Our team enjoys writing these pages foryou. It is always brilliant to hear thatour efforts are appreciated and we havehad a very positive reaction to therecent addition of a centre-fold ofprayer topics to each issue. It will guideyou through the next few weeks andmore information is available, if youwish, in our fortnightly emails. We trustthat you will find something in thislatest issue to encourage you and yourchurch, wherever you are. To start,

some reflections of my own.

First the joys...We are continually surprised by the excitementshown by those around the world who receive theirfirst Scripture. Why is that? Has our spiritual journeybeen so uncomplicated and unchallenged that weadmire those who have battled every step of theway? Do we appreciate their patience, waiting foryears until translation scholars can produceScripture in the language they have spoken all theirlives? Or is it their courage, perhaps worshipping insecret for fear of discovery? How does our joy athaving Scripture so freely compare?

Then the challenges...On a recent Sunday I spoke on 1 Kings 19 and God’squestion to Elijah. “What are you doing here,Elijah?” So I asked the folk in the pew – “What areYOU doing here?” What had brought them tochurch? Such questions are worth pondering... andthere are more:

Why do so few people use the church Bibles to join in the Scripture readings during the Services that I attend? (Surely they can’t all have left their glasses at home?)

Why do some people look blank when asked what translation of the Bible it is that they are using? (The answer IS on the first inside left (Verso) page)

Why do I feel that a great part of a congregation is looking at the floor when I ask if they have read at least one chapter of the Bible during the past week? (No, surely not).

We are working our socks off trying to raise funds tocontribute to the 1,400 Bible projects that ourFellowship is taking forward so that people andlanguage groups can have God’s Word in all itsfullness and beauty. But we must be honest: the

biggest challenge we face here is not monetary. It’sabout complacency, wrong priorities, andindifference. Encouraging a love for Scripture herein Northern Ireland is becoming an enormouschallenge. This autumn I hope to spend some timewith groups of clergy, to see if we can identify andtap the positive energy that will enable more peopleto open this special book for themselves.

And then there are the sadnesses:Like the cheque that represented Elsie’s last gift toour Society.She wantedBSNI to usewhat God hadblessed herwith, so thatothers couldexperiencethe book thatshe herselfhad treasuredso much. Herbequest willbring muchjoy to others,through themore than3,000 Biblesthat will bepresented tocouples inRomania attheir weddingceremony. Elsie’s gift to them... a basis for asuccessful marriage indeed!

John Doherty General Secretary BSNI

Joy...Challenge...

Sadness...

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Welcome...‘But we must be honest: the biggest challenge

we face here is not monetary. It’s about complacency, wrong priorities, and indifference.’

Yes... joy and sorrow and challenge.But Scripture allows us to glimpse the

joy that is ours to come – a message weare called to celebrate and sharewith others, near and far. It’s our

challenge. ‘For now we see in a mirrordimly, but then face to face....’(1 Cor:13.12a – RSV) After all,

what else ARE we doing here?

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Bibles forCuba- an emergingmission field

There is a hugeneed forScripture inCuba aschurches growin confidenceand numbers.

BSNI has pledged funds to support an ambitious Bible distribution project that will develop momentum in 2014. Toprint and distribute one million Bibles is a big challenge in any country...but when that country is Cuba, a whole newset of factors come into play.

Until recently, Cuba was an international curiosity – an island seemingly moored off the Florida coast but deliberatelyignoring its Goliath-sized neighbour; a country of great poverty ... political dogma... outmoded practices... fierceindependence...little economic development. And everywhere, a favourite weapon of all dictators – the ‘Secret Police’.

Now a new secret is increasingly reaching the light of day – the story of Jesus! Churches that meet in decaying buildingsare growing and the same policemen may now be found as benign ‘worshippers’ at the back of the church. TheChristian Church is growing in confidence (even if there are still restrictions on repairing their fabric) and now BibleSocieties are using their combined purchasing power to provide these churches with a supply of Scripture for the firsttime. They are needed! Both friends from Bangor and a Bible Society colleague report evidence of Bible scarcity - aresult of over 50 years of Government restrictions on their importation and distribution. Our colleague visited 18churches last January and, everywhere, people begged to have a Bible.

