The Bible in Brazil - # 247

2 The Bible in Brazil

PROFILE

Fernando Miguel de Oliveira has a collection of 130 copies of the Holy Bible gathered since he was 17 years old.

The love for God’s Word made Fernando Miguel de Oliveira develop a curious activity: since the age of 17 he collects copies of the Holy Bible. Today, at age 35 and living in the town of Taguatinga (Federal District), Mr. Oliveira has a collection of approximately 130 copies of the Holy Scriptures that he shares through exhibits held at churches by invitation.

He is interested in the Holy Book since he was 12 years old when he read the Bible for the first time. “It was a collection of eight volumes featuring a very large print on the cover and a lot of illustrations inside,” he recalls.

But, Mr. Oliveira’s curiosity about new versions was aroused when he won his first Bible at age 17. “I wanted to get to know other Bible editions to make sure that the translation I was reading was correct. I was never a fan of just one version.”

Therefore, until he was 24 years old, Mr. Oliveira gathered his first collection,

with about 20 copies. Then, at age 28, he restarted the task reaching the current milestone of 130 titles, many of them published by Bible Society of Brazil (SBB), such as the waterproof New Testament, which is a big hit during exhibitions.

Some of the collector’s favorite editions are one in English from 1876, a copy in Portuguese from 1937, in addition to his first Bible, a version called “Pão Nosso de Cada Dia” (Our Daily Bread). “I also have Bibles in about 20 languages, such as Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Mandarin, Thai, and Russian,” he explains.

Currently, Mr. Oliveira has been devoted to a project of building a Bible Database, which will enable him to reach those who do not own a copy of the Holy Book yet. “This will allow the donation of copies that are just collecting dust at homes to be distributed to rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and other people in need who cannot afford a Bible,” he says.

Such effort is justified by the importance that Mr. Oliveira gives to the Word of God, with its power to transform people. “The Bible always comes first in my life. It introduces us to Jesus. But a copy closed or open on a chapter as an amulet cannot accomplish anything. The Bible only represents the real power of God in the lives of people when someone reads it, practices what is read, and speaks by giving testimony and behaving accordingly,” he concludes.

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The Bible in Brazil 3

FOR THE DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE

Even operating in a country of Muslim majority, Bible Society of Malaysia has been successful in developing translation projects into minority languages, some of them almost disappearing.

Accomplishing its mission of spreading the Word of God in a country where less than 10% of the population of 30 million people are Christians has been requiring major efforts on the part of Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM). Founded 30 years ago in the country located in Southeast Asia, BSM faces challenges of social, political and religious nature, which go beyond the difficulty of distributing the Bible to different ethnic groups.

“As there are many internal conflicts to resolve, churches in Malaysia are not very united in supporting Bible Society to further the Bible Cause. There is also the challenge of achieving financial independence in order to reach minorities,” explains Daniel Ess, acting General Secretary.

Even with all these obstacles, BSM has been able to implement several translation projects designed to include the different languages spoken in the country. The organization has already distributed the Bible in at least 13 of these languages. Currently,

BSM is carrying out the Jahut translation project, in addition to studies on the following linguistic groups: Kelabit, Kayan (Revision), Bukar Sadong, and Penan (Old Testament).

The New Testament of the Bible in Formal Malay, one of the projects in progress, is expected to be completed next June to benefit two million people. The Penan Old Testament, scheduled for 2020, will reach 10,000 people. The Jahut project, scheduled for 2017, shall reach a group of 6,000 speakers. And, finally, the Iban Bible Study, to be completed in 2019, will reach a community of 850,000 people.

Headquartered in the city of Petaling Jaya, State of Selangor, Bible Society of Malaysia, in November 2014, completed three decades working for the Bible Cause. “In addition to blessings for the translation projects, we ask Christians from all over the world to pray for divine providence and protection for the distribution of Bibles in Malay and other indigenous languages across the East and Peninsular Malaysia,” asks Mr. See.

Download the Prayer Booklet App free of charge and check other prayer requests from around the world.

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PRAYER CALENDAR

Translation of the Bible into local

languages is one of the challenges

faced by Bible Society of Malaysia.

