombing with great emotion:
“The situation is extremely difficult there. The humanitarian aspects are beyond our imagination. It cannot be justifiable to cause innocent people, especially women and children, to suffer, first from the terrible effects of sanctions, and now from this new attack. We feel here that the attacks have made things much worse at a time when the Christian world sings about peace on earth,” he said.
“Children receive gifts; families exchange them, but in Iraq the women and children are hiding, fearing for their safety and waiting for the next missile or bomb, hoping these will not strike their house ‘by mistake’.
“Emotionally it is difficult for us – over the past few years, through supplying Scriptures to the churches, we have come to know so many people there, and our hearts are sad and we speak with tears in our eyes. We can only pray that the God of mercy may put a stop to these terrible attacks,” Mr Hashweh said.
Fortunately the latest shipment of Scriptures – 10,000 Bibles and 221,000 New Testaments, together with other Christian books supplied in co-operation with a Christian bookshop – was cleared and stored in Baghdad only a few days before the attacks began.
Speaking from Amman, Jordan in late December, Bible Society Representative Mr Omaish said he planned to return to Baghdad early in the new year with 100,000 Scripture calendars provided by the Bible Societies. He was fortunate to be able to leave Iraq with his family on a planned Christmas visit to Jordan just before the bombing began.
Mr Omaish, who has been taking Scriptures into Iraq from Jordan since 1986, moved to Baghdad to facilitate the growth of Bible work in Iraq.
“There is a tremendous need for the Scriptures, for Bibles and New Testaments and all sorts of literature related to Christianity,” he said. “People may have said that Christianity is on the decline in Iraq; but this is not what I see.
“There is substantial church growth, especially in the north of the country, and this is creating the demand for Scriptures. Almost every day since I have been in Baghdad, I get asked for Scriptures,” Mr Omaish said. He estimated that upwards of 4.5 per cent of Iraq’s population of 20 million people were Christians.
“Of course, there is some suspicion of anything foreign, and the Bible Society of Jordan is a ‘foreign’ organisation, but at the same time people are really grateful to the Bible Society for the constant supply of Scriptures, and they say so. We have even received thanks from the government for what we are doing for the people of Iraq.
“In 1998 we received permission to distribute a further 100,000 New Testaments to Christian children in state schools, and this distribution will begin when I return in the second or third week of January,” added Mr Omaish.
Apart from praying for peace and a solution to the current crisis, Mr Omaish asked the Bible Society fellowship to pray for the people of Iraq. “They are so poor, they cannot afford the medicines that are available – these are just too expensive. And the people are becoming poorer all the time. We only wish we could do more for them,” he said.
An advisory committee with representatives from the main churches, including the Chaldean, the Syriac Catholic, the Dominican Catholic, and the Evangelical churches, has been established and is petitioning the Iraqi government to be allowed to establish a Bible Society office in Baghdad. This would make the organisation of Bible work in Iraq much easier and put it on a more national footing. (WR 338/3 - 2.99)
MOSCOW, Russia — The Bible Society in Russia (BSR) is to present a new public face thanks to the purchase of a building complex in the centre of Moscow. The new premises, which will need extensive renovation, are close to metro stations, have easy access for deliveries and are ideally suited for a retail outlet, something the BSR has not had before.
After more than two years of searching for a new Bible House, the BSR finalised negotiations in November to buy the US $1.6 million former banker’s building inside Moscow’s garden ring (inner ring road). This followed the owner’s hesitation in accepting a previous higher offer, which was withdrawn by the BSR due to the economic problems. The lower bid was then accepted with a saving of $200,000.
The property, at six times the size of the BSR’s current premises, consists of three separate buildings and will allow the Society to expand to its anticipated level of 60 staff over the next 3-4 years and fulfil the increased program it will have to handle.
Indications are that the main pre-revolution building will be developed as a bookshop and display area, with other areas designated as meeting rooms and offices. One of the two smaller buildings will be used for staff facilities and warehouse space, thereby saving many customers the long journey to the city outskirts they currently have to make.
It is intended to demolish the third building to provide parking space, and there will be a possibility of future development on this site.
The Society’s current building, leased from the city council, has just 300 square metres of floor space – compared to a total of 1,838 square metres offered by the new premises – with room for less than 30 staff. Also, a nearby church, that once owned this building, has indicated to the authorities that it would like the property back.
The new premises will be purchased and renovated on the strength of a UBS loan of around $2.3 million which has been covered by pledges (American Bible Society $1.5 million; other Bible Societies $805,000), and there are high hopes that the new building will be ready for occupation by the end of this year. (WR 338/4 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
NORTHERN ARMENIA — Imagine a small village in the north of this country. It is October; the weather is still clement, but winter is just around the corner. For the poor people of this area – many of whom are still living in makeshift accommodation following the earthquake damage ten years ago – winter will be like living in the Arctic.
The families have recognised the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) van and are already assembling to collect the precious food that we are bringing.
But this time there is a big surprise for the children who have come to help their parents carry the milk and lentils back to their makeshift homes. Here is a special gift all for them – a small, colourful booklet, full of bright pictures, and written using the Armenian alphabet they are learning at school.
It will not be long before they recognise the value of the precious words in the booklets and maybe realise the importance of the message and that God’s love extends to them.
This is part of a wider Scripture distribution to children in Armenia with some of the Scripture materials which have been especially developed by the Bible Society in Armenia and funded through the UBS. Supporting Societies like the Danish Bible Society can only guess at the real joy and enthusiasm in the hearts of the children who have received these colourful materials.
The distribution also caused quite a stir in the national media and was seen as something of a national event, covered by four television channels, several radio stations and many newspapers. Haigazoun Najarian, a Bible Society board member, stood in for General Secretary Hratsch Sarkissian, who was away on study leave, and, together with representatives from FAR, gave a press conference attended by some 20 journalists.
In a kindergarten (elementary school) in the capital city, Yerevan, the distribution of the Scripture materials was done by the teacher. The children were told to line up and waited. As the books were placed into their eager hands, their faces lit up with smiles, each one demonstrating enthusiasm in a different way. We were moved to see that, after every child had received a Scripture Portion, they knelt down and prayed a prayer of thanks for the gift they had received.
If the supporters of national Bible Societies could have witnessed this they would have felt that their support had been beautifully effective. With this gift it seems that Christians in other countries have extended a hand of friendship and done something tangible to lift the spirits of Armenian children – an act of solidarity with Armenian families experiencing great hardship. (WR 338/5 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
EDINBURGH, Scotland — Every year the National Bible Society of Scotland buys advertising space in popular newspapers in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and to cover the New Year period. The aim is to remind readers of the true reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, an expression of God’s love for humanity. Anyone interested can write to the Society on a response coupon for a free Gospel.
“There is hardly a large return on the effort that goes into this promotion,” said John Binnington, Information Officer for the National Bible Society of Scotland (NBSS), “but we hope that it is worth it, even if only one or two people find hope or salvation through the Scriptures.”
In December 1997 the advertisements focused on hope, and about 250 requests for Scriptures were received, the majority from men, some of whom were prisoners. This time the response has been about the same, with some 50 people ringing the NBSS with questions and requests.
“The pattern seems to be that a majority of men feel the need for spiritual food at this time of the year,” said Mr Binnington. “But we do not know that much about those who respond, except that some have hostel or lodging house addresses, so we assume these are single men.”
The adverts are placed in a sector of the market that the NBSS considers outside its usual readership. Newspapers such as The Sunday Post, The Sunday Mail, The Daily Record and The Sun are tabloids that tend to carry the more sensational stories. The adverts were also placed in The Big Issue, a magazine produced for the homeless to sell to make a small profit for food.
“Unfortunately we hardly get to know much about those who respond,” said Mr Binnington. “But we do get the occasional, more personal comment. This time, one man in Fife rang us to ask if we could recommend a church. Our main aim is to reach people with the real message of Christmas who would not otherwise be reached. They might never have heard of the Gospel before,” he added.
The funding for the adverts comes from a Christian trust that places Bible verses in quality newspapers. Wanting to do something for the other end of the market, representatives from this trust approached the NBSS, and the Christmas advertisements resulted.
