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Latest NewsSummaries of stories which have been e-mailed in the Latest News series since the publication of World Report 389: UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES — Adults and children alike joined in enthusiastically
with the songs, dances and sketches presented by the Just for Kids
troupe during its tour in October. Performances in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain,
Sharjah and Dubai were attended by more than 2,000 children and a similar
number of adults from the Christian community. Many of the adults commented
afterwards on the effectiveness of using music and drama to help children
understand the Bible. e-290
November 11, 2004 (WR 390/38 - 02.05) UKRAINE
— Between 800 and 900 churches were involved in celebrating Bible
Day on October 24, 2004. One of the main celebrations, attended by around
1,000 people, was held at the famous Opera House in Lviv. In other places,
too, Bible Day events were not necessarily held in churches. In Kherson,
for example, cultural centres were taken over by local congregations
keen to attract people who would not necessarily wish to enter a church.
As a new climate of openness towards Bible work emerges in Ukraine,
Bible Society General Secretary Roman Vovk
would like to see a Bible Day celebration taking place in every local
church in future. e-291
November 18, 2004 (WR 390/39 - 02.05) ENGLAND
— The United Bible Societies has named the Rev A Miller Milloy
as its new General Secretary. Mr Milloy, 58, had been the Acting General
Secretary since January 2004. After his appointment, he said that the
Fellowship had bestowed on him a great honour and a great responsibility.
“As I begin to come to terms with all the demands of this new office,”
he said, “I ask for your patience, your understanding and your
prayers. In return, I pledge you my fullest support.” e-292
November 24, 2004 (WR 390/40 - 02.05) GEORGIA
— In a dramatic gesture of forgiveness, Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili,
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church and General Secretary
of the UBS Representation in Georgia, pleaded
in court for the release of defrocked Orthodox priest Vasili Mkalavishvili,
who was imprisoned in March awaiting trial on charges arising from attacks
on members of religious minorities. “I explained that we were giving
him absolution without conditions, as this is the true nature of Christian
love and forgiveness,” writes Bishop Songulashvili in his account
of the events. “I thank everyone for their support and prayers
in the days when we were persecuted by the renegade priest who has now
become our friend.” e-293
December 2, 2004 (WR 390/41 - 02.05) INDIA
— The Bible Society of India formally
opened its new Logos building in the centre of Bangalore on November
14, 2004. The Bible Society will occupy two of the six floors, with
the rest being leased to a multinational company. General Secretary
Dr B K Pramanik explained that the additional income expected from leasing
part of the building would be used to meet the growing demand for Scripture
material in the Indian languages. e-294
December 9, 2004 (WR 390/42 - 02.05) AUSTRIA
— The Austrian Bible Society held a
‘pre-opening’ of its new Bible Centre in the heart of Vienna’s
museum area on November 26, 2004. One of the building’s main features
is an eye-catching interactive multimedia display in its window which
uses computer-controlled multicoloured lighting to offer passers-by
a ‘personalised’ message from the Bible. Following the formal
opening in March 2005, it is anticipated that the Bible Centre will
attract at least 2,000 people each year. e-294
December 9, 2004 (WR 390/43 - 02.05) |
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