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SOCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH GOD’S WORDThe lives of thousands of people in Brazil and worldwide are changed through literacy and Bible reading programs.

The most read, translated and distributed book of all times, the Holy Bible has been an inspiration for a very special activity. Imbued with the desire to deepen their knowledge of God’s Word, people from all over the world are joining programs developed by Christian organizations that teach them how to read and write based on the Holy Scriptures. Whether it is for children, young people or adults, learning through the Bible opens the doors that can change their lives.

With 31 literacy projects, the United Bible Societies (UBS) have already benefited more than 500,000 adults and children in countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. And, in Brazil, several

programs are developed by Bible Society of Brazil (SBB) and other organizations that assist citizens to overcome the barrier of illiteracy seeking social inclusion.

According to Erní Seibert, SBB’s Communications, Social Outreach & Fund-raising Secretary, the Bible plays a double role in literacy. “Many people use it to learn how to read and write because the Holy Scriptures are a source of inspiration for their lives. On the other hand, many consider the Bible a great book to read, through which they develop their ability to understand texts,” he says.

Literacy, however, still is a huge challenge in Brazil and worldwide. Published early last

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year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the 11th Education for All Global Monitoring Report showed that there are still about 774 million adults who cannot read or write, of which 72% in a group of only ten countries. Brazil holds the eighth position in this group, ahead only of nations with very large populations, such as India, China and Pakistan.

The Brazilian National Household Sample Survey, carried out in 2013 and released in September 2014, showed that about 17 million Brazilians, 8.5% of the population, aged 15 or over cannot read or write.

The primary goal of promoting literacy using the Scriptures is the transformation of individuals and society. UBS associates literacy to dignity, independence and integrity of people. “Everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to read and write to be able to enjoy life at its fullest as Jesus offers,” says Julian Sundersingh, Global Literacy Coordinator at UBS.

Changing the PerspectiveUBS’ literacy program is recognized by

UNESCO and shall reach one million people with projects in 50 languages by the end of 2015. One of its most successful initiatives takes place in Latin America with the

project “Ler para Viver” (Read to Live) that addresses the issue of domestic violence and has been playing an important role in transforming communities.

Some of the participants in UBS’ programs become literacy facilitators, and then help to teach other people. Sundersingh celebrates: “It’s very gratifying to know that our projects are helping people to learn how to read and write, gain more confidence and start to use the Word of God to change their lives.” And Seibert adds that “when a person learns to how to read, he/she has the key to the entire wealth of human knowledge acquired for centuries.” Testimonies of people who began to regularly read the Bible, and whose lives started to make sense, prove this point.

A professor from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro told SBB’s Communications, Social Outreach & Fund-raising Secretary that a large part of his students only reached university because they began reading and studying the Bible. “The connection between reading the Bible and developing the habit of reading is quite evident,” he says. The same observation is made by Christian publishers, whose readership is primarily churchgoers. Furthermore, a reading promotion program developed by SBB also monitors the connection among the Bible, literacy and reading.

Literacy associated to the Bible benefits adults and children worldwide.

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Literacy associated to the Bible benefits adults and children worldwide. In countries ravaged by civil wars, for example, schools are one of the first social facilities to be closed, and, when peace returns, there is a generation of illiterate people that needs assistance. “Literacy programs for children and young people are very important, but for adults always need them as well because many of them are not reached by the countries’ education systems,” explains Seibert.

One of SBB’s partners, the Brazilian Evangelical Association, or CEB, develops a

literacy program through the Bible approved by the Ministry of Education & Culture. Its methodology, which has already benefited thousands of people, was created by Pastor Gilberto Estevão. It all began in the 1960s when, working as a missionary in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, he discovered poor communities where people could not to read or write, but wanted to get to know the Holy Scriptures.

In 1962, the first school, which still exists, was open in the town of Frederico Westphalen. “We realized that in a short period of time (five months) students could successfully go through the entire literacy program, so we devised a post-literacy program. We were implementing a system that many years later would become a full adult education,” he recalls.

