Alive & Active Autumn 2015

The magazine of the Scottish Bible Society

ISSUE 73 : AUTUMN 2015

The life cycleof the BiblePart 2: literacy, engagement, advocacy

Changing livesHow God’s Word changes lives

Revolution in Bible readingBible engagement in Scotland

A neighbourhood near youVolunteers in the community

Rwanda RevisitedUpdate on Rwanda visit

MAKING THECONNECTION

AliveActive - autumn 15.indd 1 24/09/2015 13:11

The Incredible JourneyChristmas from Genesis to Jesus

Author: Steve Brady

This book of readings for Advent and Christmas shows how Jesus has come to take us home to God, no matter what our starting point. However lost or losing it we may feel, however confused or confounded, injured by life or broken by circumstances, here is God’s astonishing invitation to join him for the rest of our journey, from here to eternity. When we embark on the road of life with him, we discover we never walk alone.

The Incredible Journey contains Bible readings and reflections for every day from 1 December – 6 January.

The Dawning of Indestructible JoyDaily readings for Advent

Author: John Piper

The Christmas season is often one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year. It’s all too easy to lose sight of what makes it special.

Helping us refocus on what’s truly important, John Piper leads us through twenty-five short meditations on Advent. The devotionals – drawn from his extensive teaching and preaching ministry – lead readers to ponder afresh the birth of Jesus, Israel’s long-awaited Messiah and the Saviour of the world.

Reflecting on several scriptural texts, this accessible volume aims to direct individuals, families and churches to the most glorious dawning of indestructible joy the world has ever seen: the incarnation of the Son of God.

The Christmas PromiseAuthor: Alison Mitchell & Catalina Echeverri

A long, long time ago – so long that it’s hard to imagine – God promised a new King. He wasn’t any ordinary king, like the ones we see on TV or in books. He would be different. He would be a new King; a rescuing King; a forever King!

This book helps children discover exactly how God kept his Christmas Promise.

Please note delivery charges apply

AUTUMN 2015


As we consider the second half of the life cycle of the Bible we start to connect with people’s stories of their encounter with God through his Word. I hope you are as inspired by these stories as I have been. Stories of faith, love and hope from around the world and from our own doorstep here in Scotland.

However we interact with the Bible, it is worth considering how the dynamic of Scripture works in our lives. Our belief is that the Bible is so much more than a text book. It is the Word of God. We worship a God who speaks, and if our relationship with him is going to grow and deepen then listening will be very important (Proverbs 4: 20-22). We often refer to the Bible as the written Word of God and to Jesus as the living Word of God. The Bible will always, ultimately, lead us to Jesus. As the Holy Spirit constantly brings glory to Jesus we rely on him to illuminate our understanding of the Bible (John 14: 26). It is as the Word and Spirit work together that we find the Bible to be a dynamic, life-transforming book – truly ‘Alive and Active’!

The Christmas Gospel is a great opportunity for you and your church

to give the gospel as a gift during your Christmas activities (see page 11 for more information). Christmas continues to be the time when most people are open to an invitation to church. What a great opportunity! Whenever we give someone the Bible or a gospel it is so important to pray that the Holy Spirit will work in them to bring it alive for them as they encounter Jesus. The stories you read in this magazine should boost your confidence that God will speak to you and others as you interact with the Bible.

How amazing it is to know that God is committed to excellent and effective communication!

Elaine DuncanChief Executive

Welcome

7 Hampton TerraceEdinburgh EH12 5XU

Tel: 0131 337 9701Fax: 0131 337 0641

www.scottishbiblesociety.org

email: [email protected]

Scottish Charity No: SC010767Published in March and OctoberChief Executive: Elaine M DuncanCirculation: 40,000

The Scottish Bible Society – a company limited by guarantee

registered in Scotland no. 238687 – registered office as above.

