Alive & Active Spring 2016

The magazine of the Scottish Bible Society

ISSUE 74 : SPRING 2016

Hearing is healingHow God’s Word changed a life

Getting closer to God’s WordResources for Scotland

Holistic ministryBible Society work in Brazil

Warm Heart of AfricaDeeper roots with Malawi

Shortage of BiblesProject update from Cuba

DEEPENINGRELATIONSHIPS

AliveActive - spring 16.indd 1 26/02/2016 07:57

• About a quarter of our funding

comes from gifts left in people’s Wills, sometimes referred to as legacies.

• These gifts play a huge part in our work in Scotland and around the world to provide Bibles and opportunities for people to encounter God.

• We know that providing for loved ones is a priority but many people discover that after doing this they can leave something in their Will for a cause they believe in.

Leave a legacy. Help a generation.

“I hope that they will live according to the Bible and that they won’t do so out of a sense of obligation, but because they realise that the Bible is relevant to their lives. That’s what I’d like to see.”

the BIBLE changes lives

Since 1809 we’ve been committed to spreading the life-changing Word of God

No gift is too small to be used by God.

Consider leaving a gift to the Scottish Bible Society in your Will so we can continue making a powerful impact in the years ahead.

Generation after generation has helped to translate, produce and distribute Bibles.

We want to continue this important work of putting the Bible into people’s hands and hearts but can only do this with your help.

To find out more or to discuss how you can make a difference for generations to come contact us on 0131 337 9701 or [email protected]

legacy page AA.indd 7 21/02/2013 13:04:13

SPRING 2016


Relationships are dynamic - if they do

not change then they become stale and

wither. For relationships to deepen we

need to invest in them, give attention to

them and nurture them. We can (and

should) spend our whole lives seeking

wisdom about how to improve and

deepen our relationships.

Within the United Bible Societies

we have the challenge of building

relationships with other Bible Societies

around the world - over 140 of them!

These relationships flourish best when

we are able to meet face-to-face with

colleagues from around the globe. The

joy of modern travel and technology

is that we can do that so much more

easily now than ever before. This has

helped us grow in our understanding

of one another’s context with its

corresponding opportunities and

challenges.

Learning to understand other people’s

perspective on life is a tremendous aid

to relationships growing and developing.

When we engage with the Scriptures we

are opening ourselves to the possibility

of seeing things more from God’s perspective rather than our own. This is one of the ways in which God uses the Bible to transform us. As we give time and attention to him, interacting with his Word, then our relationship with him deepens... and we change!

As we read of the way God has used the Bible to transform the lives of people in Africa, South America and the Caribbean, let’s ask ourselves if our own relationship with God is growing and deepening. If it is, the effects will be seen in all our other relationships too!

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 Hearing is healing How God’s Word changed a life

6 Getting closer to God’s Word Resources for Scotland

8 Holistic ministry Bible Society work in Brazil

10 Something to offer Volunteering with us

12 Warm Heart of Africa Deeper roots with Malawi

14 Shortage of Bibles Project update from Cuba

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.

James 4:8a (NLT)

Come close to God, and God

will come close to you.

• About a quarter of our funding

comes from gifts left in people’s Wills, sometimes referred to as legacies.

• These gifts play a huge part in our work in Scotland and around the world to provide Bibles and opportunities for people to encounter God.

• We know that providing for loved ones is a priority but many people discover that after doing this they can leave something in their Will for a cause they believe in.

Leave a legacy. Help a generation.

“I hope that they will live according to the Bible and that they won’t do so out of a sense of obligation, but because they realise that the Bible is relevant to their lives. That’s what I’d like to see.”

the BIBLE changes lives

Since 1809 we’ve been committed to spreading the life-changing Word of God

No gift is too small to be used by God.

Consider leaving a gift to the Scottish Bible Society in your Will so we can continue making a powerful impact in the years ahead.

Generation after generation has helped to translate, produce and distribute Bibles.

We want to continue this important work of putting the Bible into people’s hands and hearts but can only do this with your help.