Currently, there are 123 evangelical denominations participating in literacy programs developed by CEB across Brazil. The application of the method lasts 40 weeks. “The Bible is an extraordinary instrument to teach,” praises Estevão.

Changes for LifeThe Christian Association for Children,

located in Duque de Caxias (State of Rio de Janeiro), applies the Bible-based work to schools. By reading stories from the Holy Scriptures, teachers try to improve the literacy process. “When I say that I will tell a story, I show them the book and they know it’s the Bible,” Fernanda de Sousa Félix, a Pedagogical Coordinator.

The Christian Association for Children assists 102 children and 38 teenagers facing situations of vulnerability. According to her, these have a different profile because they are well-behaved and more interested in school contents. “The Bible is our basis, our essence,” she concludes.

“Pede Brasil” Association develops the School Development Educational

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Photo 1: By reading Bible stories, teachers form the Christian Association for Children try to improve literacy skills. Photo 2: From left to right: Joseph Adilson Ferreira and Vilma Ferreira, Co-coordinators of AEI Ministry, and Celina Almeida de Oliveira, Coordinator of AEI.

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Program that focuses on teaching through evangelization 120 children from 6 to 14 years old. Regina Odilon, the institution’s Vice-President, explains that a biblical principle is included in every activity with the students. “We have received publications donated by SBB and each class has enough material so that the children can do research and also use the Bible during classes,” she says.

Regina believes that including biblical values in education makes students change their behavior, in addition to learning better. “Our idea is not only assisting them to improve their school performance, but also helping children to have a different view of the world.”

The International Ministry for Literacy & Evangelization, or AEI, uses a method implemented in India by two missionaries that today is applied to more than 150 languages. It is based on the Gospel of John, from which the words used more often in certain languages are selected and then translated. “We use five primers that work in all languages,” explains Celina Oliveira, AEI’s Coordinator. Created more than 50 years ago, the system is used in Brazil since the mid-1980s.

AEI, which is funded by the Presbyterian Church, is headquartered in Belo Horizonte (State of Minas Gerais), to where Celina moved from Limeira (State of São Paulo) in order to learn how to train teachers for adult and teenager literacy programs. The material, including a Bible, is provided by Mackenzie Presbyterian Institute, located in São Paulo. “The method aims to teach them how to read so they can read the Bible, but it also helps students in different aspects of their lives,” points out the Coordinator.

To Learn and ReflectSBB’s effort to make the Bible accessible

to everyone includes the development

of publications that encourage children to learn. Several titles for children teach values, recreational activities, exercises and help to understand the text. “We’ve heard that parents, older siblings, teachers and caregivers use these publications as teaching tools to educate the little ones,” tells Paulo Teixeira, SBB’s Translation & Publications Secretary.

According to him, some of the main titles are the “Studying with the Bible” collection, the “365 Bible Activities” calendar, “My Bible of Activities,” and “Bible Stories for Children.” Other publications stimulate reflection and the habit of reading among both young people and adults. In the case of titles like “Journey with Jesus,” which challenges readers to read a small passage from the Gospels to encourage daily reflections, and also of the Prayer Booklet app.

Many people use the program The Bible for People with Visual Disabilities to learn and practice reading and writing in Braille. The Bible in Braille, produced by SBB consists of 38 volumes distributed to registered users. Every three months they receive a volume free of charge.

But SBB depends on offerings made by society because the production process of this Bible is very costly–about 50 times more expensive than that of a common printed publication. But it is rewarding when you help people with visual disabilities to learn the Braille system so that they can read the Holy Scriptures, obtain spiritual comfort to overcome obstacles and achieve social inclusion.

Lives TransformedLiliane Porto da Silva, who is visually

impaired, started to attend school only at age 14. Living in Manaus (State of Amazonas), she first heard about The Bible for People with Visual Disabilities program

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and of the possibility of having access to the Holy Scriptures in Braille when she was 16 years old. Until then, someone read texts to her and she wrote in Braille to read in church afterwards. Today, at age 28 and registered with SBB since 2003, Liliane is almost completing a Theology course. “The Bible in Braille helped me to improve my expression when speaking, and it has been like a school for me.”

