‘What is a house if we don’t have
God’s Word in it?’

A project update provided by Edna Mae Rabago, Communications Assistant, Philippine Bible Society

The Philippine Bible Society distributed free Bibles to 5,000 families in Kasiglahan Village in 2003. Resident officers are hoping the Scriptures result in transformed lives and a peaceful community, so as to give a better future to youngsters such as these. Philippines. Photo: PBS/Nestor Reyes (PHI04DJ-21.JPG)

MANILA, Philippines — “What is a house if we don’t have God’s Word in it?” asked Pastor Mario Medina as the Philippine Bible Society’s (PBS) Ilaw sa Tahanan (‘Light to the Home’) Bible was launched in his community on October 19. “It is good to have your own house,” he continued, “but it is better to have God’s Word in it.”

The distribution of 5,000 special Bibles to families in Pastor Medina’s community, Kasiglahan Village in Rodriguez, was the latest element in an ambitious venture through which the Bible Society hopes to supply Bibles to all 150,000 families who will be resettled by the government from urban slum areas to new locations with better facilities. So far, seven separate distribution programs have been undertaken in collaboration with government agencies and local churches.

Awesome

As well as providing families with strength and comfort from God’s Word at a time when they are starting a new life, Light to the Home has had the added benefit of bringing the churches together to undertake long-term follow-up work. “What God is doing through PBS is awesome,” enthuses Father Renato Villavicencio of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the King fellowship. “I salute PBS for their efforts in bringing churches together. Through PBS, we are one body in Christ!”

Ricardo Miranda was one of the first people to settle in Kasiglahan Village and is now President of the local Homeowners’ Association. Having experienced at first hand the significant challenges associated with creating a new community, he found the dedication of the Light to the Home Bible a very emotional experience. He explained that, although people had been provided with homes, there was no true community spirit and social problems were rife.

“Even if the government provides everything we need, if there is no peace and order in our homes, in our community, these are nothing.” His greatest desire, he added tearfully, was that having access to God’s Word would bring about a “spiritual awakening” within the community.