Bible in Pictures adapts missionary approach to Scripture teaching
SOUTHERN/FRANCOPHONE AFRICA — A Bible-teaching concept that has its origins in missionary work in southern Ethiopia is now set to have an impact on communities in Southern and Francophone Africa, thanks to the intervention of the Norwegian Bible Society. Based on the use of pictures, the concept is designed to bring particularly significant Bible verses and characters to life for children and for non-literate adults. Storytellers
He found that the Borana, although largely non-literate, were accomplished storytellers. Their stories always linked dramatic events in their history with the tribal rulers of the time, and Mr Kjærland realised that this approach would be an ideal way of presenting Bible stories meaningfully. He had a series of pictures drawn to illustrate the main events and characters of the Bible, and these were subsequently developed by the NLM to become 104 four-colour illustrations in flip-over format, accompanied by a teachers’ handbook in Norwegian, English, Spanish or French. Free useThis material was taken up for use in Bible education initiatives by churches and missionaries in several countries. In September, the Norwegian Bible Society purchased all the rights to print and distribute The Bible in Pictures. It is now making both the illustrations and the written texts, which include draft translations of the handbook into Chinese, Oromo and Amharic, available to the United Bible Societies (UBS) for use free of charge by all national Bible Societies, aiming in this way to achieve the widest possible distribution of The Bible in Pictures. UBS is supporting the Norwegian Bible Society in reaching this goal through the Opportunity 21 (O-21) initiative. O-21 funding of US$35,000 has been granted for the testing of The Bible in Pictures among target audiences in Southern and Francophone Africa under the guidance of the Rev Evariste Munyabarame, UBS Program Consultant for Southern Africa, and a new teachers’ manual and the first of four planned children’s booklets containing colour illustrations and significant Bible verses are being prepared. French translationThe Bible Societies in Lesotho and Swaziland have already agreed to test the material when it is ready, and testing will also take place in Francophone Africa once it has been translated into French. It is hoped that the tests will identify any areas where editorial changes need to be made and any opportunities for developing the material further. Overall, the anticipated outcome of the tests is that, under the guidance of their teachers, children will be able to “read the booklets with friends and family, understand what the Bible says and memorise the verses”. For those involved, success would be “to see Jesus Christ in every single child”. (WR 376/17 - 4/5.03)
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The
Bible in Pictures was developed by Norwegian missionary Gunnar Kjærland
when he was working with the Borana people in southern Ethiopia on behalf
of the