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The magazine of the Scottish Bible Society

Contents4 The life cycle of the Bible Part 2: literacy, engagement, advocacy

8 the Bible changes lives Impact of the life cycle of the Bible

10 Revolution in Bible reading Bible engagement in Scotland

12 A neighbourhood near you Volunteers in the community

14 Rwanda revisited Update on Rwanda visit

Proverbs 4: 20-22 (NIV)

The views expressed in the features and update articles are not necessarily those of the Society. Reprinting in whole or in part is forbidden, except by permission.

My son, pay attention to

what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do

not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

But when the

Father sends the Advocate as my

representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of

everything I havetold you.John 14: 26 (NLT)

2 : 3


Literacy

The mission of the Scottish Bible Society is to see individuals, communities and cultures transformed as people encounter God in the Bible. We make the Bible available, accessible, understandable and credible. As you read this article and have perhaps read your Bible recently, think about the

775 million people in the world who cannot read or write.

We know that communities and cultures are transformed as people encounter God in the Bible so in addition to providing Bibles in different languages, we also support literacy classes for hundreds of thousands of people across the world.

Literacy classes go hand-in-hand with Bible translation, production and distribution. At the launch of a new translation, Bible Society projects will often include training for teachers and organise literacy classes through the church with the Bible as the main text.

Participants of all ages have the opportunity to learn how to read, many for the first time.

The life cycle

As we conclude our two-part series looking at the life cycle of the Bible – a way to describe the transformative work of the Bible Society – we focus on literacy, engagement and advocacy

Translation

Publication

Distribution

Literacy

Engagement

Advocacy

A framework for Bible society work

• The life cycle of the Bible is a framework that helps us focus on Bible availability, accessibility and credibility in Scotland and around the world.

• The Scottish Bible Society is a founding member of the United Bible Societies – a global network of Bible Societies operating in over 200 countries and territories.

• Together, we are the biggest translator, publisher and distributor of the Bible in the world. Around three-quarters of the world’s Bibles have been provided by Bible Societies.

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As well as opening their eyes to the Bible’s life-changing message in their heart language, participants attribute a boost in their self-esteem to being able to read. For example, they tell us that being able to read means they can help their children with homework and fulfil ambitions to work.

“Being illiterate was like being blind. Now I feel like I have come out of the darkness and into the light!” These are the words of a 56-year-old woman who learnt to read through a Pakistan Bible Society literacy

class. For someone who has never had the opportunity of an education, literacy opens the door to a whole new world. It’s about dignity, independence and wholeness. And yet so many people – one fifth of humanity – are deprived of the joy literacy can bring.

The work in improving literacy levels across the world by Bible Societies has been officially recognised by UNESCO, with whom the United Bible Societies are in consultative partnership.

of the Bible

Meet Mary

Mary Parsaloi, a mother of six, lives in the town of Ewuaso, near Nairobi. Even before the Bible Society of Kenya brought a literacy programme to Mary’s town, she was praying for the chance to learn to read. “As a child, I wanted to read. I heard someone read the Book of Ephesians. I wanted to read the Word of God,” she said. “As an adult, I started praying and fasting [for a teacher to come to the village]. The first thing I knew I wanted to read was the Bible.”

In collaboration with local churches, the Bible Society of Kenya teaches people from the Maasai tribe to read and write using the Bible so they can better understand and spread God’s Word while also empowering themselves to have a better life. While Kenya has the highest literacy rates of all African countries (87 per cent), only about 18 per cent of Maasai can read. Getting a

good education is a challenge for these nomadic families who move from place to place to locate water and pasture for their cattle. Girls are often married off at a young age and find their domestic duties leave little time for school. But this is changing for many Maasai, often forced by modernisation in the country meaning the people need new skills. By being able to read and write, Maasai people are eligible for well-paid jobs outside of Maasailand.

After two years of classes, Mary, a member of the Maasai tribe in Narok district, can read in both Swahili and Maa (the Maasai language). It thrills her to read the Bible in her mother tongue. “I am happy because I can read the Bible very well,” she said. “When we have family meetings, I am the one who reads the Bible. Sometimes my pastor is there, but he cannot read.”