After these ads began appearing, a small Glasgow newspaper asked if it could carry these adverts free of charge. “It is refreshing to see something which focuses on the real meaning of Christmas,” the editor wrote. “Most of what we handle at this time of year is ‘froth and bubble’ and superficial commercialism.” (WR 338/6 - 2.99)
AFRICA |
NAIROBI, Kenya — The goal of communicating the Bible to the 60 per cent of African people unable to read or write has been drawn a little closer by an intensive workshop which was held recently with the aim of helping national Bible Societies develop their own audio programs.
Participants from 14 national Bible Societies spent two weeks in Nairobi at the first inter-regional Media Workshop to be held since the UBS Africa Regional Service Center became three separate service centers.
As a result, hopes are to empower non-literate women in Kenya, to equip Rwandan Church leaders with audio and video tools which would help with reconciliation, to reach women and orphans in Malawi, and to build dialogue with certain groups hostile to Christianity.
These are just some of the project ideas that the workshop participants developed, and now hope to pursue in the challenge to reach non-literate, marginalized and non-habitual reading audiences, particularly in rural areas.
With guidance from experts such as UBS Global Media Consultant, Dr Viggo Søgaard, the delegates studied communication principles, the role of the media, and the production process – and were given the task of producing short audio tapes designed to reach their chosen audiences with selected Scripture texts during the two weeks.
This Media Workshop was a step towards meeting the challenges arising from the UBS Mississauga (Canada) World Assembly, and the UBS Africa Regional Assembly at Khayalami, South Africa – both of which affirmed the need to present the Scriptures in relevant audio formats.
For Maxime Bakiono, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Burkina Faso, the event was a beacon of hope in developing an effective ministry.
“With the challenge that faces our ministry – a low literacy rate of 15 per cent, and a high percentage of people of other faiths (52 per cent) – I no longer need to feel frustrated by the poor results we find when solely using printed formats,” he said.
Other delegates at the workshop also expressed some of their hopes and observations before returning home:
“After this workshop, I will produce audio Scriptures on the theme ‘Freedom and Justice’ for prisoners in Uganda,” was the suggestion of Ezra Ndagije, of the Bible Society of Uganda.
“Please help me develop Scriptures for Christian leaders in Rwanda to enable them to communicate the message of peace, justice and reconciliation,” was the plea of Anasthase Kajugiro, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Rwanda. While Edward Kanwela, from Tanzania, said he had “a burden to reach the Maasai people with Scriptures relevant to their needs”.
The Rev Barnie van de Walt, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Namibia, spoke of the changes affecting all modern societies:
“Our culture has been changed by the mass media from a reading to a listening and looking culture. The need for the Bible in media other than print is great,” he said.
Willie Alamu, from Nigeria, stated: “What I have gained within these two weeks far outweighs what I had during my three years of university. I am now more equipped for the tasks ahead in Nigeria.” (WR 338/7 - 2.99)
UGANDA — While in Uganda, photojournalist Andrew Boyd was able to visit much of the work of the national Bible Society and gather stories for the UBS. The following concerns one of the people he met who by sheer tenacity and faith manages to make something of his disaster-filled life.
George Tinkamayire has a ready smile and a radiant faith. And that is about all. The smile is all the more amazing when you hear his life story. It sounds like a Greek tragedy.
Blind for the past six years, four of his seven children snatched away by measles, while snakebite claimed the life of his wife. George has also been crippled from birth.
But George does not make a big deal about his condition. His legs may be withered, reducing him to crawling along the pavements with shoes on his knees, but he is a well-turned-out and dapper figure in a hat and tie.
George lives in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and he knows what it means to depend on Jesus. Some would call him a beggar, but they would be wrong. George does not need to ask for food or money. God provides by prompting passers-by to give.
“It is Jesus who feeds me on the street,” says George, beaming that full and ready smile. He has been a Christian for 15 years. When people give him food he shares a verse of the Bible in return: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
George is bought some samosas, and Joseph Sauli of the Bible Society gives him a Braille New Testament. He receives it with enthusiasm, but has to admit he cannot read Braille. Joseph will arrange for someone to teach him.
Meanwhile George takes a little money and says he will use it to buy food and milk for his children. Then he beams that radiant smile again. He has two good reasons. The Lord has provided once more, and George says he knows that in heaven all of our eyes will be opened and all of our lives will be made whole. (WR 338/8 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
SUDAN — According to the Jesus Film Project, many people are responding to the showing of the Jesus film in Sudan, where they claim “on average, at least one-fourth of viewers indicate a desire to know Jesus”.
But Makram Morgos, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Sudan, would put that figure even higher: “About 40 per cent of those who see the film pray to receive Christ as their Saviour,” he said.
Every day some 35,000 Sudanese people watch the Jesus film, which the Bible Society has helped translate into seven local dialects. The hard work is paying dividends – in the last year 4.7 million viewers made a decision for Jesus.
“This is a spiritual movement that is happening across the country,” says Mr Morgos. “It will help the situation in Sudan and could even be a major factor in finding a solution to the civil war.”
Henri Auon, Campus Crusade’s director for North Africa and the Middle East, said: “Because of the war between north and south, the persecution and the famine, millions from the south have migrated towards Khartoum. For us to have Jesus film teams working among them is a golden opportunity to expose millions of people to the Gospel.
“Whole families are being changed. Relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents are being restored. We are seeing communities being changed.
“In some areas where people have accepted Christ, they are becoming more clean in the way they are living and even in the way they are keeping their houses. The change is not only spiritual but in every area of life.”
He believes the reason for the film’s success is simple: “The whole film is about Jesus, and I don’t think there is anything more appealing to people than Jesus,” he said.
“People here in Sudan are simple, and when they see the film it is easy for them to believe and accept what Jesus is saying.”
The film Titanic may have been Hollywood’s mightiest, costliest and most extravagant production to date. But its impact comes nowhere near that of the far lower budget, simpler, but arguably the most effective film ever made – the Jesus film.
The two-hour story gives a faithful account of the Gospel of Luke. The vision was for an effective tool of evangelism that could reach the world. It must have surpassed all expectations.
To date, more than 1.2 billion people have seen the film in 222 countries. Most have heard it dubbed into a language they can understand. As a result of this clear, appealing Gospel presentation, 57 million people have asked Jesus Christ to be their Saviour and Lord.
And every 13 seconds, another viewer comes to Christ as a result of watching this film.
Thousands of new churches have sprung up in its wake: small wonder the Jesus film has been acclaimed as one of the greatest evangelistic success stories of all time. And it has only just begun.
The technological revolution means that millions more will soon be able to see the film. By the close of the year 2000, Jesus Film Project director Paul Eshleman believes that upwards of five billion will have watched Jesus worldwide.
Already it has been shown to television audiences in almost 100 countries, and will be available to countless more by satellite. For those without a television, a dramatised audio version is also being broadcast and is available on cassette.
The record audience for the Jesus film was chalked up in the Philippines, when half a million viewers attended an open-air showing in the capital, Manila, put on by the Roman Catholic Church. The screening required three miles of cable, 18 video projectors, and the simultaneous rebroadcasting of the soundtrack to be heard on thousands of transistor radios throughout the crowd.
More than 800 mission groups of all denominations are using the Jesus film for outreach, sending more than 2,000 film teams to cover the globe.
“In all my years of serving the Lord,” says Paul Eshleman, “I have never seen such openness on the part of Christian organisations to work co-operatively to get the job done – without caring who gets the credit.”
No film has been more widely translated than Jesus: 452 language versions are in circulation and more than half as many again are under completion. It means that 85 per cent of the world’s population will be able to see – and understand – the Gospel.
The international distributors of the film are Campus Crusade for Christ. The driving force behind them is the Great Commission of Jesus himself. As Paul Eshleman puts it: “I believe Jesus has led us to do all that we can, to rally all resources, to mobilise his people strategically, so that everyone, everywhere, can have at least one chance to hear about his love.”
In Nicaragua, scene of recent devastation following hurricane Mitch, many displaced and homeless responded as they witnessed the love of God before them on the screen.
