Youth Bible set to guide Dutch young people towards God’s Word

Heleen Zwanenburg (right) and Jaïr Sagström (left) of the Netherlands Bible Society with Peter Furler (centre), lead singer of the Christian band Newsboys, at EO-Youthday, a Christian music event organised by the Evangelical Broadcasting Company and held in Arnhem, Netherlands, in June 2005. Photo: NBS (NER05DJ-6.JPG)

NETHERLANDS — “It takes a lot of energy to read the Bible, far more energy than, for example, watching television or flicking through the pages of a magazine,” admits Peter Furler, lead singer of the Christian band Newsboys. “But the seed needs to be planted in order to grow, and it is by studying the Bible that we hear God’s voice.”

Knowing that there are many attractions that might divert young people away from reading the Bible, Mr Furler was full of praise for the Netherlands Bible Society’s Youth Bible project when he spoke to Jaïr Sagström and Heleen Zwanenburg from the Society at the EO-Youthday, a Christian music festival that took place in Arnhem in June. This special Bible, with features including background information, explanations, maps and an interchangeable cover, is being developed in collaboration with the Evangelical Broadcasting Company (EO), which also organises the annual festival. It is due to be printed in the second half of 2006, but, to whet their appetites, all the 32,000 people who attended the EO-Youthday received a Youth Bible Portion of Joshua and Ephesians. Also available in advance of the publication of the full Youth Bible is a dedicated interactive web site, www.jongerenbijbel.nl.

Guided

For Mr Furler, it is clear that young people really do need to be guided in innovative ways such as this towards a personal knowledge of God’s Word.

“I compare the Bible with food,” he said. “The Bible is vital nourishment for young people, because where else do you get your opinions from? I believe that God’s Word is truth. I can guarantee that if you trust the Word of God your life will become more productive and you will get rest and peace. The Bible is there for our edification. It leads and defines us about who we are and who we should be.