Poliana Abreu, 10 years old, has also been benefited by SBB’s program in Osasco (State of São Paulo) by receiving volumes of Scriptures in Braille for about a year. “She reads all of the chapters,” says Isabel Moreira de Abreu, her mother, who teaches Braille and also adapts materials so that her daughter can attend the 5th grade

of Elementary School in a regular school. “Poliana is very determined and reading the Bible contributes a lot to her development,” tells Elizabeth, proud of the fact that the girl is at the top three of her class.

Walter dos Anjos still remembers the classes at the old schoolhouse in the town of Frederico Westphalen, where Gilberto Estevão from CEB first implemented his method of literacy through the Bible. He was already literate when at age 15, in 1963, he got into an adult education program there. “After getting my High School diploma, I went to Law School and worked as a lawyer for 38 years,” tells Walter, who retired three years ago and lives in Curitiba (State of Paraná).

Geralda Leci Rodrigues, from Limeira (State of São Paulo), learned to read and write through AEI Ministry. “It’s a blessed work because you learn by reading the Word of God,” she says, adding that she had already attended school, but only at age 50 she was able to master how to read. “I rejoice because today I can read and study the Bible.”

But the dream to read the Holy Bible still seems distant for a lot of people, as it is the case of Lourdes Silva, 75 years old. She resumed school in her old age, but never completed the course because she became ill. She cannot read, and barely can write her own name. Still treating a cancer, she says: “Everything I know I was taught by people, but the nice thing is to read.”

According to Erní Seibert, literacy efforts should be expanded more and more because they impacts social inclusion. “When we rescue individuals from the abyss of illiteracy and help them get closer to God through the Bible, we are transforming lives and investing in a better society,” he concludes.

Classes with evangelization for children at “Pede Brasil” Association.

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“I had no one to turn to because I was in prison; I had no more hope. But then I received a Bible and my life changed,” recalls Marcelo Leandro Pereira de Souza. He is one of those benefited by the program Strengthening Families through the Bible developed by Bible Society of Brazil (SBB). Imprisoned at Jacuí State Penitentiary (State of Rio Grande do Sul), Marcelo was touched by God’s Word, thanks to a partnership agreement signed in 2011 between SBB and the State’s Department of Corrections. Through it, the program has been carrying out an intensive work of resocialization in State penitentiaries.

The partnership with the Department of Corrections grants SBB free access to prisons, allowing its staff to offer spiritual support, talks and training of volunteers. About 2,000 Bibles have been donated and more than 30,000 prisoners and employees have already gained access to the Holy Scriptures. “Reading the Bible only generates benefits, such as appreciating family, freedom and repentance. This provides numerous advantages to inmates when they are freed,” explains Irineu Koch, a correctional officer at Santo Ângelo’s Regional Penitentiary (State of Rio Grande do Sul).

Making the Word of God reach prisons has been a great challenge for SBB, so it relies on the collaboration of volunteers. “We have a training program aimed at people who

are willing to work as volunteers with this audience with proper biblical literature. The activities began and the seed of hope was sowed in many hearts,” says Erní Seibert, SBB’s Communications, Social Outreach & Fund-raising Secretary.

The good news is that the partnership agreement between SBB and the Department of Corrections will be renewed for four more years, so more lives will be touched. Mario Pelz, Director of the Department of Corrections, says this new phase of the project aims to reach the entire prison population. “This work is hugely rewarding. SBB is not only a distributor of Bibles, but also an institution with a broad vision regarding the rehabilitation of people,” praises Pelz.

Knowledge that Opens Doors A new project will bring culture and

knowledge to the prison population in the South of Brazil. This year inmates that work at Montenegro Penitentiary (State of Rio Grande do Sul) will be able to attend Bible Study classes promoted by SBB.

Every week the course uses support biblical materials, such as a compact edition of SBB’s Bible Course and the booklet “Freedom in Prisons,” exclusively developed for this audience. Soon the course shall be offered in female prisons as well.