“Elaine Duncan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Bible Society, meeting Mary”

4 : 5


The life cycleContinued

Engagement

Reading (or listening to) your bible and prayer are a crucial part of a growing spiritual life with God. By engaging with God’s Word we deepen our relationship with him. The vision of the Scottish Bible Society is to see communities and cultures transformed as

people encounter God in the Bible. To find out more about Bible engagement activities in Scotland, go to page 10 and read the article by our Head of Bible Engagement, Adrian Armstrong.

Further afield, the Bible Society in Cambodia encourages people to engage with the Bible through a fifteen minute daily radio programme. In a country with a high illiteracy rate, this radio programme is a very effective way for people to interact with God’s Word.

Phuc Mom lives in Cambodia.

She can’t read or write so she

tunes into ‘Fifteen Minutes for

Life’. Every evening, her son,

daughter, niece, nephew-in-law

and herself, all living in the

same house, gather around the

radio on the living room floor

and listen to the broadcast.

Concepts such as forgiveness towards those who have hurt you badly, and giving it up to the Lord, are very emotional and intense topics. Mom never shies from talking about God’s love to her friends, Christian or Buddhist. She has even invited friends to come over to her house to listen to the show, and has seen many become Christians. She says, “It’s a great programme because it’s like bringing the Bible into your own house, for those who can’t read, they can just switch on the show and listen to the Word of God.”

Advocacy

Bible advocacy can be described as a range of activities which shift public perceptions towards a positive view of the Bible. The outcome of these activities will hopefully give people a reason

Engaging children across Scotland with the Bible

The Scottish Bible Society is committed to enabling people to have a positive and engaging experience of the Bible. We have been working to provide this in Scottish schools for over 20 years through our Bibleworld ministry. Thousands of children have engaged with the Bible as a result.

Bibleworld Mobile travels throughout Scotland teaching school children about the Bible. It’s designed to complement the Curriculum for Excellence for Religious and Moral Education (RME). Bibleworld Mobile is a 45ft, 14 ton trailer that opens up into 6 activity zones. Children board

the trailer for their lesson and

learn about the Bible in fun and

interactive ways. Churches, local

community groups and schools

work together to host Bibleworld

Mobile in their area.

In 2014, we made five first-time

visits to places we had not been

to before. One church that hosted a visit said, “Bibleworld is an excellent resource that enables churches to work in partnership with local schools. Pupils love the interaction and variety on board the trailer but more importantly they leave with a greater grasp of the Bible and its teaching.”

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6 : 76 : 7

of the Bibleand opportunity to encounter the joys of the Bible.

This can be done through the media, politics, education or the arts. We believe that a better understanding of the Bible can lead to more cohesive communities and biblical values can speak into society in the areas of social justice, crime prevention, or caring for the poor and marginalised, for example.

Sometimes Bible engagement and advocacy go hand-in-hand. For example, the Bible Society of Malawi, in partnership with churches and Christian organisations, set up a National Scripture Recital Extravaganza Programme. In addition to engaging people with the Word of God, it also hit the headlines nationally.

The aim of the project was to

motivate and encourage the reading, understanding and memorising of God’s Word, as well as unearthing some amazing people who could achieve the feat of reciting large portions of Scripture from memory. The venture captured the nation’s imagination.

Such was the interest in this

competition that it led to over

seventeen television and radio

programmes broadcasting

the recital competition to the

nation. It is estimated that more

than 30% of the 14 million

people in Malawi were reached

through these broadcasts –

what a great opportunity to

spread the Gospel.

The Bible hits the headlines in Scotland

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible in 2011, we took the Bible out into the public square through The People’s Bible project. Creating the first ever digital hand-written Bible generated interest and involvement from people across all segments of society.