This summary complements the experience of two Bangor couples who visited Cuba last September to show how theChristianity Explored programme could help pastors lead new Christians to a deeper faith. The CE training courses havethat special ‘multiplier’ impact as those pastors who take part become trainers for their own local courses. As a result,there is the potential to reach tens of thousands of people. While we rejoice here when a new Christian professes theirfaith, in Cuba this is happening all the time and many churches are largely comprised of new Christians. For them,Christianity Explored is an excellent tool to help them to unpack what they believe, and to use Mark’s Gospel as ameans to unlock the Bible’s answers to their questions.

The ‘Million Bible’ project is needed to meet the spiritual needs of the country’s eleven million people and there ischange in the air. It is estimated that there are already close to one million Christians and, for the first time, theprospect of sharing the Bible much more widely. This will require a united effort from Bible Societies such as ours anda close partnership with both the Cuba Biblical Commission and the churches scattered across the island.

Please pray for Rev. Alain Montano, Secretary of the Biblical Commission in Cuba (pictured below) andhis small staff, for the importation processes to achieve a steady flow of Bibles, and for God’s blessing as they arecarried the length and breadth of the island.

Next spring, we will place this need before you again as we seek to raise the cash to pay for Northern Ireland’s share ofthe cost of this great endeavour.

Pinar del Rio, north west Cuba with steep-sided limestonehills (called 'mogotes') and flat, fertile valleys of red earth.

At the Bible Society Board meeting in June tributes were paid to David’slife and witness, amid a sense of shock at this sudden and unexpectedloss. David had a great enthusiasm for the Bible cause, both as a memberof the BSNI Board and as Chair during the years 2004/07. He joined theBoard on 3 December 1998 and maintained close links with Bible Housedespite being abroad for a period. The Board meeting was preceded bythe reading of David’s favourite Scripture passage: James 2:14-18.Everyone associated with the Society conveys our deepest sympathy tohis widow Doreen and the rest of the family.

News Snippets at Home

David Taylor (1952-2013)

BSNI and Londonderry - The City of Culture 2013

A Message from the BSNI Board

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In June the Presbyterian General Assembly was held in Londonderry and theBoard of Mission Overseas hosted a lunch to remind delegates of the Board’sspecial relationship with five agencies: the Bible Societies based in Belfast andDublin, Feba Radio, Sat-7 and Wycliffe Bible Translators. Over 100 peopleattended and Reverend Uel Marrs spoke warmly of the Board’s relationshipswith these five WISE agencies: Worldwide, Innovative, Strategic and Essential.Congregations were encouraged to support them, both prayerfully andpractically. This event was a further example of the strong partnership betweenthe Mission agencies and the Board itself.

Also at the Assembly, Reverend Alastair Rosborough, Minister of Ballyarnott &Knowhead congregations, presented the Moderator with an inscribed Bible onbehalf of the two Bible Societies and the Bible Society’s LondonderryAuxiliary. Now, exactly what is the Londonderry Auxiliary?

The Auxiliary is currently marking its 75th anniversary and it exists toencourage interest, within the city and beyond, in the mission of the BibleSociety. Its committee co-ordinates the financial support of close to 20churches plus other church-based groups and, together, this has resulted in avery generous and significant contribution each year to BSNI’s Internationalprogramme. The Society records its thanks and appreciation to Rev Rosboroughas Chair, and to Betty McCay and David Canning who have served thecommittee for many years as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. During thespecial Year of Culture, the Auxiliary is marking its anniversary by presentingan inscribed Bible to each Church Leader who attends an event in the city. The75th Annual Meeting will take place in Glendermott Parish Church on Monday11th November at 8.00pm and everyone will be welcome to a special evening.

In the light of recent media comment from the Charity Commissioner regarding the levelof remuneration for CEOs of large Aid agencies in the UK, the BSNI Board has stated:

“The Bible Society in Northern Ireland takes seriously its obligation to apply goodstewardship to the gifts from all supporters, so that as many people as possible can gainaccess to the Bible, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. BSNI seeks to bea lean and effective Christian charity, with modest expenditure on salaries and otheroutgoings. The gifts for all of the Society’s fundraising Appeals are applied in full to aspecific Bible project within that country, while the cost of circulating these Appeals (andall administrative overheads) are met from other income.”

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G8 Prayer Summit

New Faces on the Board

Back by Popular Demand

This year we published our Daily Bible Reading Guide free for churches to distribute to theircongregations to encourage regular Bible reading. As thousands of these were distributed, we areplanning the print even more this year. Make sure your church takes up the offer of free Daily BibleReading Guides for 2014. They are sure to disappear fast. Why not talk to your minister or elders andencourage them to contact Campbell (9032 6577) to book copies for your church.

