THANKSThanking God for 2011

THANKS

BSNI’s purpose and plan...Since beginning work in Belfast in 1807, BSNI’s purpose has alwaysbeen to promote the distribution and use of Scripture. BSNI workshand-in-hand with the other 146 Bible Societies who together make upthe United Bible Societies (UBS). BSNI has been a full member since1987 supporting a great many Bible translation and distributionprojects on every continent.

Scripture is now available in anything from print to a mobile phoneapp. Each year brings opportunities that the Board and staff are eagerto use.

2011 was the second year of a three-year Business Plan.A key feature of this, alongside funding ministry overseas, was the aimto make the Bible more prominent at home. The 400th anniversary ofthe King James Bible and the complementary Biblefresh campaignbrought some great opportunities to partner with local churchesthrough exhibitions and community projects.

Our Vision continues to be of a worldwhere everyone can have access toScripture in the language they knowbest and in a style and format thatsuits their needs. With the generousand prayerful support of so manypeople that have a great love for God’sWord, that Vision remains attainable.We look forward to the blessings thatGod has in store for his people,everywhere, in the years ahead.

Everyone is feeling the pinch, so it isn’t surprising that some of our projects received fewer donations thanpreviously. However, by God’s grace, BSNI ended 2011 almost exactly on budget. The main reasons for this were:

Generosity. We saw a 17% increase in donations from churches and individuals – other sectors declined.Faithfulness. Small growth in gifts to the Bible-a-Month Club – the first increase for several years.Concern. A remarkable response to the campaign for the printing of Bibles in China for the Chinese Church.Thoughtfulness. The improved response to ‘The Greatest Gift’ – BSNI’s alternative Christmas Gifts.Wisdom. A record amount was claimed back from HMRC through Gift Aid.

Other little differences add up also. Scripture sales grew, especially to churches seeking Gospels for outreach. TheSociety also began receiving text message gifts from mobile phones, although very few and all are anonymous.And, of course, great care is taken to keep costs as low as possible.

BSNI supporters helped flood Egypt with Scripture immediately after the ‘Arab Spring’ began.

Enduring Vision...

By God’s Grace...

TH

AN

KS

‘Bread of Life’,Lima, Peru

Ministry Overseas...During 2011 BSNI supported both Bible translation anddistribution initiatives in 31 countries, including reachingvulnerable women in India, an HIV/AIDS project in Haiti andthe distribution of Children’s Bibles in Bulgarian orphanages.The ‘Bread of Life’ Scripture breakfast programme for poorPeruvian children has been well supported by BSNI over thepast two years, with one supporter even doing a sponsoredparachute jump! In July the General Secretary had theopportunity to visit Peru to see how the support from BSNI wasbeing put to great use.

Two additional grants were provided in response to worldevents – the tsunami off the coast of Japan and the revolutionin Egypt, part of what came to be known as the ‘Arab Spring’.Another ongoing project – the distribution of the ChristianityExplored course materials and Gospels of Mark – receivedfurther support to enable the Bible Society of Uganda tocontinue to play its part in promoting this evangelism tool tothe churches.

BSNI’s total support for specific projects being undertaken byBible Societies abroad in 2011 came to £363,687 (£375,183 in2010). These figures reflect the general downturn in charitablegiving since late 2009, affecting BSNI and the charitable sectorin general.

Gabe Beyene visited Belfast in June 2011.He is lead translator in the adaptation ofthe Tigrinyan Bible on behalf of the BibleSociety of Ethiopia. He conveyed thanks forBSNI’s support and to seek help fordistribution.One large print New Testament(pictured) is to be distributed as a gift toeach church in Tigray province. With thehelp of a supporting church here and EveryHome Crusade, 460,000 Gospels of Johnwere printed from the new text and shippedto Ethiopia. BSNI is having discussions withFeba radio regarding how the reading ofthe Tigrinyan text might be broadcast onlocal radio, recognising that 70% of thepopulation are unable to read. It is vitalthat the 2.5 million Tigrinyan speakers haveaccess to this new text – a Bible they canunderstand for the first time!

Special Visitors...

Gabe Beyene,Ethiopia

Ministry at Home...With 2011 being the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the Bible was in the media often andwas the reason for a number of special events. BSNI were approached to assist with events, both inthe public arena and in local churches. Many church events involved public readings, Bibleexhibitions and even a Bible week. In each case, the Society provided exhibition materials. A numberof churches were very generous to the Society as a result.

A key part of the 2010-2012 Business Plan centred on the need to share about the Society’s work withexisting and potential new supporters. This involved speaking engagements in some 112 differentlocations, some reaching substantial audiences from combined churches. This helped to attract newsupporters for the Society, a number of whom agreed to support BSNI regularly through electronicgiving (by Direct Debit).

The cost of initiatives undertaken by the Society within Northern Ireland was very modest in thecontext of the wider International support. It amounted to £9,775.