To find out more or to discuss how you can make a difference for generations to come contact us on 0131 337 9701 or [email protected]

legacy page AA.indd 7 21/02/2013 13:04:13

2 : 3


Groum’s story

Groum knows first-hand what it’s like to be a street kid – constantly hungry, afraid and in despair. Today, this dedicated young Christian spends much of his time among some of Addis Ababa’s many street kids, sharing God’s Word and love with them.

12 years ago he was a frightened, half-starved street kid. Groum and his sisters found themselves homeless and alone when their parents died of AIDS. They lived on the streets, surviving on scraps of food they found in rubbish bins. They were in a constant state of anxiety, not knowing what the next day would bring.

Thankfully, they were rescued by Hannah’s Orphanage – a Christian-run home for street kids. The orphanage workers restored them to health, gave

them a place to call home and shared God’s love with them. Groum said it took a while for him to trust their kindness.

Within a year he was unrecognisable from the street kid he had been. He was excelling at school and had developed a strong faith in Jesus – thanks to listening to Bible stories on the Faith Comes By Hearing Proclaimer devices provided to the orphanage by the Bible Society of Ethiopia.

“We loved listening to those wonderful Bible stories,” he recalls with a smile. “We would listen hard and then, at night, as we fell asleep, we would try to repeat the stories to each other. I felt that the voice that came out of that little black box was actually God’s voice, and so, when I meditated and prayed, I could hear his words in my head. It encouraged me so much.”

We revisit one of the stories from our regular ‘the BIBLE changes lives’ feature. We first heard about 21-year-old Groum Pale from Ethiopia in autumn 2014 (issue 71 of Alive & Active). Elaine Duncan had the pleasure of meeting Groum on a recent visit to Ethiopia.

the BIBLE

SPRING 2016


Most days, when his classes are over, Groum can be found helping street kids and the younger children at the orphanage. Groum’s phrase for describing the power of the Proclaimer device is “Healing through hearing”. He says, “Getting to know God’s Word changed my life. When my friends and I faced any difficulty we would recite out loud passages that we had heard and use them to encourage each other.”

Healing through hearing

An example of how his faith has deepened as he becomes more familiar with God’s Word is seen at school. He recalls how he would get into fights with other pupils and become angry when provoked by them. But as he used the Proclaimer more, one day he heard an audible voice in his head. The voice would recite the passages he had heard from the Proclaimer. He would be reminded of God’s peace and joy and that made him aware of his own behaviour and so he stopped fighting. Groum was so encouraged by his own transformation that he started bringing the device to the school playground to share with his friends and they asked him to bring it back again and again so they could listen to it more. Over time, the behaviour of his friends also changed. That’s when Groum started to believe that there is healing through hearing.

Hope for the future

A year on and Groum sports a larger smile than ever. He tells Elaine that he is in the final year of high school and hopes to go to university to pursue a career in medicine or engineering. Highlighting the value of the Proclaimer and his appreciation to our supporters who have helped to provide so many of these devices to Ethiopia, Groum says, “Some

people can’t read and others find it boring to read. But we all love the Proclaimer. It means a lot to me personally. Most of the time before I sleep, I listen to the Proclaimer with the other boys in the orphanage so we can listen to the Bible as we fall asleep. We are so much more at peace now and we see hope for the future. Thank you so much for giving us this amazing gift. It is everything to us.”

changeslives

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Getting closerThe Gift – a Gospel for Christmas

A special NIV edition of Luke’s Gospel featuring an attractive cover design, containing quotes and illustrations from children, was produced last year. Churches were encouraged to order in bulk for Scripture distribution in their community and we learnt that these were given out at Christmas Carol services, nativities, with food hampers and in other creative ways to reach as many people as possible. Fiona McDonald, Director of National Ministries for the Scottish Bible Society, shares the story behind this small yet powerful book.

