Society helps chaplains hit by literature shortage

Edward Mutema (left), General Secretary of the Bible Society of Zimbabwe, presents HIV/AIDS Scripture materials to the Zimbabwe National Army Chaplain General during an Assistant Chaplains' workshop for Army, Police, Airforce and Prison Assistant chaplains at 1 Commando Barracks in Harare. Photo: (low resolution) BSZ (ZIM05DJ-2.JPG)

ZIMBABWE — The success of the Bible Society of Zimbabwe’s first project since the general election in March is a source of “great hope for the future of this nation,” according to General Secretary Edward Mutema. Bible Society staff were greatly encouraged by the positive response from assistant chaplains from the army, the police service and the prison service who attended a workshop at which more than a thousand Scripture-based items were distributed.

Traditionally, Zimbabwe’s chaplains received regular donations of literature from Christian organisations or from individuals. In recent years, however, the country’s growing economic crisis has led to a dwindling of supplies. While the Bible Society was able to make some Scriptures available to army chaplains last year, it too has been hit by soaring inflation and related problems.

Living in Hope

It was with particular pleasure, then, that Bible Society staff were on this occasion able to offer the chaplains a variety of materials. As the workshop focused on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, which has reached pandemic proportions in Zimbabwe, these materials included the Portion Living in Hope: Help From the Scriptures for Coping with HIV/AIDS in both print and audio format, the booklet Where is the Good Samaritan Today?, which contains basic information about HIV/AIDS and appropriate Bible passages, and the Bible study booklet Take Charge, which aims to encourage young people to resist peer pressure and adopt the kind of behaviour which will keep them free from HIV/AIDS. There were also New Testaments in Shona and Ndebele.

“This is a welcome development,” said Chaplain General Lieutenant Colonel Nyakudya. “We want to assure the Bible Society that we will prayerfully distribute these Scriptures.

“I hope that we can go into partnership with the Bible Society to ensure that all our officers receive relevant Scriptures. We need to depend on God’s Word if we are to be effective as chaplains.”

Soldiers

Encouraged by the chaplains’ response, the Bible Society is now planning focused distribution to soldiers in 2006. Working closely with senior officers, and responding to feedback from earlier distribution projects, it aims to publish special Scriptures which address soldiers’ particular spiritual needs. Following the example of the Bible Society of Zambia (see World Report 347/3), it is also looking at producing Shona and Ndbele Bibles with a special cover bearing the army emblem.

“We estimate that there are at least 40,000 serving soldiers,” says Mr Mutema. “What a difference it would make if we were to reach all of them and their families.” (WR 393/10 - 06.05) [1 photo]