It was a nationwide project with our colleagues in England and Wales. 55% of the total number of verses were written at Scottish venues. Over 5 months, we travelled 9,269 miles in Scotland, visiting 141 public venues, including shopping centres and art galleries. The

launch of the project was at Edinburgh Castle and the last location in Scotland was Stirling Castle.

During one of the celebratory events, Culture Minister for Scotland, Fiona Hyslop, MSP, congratulated the project for its successful conclusion and remarkable achievement. She commended the project for its modern creativity with verses of the Bible being displayed using iPads, saying “...this is one of the most striking examples of the ancient meeting the modern – we’ve moved from tablets of stone to tablets of an electronic variety!”

6 : 7


the BIBLE changes lives

Thanks to the

prayers and generosity

of our supporters,

here are some of the

people whose lives

have been transformed

through literacy,

engagement and

advocacy projects

around the world.

HondurasEngagement & Advocacy

Until recently, Honduras was listed as one of the most violent countries in the world. The Bible has a very important and public role to bring about change as

the government is looking to the Bible as the source of hope for Honduras’ future. You helped support a project that provides Bibles to the national training

college for the police force – known to be one of the most corrupt institutions in the country and at times responsible for violence – where the Bible is used to teach ‘Biblical Ethics’, encouraging police officers to

adopt biblical principles in relation to justice.

“On behalf of myself and President Juan Orlando Hernández, I thank the Bible Society for the gift

of these Bibles for our Armed Forces. Honduras is changing weapons, from guns and knives to Bibles.” –

Samuel Reyes, Minister of Defence, Honduras

BoliviaLiteracy

Indigenous women who are unable to read and write are amongst the most vulnerable in

Bolivia. The country’s male-dominated cultural values lead many to believe that women have

no need of education.

You helped the Bolivian Bible Society to deliver a project that teaches women, mostly living in rural areas, to read and write using Scripture-

based materials which promote biblical gender and family values, thereby also tackling

domestic violence. Their new literacy skills allow the women to trade, become employable and play an important part in their community.

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8 : 9

BangladeshLiteracy

In Bangladesh 70% of the population cannot read or write, or find it a

challenge. Though Bangladesh is predominantly Muslim, the Christian

Church is growing – bringing an increasing demand for places on

literacy courses to acquire the skills needed to read the Bible. The literacy materials also help develop participants’ understanding of God

and relationship with him.

You helped the Bangladesh Bible Society to provide literacy courses in partnership with the local churches,

using Bible-based materials, which has given people the opportunity to

learn to read and write – and to study the Bengali language Bible.

CambodiaLiteracy

Kai Rae is a subsistence farmer. She longs to learn to read, so she can delve into the Bible and get

closer to God. She knows that the New Testament is being translated into the Bunong language she speaks – so she’s desperate to learn. You helped

support the Bible Society to set up literacy classes for villages in Cambodia so that people like Kai

Rae could learn to read using the Bible.

“I want so much to read the Bible. Please pray that I will learn to read, so that I will be able to

read the Bible, understand its meaning, and take it with me wherever I go.” – Kai Rae, Cambodia

RomaniaEngagement & Advocacy

The Bible Society in Romania produced a book called No Law, No Bargain! Working together with the Ministry of Education and the Department of Police (who welcome and

support this initiative) the book is used in religious education classes and the Bible Society has been invited into schools alongside the police to talk about the moral and spiritual way

to live. The book contains portions from the Bible referring to this subject and exploring God’s Law, so they can learn how to be both good citizens and good Christians.

You helped to support this project that will produce 48,000 books over three years that will be used in schools across all districts of Bucharest and beyond.

8 : 9


What do we mean by Bible engagement?

In the life cycle of the Bible the translation, production and distribution of Bibles can be described as the work of getting the Bible to people. Bible engagement can therefore be described as getting people to the Bible.