Three thousand people were killed in the town of Posolteiga alone. The pastor described how he and his family narrowly escaped death. They left their house to look at passing helicopters and noticed the mudslide coming. They ran as fast as they could for higher ground and were trapped for six days before being rescued.
Twenty of the 65 families in the pastor’s church were killed. As soon as he was transferred to a refugee camp the pastor held worship services. “Many trusted Christ,” he told teams who arrived to distribute food and medical aid and to show the Jesus film. Many more gave their lives to Jesus as the films were screened around the camp.
At another camp near the capital Managua, refugees emerged from their makeshift shelters to watch the film. Many adults and children gathered round counsellors to respond to the call to give their lives to Jesus. A new church is to be planted at the scene.
In India, the film has been shown in 47,000 locations to more than 13 million viewers. Of these, 700,000 indicated they wanted to give their lives to Jesus. And 120 million more watched the film on television. In some areas there have even been reports of healings and deliverance as the film was being shown.
In this nation of 33 million gods and idols, some requiring blood sacrifice, one new Christian explained why she had turned to Jesus: “He is the only God and he shed his blood for me.”
Opposition is inevitable. One film team in India was lured into a house and beaten by militants. The militants demanded that they bow down and worship an idol of the monkey god. Through bleeding mouths the Christians told their attackers: “Only Jesus is our God. We cannot worship another even if you beat us more.” The militants redoubled their blows.
Hours later, when the team was finally released, they went to a neighbouring village where the film was being screened and prayed for their attackers.
In the Romanian capital, Bucharest, more than 700 showings drew 2.2 million people. More than 15,000 people made decisions for Jesus and 9,000 attended follow-up classes.
In Malaysia, 800 people crowded into a 500-seat cinema to watch the film. Later, 323 said they wanted to follow Jesus.
For more than 20 years the film was just a dream. In 1950, Dr Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, had a vision for a Bible-based feature film that would faithfully depict the life of Jesus and which could be used to reach millions worldwide.
By the mid-1970s, a team of 500 scholars and experts began preparing for a film that would be accurate, appealing and professional, and which could be translated with ease into any language.
Then the search began to find its leading player. Some six months and 263 screen tests later, the English Shakespearean actor Brian Deacon was given the role.
Jesus was produced in 1978, at a cost of US $6 million. The script is straight from Scripture – the Gospel of Luke.
Even before its release, a college dropout working in the props department received Jesus as his Saviour. Then a Warner Bros executive asked Christ into his life after a distribution meeting.
Today, a further 20 years on, some 57 million are said to have come to Christ as a result of their own encounter with Jesus. (WR 338/9 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
KHARTOUM, Sudan — Moves to prevent the screening of the Jesus film in Sudan backfired when a court inquiry, intended to condemn the film, actually praised the movie for helping people become better citizens.
Most screenings of Jesus pass off without open opposition. In 1997, film teams encountered problems with just 70 of the 5,000 showings of the film.
“But even on these occasions, God uses the situation to glorify his name and to increase the spread of his Word,” said Makram Morgos, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Sudan.
Once, when the film was being shown simultaneously in two locations some eight kms (five miles) apart, security police seized the film and projectors and took the four members of the film teams into custody.
The case came up before a judge who insisted on holding a full-scale inquiry into the film. It was carried out by a general and more than 70 military officers. They watched the film all the way through and the general wrote his report for the judge.
The report said: “This film is not against Islam in any way, and it is not attacking the security of the country.” It concluded: “This film is encouraging people to be better citizens.”
“I believe God touched the heart of the general,” said Mr Morgos, but the judge was not very happy.
He told the team: “This time I am letting you go, but if you ever show the film again, you will face the possibility of prison.” The reply was given: “Whoever let us go this time, will let us go next time as well.”
“The Lord allowed these things to happen so that many could be exposed to the Gospel,” Mr Morgos said.
Following the judgement, Mr Morgos asked the film team if they would like a break after their ordeal. They replied: “Jesus was crucified and died on the cross – what sacrifice could be more than this?” They continued to show the film. (WR 338/10 - 2.99)
KHARTOUM, Sudan — You could hear him before you could see him. In the almost complete darkness, the Shilluk prince was holding the attention of the crowd who had gathered to see the film. The projector had broken down – again – and while an assistant struggled with a torch to coax it back to life, Lwanyo Kur Papiti held the microphone and spoke and laughed and led the crowd in singing to keep them from drifting off.
The power to drive the projector and public address system was the only electricity in the flat, sprawling desert camp with its mud-brick, single-storey buildings.
So when the projector is working, the portable screen becomes a pale flickering beacon visible for several kilometres.
Like moths to a flame they came, sitting patiently in the open on both sides of the screen, to watch the Jesus film.
In the headlamps of a car, the sprawling circle of the crowd can be seen, stretching into the darkness, while those close by shield their eyes and squint against the intruding light. As the headlights are dimmed, the crowd seems to have neither beginning nor end under the moonless sky. More than a thousand have come.
By daylight, Lwanyo Kur Papiti is an imposing figure: tall, athletic with flashing eyes beneath a series of raised weals across his forehead like a string of beads. These are the tribal markings that he received at the age of seven, and which signify he is a Shilluk.
Lwanyo’s father was the Mak – the King of the Shilluk. His many wives – almost 70 – produced many princes. Lwanyo was brought up to worship his ancestors, and since his father’s death, many of his people now worship the former king.
“I was a pagan,” says Lwanyo. “We worshipped different things, including idols and demonic spirits. If my people lacked something, like rain, they would go to the shrine of the king and ask him.”
His people also worship Nyi Kango, the ancestor of the Shilluk. Sometimes the spirits required sacrifice: “The people slaughter cows, goats, whatever they have.”
But now Lwanyo is persuading his people to worship another king: Jesus Christ. “Before I became a Christian,” he says, “my life was dead. I had been in a relationship with a girl, drinking, fighting – and then I accepted Jesus into my life.”
In 1992 Lwanyo went to Bible school for four years, before returning to the Sudanese capital Khartoum to bring the Gospel to his people displaced by the long-running civil war.
For the Shilluk, spirit worship is a powerful religion. Lwanyo must persuade them that Jesus is more powerful. “I make a comparison between Jesus and the ancestors they are worshipping,” he says. “Jesus is greater.”
Lwanyo preaches in church as well as the open air. On Sundays up to 500 attend. So how many have come to Christ? “A lot,” he laughs, “I couldn’t count them.”
His Gospel is also practical. As he helps the people make furniture he tells them about the carpenter from Nazareth. But for the Shilluk and many others, seeing is believing, and in the Jesus film they see the Gospel unfolding.
“When |you see with your eyes, it is much better than hearing. And then when people compare the Gospel with the film, they recognise that what they saw is in the Scriptures. So many people turn to Jesus.”
It is the love of God that has won the heart of Lwanyo; “For God so loved the world . . . ” is the truth that he continually preaches. But for this prince of the Shilluk, who has become an ambassador for Christ, the passage that draws him deeper into God is Philippians 3:12-14:
“I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my brothers, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do however is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.”
Lwanyo loves the Scriptures, and the Scripture materials he gives to his people when they come to Christ are provided by the Bible Society in Sudan.
Now, finally, the troublesome projector has been repaired and the flickering image returns, casting its multi-coloured glow across the upturned faces of the onlookers either side of the screen. Soon, Lwanyo will invite them to receive Jesus Christ, the Saviour they see before them, and come, like he has, to know and understand the God of love. (WR 338/11 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
KENYA — Githunguri Village is a Gikuyu settlement like many others northwest of Nairobi, and the villagers behave like all other villagers, except for one thing: they no longer rise to the sound of birds singing. Instead, they are woken up by God’s Word being broadcast from one man’s rooftop. The Rev Godfrey Ngugi, the local Seventh-day Adventist pastor, is responsible for the new wake-up call.
Equipped with a radio cassette, a public address system, and a set of the ‘Faith Comes By Hearing’ (FCBH) cassettes in Gikuyu, Pastor Ngugi starts his one-hour broadcast at 5 am. As soon as the tape begins, people gather around his house to listen keenly to the tapes produced by the Bible Society of Kenya (BSK).