The Christmas Gospel project was born from a concern that Christmas has somehow lost its meaning in modern society. A survey conducted in 2010 suggested that 51% of the UK adult population no longer see the birth of Christ as relevant

to their Christmas. As a Bible Society, SBS wanted to help churches put the Gospel back into Christmas in a way that would intrigue, inform and even amuse their local communities. We included the words of children and asked, ‘what does Christmas mean to you?’ Perhaps Lewis, aged 11, summed it up best:

“Christmas is a celebration to celebrate Jesus being born. Jesus coming in to the world”Christmas is often a season of outreach for churches, and a time when people who normally shy away from attendance are in services. People are generally more receptive to hearing the news that it is possible to know Jesus. We were greatly encouraged when 70 churches used over 20,000 copies of, ‘The Gift’ as give away ‘gifts’ during advent in 2015. Distributing these at Christmas services, in shopping centres, with food bank parcels and throughout neighbourhoods, these little red books now have the potential to bring people and God together.

On behalf of SBS, thank you to everyone who purchased and distributed copies and we pray

Across Scotland, the Scottish Bible Society has been deepening its relationships with churches by providing resources to help people encounter God in the Bible. Through our continuing partnership with Biblica, publishers of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, we look at two resources that have brought people closer to God’s Word.

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6 : 76 : 7

to God’s Wordthat each and every one would be read. Copies are available to order for this Christmas – please contact Pearl Liddle on 0131 347 9822 [email protected]

A letter from God, just to me

One of the main goals for the Scottish Bible Society is to work with the church in Scotland to improve Biblical knowledge and understanding through meaningful engagement with the Bible and thus contribute to the growth of people’s relationship with God. Adrian Armstrong, Head of Bible Engagement for the Scottish Bible Society, provides an insight into how one useful resource is helping groups of people to achieve this.

During the past year it has been my privilege to witness the incredible success of the Community Bible Experience (CBE), a small group Bible study resource produced by Biblica, through which thousands of people across Scotland have experienced the New Testament in fresh ways. The concept is very simple yet has a powerful impact. It comprises daily readings for five days a week (with Saturday and Sunday to catch up) using a specially formatted NIV edition of the New Testament. The typical layout of double columns, headings, chapter and verse numbers have been removed so it reads more like a ‘normal’ book. People meet together in groups once a week to discuss what they have read, giving it a feeling of a book club rather than a Bible study. In

this way, the group reads the whole New Testament in just 8 weeks! My usual task is to support churches as they set up groups and launch CBE. However, at the end of 2015 a rare opportunity came up, I had the chance to join a local group as they met every week.

At the first meeting, many familiar comments began to surface. This included comments about: the attractiveness of the book, the ease of reading, the challenge and the enjoyment of reading large sections of God’s Word, and the many new things people had seen for the first time. But the highlight was a statement by one lady who only became a Christian in the past few years, “When I first started coming to church I had all these questions. But I didn’t want to ask any, because I felt everyone would think I was stupid. Here I can ask questions! I’ve never read the Bible like this. It’s like a letter from God, just to me”. Those of our supporters who have been following the CBE story will recognise this is not a unique comment - such statements are commonplace among the many churches that have used CBE. Our group comprised of people who were relatively new to faith and many who had been reading the Bible daily for decades. All spoke with enthusiasm

about: the book, the five open questions that so enliven CBE discussions, and the sense of seeing things afresh in God’s Word.

Having heard time and again the incredible stories from groups that have run CBE, it has been a wonderful experience to be part of a group. During the first three weeks of 2016, in churches all around Scotland, well over 100 people have begun CBE. Please pray for many more communities to benefit from this great resource.

To find out more about CBE, contact Adrian Armstrong on 0131 347 9827 or [email protected]

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Holistic ministry in BrazilAs Brazil prepares

to host the Olympic

Games this summer,

we meet a colleague

from the Bible

Society of Brazil

who tells us about

Bible Society work

in the country.

Over the years, the Bible Societies in Scotland and Brazil have enjoyed a fruitful friendship together. For the Scottish Bible Society bicentenary celebrations, we asked our supporters to pray and give generously to help develop a project in Brazil called, ‘Light in the Northeast’ which provides Scripture and medical care. Marcia Carneiro, Communications Manager for the Bible Society of Brazil, shares more about this programme of holistic ministry in Brazil.