Central to the work of the Bible Society is the conviction that the Bible is the Word of God, and that through the Bible, God

changes lives. Bible engagement is any kind of activity which enables the transforming encounter of people meeting God in his Word to take place.

Savouring God’s Word

In many parts of the world Bibles are scarce and Christians are hungry to engage with God’s Word. Phalla Chrey is one of over 250,000 Christians in Cambodia, a country where twenty years ago there were only 5,000 Christians. A shortage of Bibles means that she has to share a Bible with others at church. She says, “If I had a Bible of my own, it would be just me and God. I would read it slowly, and savour it word for word.” What an example to us – to savour the Bible word for word.

In the UK, where we have an abundance of English translations and access to the Bible in multiple forms, this sense of urgency to engage with God’s Word does not seem to be so prevalent. A recent survey for the Evangelical Alliance found that 88% of Christians agree it is important for every Christian to read or study the Bible on a daily basis, yet in practice, just over half do so. According to Ofcom, the average person in the UK spends nearly 4 hours a day watching television. In contrast, Evangelical Alliance reports the most common length of time Christians spend studying their Bible is 10 to 20 minutes.

How can we recapture that sense of urgency to engage with God’s Word?

Here in Scotland, many Christians struggle to read the whole of the Bible, their reading often being disjointed. One resource that is making a real difference in terms of Bible engagement is Community Bible Experience (CBE).

An initiative of Biblica, CBE revolves around a new format of the NIV Bible. Stripped of verses and chapter numbers, it reads as a flowing narrative. To engage with the community, CBE is run by a church over an eight-week period where participants are encouraged to read the Bible daily and attend weekly group meetings to discuss the text. CBE allows the reader to become immersed in the greater story, grasping the big picture and context while enjoying the events of history unfold. As a result, the weekly meetings feel more like a book group than a Bible study, with conversation, discovery and learning all springing from the flow of the text. It can also help bring together people who are familiar with the Bible as well as those who are new to the text.

BIBLE READINGRevolution in

Adrian Armstrong, Head

of Bible Engagement

for the Scottish Bible

Society, provides an

update on something

that is transforming our

experience of the Bible

and community.

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Since October 2014, over two thousand people around Scotland have taken part in CBE and the Scottish Bible Society has been supporting this initiative. This programme is having a transformational impact, establishing and encouraging a habit of daily Bible reading and enabling the discussion of Scripture to be at the heart of our churches.

Praying for more Bible engagement

We praise God for CBE and the work of Bible Societies around

the world, whose important work in Bible engagement is bringing people to the Bible. Please pray that many more people would thirst for God’s Word and that the Bible would increasingly be read and talked about in our communities.

To find out more about Community Bible Experienceand other resources, contact Adrian Armstrong,Head of Bible Engagement,on 0131 347 9827 or [email protected]

Celebrate the transformational

impact of the Word of God

Bible Sunday is a day on which

churches can celebrate the

continuing impact the Bible has

on individuals and communities

in Scotland and throughout the

world.

• Bible Sunday takes place on

25 October 2015 or you can

choose a different day for

your service.

• The two texts for this year are

Psalm 19: 7 and 2 Timothy 3:

15-17.

• Encourage your church to

mark the occasion.

• Download resources from our

website including: sermon

outline, all age activity and

more.

Join with us as we focus on God’s

Word and celebrate the gift of

Scripture.

Go online and visit

biblesundayscotland.org.uk or

call us on 0131 337 9701 to find

out more.

BIBLE READING

The Christmas GospelIt’s the biggest celebration of the year and yet has Christmas somehow lost its meaning? We asked Scottish children what they think Christmas is really all about and their answers might surprise you! Unintentionally witty, charming and insightful, the children manage to cut to the heart of the matter making the perfect backdrop to the birth of Christ as told in the Gospel of Luke.

This special edition of Luke’s Gospel features an attractive cover design, quotes and illustrations from children and is priced at 25p each. Churches are encouraged to order in bulk for Scripture distribution in their community. Please note delivery charges apply.