In fact, the complaints that are voiced come when Pastor Ngugi is away or for some other reason fails to play the Scripture cassette. So when he travels he has to make arrangements for someone else to continue with the FCBH program.
Many villagers who cannot read the Bible for themselves say they are benefiting from the tapes. But some who can read – but either do not have the time or the inclination to do so – have also indicated how much they enjoy the audible Word of God. When Julius Kamau, the FCBH Co-ordinator for the BSK, visited the village recently, he found that many residents were excited by the program and their new understanding of the Bible.
Each evening, between 8 and 9 pm, Pastor Ngugi sits down with his family and anyone else who wishes to join them to consider the morning’s broadcast. This has led to a strong Bible study group being formed, where a deeper understanding of the Word of God is the paramount aim.
Many other churches in his neighbourhood have come forward asking to be provided with sets of Scripture cassettes so they can also begin a similar program. These include the Pentecostal Evangelical Church of Africa, the Church on the Rock, and the Restoration Church.
“The entire neighbourhood, with a population estimated at about 10,000, is ablaze with the FCBH program,” writes Mr Kamau.
Pastor Ngugi looks after 10 SDA churches, and on Saturdays there are meetings for prayer and Bible study. He rotates between them giving them each a taste of the FCBH cassettes, and this has resulted in orders for two more sets. One of the churches at Ruiru has already bought a public address system and cannot wait to get started.
Pastor Ngugi is keen to organise a leaders’ meeting to train others in the proper use of the cassettes, and he hopes that churches can learn from each other as they implement the program.
“There is something about listening to the Scriptures that is different, effective and real,” Pastor Ngugi said, and he looked forward to establishing discipleship classes where evangelism would be a high priority, thanks to the FCBH program.
In Jomo Kenyatta University College of Agriculture and Technology, where the FCBH program has been running for several months, about 200 students meet together on Friday evenings to listen to the Scriptures. Three chapters are discussed in each session, overseen by a co-ordinator who has prepared in advance. There is only half an hour for each session, and anyone can be asked to comment on a particular aspect of the passage.
“To sit in on one of the sessions is to experience the excitement and seriousness of these students towards the study of Scriptures,” said Mr Kamau.
The listening sessions are concluded with a brief comment by the Chairman of the Christian Union. It is 30 minutes well spent, even at examination time, when students are ‘cramming’ (studying hard). The students have been placing orders for their own copies of the dramatised New Testament, showing their keen personal interest in deepening their knowledge of the Bible. Sets are made available for students to buy when certificates are given out for those who complete the FCBH course. So far, 137 certificates have been issued.
Nazareth and Kijabe Hospitals are two rural mission communities in Kiambu District catering for the sick in village communities. Nazareth Hospital is run by the Roman Catholics and they have taken the FCBH program very seriously. Speakers have been installed on each of the wards and even in the corridors so that everyone can hear when the Scripture cassettes are broadcast. Hospital Chaplain Sister Maria, who is in her late 70s, takes time with each patient, praying and offering personal comfort and maybe a few comments on the passage of Scripture broadcast that day.
The staff also enjoy listening to the dramatised Scriptures in Swahili. They have noted the power in the Word of God, not only to encourage, but also to speed up the healing process. Kijabe Mission Hospital, overseen by the Africa Inland Church, has a vast catchment area stretching across two provinces: Central and Rift Valley.
Hospital Chaplain Pastor Jack introduced the FCBH program recently, and using his own cassette player he moves from ward to ward in the evenings playing the Scriptures. At the end of each listening session he takes the time to discuss the Scripture passage and explain any difficulties. He ends each listening time with prayer.
Already some of the patients have expressed a desire to become Christians, and Pastor Jack has had the joy of hearing their prayers of confession and repentance. He is delighted with the results of the program so far and confirms that the spoken Word of God has great power to heal and to save. (WR 338/12 - 2.99)
AMERICAS |
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Winds subsided and it looked as if Hurricane Mitch, downgraded to a tropical storm, would do little damage to the isthmus of Central America. But then the rains came.
On October 31 ‘Mitch’ dumped nearly five feet of rain on parts of Honduras and northern Nicaragua. The many small rivers and streams that meander through the mountainous terrain swelled into raging torrents of destruction, sweeping away the many shanties huddled along river banks. On the deforested slopes above, soil, already water-logged from a week-long rain, turned into cascades of mud.
“When I first saw the sun come out Sunday morning, I wept,” recalls Jorge Gómez, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Honduras. “We were through it!” He and his family had spent the night huddled in the middle floor of their three-storey home as the wind and rain felled trees around them.
The afternoon before, Mr Gómez had watched from a Bible House window as the river outside rose above all previous flood levels. As heavy rain continued, he became concerned that staff members would get caught in traffic. He decided it was time for everyone to go home.
Before leaving, though, they moved Scriptures, records and other important items to the second floor. A wristwatch Mr Gómez was going to give his wife, Maribel, for her birthday the next day, he put in his desk on the third floor.
In the early morning hours of November 1, the two small rivers that converge in Tegucigalpa surged through the city streets, washing away homes, shops, and Mr Gómez’s desk – with Maribel’s birthday gift still in it.
In less than an hour, water flushed away everything on the bottom three floors of the four-storey Bible House. Though all the Bibles in the building were lost, most were safely stored in a warehouse 14 miles (22 kms) from the city.
Further up the hill, past a dozen blocks congested with market stalls, the Central Baptist Church stood, like a bulwark, against a mountain of mud that churned over dozens of houses and shanties further up the hill before pouring onto and collapsing the church roof.
Walking among the debris of his roofless church, pastor Juan Ramón Rivera, who is also the Bible Society’s vice-president, talked philosophically of the destruction as a “detour” rather than a disruption of their work.
His congregation knew the people in the surrounding slums well, having helped to provide them with health services, education, and the Scriptures.
“We have made contact with or evangelised most of the people in this community,” he says. “Now that the community no longer exists, we need a new challenge.”
Ana García, a member of the Rev Rivera’s church and on the staff of the Bible Society for the last 17 years, gives thanks to God that she still has a home. But she also feels some guilt because most of her neighbours lost their homes.
In those early hours of November, while watching newscasts of the flooding, Ana was stunned to see television images of her own house standing in water – a huge tree trunk protruding from one wall.
Most of the neighbouring houses were already swept away. Water eventually reached the tops of doorways but, miraculously, she found most of her household belongings, and although they were under four feet of mud and sand that the river had dumped inside, dirty and very wet, they were still usable. Even the refrigerator still worked!
The Rev Rivera, like many in Honduras, thinks that ‘Mitch’ in one sense provided an opening for the Gospel. Attendance at services, now held in a garage, has increased by 10 per cent. His congregation pulled together enough resources to assist 40 families who had lost homes.
The job of cleaning up after ‘Mitch’ has brought neighbours closer together. In one community, 17 families started participating in small group Bible studies.
Mr Gómez’s secretary, Elizabeth Cruz, evacuated overnight with 11 other family members, and she tells of people in the shelter “praying in groups, singing hymns, and reading Bibles”.
A tour of Honduras attests to the widespread devastation that can be wrought by mudslides. As you drive through this country of mountains, there is evidence of a mudslide around almost every curve. Most slides were small and have been cleared, but there are many places where the entire road has slid down the hillside. Most roads are now passable, but 100 downed bridges are quite another matter.
In the capital traffic remains so snarled-up by washed-out bridges that vehicles can only be driven on alternating days, determined by whether they have odd or even-numbered licence plates.
In southern Honduras, Choluteca appeared shrouded in a yellowish fog as dried river silt, whipped up by high winds, filtered the sunlight.
Homeowners, wrapped in scarves or handkerchiefs, attempted to shield their faces from the sting of the blowing, polluted sand, as they dug for belongings in the river silt – deposited up to 10 feet deep on city streets.
Overall, it is estimated that ‘Mitch’ affected nearly 25 per cent of the population in a country where people already cling to life by the smallest of margins. Fifty-six hundred people are known dead and more than 8,000 are still to be accounted for.
According to the United Nations, up to 50 per cent of this year’s agricultural crops were destroyed, water supplies contaminated, waste disposal systems disrupted, and more than a million people displaced.