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BIBLE IN ACTION


Now people with hearing disabilities will also have access to the Bible stories of Daniel, Jonah, the Birth of Jesus and the Lost Sheep.

The Bible for People with Hearing Disabilities program, developed by Bible Society of Brazil (SBB), has a new resource. It is the second volume of the Adventures of the Bible series in Brazilian Sign Language, which contains the stories of Daniel, Jonah, the Birth of Jesus and the Lost Sheep. The title was developed through a partnership between SBB and “Expressão Surda” Institute, or IES “This new release represents the overcoming of obstacles and the realization of a dream. God was gracious, and after overcoming numerous difficulties, volume 2 is being launched and volume 3 will soon follow,” celebrates Paulo Teixeira, SBB’s Translation & Publications Secretary.

Some of the challenges faced when developing the project, which was launched in 2012, were staff turnover, the shortage of

resources and the need of replanning in the light of the new methodologies adopted.

Lois Irene Broughton, Coordinator of IES, points out that the greatest difficulty was the lack of human resources, since not every deaf person is capable of working with Bible translation, and very few Christians with hearing disabilities accept the challenge of devoting themselves to this hard and pioneering work.

According to her, there are not many materials in Brazilian Sign Language available to hard-of-hearing children in Brazil, but some institutions are developing teaching resources in order to close this gap. “The production of Adventures of the Bible volumes in Brazilian Sign Language is extremely important, not only because it’s a bilingual capability, but also for providing children with the opportunity to get to know the Gospel of Jesus,” says the Coordinator of IES.

Aracelli Lopes Mendes Lima, a teacher and interpreter of Brazilian Sign Language, has been using Bible in Brazilian Sign Language with her deaf students and says that sometimes these DVDs are the only access that children have to Bible stories. “They like them, discuss them, ask questions, criticize them and praise them. Through the stories we improve our signs and open up the possibility of discussing God’s plans,” she concludes.

Adventures of the Bible in Brazilian Sign Language – Volume 2Resources: Book + DVDCode: TNL580PLIBRAS2 Format: 14.0 X 21.0 cm (5.5 X 8.39 in.)Binding: Illustrated paperback cover Price: R$12.00

INCLUSION

A NEW PUBLICATION IN BRAZILIAN SIGN LANGUAGE


SBB EXECUTIVE FILLS THE POSITION OF GLOBAL DIRECTOR AT THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES

Erní Seibert, Communications & Social Outreach Secretary of Bible Society of Brazil (SBB), was appointed to the position of Global Director of Partnerships & Communications at the United Bible Societies (UBS), and he will serve in both roles. The activities are equally complex: SBB, due to its continental scope; and UBS for its global and intercultural nature, with 146 Bible Societies operating in more than 200 countries and territories.

The appointment is part of a major restructuring taking place at UBS in the past few years that led to much greater appreciation of the work carried out by national Bible Societies. The organization wants to be worthy of its name: United Bible Societies. And the only thing missing was precisely filling in the position now occupied by Seibert.

The area includes all the organization’s communications, relationships with churches and institutions, and fund-raising campaigns. According to Seibert, it is an extensive and challenging work. It will communicate how the Bible Cause is being furthered by motivating people to devote their efforts to make sure that this activity is expanded, in addition

to working with churches so that the Bible continues to be translated, promoted and studied.

“The work with United Bible Societies will be my priority,” says Seibert, pointing out that there are activities going on in every continent, which makes his duty of communicating with churches and society as a whole a huge task. “The Bible is more than the Holy Book of Christians. It’s used in numerous humanitarian activities as an instrument of social transformation,” he says. He also mentions that another major challenge is mobilizing human and material resources for this Cause.

“As I continue to work at Bible Society of Brazil, I feel increasingly dependent on my staff,” says Seibert. He explains that Bible Cause has been growing a lot in the last few decades in Brazil. Every year more than a million people are reached by Bible-based programs with social impact developed by SBB; however, it is necessary to go further. “Dedication now will be redoubled. We will need even more prayers to achieve this goal,” he concludes.

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The Bible in Brazil - # 247