CÓRDOBA, Argentina — Figures from the Distribution and Fundraising Report covering the period November 1999 to July 2000 submitted by the UBS South America Region show significant increases over last year. Bible distribution was 79 per cent ahead of the target for the year, New Testaments 47 per cent ahead, and Portions 60 per cent ahead.
New Reader Portions were also 60 per cent over the budgeted figure, Selections 74 per cent over and New Reader Selections 113 per cent ahead. Among national Bible Societies in the region, the Bolivian Bible Society achieved 92 per cent over the annual target, and Brazil, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela were all more than 80 per cent ahead.
Commenting on the figures, Tito Placeres, the Regional Program Consultant, described the performance in the Bible sector as “excellent”. It had exceeded the figure achieved over the same period last year, he added. He said it was “a joy” to see the activity by the UBS in Venezuela – which includes the distribution of 33,000 Bibles over the period.
“They have not opened their doors yet,” he said, “but they have made sales through a distributor.” On fundraising, Societies in the region have achieved 79 per cent of their nine month target. Mr Placeres said the important thing was that the recent downward trend had been reversed. (WR 356/26 - 12.00)