This Spring all attention was on the G8 Summit in CountyFermanagh. With predictions of protests, riots anddisruption everyone waited for the situation to explode.And so we were called to pray.

BSNI were delighted to be involved in the Prayer Summitin Darling Street Methodist Church in Enniskillen, where aPrayer Room was set up to house 96 hours of continuousprayer. Areas were set up by churches and organisations tohelp focus people to pray for different aspects of the event– the leaders and countries involved, and the issues that

would be discussed.And so day and nightpeople visited theroom, creating a placeof prayer at the heart of the event.

The predictions of protests, riots and disruption? Enniskillen was home to one of themost peaceful G8 Summits in history. The protest camp held just five tents, the townwelcomed tourists with love, and instead of crowd control some of the police officerstook the time to visit the Prayer Room!

God answered the prayers of his people. So let’s keep praying for global issues such aspoverty, hunger and human rights, that we would see God’s justice in our world.

BSNI is always trying to keep its ministry fresh and relevant. Part of that strategy includes the addition of new faces andthe new skills, experience and insight that they bring.Recently the following new appointments were made:

Capt. Colin Taylor – currentlyDiocesan Curate, Diocese of Downand, until recently, EvangelismResource Officer for Church Army inIreland and Scotland.

Mr Alan Bridle – currently UKEconomist with the Bank of Ireland(UK) and based in Belfast. In hisspare time he is heavily committedto the work of the Boys’ Brigade.

Pastor Lindsay Allen – until June2013, full-time pastor ofCarrickfergus Baptist Church. In 2007he was part of a BSNI Study Group tolook at Bible ministry in Albania. Heis a regular contributor to RadioUlster’s Thought for the Day. We trust that each of them will feel at home in their new role with

the Bible Society.

Two Sides to Every StoryThe Bible in China

We often mention the work that is ongoing inChina, particularly the printing of Scripturethrough the partnership with the Amity PrintingCompany. We tend to highlight the opportunities that God

provides to make HisWord available. Thisdoes not mean thatwe do not recognisethat there are millionsof Christians withoutScripture.

Both sides of theChina story are true.Amity does printmillions of ChineseBibles a year to bemade available inChina, yet there arestill many moreChristians unable toaccess the Bible. Manylive in rural areas andrarely come in contactwith anyone fromoutside their homevillage, many speaklanguages that haveno Bible translation,many cannot affordeven the subsidisedprices and some still

feel unsafe to openly declare their faith... there are manyreasons why Christians still struggle to obtain God’s Word.

However, God is working His purpose out in wonderfulways. Lives are being changed, doors are being opened andchurches are growing rapidly in many places throughoutChina. The Bible Society’s ministry in China covers a widerange of areas – from Bible and Braille printing in Amity, totranslation work, distribution of Scripture to the poor,isolated and suffering, to travelling Medical and Scripturevans... there are many different, powerful andessential ministries working in partnership withchurches and other Christian organisations tointroduce communities to Christ.

Here are a few comments from Chinese believers to blessyour heart

Braille Ministry: “God guided me to the place whereScriptures for the blind are printed so that I couldencounter His Word, which has opened my heart to receiveChrist Jesus as my Saviour and become a child of God.” – Ma Wei, a Braille worker at the Amity Printing Company.

Praise God for the many ways Hecontinues to answer prayers for China.

Let’s not grow weary in praying forthe vast needs that remain.

Scriptures for the poor: “The Bible is definitelyimportant. It’s the Word of God. It’s like the light foryour path. But Bibles are scarce: only every thirdperson has one.” – Feng, 60 year old farmer fromHenan Province who cycled for 90 minutes to attenda Bible training session.

Ethnic Minorities: “As I minister to my peopledaily, the matter that weighs heavily on my heart is,while I could preach the gospel to my people in DryYi, I wish one day my people could read the Biblefor themselves in a language close to their heart!” –Rev Fu Lianxing, a Dry Yi pastor and Bible translator.