In the north, in San Pedro Sula, Raúl Jacobs, a high school principal serving on the city’s Bible Society Volunteer Committee, witnessed 1,600 people seeking shelter in his school building after the storm. There was room for only 1,100.
Now that people have either returned home or moved in with relatives, the school is being used by the Reformed Church and World Vision as a food distribution center. A Scripture Portion or Selection is included in each food packet. The Reformed Church has planned Scripture distribution as central to each phase of its three-phase rebuilding program.
Mr Jacobs says that the Reformed Church is looking to the Bible Society to meet the tremendous need for easy-to-read Scriptures. He cites a speech made recently by Honduran President Flores challenging Hondurans to begin a national renewal built on the Word of God.
Mr Jacobs says: “There is a new spirit of hope. Pastors are following up on a renewed openness to the Gospel.” That hope was given a boost when President Carlos Flores turned to the churches to run the 1,300-plus shelters and to channel incoming aid for the relief effort.
In the early stages of recovery, churches and relief agencies such as World Vision distributed Scripture Portions, provided by the Bible Society, to help bring spiritual encouragement to people living in the shelters.
But as people get resettled, money will be needed to provide them with full Bibles. Tom Kennedy, a Southern Baptist Missionary working in Honduras, says that, so far, Baptist churches have purchased 1,300 Bibles from the Bible Society for distribution to the flood victims they have helped. He anticipates they will need another 3,000 this year as they continue to relocate families.
Another group of churches, partnering with Franklin Graham’s Good Samaritan Purse and Habitat for Humanity, has people working daily, cleaning and reconstructing houses. They also distribute a Bible to each family.
“We want to build homes, not houses,” says the Rev Nelson Guerra, a pastor in the Great Commission Church. “We are teaching people life skills, and how to read the Bible. We will need around 5,000 more Bibles.”
But in the aftermath of ‘Mitch’, the Bible Society’s first task was to re-establish a base of operations. New office space was rented in a better, more accessible location. Mr Gómez had wanted to relocate Bible House for some time but wondered why it had to be this way.
Emergency aid from the UBS totalling US $102,000 made a quick relocation possible, paying for replacement and installation of the Society’s computer equipment and furniture. The telephone service was restored on December 8.
The Bible House bookstore is back in operation and Mr Gómez says Bible sales are picking up. Still, he expects they will need additional outside assistance over the next year to meet the anticipated demand for Scriptures and to make up for lost sales.
His long-term vision is to use the Bible as a catalyst to transform Honduras into a more biblically-oriented society. As evidence of the need for this he cites his country’s reputation for corruption and its high incidence of AIDS. “We need to make the Bible part of our lifestyle,” he says.
As a first step in this process, the President of the National Congress has asked the Bible Society to participate in the National 21st Century Youth Project by coordinating an interconfessional Christian centre – which will promote biblical values among young people. The President believes that the Bible should become one of the textbooks used in education.
But nothing will replace the many lives swept away in the maelstrom of
‘Mitch’. And Bible House photos and records, detailing the history of Bible work
in Honduras, can never be replaced. Mr Gómez says: “We want to be able to repeat
Job’s words: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will
depart. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away, may his name be praised.’”
(Job 1:21)
l Bishop Geraldo Scarpone, who depends on the Bible Society for a large amount of the Bibles used in his parish, says the fright that hurricane Mitch caused has increased the sale of Scriptures at the parish bookstore.
“My prayer is that, in the aftermath of ‘Mitch’, Christians will live more of what they believe, not just preach it. My fear is that the new enthusiasm for helping each other will fade too quickly,” he said. (WR 338/13 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Some Jamaicans think it is needed; others believe it trivialises Holy Scripture: but there is no denying the impact of the Jamaican Patois audio Scriptures.
The first Scripture cassette in the New Testament series ‘A Who Run Tings?’ (Who is in charge?) was launched in 1996 and received wide coverage from the national press, radio and television. Even then it caused controversy.
“Some newspaper articles written about the cassette were supportive and others very critical,” said the General Secretary of the Bible Society of the West Indies, Courtney Stewart.
“There were interviews on several radio stations as well as television and it even made the main news. Some columnists took quite an aversion to the cassette, conceiving its release as ‘sacrilegious’ and suggesting that we had ‘reduced the nobility of the Holy Scriptures’ by translating it into Patois.”
But Mr Stewart said there was good reason to make the Bible available in Jamaican Patois: first it is a heart language for most Jamaicans, not only those on the island but for the many in other countries such as Britain, in Central America, and other islands in the Caribbean.
“Scriptures have the most far-reaching impact when heard in one’s heart language,” he said. Another reason is that in today’s Jamaican society communication is very fast and books are often only seen as reference points. The Bible Society wants to reach people who can read but choose not to, as well as those who are unable to read, and the most natural language for direct communication is Patois.
Another aim is to remind people of God’s sovereignty. Crime and violence are on the increase in Jamaica, and self-appointed gang leaders establish political strongholds and frequently assert their rights with a popular saying: “A me run tings”. Called ‘dons’, these gang leaders try to convey their invincibility and can often create a climate of fear in their neighbourhood.
The ten Scripture passages on the cassette, which deal with the miracles of Christ, were carefully chosen against this cultural background to convey God’s sovereignty in nature, in people’s lives and even in death.
“We hope that when people hear these samples of the Gospel, they will realise God is still very much in control of things, and not the local gangs,” said Mr Stewart. So far, 700 cassettes have been distributed, and the Bible Society plans to issue more titles soon.
“The translation project was dealt a blow when Dr Harald Fehderau, the UBS Translation Consultant advising the translators, died. But with new Consultant Dr Ronald Ross being assigned to the project we hope to get things back on track,” said Mr Stewart.
According to Mr Stewart, Patois is essentially an oral language: there is no accepted orthography. People are not taught how to read and write it or even recognise its written form, and most would have some difficulty in reading it. But almost all of the 2.5 million Jamaicans, not to mention those residing elsewhere in the world, speak Patois fluently.
“Patois has been decried and despised over the years, and children are forbidden to speak it because it is seen as a broken language or not even a language at all by some,” he said. As far as linguists are concerned, Jamaican Patois satisfies all the criteria used to determine whether a mode of speech is a language or not. But many people still question whether it can be accepted as such.
Patois, in fact, has its own grammatical structure and vocabulary; it communicates effectively, and the fact that it does not have an orthography is no different from many other languages in the world which only exist in their spoken form.
“We held two seminars informing people about the true nature of Patois and its value and acceptability as a language,” said Mr Stewart. While some clergy continue to suggest that the Scripture cassettes are more for entertainment than to introduce people to the Word of God, others, including the Jamaica Council of Churches, believe it is a move in the right direction.
“The Bible Society has merely formalised what most, if not all, preachers have been doing,” said one pastor. The Scriptures on the cassette are read in such a way as to bring the biblical stories to life, and the voices are backed by a pulsating reggae music.
“Patois is an ideal medium to animate the Gospel stories,” said one newspaper. However, the music not only “adds a new dimension to the Gospel according to John, but also rivals the spoken words for listenership.”
One example of Patois given is of the story of Jesus healing a man who was born blind. At one point in this story Jesus comes across the man who has been thrown out by the religious leaders and accused of being a charlatan:
“Jesus ear seh dem trow im out and when im fine im, im seh, ‘Yu believe ina di son of man?’” In English this would be: “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found the man he asked him: ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’” (John 9:35)
The Bible Society has no plans to translate the Bible into written Patois. For now, making the Scriptures available in the spoken word may be enough to challenge many for whom Patois is at the base of their culture.
Mr Stewart believes that by getting the Scriptures heard by large sections of the Jamaican community, the Bible Society is fulfilling the UBS mandate to make the Bible more readily available.
It is also following in the footsteps of Christ and his disciples, who lost no opportunity to proclaim the Kingdom of God in the heart of every community they visited. (WR 338/14 - 2.99)
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Bible Societies who use the Portuguese language have met for the first time to discuss how they can work together and support each other – on projects ranging from translation to fundraising and international Scripture distribution.