In August 2011, Altin Hysi, General Secretaryof the Bible Society of Albania visitedNorthern Ireland to speak at the BangorWorldwide Missionary event and to speak intwo churches here. His visit was generouslysupported by the Bangor Worldwideorganisers.

Keeping in Touch with YOU...

Altin Hysi,Albania

THANKS

Privileged to Serve God in BSNI...Board of TrusteesVery Reverend Dr David ClarkeMrs Jacqueline Gee Reverend Richard Kerr *Mr Noel Lavery * (Honorary Treasurer)Reverend Stephen Lowry * (Chair)Reverend Dr Edmund MawhinneyMr Lawson McDonald *Miss Joy Scott * (Vice Chair )Miss Anne TaylorMr David Taylor Mr Jackie Whyte* Member of Executive Committee

Staff Team

John Doherty - General SecretaryCampbell Moore - Office ManagerJulie Moore - Communications Manager (part-time)Leah McKibben - Projects Manager (part-time)

Staff continued to provide supporters with a range ofinformation and resources to keep them informed:

Around 14,000 of the Word at Work magazine were circulatedduring the year.

Three Prayer/Gift Letters are sent to supporters each year.One of these, asking for support for bales of printing paper toprint Bibles in China, attracted a remarkable total of £86,000.The others provided information on Bible translation inPapua New Guinea and need for Scripture distribution in theMiddle East.

‘Greatest Gift’, offers alternative Christmas gift ideas that willprovide Bibles in various countries.

Fortnightly Prayer Circle and monthly INSIGHT are prayerresources sent by email. These are often used in churchworship.

An annual Prayer Booklet covering prayer requests from allthe Bible Societies worldwide was circulated;

Occasional emails were sent to supporters of MargaretBohoussou in Côte d’Ivoire, whose commitment to Bibletranslation work in that country for well over 20 years endedwith her retirement in December 2011.

The Bible-a-Month calendar again featured 12 diversemonthly projects and these are prayed for and generouslysupported by hundreds of supporters.

An Extract from the 2010 Annual Report and Accounts wassent to some supporters for sharing.

The website continues to provide prayer material, projectnews, links to other websites, resources for download forBible Sunday worship Services and much more. The siteprovides links for online giving and a new Bible Searchfacility in over 50 languages. The Scripture InSight pagedisplayed a 12-month series of favourite Bible passages ofdifferent and prominent members of the community eachweek. Other web pages were created to tell the story of theimpact of the King James Bible.

The Society continues to provide regular postings onFacebook.

BSNI supporters provided Scripture forwomen’s discipleship classes in India

BSNI is committed to partner with a number ofMission agencies throughout Northern Ireland:

BSNI is one of the five Specialist Service Agenciesthat are recognised by the Presbyterian Church’sBoard of Mission Overseas along with theNational Bible Society of Ireland, Feba Radio,SAT-7 and Wycliffe Bible Translators;

BSNI is a very active member of MAP (Mission Agencies Partnership), a groupof 45 partner agencies in NI. BSNI helped to organise events across a rangeof interests, including a specially designed Information stand at the NewHorizon event in July;

BSNI also participates in the Association of Missionary Societies, an all-Ireland body that brings together agencies that have a close relationshipwith the Church of Ireland.

BSNI continues to liaise closely with the National Bible Society of Ireland inthe sharing and publication of literature. This is helpful both to facilitatecommunication to supporters and to reduce costs – a key issue in timeswhen cost is an important consideration.

15,000 Portions were supplied to Baptist Youth’s Amazing Journey project.This is now in its twelfth year and is very successful in presenting the Gospelstory to primary schools in a compelling story telling style.

Looking back over 2011 we are soaware that we owe great thanks toGod for sustaining the ministry ofBSNI in such difficult financial times.

We are also aware that without thefaithful and often sacrificial giving ofour supporters we would be unable toachieve all that we do.

A special thanks to you, our faithful,prayerful and generous partners.

A Special Thanks......

THANKS

The Importance of Partnership...

Annual Report and Accounts are available on request. Contact Campbell on 9032 6577

Other special events / partnershipsA Schools photographic completion was again offered to Key Stage 3classes in Secondary Schools as a resource to be used within the R.E.curriculum. While the number of schools taking part was disappointing,the quality of the entries was exceptionally good and prizes were awardedappropriately.

Information in the form of Project profiles and updates were provided tomeet the needs of partners who have been providing special support toBible translation work in Indonesia and Côte d’Ivoire. These updatesinclude material being provided to relatives of a lady whose bequest hasunderpinned one New Testament translation project.

The Bible Society in Northern Ireland27 Howard Street

BelfastBT1 6NB

Tel: 028 9032 6577www.bsni.co.uk

Email: gsec@bsni.co.uk

Charity No: XN46187Find us on Facebook.

Updates on Prayer, Projects andNews

BSNI supporters gave an

incredible £86,000 to the ‘Bibles

for China’ project. Thank you!