To find out more and to order your copies contact Pearl Liddle on 0131 347 9822 [email protected]

10 : 11


Thanks to our volunteers, communities across Scotland are learning more about our work across the world and raising vital funds to help continue this important work

Motherwell

Margaret Carrol is a member of the Motherwell Action Group – a group of seven people representing different churches in Motherwell. When responding to the invitation to become a member of the Action Group eight years ago, Margaret recalls

that she drew from her own personal experience with God when making the decision to become a member. She says, “If reading the Bible could make such an impact in my life, I wanted other people, at home and abroad to be given the same opportunity.”

Here are some examples of how the Motherwell Action Group supports SBS:

• The group meets three or four times a year to share devotions, pray for the work ahead and to plan fundraising activities.

• In autumn each year, they organise a sponsored walk around Strathclyde Park. Action Group members are given posters to display on their church notice boards and they ask members of their congregation to support this event.

• The group organise a concert that is held in one of the churches in Motherwell. An opportunity is given to the audience at the end of the evening to make a donation.

• In addition to fundraising activities, the churches also support SBS by giving donations during the year. For example, half of the offerings from Holy Week services are donated to SBS.

Commenting on what she would say to anyone thinking of setting up an Action Group in

their neighbourhood, Margaret says, “I would encourage other churches to take a step forward in faith and set up an Action Group in their area. We feel humbled to be able to help those in need both spiritually and physically.”

Dalkeith, Midlothian

Helen and Emma are members of the Full Gospel Church (Assemblies of God) in Dalkeith and from the outset felt that joining our Bible-a-month Partnership and involving the whole church family, adults and children, was the best and most exciting way to connect with SBS.

The Bible-a-month Partnership is a commitment to help twelve different countries where Bibles or Bible-based resources reach those who need and want them. Here’s how the Full Gospel Church are offering their support:

• Each family is given a jar to collect money in each month to support the current project. Envelopes are also provided for the special collection on the last Sunday of the month for the Bible-a-month project.

• To remind the church of which country they are supporting each month, a world map is displayed in the church together with a few facts and figures about the country. The country

A neighbourhoodNEAR YOU

AUTUMN 2015


and particular project are also mentioned in the announcements each week. This means everyone in the church should be aware of the current project.

• At prayer meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays, time is allocated to pray for the projects and the wider work of SBS.

• Housegroups meet every Wednesday and several meetings are devoted

to the work of SBS. This provides an opportunity to immerse themselves in more detail in the projects as members come prepared by researching the countries on the internet for example. On some occasions they will attempt to prepare and eat a meal in accordance with local custom – this has proved to be a fun activity.

Helen and Emma’s advice to anyone who wants to get

involved in volunteering to help SBS is, “Be passionate about the Word of God, help others to be so and communicate it. Help as many people as you can to get their own copy of the Bible. Prayer is fundamental - but be willing to be part of the answer to your prayers! Work out what is the best way for your church family to connect with SBS.”

With gratitude to all our Action Groups for their ongoing support.

A neighbourhoodNEAR YOU

With thanks to our volunteer Derek Hamilton for interviewing Helen and compiling this article.

What about my neighbourhood?

If you would like to volunteer with us and promote our work in your community to raise vital funds, please get in touch and we can discuss your involvement or let you know about groups in your community which you could join.

Contact Norman Liddle, Community Partnership Manager, on 0131 347 9812 or [email protected]

• Bring your Bible to Brunch

is a simple and fun idea to

enjoy food and fellowship

with your church family

whilst raising funds to

provide Bibles for some of

the poorest communities

around the world. Visit

bringyourbibletobrunch.org.

uk for ready-made resources

you can use.

• Books for Bibles is a great way to pass on your second hand books to others whilst asking them to make a donation towards our work so that we can provide Bibles to those who desperately want one. Start by organising a second hand book sale in your church or in your community.