Tell us about your role

I first started working for the Bible Society of Brazil 19 years ago, when I was commissioned to develop the communications strategy for the celebration of Bible Society of Brazil’s 50th anniversary. A few years later, I was invited to join the Bible Society permanently in the role of Communications Manager. I did not think twice.

My work can be summarised by the verse in the Gospel of Mark, “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.” (Mark 16:15 GNT). Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and with a population of over 204 million people, my main challenge is to create messages that reach this huge and culturally and socially diverse population. I am responsible for the communication of outreach programmes, for fundraising campaigns, organising national events, and promoting new publications, among other activities.

How does the Bible Society serve the people in Brazil?

Christians make up approximately 87% of the Brazilian population. The major denominations are Catholic (65% of all Christians) and Protestant (22% of all Christians). Although it is a country with a Christian majority, there are still many places in Brazil where people do not have their own copy of the Bible because they cannot afford it. The Bible Society of Brazil has more than 500 employees that work together in order to translate, produce, distribute and engage Brazilians with the Bible, so that they can encounter God through his Word. With the support of volunteers, partner organisations and donors, we have projects that reach a wide section of our

society, for example: families, youth, the visually impaired, the hard-of-hearing, prison inmates, hospital patients, and Amazonian riverside dwellers.

Tell us about some of your projects and how do they make a difference in people’s lives?

The Amazonian riverside dwellers are a community with a lot of needs. We assist them through our ‘Light in the Amazon’ project. This was established in 1962 in order to bring the Bible to isolated

communities along the Amazon and the only way to reach them is by boat. At the heart of our project is the “Luz na Amazônia” boat which travels along the river to enable us to distribute Scripture. We are also able to assist the people in other areas, such as the provision of health care, clothing, and food parcels. For example, volunteer dentists will travel on the boat and provide free dental care to people who would not normally be able to access this service let alone pay for it. We call this ‘holistic ministry’ and this makes a big difference in people’s lives. When people receive the Word of God as well as practical assistance, it gives them hope for the future.

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The positive results and benefits of this programme encouraged the Bible Society to replicate this in other regions of Brazil. Thanks to the prayers and generous financial support from Scotland, we have a truck that operates in the northeast of Brazil that distributes Scripture and provides holistic care to people. We also have two buses, one in the south and another in the southeast of the country, providing similar projects. All these programmes are part of the large umbrella programme called, ‘Light in Brazil’. Together, they have helped to transform the lives of over forty five thousand people in the past year alone.

What was your first impression of Scotland and how do you plan to spend your time in Scotland on your next visit?

Last year, I visited Scotland for the first time. It was love at first sight! I feel like this about some places. I like the place so much that I want to live there for a while. I had the pleasure of visiting Edinburgh with my husband, Carlos, who also loved it – the friendly people, beautiful landscape, and delicious food. Visiting Scotland was part of an exchange project to get to know the work carried out by SBS and to improve my fluency in the English language. My next visit will be in April when I look

forward to returning to this beautiful city to complete the exchange project. I will be involved with creating resources and promoting the projects in Brazil as without the help of our friends in Scotland, the work would not be possible.

To find out more about how you can pray and give regular ongoing support for Bible Society projects such as this, please contact Robert Russell, Head of Donor Care, on 0131 347 9823 [email protected]

Please pray for the Bible Society of Brazil as they develop resources to help inform people of the Zika virus - how to identify the disease, where to seek help and Bible passages that give encouragement to those with health issues. These resources will be distributed through the Light in the Northeast project to areas that have been affected by the virus.

Please pray

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What led you to volunteer with

SBS?

Just over a year ago I became

increasingly burdened about

global mission and wondered

how I could serve the Lord in this

area? I didn`t feel I was called to

the mission field but was there

another way to spread the Word?

I recalled as a young Sunday School teacher, I was very impressed with the effectiveness and outreach of the Scottish Bible Society’s Bible Exhibition (later known as Bibleworld) and the possibility of being involved in this work had always been at the back of my mind. Did I have anything to offer this ministry I wondered?