The six Societies – Angola, Brazil, India (Goa), Indonesia (East Timor), Mozambique and Portugal – spent more than three days learning about each other’s work and highlighting opportunities for co-operation.
Delegates left the conference with a renewed vision of the potential fellowship between Portuguese language – or Lusophone – countries, and pledged to continue the dialogue started at this international meeting hosted by the UBS.
As each Bible Society took time to explain the context of its current activities – for example, how the continuing civil war in Angola means that Bibles have to be sold at below cost price – delegates also looked to the future.
They talked of the possibilities of providing a Scripture Portion on peace and reconciliation, and producing materials for new readers, for children, and for evangelism.
And while most discussions centred on Scripture publication in Portuguese – a language second only to English in worldwide Bible distribution – participants also studied other ways in which they could work together. Brazil, for instance, is already raising funds for Scriptures in Mozambique through their Bible Sunday, and Portugal is working with other European Bible Societies to support Brazil’s Bible boat, Light of the Amazon III, which distributes Scriptures and material aid, and takes dental and medical services to the poor people living on the banks of the Amazon river.
The topic of translation was also highlighted as the conference debated how and where translators should be trained in Portuguese – and how to overcome the lack of reference books for translators using Portuguese as their base language.
“We left, determined that what had begun must be continued, through increased personal communication with colleagues we now know, and through further opportunities to share in person,” said a spokesperson for the Lusophone Consultation. In that way we can increase our effectiveness and avoid duplication of effort.” (WR 338/15 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Following several years of preparation, the Brazilian Bible Society (BBS) has launched its new ‘Faith Comes By Hearing’ (FCBH) program. Aiming to reach churches with the value of groups listening to the Bible, the program consists of three well-used Bible versions being made available on audio cassettes and compact disc (CD), along with listener’s helps.
Initially, the Revised and Updated Almeida New Testament was recorded in a dramatic way, with music and sound effects created particularly to accompany the program. This is now being made available to participating churches together with a New Testament, specially printed for the program, and a guide on how to listen to the whole New Testament in 40 days.
Marginal notes explain where to find passages on the cassettes or CD and four themes can be used by listeners to approach their study. Two more audio Bible editions are being prepared: the Revised and Corrected Almeida and A Boa Nova (Today’s Language Version).
“We want to encourage people to create a habit of listening to God’s Word regularly, and from there encourage people to read it more,” said the Rev Luiz Giraldi, the General Secretary of the Brazilian Bible Society. “For us to achieve this goal, the involvement of the churches will be essential.”
Which is why the BBS has set up a support centre located at Bible House, and staff will contact pastors and church leaders to work out a plan for using the FCBH resources.
The FCBH materials have been prepared in conjunction with Hosanna, a US-based ministry specialising in biblical recording. So far, the FCBH program has been successfully launched in 50 countries. The results in some cases have been outstanding, bringing many Christians back to the Bible, introducing new people to the Christian message and teachings, and encouraging a spirit of evangelism.
One US pastor has stated: “The members of our church have already listened to the Word of God for times from 30 minutes up to an hour and a half. As you can imagine, this resulted in visible changes, among which is a wish to memorise the Scriptures, a more intimate communion with the Lord, a firmer faith, and closer relationship between couples.”
In addition to such benefits, the BBS is concerned to reach blind people and those with impaired vision, as well as Christians who cannot read; some 20 per cent of Brazil’s population is illiterate. The FCBH program will also benefit those in the older age groups whose sight is affected by age.
An important concern is that in today’s society, more people are neglecting reading as a way of spending their free time. One survey indicates that 60 per cent of church members have never fully read the New Testament. However, research suggests that people today spend an average of 60 per cent of their time listening.
“This program is designed to be a source of inspiration to most groups of people, whether they can read or not, and we hope that many people will find something new and useful for their spiritual lives as they hear the New Testament presented in a fresh and striking way,” added Mr Giraldi.
Dr Rudi Zimmer, the FCBH program co-ordinator, gave the example of a lady who helped in his household and took care of his young daughter. “We noticed that this lady could not read,” he said. “One day, knowing I worked for the Bible Society, she asked me if I could get her a copy of the Bible.
“I asked her how she would read it, and she answered by saying that although she could not read she wanted a copy because the Word of God was recorded there. But when this lady received a copy of the Bible she still had no way of reading it, remaining distanced from spiritual food like a hungry child that is not allowed to eat. She lacked the nourishment of Scripture needed to sustain her spiritual life.
“It was with this incident that I realised the importance of the FCBH program. Because of this, people like the lady who worked for my family will be able to have access to God’s Word for themselves,” Dr Zimmer added. (WR 338/16 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
LIMA, Peru — Poverty-stricken families in Peru’s shantytowns are experiencing social and spiritual benefits thanks to a network of Christian development projects. These provide food and Bible-based teaching to hundreds of children who would otherwise be left to struggle for survival on the streets.
Run by a team of Christian staff from the organisation MISIUR (Misión Integral Urbano Rural – which is geared to help develop self-support skills among rural communities), the projects make much use of Bible Society materials.
The Peruvian Bible Society (PBS) provides MISIUR with the series of Portions entitled Jesus is the Best Teacher for use in its classes. And these have become a great asset in helping the children to develop a basic understanding of the Bible.
In an effort to help the parents escape from the poverty trap, MISIUR offers training in practical skills that can improve their chances of employment.
One community benefiting from such a project is San Genaro. Like all the shanty towns around the capital city, San Genaro is a metropolis of makeshift houses, most of which have only one room and no running water.
The families who have settled there came in search of work and in the hope of a better future. But for many, the search was in vain.
MISIUR established the San Genaro project in 1996, in partnership with the Reformed Evangelical Church of Peru. It started as a cookery workshop for the women who attended church.
As well as basic cookery skills, the women are taught about nutrition and hygiene. Many now use their skills commercially, baking birthday or wedding cakes and preparing buffets.
But one problem was that the women attending the classes had nowhere to leave their children and brought them with them to the classes. It was soon decided that the children needed occupying too.
The result was a program of post-school lessons. Each lesson is led by one of the four MISIUR team members, who are either teachers or psychologists by profession.
The MISIUR classes are supplementary to the lessons held at the local junior school, and help the children to develop socially and spiritually as well as academically.
Most of the shantytown children have behavioural problems and are unable to interact positively with one another. Many also lack a basic knowledge of the Bible.
Based firmly on Christian principles, the MISIUR project teaches the children to love God and to accept him as Father and Friend, rather than someone who chastises them for their wrongdoing.
Having been taught how to pray, the pupils are encouraged to pray for their families and friends who might be sick or experiencing difficulties.
The classes run daily from 2.30 pm to 5 pm. Activities are varied and include games, sports, drawing and painting. The children are also encouraged to develop the academic skills they learn at school, such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
And at the end of each day, the children are provided with a nutritious meal of meat, vegetables, rice and fruit with a glass of milk. The food is prepared by a team of mothers, under the supervision of a qualified cook. The children are taught to wash their hands and to pray before eating. For many, this will be their only meal of the day.
MISIUR pays for a medical doctor to visit the children twice a year. The mothers are given the opportunity to attend a health workshop once a month, which encourages them to be more health-conscious in the way they run their homes and educate their children.
LIMA, Peru — When Sylvia Nestares Sixto started attending the local MISIUR project two years ago, she had problems with autism. But the love and care she received from the MISIUR teachers helped Sylvia greatly, and her personal development has amazed her family.
Eleven-year-old Sylvia lives in San Genaro, a shantytown on the outskirts of Lima. She is the eldest of four children. Her father is a carpenter and her mother sews for a living. But there is little work to be found. The family home is poor and their furniture consists of three small beds.
From the day she joined the classes, Sylvia has not missed a day, and she is always the first to arrive at the centre. As well as learning basic social skills, Sylvia has gained a lot of confidence. Now she enjoys praying and participating in the classes. She is also able to provide spiritual and practical support for her family.
After seeing Sylvia’s development, her mother started to attend the MISIUR cookery classes. Since June last year, Sylvia herself has been accompanying her mother, and she too enjoys learning how to bake cakes.