Distribution and Medical Ministry: “Christiansin rural areas have been asking us to bring themmedical help when our Bible distribution van goesto the villages, because it is difficult for them to seedoctors.” – Rev An X

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Student at a Bible School forethnic minorities, Yunnan province

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Pull-out and keep prayer guide: Sept 2013

Prayer at Work“For the eyes of the Lord are on therighteous and his ears are attentive totheir prayer...” 1 Peter 3:12

Isn’t it such an incredible assurance toknow that God hears our prayers. In factGod doesn’t only hear us, he is‘attentive’. That goes beyond hearing.Let’s pray in the knowledge that Godattends to our needs and listens to ourconcerns, cries for help and words ofthanks.

Please feel free to ask for more copies ofthe magazine if you would like to use thisprayer material in a group – or feel freeto copy it if that suits you.

Please let us know how you are using thismaterial and if you find it helpful. EmailJulie at Julie@bsni.co.uk or give me aring on 9032 6577. It is always great tohear from prayer partners.

Of course, as always, Bible-A-Monthmaterial is on each page too. Thanks toall our regular prayer partners andsupporters! If you would like tobecome a Bible-A-Month supporter andprovide a copy of God’s Word everymonth here’s how to get in touch.Email Campbell at admin@bsni.co.uk ,phone 9032 6577 or check our websitefor more details.www.bsni.co.uk/pages/prayer

Cambodia: The ‘Learning throughListening’ Literacy Programme hasbeen running since 2003, helpingchurches reach the large non-literatepopulation. More than 30,000 studentshave completed this course. 2014 willsee this programme develop to reachVietnamese migrants. Pray forguidance as this ministry continues tobe developed. Pray for Rev Arun SokNhep who leads this ministry.

South Korea: Pray that access toScripture on digital devices will helppeople engage deeply with God’s Word,and live out Godly lives. Ask for God’sblessing on a new Bible translationproject to equip the youngergeneration with a good understandingof the Bible.

North Korea: Many North Koreans aredeprived of human rights and sufferfood and energy shortages. Pray thatGod will open closed doors so thatScripture may be brought to the Northand His power and hope will transformthe land and people. Please pray thatsoon, God will be freely worshipped.

Russian Federation: Praise God forprogress with five minority-languageBible translations. May God bless allthose who contribute to andparticipate in this work. Pray also forwork on a second revised and enlargedcontemporary Russian Bible and StudyBible. Ask for a revival of interest inGod’s Word.

*FCBH: Faith Comes By Hearing - A programme providing audio Scripture for listening groups, set upthrough local churches. Good Samaritan Project: A Bible-based HIV/AIDS education programme.Workshop based, multi-media training. UBS United Bible Societies.

Sept 29 - Oct 5

Malaysia: Thank God for supporters andfor the distribution of 200,000 Biblesthroughout Malaysia. May God’s Wordreach people in need. Pray for theministry helping young mums adoptGodly principles in their families. Prayfor the Bible Society staff and fornational and local Church leaders.

Vietnam: There is a strong focus onreaching ethnic minority groups. Six outof seven translation projects are ethnicminority languages and a newtranslation project among the minorityMuang in Northern Vietnam is apossibility. Pray for the translationteams, often working in harsh andrestricted conditions.

Singapore: Bible Mission trips are aregular part of the schedule for theBible Society in Singapore. Give thanksfor teams sharing God’s Word inIndonesia, the Philippines and Chinathis year. Ask God to transform livesthrough these trips. Pray also for workin Brunei.

Laos: Churches in Laos must keep a lowprofile, as Christians still facepersecution. UBS partners with localChurches to develop, print and provideScripture. The Lao Church and MissionPartners work to bring Scriptures to theoppressed Lao people. Pray forChristians, churches and missions in thiscountry.

Sept 22 - 28

Bible-A-Month Calendar (September): LEBANONProject Intro:The Bible Society inLebanon wants people torecognise the importanceof God’s Word and put itright at the centre ofsociety. One way they aredoing this is by helpingpeople to engage with Scripture in new and creative waysthrough art, music, politics and exhibitions.

Please pray for the staff of the Bible Society in Lebanon (BSL), asmall staff team with just four members, led by General SecretaryMichael Bassous. Pray for them as they take on a huge workloadand faithfully work to make God known amongst their homecommunities.

BSL is working in partnership with the churches in Lebanon.Pray that this relationship would strengthen and that BSLwould know God’s leading in how they should interact withpastors and lay people, encouraging them to engage withScripture and put it at the core of their mission work.Pray for the increasing numbers of refugees living in Lebanon –that God would protect and guide BSL as they work with thesepeople giving them emergency packs of food, cleaning productsand God’s Word.