It was this positive memory of SBS that led me to contacting them about volunteering opportunities. I had retired 7 years previously after a background in administration and teaching and was a little hesitant in putting myself forward as a volunteer. However, after prayerful consideration, I contacted SBS and after an interview I started within a few weeks as a member of the Donor Care team.

How do you help the staff at Bible House?My normal routine involves volunteering for three hours every Wednesday afternoon and occasionally I will offer to do additional days at the office or work from home. I am sometimes asked to attend particular events that SBS are involved in and I am happy to do this if I possibly can, but there is no pressure to do so. There is complete flexibility in our working arrangement and I can alter my timings if required to accommodate holidays or any other commitment so it meets both our needs. I have been involved in a vast array of administration tasks including: database reviews, liaising with

other volunteers in our Action Groups, establishing prayer points for our Read & Pray publication, helping with the Alive & Active magazine content, and in addition have been asked to attend the Heart & Soul and #GivingTuesday events.

How would you describe your experience as a volunteerI was warmly welcomed into the SBS family and have found the experience to be both stimulating and rewarding in equal measure. There is a genuine and heart-felt appreciation for everything that volunteers do on behalf of the Society and nothing goes unnoticed.

It is a continuing joy to be a partner in such a missional

to offerSomething

Volunteers play a vital role in praying for our work and raising financial support for the Scottish Bible Society. From time-to-time, we also have office-based volunteers to help us with our work at Bible House. Derek Hamilton is currently volunteering alongside our staff and we find out more about why he chose to volunteer with us.

Join theTEAMChurch Representatives are invaluable to SBS. By having dedicated volunteers in churches advocating our projects, it helps to raise the awareness of our mission so we can inspire more people to pray and support our work.

We are seeking Church Representatives to join our team. For more information and to find out about volunteering opportunities with SBS, contact Norman Liddle, Community Partnership Manager, on 0131 347 9812 or [email protected]

SPRING 2016


BIBLE-A-MONTH Partnership

Bible Sunday is celebrated annually with churches devoting a Sunday service to using the same Bible passage as their focus so that across Scotland we join together to celebrate God’s Word. This year we are inviting churches to dedicate a service to Bible Sunday on 23rd October. Visit biblesundayscotland.org.uk for more information and to obtain your free resources to help you host a Bible Sunday celebration.

The Patron’s Lunch is a significant National and Commonwealth event to celebrate Her Majesty

The Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations throughout her lifetime, on the occasion of her 90th birthday. The Queen is our patron and we are

inviting our supporters to join us in marking this occasion with us. To register your interest, contact Norman Liddle, Community Partnership Manager, on 0131 347 9812 or

[email protected]

Our Bible-A-Month Partnership is a commitment by SBS to support twelve different projects around the world each year where Bibles or Bible-based resources reach those who need and want them. You can be an individual Partner or come together as a group to pray and raise vital funds for these projects. Visit scottishbiblesociety.org for more information or call us on 0131 347 9801 to request our calendar that gives you project information, prayer points and a donation form.

We appreciate the help and support from all of our volunteers. Here are some ideas to promote our work in your community and to help raise vital funds to continue our mission.

Ways to HELP

endeavour and not only do I have a small part to play in spreading the Word of God but my own personal faith has been enlarged as I come into contact

with so many diverse Christian communities and it is thrilling to hear how the Lord is at work. As I reflect on this, it reminds me of one of my favourite verses

in Scripture, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

10 : 11


Scotland and Malawi have shared a long friendship, famously dating back to David Livingstone, one of Scotland’s best-known explorers and Christian missionaries. Beginning this year, the Scottish Bible Society is developing a three year programme to support projects and staff at the Bible Society of Malawi.

Early links between Scotland

and Malawi began with David

Livingstone’s journeys up the

Zambezi and Shire Rivers

to Lake Malawi in 1859, long

before the borders of the

modern nation of Malawi

had been established. Both

the Church of Scotland and

the Free Church of Scotland

had established missions in

Malawi by the mid-1870s. These

missionaries persuaded the

UK government to declare the

area a British Protectorate.