• #GivingTuesday is a national campaign on 1st December when people will be encouraged to make a charity donation. Think about people in your community who don’t know about our work and how you can promote SBS to them on a day when they may consider giving us a gift.

Ways to HELP

12 : 13


Last year, a team of eight consisting of staff and volunteers visited the Bible Society of Rwanda. Moira McCarrell was one of the volunteers who went on the visit and she tells us what difference the visit has made to her life.

October 2014. Ten days, three genocide memorials, two Rwandan Bible Society projects and eight Scots’ lives never quite the same again.

Twelve months on, what has been the impact? How do you describe the horror of learning about a million Rwandans slaughtered in 100 days? The pervading sense of evil in the Sunday School room where countless children were herded and massacred? The mind-numbing reach of man’s inhumanity to man? The gradual realisation that no-one over the age of 20 is unaffected by the 1994 genocide – including our Rwandan Bible Society colleagues?

Twelve months on, what has been the impact? Well, during that time I’ve had the immense privilege of being invited to a number of churches and other groups to talk about those life-changing ten days. The main aim is to raise awareness here in Scotland of what happened in Rwanda twenty years ago, and to encourage prayer and

financial support for the work of the Bible Society of Rwanda so that the reconciliation projects we were able to see and help with can continue to develop. But actually, each time I’ve shared stories with folk, there has been a much more significant impact – audiences seem to be genuinely moved by stories of well nigh impossible levels of forgiveness in the face of unspeakable evil. And more, I find myself unable to get through some of the stories without tears welling up yet again.

Twelve months on, and what we saw and heard in Rwanda last October still moves me to the very depths of my soul. Seared into my mind, for example, is the lady we met at one of the genocide sites – she couldn’t bring herself to tell us her story, but, as we prayed for her, she put her arm around

RwandaRevisited

AUTUMN 2015


me and ‘cooried in. No words

were needed. We simply wept

together. Even as I write these

words the tears are there again.

So, twelve months on, what has

been the impact? A heart which

warms each time Rwanda is

mentioned. Precious memories

of our Rwandan Bible Society

colleagues and the remarkable work they are doing to bring about reconciliation and forgiveness in that beautiful country. Constant gratitude for the opportunities to share the Rwanda story. And, above all, a wonderfully renewed vision of what the grace of God can do in the face of evil.

Thank you for supporting Bible Society work in Rwanda. Here is a brief summary of how your prayers and gifts have helped the people in Rwanda this year:

• Providing Bibles to those who desperately want one but cannot afford them;

• Helping church volunteers to fund a hospital feeding and Bible distribution programme;

• Supporting widows and orphans through practical skills training and reconciliation teaching;

• Training church leaders in Bible-based trauma healing;

• A series of peace and reconciliation workshop training sessions.

If you would like a speaker from SBS to share more about Bible Society work in Rwanda with your church or at a meeting in your community, call us on 0131 347 9812 or email [email protected]

Please pray:• Thank God for the opportunity our team of staff and volunteers had to visit the Bible

Society of Rwanda, to see the work they are involved in first hand and to serve alongside them.

• Pray for the Rwandan people and for the healing of their nation.

• Give thanks for the Bible Society of Rwanda staff and pray that they would be strengthened by God and richly blessed as they seek to promote his Word across the country.

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Bible MeditationYou, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my

purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and

Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ

Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in

what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise

for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and

training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3: 10-17 (NIV)

These questions may help you as you explore the text:

• Christians can often be misunderstood and criticized

for what we believe. How does Paul encourage

Timothy to keep his focus on Jesus?

• Reflect on some of the more testing times of your

faith. How did God help you to remain steadfast

in your faith? Which verses of the Bible gave you

particular encouragement?

• As a servant of God, how can you and your church

better equip yourselves with Scripture to share the

Good News confidently in your community?

Take some time to read and meditate on these verses.

It will be helpful if you also read Proverbs 4: 20-22.


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