However, Sylvia’s family is currently facing a financial and emotional crisis. Her father recently suffered a serious accident, falling from the third floor of a building whilst working on a construction site. As a consequence, the family are having to work extra hard to earn sufficient money to pay for a basic amount of food.
Knowing that her father is in a critical condition, Sylvia is encouraging her mother to pray, asking God to help and strengthen the family through this traumatic time and provide the funds for her father’s lengthy treatment and medication. Serious damage to her father’s nervous system will mean a long period of recuperation.
She also has suggested that her mother, with the help of the rest of the family, prepare cakes to sell in their neighbourhood. With the money earned from this venture, the family is able to purchase small amounts of food from a local market, established by the government specifically for poor communities.
(WR 338/17 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Completing the translation of the Bolivian Guaraní Bible was one of the main achievements of the Bolivian Bible Society in 1998, according to Bible Society Promoter Carlos Huaynoca. There is a significant expectancy for the launch of this Bible, which was translated by Bernabé and Daniel Mez, Mártires Quezada, and Julio Romero, all indigenous believers from eastern Bolivia.
Bolivian Guaraní differs significantly from that of Paraguay, where the first Guaraní Bible was launched in May 1997 (please see World Report September 1997, 323/8).
According to Mr Huaynoca, more people are reading the Bible, and more people want their own copy: this was obvious from people’s reactions during the Bible Month celebrations. The Aymara Bible is in high demand – in two months 6,000 copies were distributed, and it is now in its second edition.
A similar thing is happening to the Quechua Bible, now in its third edition, Mr Huaynoca said. Aymara and Quechua are indigenous languages spoken in the Andean uplands.
Technology
In the past, first translations of the Bible into indigenous languages used to take longer and used many more resources. But today, with the use of computer technology, the recent versions in Quechua and Aymara, as well as the full translation into Guaraní, were carried out in less time with fewer people.
The first audio recording of the New Testament in Aymara marked the closure of the Bolivian Bible Society’s 1998 activities, and Mr Huaynoca hoped the Guaraní Bible would also soon be available on cassette.
The Bolivian Bible Society broke distribution records in 1998, selling 140,000 Bibles by September. The neo-pentecostal churches most often request Bibles, often evangelising with the Scriptures in plazas, parks, and in front of cinemas. Traditional churches too have also increased their orders. In 1998, 14 million Portions and Selections were distributed.
December saw the first Bible on compact disc (CD), known as the CompuBíblia, in circulation. This CD contains several Bible versions, including the Spanish Bible, the Old Testament in Hebrew, the New Testament in Greek and the book, Discover the Bible, as well as a concordance, some maps and biblical charts and illustrations.
One reason for the growing demand for Bibles can be found in the dramatic growth of the Protestant churches, which some people see as a genuine revival. There are now more than one million members of evangelical churches according to the United Evangelical Churches of Cochabamba (IEUC), which recently evaluated the Protestant presence in Bolivia.
Its projections, based on the 1992 census, put this figure as one eighth of the country’s inhabitants. And traditional churches are also seeing growth. Mr Huaynoca said that the Bible Society had noticed an increase in the demand for Scriptures across the board from traditional as well as new-style churches.
“The growth rate of evangelicals in Bolivia has been constantly rising, significantly changing the weight of the evangelical presence and the social balance, in keeping with other Latin American countries,” said a spokesperson for IEUC. (WR 338/18 - 2.99)
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Christian support has been welcomed by the inhabitants of Aiquile, Totora, and Mizque provinces and adjacent areas following an earthquake which hit that region last May.
The Bible Society played a key role in co-ordinating material and Scriptural relief. In November aid materials such as medicines, blankets, clothes, food and Scriptures – enough to fill two large trucks – were loaded up and despatched to the devastated region.
This was one element of a broad relief program in which Christians have been very prominent. The help came from all sources, according to the Rev Roger Aguirre, General Secretary of the Bolivian Bible Society.
“The Evangelical University of Bolivia, the Baptist Convention of Bolivia, youngsters from our Bible Action Club, the Salvation Army with their mobile clinic, almost everyone pitched in to help,” he said.
“It was a great moment of joy and excitement when we were able to watch the two large lorries setting off, packed with material goods and medicines that will help the people temporarily, but more especially, with ‘spiritual medicine’, which can bring them permanent comfort and hope.
“The goods will be distributed by four groups of volunteers under the direction of our Bible promoters, and this will be co-ordinated by our Distribution Manager. “We are so thankful for the support of the Bible Society fellowship and other organisations, such as the US Southern Baptists, for rallying to our call for help,” he added. (WR 338/19 - 2.99)
ASIA-PACIFIC |
JAKARTA, Indonesia — In the wake of student demonstrations in the Indonesian capital, mob violence has taken on a form of vengeance only too familiar to the world at large: the settling of religious scores.
On Sunday November 22, a Muslim mob intent on revenge and murder cornered some 200 Ambonese Christians (from the island of Ambon in eastern Indonesia) inside the Gajah Mada Plaza shopping centre, less than a kilometre away from the palace of beleaguered President Dr B J Habibie.
Although the army was present at the scene, no-one was able to prevent the mob from hacking to death a man found hiding in a drain and presumed to be Christian. An Australian journalist pleaded with the crowd to let the man live:
“He is a human being; this is not what Islam is about!” he said, and his plea was backed by a Muslim cleric. But both were ignored and the man was beaten and stabbed to death and his body paraded around the streets in a trolley.
He was one of 13 who died in the violence which engulfed Jakarta’s Chinatown and resulted in the destruction of seven churches, two Christian schools, a shopping precinct and many businesses. This episode of violence was said to have been in retaliation for the action of Ambonese Christians claimed to have vandalised a mosque in the area injuring three people.
Many of the Christian community in the city are Chinese, and the Chinese have been singled out in recent waves of violent demonstration because they are perceived to be exploiting poorer Indonesians.
Operating against this background the Indonesian Bible Society has been emphasising the biblical message of peace to all, especially during Christmas.
The Rev E Sembiring, Director of Distribution with the Bible Society of Indonesia (BSI), said that the incident was followed by others: one which took place in Kupang, West Timor, where five mosques were damaged, and two other smaller incidents in Tasikmalaya, West Java and Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi, where it seemed that damage was done to several Christian centres.
“These incidents have disrupted Christian activity, especially in the areas where they have taken place,” Mr Sembiring said. “But fortunately there has been little to hinder the activities of the BSI. We thank God that our program is still running very well, and under normal conditions.
“The printing plant, located at about 30 miles (48 kms) outside of Jakarta, continues to send the Scriptures to all over Indonesia. In fact, without detracting from what the churches have suffered, there is a positive side to these religious riots, which have been on the increase over the last three years.
“It seems that currently – and this is also due to the impact of the economic situation – there are more people looking for the Bible than ever before,” he added.
“On the one hand we have to deal with the problems of people being unable to purchase Bibles as they used to, and increases in the cost of raw materials – something which has affected the BSI catalogue prices in rupiahs. On the other hand we have found an increased demand for the Scriptures among people as the crisis has a personal impact on them.
“Last year we distributed 681,909 Bibles – the highest figure that we have ever achieved. We believe this year we will be reaching the amazing figure of 800,000 Bibles distributed, despite the effects of the economic crisis and unrest.”
Mr Sembiring spoke of the plans the BSI has to help people cope with the uncertainties surrounding forthcoming elections.
“Anticipating the political tensions of the general election in our country this year, the BSI plans to reprint a modified version of a Portion we prepared for a previous election entitled Election in an Era of Reform. This will not only remind people of their rights but will help them to seek God’s way of doing things and to realise how he wants them to behave as citizens,” he said.
Late in 1998 the BSI published a Scripture Portion entitled Crisis, in an effort to help people find a way through the confusion of the economic and social difficulties and see God’s purpose behind the situation.
The BSI is also planning to publish Portions for young people leaving their villages to seek work in the big cities. This is on the increase due to the terrible poverty that exists in many villages. Frequently, the parents have reached a point at which they can neither support themselves nor their family.
Many of these youngsters become ‘street children’, having nowhere to live except for the street. The Ministry of Social Affairs, and various Non-Governmental Organisations have been unable to make much of an impact upon the rising number of these children. Scarcity of funds – and in some cases a lack of professionalism – have hindered operations so much that the problem is threatening to add to social unrest and presents a threat to public security.