This colonial arrangement

lasted, in various forms, until

full independence was achieved

on 6 July 1964, with Malawi

becoming a member of the

Commonwealth.

One such missionary, was

Robert Laws, who travelled

from Aberdeen to Malawi in

1875. He established a network

of schools and translated

some of the Bible into Nyanja

(Chichewa). Throughout the

history of SBS, we have been

involved in supporting Malawi

with the translation and

provision of God’s Word. We

have seen the transformation

of individuals and communities

through their encounter with

God in the Bible.

Landlocked Malawi is among

the world’s poorest countries.

It is one of the least developed

countries in the world, with

over half of Malawians living

below the poverty line. Most

of its population lives in rural

areas, where population density

is high and water-related

diseases plus HIV and AIDS are

widespread. Less than 30%

of the rural population have

access to a latrine. HIV and

AIDS affects 30% of those

living in urban areas and 15%

in rural areas. Nearly half the

population is under 15 years

old and many are orphans,

often because of HIV and AIDS

affecting their parents.

Almost three-quarters of

secondary school-age children

are either working or staying

home to care for their families

instead of receiving an

education. The HIV and AIDS

pandemic continues to grow,

killing tens of thousands of

Malawians each year. More than

550,000 children have lost one

or both of their parents to HIV

and AIDS.

In asking our colleagues at the

Bible Society of Malawi how we

can help them continue to make

an impact in their country over

these next three years, they

have identified children as a

priority group. One project we

will be supporting involves the

provision of Chichewa Bibles

and illustrated Children’s Bibles,

as well as vital funding to

train Sunday School teachers.

Working alongside the Roman

Catholic Church, Church of

Central African Presbyterian

and Seventh Day Adventist

Deeper roots with the

OF AFRICA’‘WARM HEART

SPRING 2016


Church, this project will reach over 25,000 children with the Word of God.

Another project we will be supporting is the provision of family Scripture engagement packs. This project encourages families to engage with the Word of God together and help them to draw inspiration from God’s Word. Each family involved in the project will receive a Bible, a Children’s Bible and a Scripture Union reading guide. The target is to engage over 5,500 people from more than 1,000 families to sit together and study the Word of God.

It is our hope and prayer that we will be able to support the Bible Society of Malawi with the funding required for these projects. Over the next three years, our longer term commitment will offer the Bible Society of Malawi stability as they benefit from knowing that these projects can be fulfilled and developed further to reach more children with God’s Word.

In addition to supporting these projects, we will also be investing our time and resources to develop the skills and experience of our colleagues at the Bible Society of Malawi. We call this, ‘capacity building’ and it involves a two-way exchange of ideas between our staff so we can learn from one another. Over the next three years, we

hope to bring our staff teams closer together in partnership and knowledge sharing.

Commenting on the three year programme, Clapperton Mayuni, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Malawi says, “Greetings from the Warm Heart of Africa! It’s reassuring for us to hear the good news that SBS will walk with us for the next three years having begun a close relationship. This, we hope, will bring some lasting fruit to the work as together we can be addressing the shortfalls as we see things emerging. We are particularly excited that we can give children a special focus in our ministry journey. I know very well that SBS has done very well in this regard, as I remember the children’s work in Scotland and how you try to reach different schools

across Scotland. It is my hope that at a later stage the Youth Officer that is being engaged will have time to learn from your initiatives and help draw lessons on how we will implement our own programmes here in Malawi.”

To find out more about how you can pray and give regular ongoing support for Bible Society projects such as this, please contact Robert Russell, Head of Donor Care, on 0131 347 9823 or email [email protected]

Clapperton Mayuni, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Malawi on a recent visit to Bible House, Edinburgh

12 : 13


Thank you for supporting Bible Society projects in Cuba where your prayers and generous financial gifts are helping to meet the hunger for God’s Word.

