Latvia’s first Bible Club makes
‘humble beginning’ 

RIGA, Latvia — A Bible Club started last year by the Latvian Bible Society (LBS) is helping broaden perceptions of the Society and has drawn letters of heartfelt thanks from visually-impaired people.

To start the club, the LBS invited donors to support a single project: the production of an hour-long audio cassette of a new translation of Psalms read by two actors from Latvia’s National Theatre and sung by two groups – Schola Cantorum Riga and the choir of the Latvian Orthodox Church of the Ascension in Riga.

The Rev Dr Valdis Teraudkalns, the Society’s General Secretary, is delighted that the project adds the name of the LBS to the long list of national Bible Societies raising funds through Bible Clubs.

Next step

“This humble beginning was made possible by financial assistance from the wider UBS fellowship through the Seed Money fund,” he explains. “This is a next step in the growing fundraising work of the LBS – work which, as we see it, forms the core of Bible Society ministry. It helps people at large to perceive the Society not just as a publisher but also as an organisation which stands with those in need.”

The group chosen to benefit from the project was people with impaired sight, and Dr Teraudkalns explains the reason.

“‘Integration’ is a word popular among Latvian politicians,” he says. “They use it mainly to mean the integration of ethnic groups. Social groups such as blind people, on the other hand, often remain outside the scope of political interests because there is not much political capital to be gained from them. So in their daily lives these marginalised groups are below the poverty line.”

“It helps people at large to perceive the Society not just as a publisher but also as an organisation which stands with those in need.”

Initially, there were some doubts about whether people would be willing to support a project where production costs, such as that of the recording and the packaging, were included.

“From our experience, people are more interested in supporting distribution itself, especially if it is part of a holistic program,” Dr Teraudkalns explains.

Nevertheless, from April 15 to November 1 some 940 people donated money for the production and distribution of the audio cassette. The Society was able to build on its experience of having produced a recording of the Gospel of John on two cassettes some years ago. This time two popular actors were chosen as readers and choral chants were added.

For Dr Teraudkalns, one of the most gratifying parts of the project is the letters from Bible Club members. One came from a man experiencing an emotional crisis because he was due to have an eye operation. On behalf of his family he wrote, “With great respect we thank you for your care. Your recordings of the Psalms touched us deeply.”

A lady supporter wrote: “It is a special joy to help the blind because I am blind myself. I have always dreamed about audio recordings for blind people because of my own blindness.”

Another lady, who had once before asked the Society to send her a recording for a blind friend, said:  “Something unexpected – or, more precisely, a miracle! – happened. I received a document from the post office asking me to come and collect a parcel. When I collected it I could not believe my eyes – it was an audio cassette sent by you.”