“We are hoping that the Bible will strike a message of hope and an alternative way of life for many of these young people who have lost their way in society,” said Mr Sembiring. “Also the BSI is currently distributing Portions on Repentance and Scripture materials to help with the reconciliation between people of different faiths.” (WR 338/20 - 2.99)
VISALE, Solomon Islands — The dedication and launch of the first complete Bible in the Gari language took place on Sunday, November 15 1998, at the village of Visale, which is an hour’s drive from the capital, Honiara. The setting was a beautiful tropical beach, on the calm side of Guadalcanal, and, as one of the ceremony leaders commented, the day’s weather could not have been more perfect for the Bible’s arrival in Visale.
There was a festive mood as the ceremony got under way with a joyous procession into the parish church; then the congregation of some 2,000 people watched as a group of young people dressed in traditional costume acted out the way the Gari people lived and their beliefs before the Word of God was brought to them.
The drama ended in a symbolic way as the first Gari Bible was carried into the centre of the congregation and the Gospel was read, heralding the change that had come to the Gari community thanks to the biblical message.
The parish priest, the Rev Jan Geisslink, and Father Bernie O’Connel, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Church, both led the service. They acknowledged the work undertaken by the project translators from 1987-1994: Sister Marie Thérèse (on leave in the USA), Peter Dei, Bartholomew Aliki and Martin Sebo.
Dr Carl Gross, UBS Translation Consultant responsible for the Gari Bible project, praised the work of the reviewers as well as the dedication and patience of the translators. He also thanked those who had donated to the project, and encouraged young people to take advantage of the opportunity they had to be able to read the Bible in their own language. He noted that this interconfessional translation was also available with the deuterocanon, a first for Bibles in local languages in the Solomon Islands.
At the conclusion of the service many people spoke of the joy they felt at having the Bible available in their own language. One Catholic Sister stated: “The most important thing is for people to read the Word of God, for when they do this their lives are changed.”
The service was attended by Solomone Duru, General Secretary of the Bible Society in the South Pacific (BSSP), David Day, the Bible Society Representative for the Solomons, Gerry Beimars and other representatives of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, as well as local dignitaries and church leaders.
There are 8,000 Gari speakers who will benefit from the new Bible. The Bible Societies contributed finance, quality control, technical help and publication costs. Printed in South Korea, the Gari Bible is published by the BSSP in handsome red boards, the text enhanced by appropriate biblical illustrations, and is now on sale at approximately US $8, the equivalent locally of a labourer’s wages for four days. (WR 338/21 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Christians have responded excitedly to the new Khmer Bible when it was presented to pastors in western Cambodia, formerly a stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. More than half of the Christians in Cambodia inhabit this region, which is still strewn with mines and scared from the many years of war and violence.
The Bible Society in Cambodia (BSC) organised a workshop at Battembang in January. Fifty-six church leaders had the opportunity to handle and read passages from the new Interconfessional Version of the Khmer Bible launched last June.
A copy of the new Bible had been officially presented to the King – an event which was reported on national television (please see World Report September 1998, 333/4). But publicity is not enough to market the new Bible version. Many people are suspicious of change, and a new Bible translation often challenges the text they have become familiar with.
The BSC has encountered some antagonism towards the new translation, and part of the marketing process is to get people looking at the Bible, reading it, comparing it, rather than talking about it without ever having seen a copy.
For this reason, and to encourage Protestant pastors to start using the new translation alongside the older, more difficult but traditional version, the BSC has organised three workshops to date and plans another for this July.
In Battembang, chief translator Arun Sok Nhep, and translation consultants Dr Joseph Hong and the Rev Dr Stephen Hre Kio demonstrated the advantages of the new version and helped participants to realise the value of the more modern language.
In fact, some of the pastors at Battembang had never held a copy of the Bible before. The workshop also helped them to learn how best to introduce the new Bible version to their congregations.
“One of the problems is that people in this western part of Cambodia are so poor,” said Anthony Harrop (UBS Publishing Services Consultant), who is involved in helping the BSC. “We are thinking of ways that the UBS can help to subsidise the new Bible even more.
“People were very excited to read the new text and obviously began to be quickly convinced that here was something that would be very helpful in the spiritual growth of their church members.”
“One of the requests heard again and again is for Bible study materials,” said Mr Harrop. “But it is unlikely that a Study Bible project can begin soon. However, it would be the next step, and a Study Bible would greatly assist Christians in understanding the biblical text and help people to put it into practice.” (WR 338/22 - 2.99)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The painstaking task of preparing the Tokelauan
Bible translation for print has been streamlined after fears that it could take much
longer than anticipated to complete. 
With up to 30 people at a time reviewing the translated material the pace was too slow for some: many of the older people involved had realised that they were unlikely to see the completion of the Bible in their beloved language.
UBS Honorary Translation Advisor Stephen Pattemore explained that it was not only the review process that was taking the time but “the challenge of standardising the written language.”
“Apart from a few government documents, nothing much exists in print in the Tokelauan language,” he said. But proposals to change the review system would mean that the work could be done with no less accuracy but more quickly. As one reviewer, Ioane Iosua, put it succinctly: “It’s a question of choosing between everyone having a say in this Bible or everyone having the Bible.
At the time of the workshop held in November in Wellington, half of Matthew’s Gospel had been through its final checks; Luke and John were in first draft; and work on translating the Book of the Acts and the Letter to the Romans was just beginning. The only book ready for publication was the Gospel of Mark.
“It is a long haul, but it will happen much faster from now on because the Tokelauan people desperately want to read the Word of God in their own language – sooner rather than later,” said Errol Pike, Marketing and Resource Manager of the Bible Society in New Zealand.
Rainbow MomentDespite the seriousness of Bible translation work, there is a lighter side. This one was sparked off by Genesis 1:27 where one version puts it: “God created man in his own image.” Loimata, one of the translators, said, with a mischievous grin: “If we are a carbon copy of God, how come we are all a different colour?” To which everyone laughed loudly; the point had been made gently and with humour. But then came a response from Daud Soesilo of Indonesia, a UBS Translation Consultant. Equally mischievous and with a hint in his voice that he had encountered this comment before, he asked: “What colour is the rainbow?” |
Visiting a Scripture translation workshop where the Tokelauan Bible team is reviewing its work to date immediately put to rest any fears that the experience might be “boring”, “dull” or filled with the “musty smells” of great reference tomes and academia!
Errol Pike, Marketing and Resource Manager of the Bible Society in New Zealand (BSNZ) found 19 people along two long tables all engaged in full and lively discussions at the BSNZ translation office in Pororua. And the discussions were interspersed with loud and infectious laughter.
“It doesn’t take long to detect an intense spirituality of these people and their love for the Scriptures,” he said. “There is also great unity among them, and pride – a pride that is almost tangible!
“They are making history for their people, those alive now and for future generations. They are aware that they are a chosen group helping to bring the Word of God to the Tokelauan people in their own language. And they know how historic their work is, historic – with eternal consequences,” Mr Pike added.
(WR 338/23 - 2.99) [PHOTOS]
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The Rev Le Cao Quy, Bible Society representative in Vietnam, reported that the production of 50,000 Vietnamese Bibles for the Protestants was finished last September. This is the largest quantity of Bibles produced locally since 1995.
An unofficial dedication service was conducted in Mr Quy’s church in Tan An, Danang, on Sunday August 30. The last dedication service had been on December 1, 1996, at which time the Christians of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam gave thanks to God for the publication of 35,000 Bibles and 65,000 New Testaments.
To date Mr Quy has accomplished the production of 85,000 Bibles and 65,000 New Testaments. Also, 80,000 Gospel Portions and 120,000 Bible Comics have been produced and distributed.
Speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese Christians, Mr Quy expressed his deep gratitude to the UBS for the financial support given to further the provision of Scriptures in Vietnam.
On behalf of the UBS, Tan Nguyen, currently acting Regional Secretary for East Asia, brought greetings and congratulations to the Christian churches in Vietnam on this landmark, and also gave thanks to the authorities for allowing th