With a population of 11 million

people, Cuba is the largest

island in the Caribbean. This

vibrant nation has a fascinating

history, from the Cuban

War of Independence to the

introduction of communism

after Castro’s revolution in

1959. While the cigars and

classic cars remain, much has

changed for the previously

atheistic Cuban population who

can now openly express their

faith. The Church in Cuba has

been re-energised.

Over the past ten years, the

Church in Cuba has seen rapid

growth after economic, political

and social reforms. However

this major revival presents a

great challenge as the high

demand for Bibles cannot be

satisfied. New Bibles are few in

Cuba, so people keep their old,

worn Bibles and repair them as

needed. Poverty remains high

in Cuba which also prevents

people from purchasing their

own Bible, and computers are

expensive with poor internet

service so accessing the Bible

online is not a viable option.

To meet the constant requests

for Scriptures, the Bible

Commission of Cuba (the name

for the Bible Society in Cuba) is

working to provide one million

free Bibles over a three-year

period. A wide variety of

Cubans will be reached, from

children and young people to

adult new believers, and Bible

distribution in prison will bring

the Good News to those in need

of God’s guidance. Pastors and

seminary students will also be

provided with Biblical resources

so they are equipped to spread

the Word of God across Cuba.

Rev. Elmer Lava Tida Alfonso

has seen the great change in

attitude towards faith in Cuba,

“from a total rejection of God’s

Word to a great hunger” he

says. Rev Alfonso teaches

at a seminary and receives a

knock at the door at least once

a week from someone asking

to buy a Bible. His church

also distributes Scripture to

prisoners who he describes,

“got a whole new life and

A shortage Bibles in Cubaof

“The reason for the shortage of Bibles is simple: In the last ten years, the number of Christians in Cuba has doubled. But how can we grow in faith without God’s Word? How do the new ones that come to believe and are baptised, grow in faith when we do not have a Bible or a New Testament to give them? Can the great growth of the church have sustainability when they do not get nourishment from the Word of God?”

Rev. Alain Montano Hernández of the Bible Commission in Cuba

SPRING 2016


behaved much better” after engaging with the Bible. He has even experienced a prisoner requesting additional Scriptures for his prison officer who had seen the effect of the Bible on the prisoners and wished a Bible for himself.

In Santiago de Cuba, the Methodist Church opens at six in the morning and food is prepared for people coming by. It is a social meeting place for the whole community but they have not been able to get hold of new Bibles for a long time. There were not nearly enough Bibles for everyone in the Bible

groups. “It’s hard” said Bible study leader Sonia Domecq, “people often ask to borrow my Bible so they can handwrite the verses we’ve talked about”. There was great delight on the face of Sonia Domecq when the Bible Society in Cuba was able to present the church with new Bibles after waiting for so long – made possible by the prayers and generous gifts of supporters like you.

Since the beginning of the project in 2013 over 500,000 Bibles have been distributed, and 2015 was a historic year for Bible distribution in Cuba, with

more than 250,000 Scriptures given out. Never before have so many Bibles been distributed in a single year in Cuba. We are so grateful that we have been able to contribute to this with your support and we pray that this success will continue to meet the hunger for God’s Word in Cuba.

Please pray:• Give thanks for the change in attitude towards faith in Cuba allowing people to openly express their faith.

• Pray for the shortage in Bibles to be met so that those who hunger for God’s Word can receive a Bible of

their own.

• Thank God for the work of the Bible Society in Cuba and pray that they can provide even more Scriptures

this year.

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SPRING 2016

Bible Meditation

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human

hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history

and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find

him, though he is not far from any one of us. “For in him we live and move and have our being.”

Acts 17:24-28a (NIV)

These questions may help you as you explore the text:

• What are some of the distractions which Christians

face in today’s world that can prohibit us from

deepening our relationship with God?

• Think of other verses from the Bible that affirm

God’s sovereignty. Reflect on this encouragement

that God has a plan for each and every one of us.

• How can we apply the verse ‘seek him and perhaps

reach out for him and find him’ to our lives in order

to deepen our own relationship with God?

Take some time to read and meditate on these verses.


Date post:	27-Jul-2016
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Alive & Active Spring 2016

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