Your £4 could help Lebanese people know God better

Literacy ClassCambodia

>

September - December

Bible SocietyVolunteers, Nicaragua.

Pull-out and keep prayer guide: October 2013Prayer at Work

Thailand: Give thanks forgood progress on varioustranslation projects. Ask Godto help the teams working onthe Pwo Karen and UrakLawoi translations and theThai Study Bible. Pray too forthe Sign Language translationand the work to produce aBible DVD series. May theseprojects finish soon, bringingGod’s Word to many peoplewho are still waiting.

China Partnership: ThankGod for the growing Church inChina. Pray for funding tomeet the huge need for Biblesand for the Scriptureprogrammes run by theChurch, with support from the UBS fellowship. Pray fortranslation, literacy, printing,distribution and medicalwork. Pray for each memberof the UBS ChinaPartnership team, for theirwalk with God, their familyand their ministry.

Mongolia: Pray for theChristians and Christianorganisations in Mongolia asthey seek to spread the Gospelmessage. Ask God to helpmake Scriptures available tothe people of Mongoliawhether they are believers orseekers and that God’s Wordwill have a lasting impact onfamilies and communitiesthroughout this vast nation.

Taiwan (Republic of China):Give thanks that work on theChinese Study Bible isprogressing well. This willhave a potential impact onChinese Christians all over theworld. Pray too for the finalstages of translation of‘Today’s Taiwanese Bible’.Pray that translation will becompleted this year and thatit will be well accepted andwidely helpful for Taiwanesespeakers of all ages.

Japan: Pray for the ministryof the Bible Society in Japanled by General Secretary Rev.Makoto Watabe. Give thanksfor the work on the NewJapanese Bible translation;please pray that this updatedversion of God’s Word will beavailable quickly. Pray toothat Scripture will be readilyavailable to those needing orseeking it.

Hong Kong: Give thanks forthe Honorary GeneralSecretary, Revd Dr Yee Po(Thomas) Soo and the staffteam of almost 20. Ask God tohelp them as they promoteHis Word. Give thanks for theScripture calendars that manyaccept each year. Pray thatGod’s truth will break throughthe superstitions held bymany families. Pray too forthe work in Macau.

Albania: Please pray for the OldTestament translation project,remembering the threetranslators. Ask God to bless theplans to distribute 2,000Children’s Bibles by the end ofthe year. Pray also for the workon Bible engagement tools forChurches. Pray for Mr Altin Hysiwho runs the Bible Society inthis Muslim-majority country.

Slovenia: Pray for work on themodern Slovenian NewTestament, and for thethousands of young people thatreceived its second Portion inSeptember. Remember MatjazCrnivec as he leads a smallteam. Give thanks for the weeklong Bible Marathon this monthand for good partnershipsbetween Bible Societies in theWest Balkan area.

Croatia: Praise God for progressin Bible promotion anddistribution despite therecession. Give thanks for goodprogress on the new translationin recent years. Thank God forgood cooperation within theWest Balkan Partnership, prayfor developments in Bibleadvocacy work in this region.

Romania: May God intervene inongoing court cases regardingthe Cornilescu translation. Prayfor provision for children’sprojects, and the marriagepreparation project. Pray thatthe New Testament on listeningdevices will reach prisoners andpeople with visual disabilitiesand draw many to Jesus.

Bulgaria: Communist andatheist attitudes towards theBible still impact Bulgarians.Pray that Scripture distributionwill help people with visualdisabilities, children inorphanages, prisoners andother marginalised people. Prayfor closer relationships withChurches and for developmentswith the new contemporarytranslation.

Moldova: Give thanks for God’sprotection and blessings onBible Society ministry. Pray thatBibles going to public librarieswill be easily accessible andwidely read. Ask God to speak tothe needy people who are beingreached with Scripture. Pleasepray for greater political andeconomic stability for thecountry.

Hungary: Give thanks that thenewly revised Bible will belaunched in April 2014. Ask Godto draw people to rediscover HisWord. Pray for modernization ofthe Bible Museum in downtownBudapest, that it will become aplace where people encounterJesus.

Slovakia: Praise God for thereturn from illness of a staffmember and a new teammember. Pray that God willguide this team of four as theypartner with churches to reachthe lost. Give thanks for newproductions and funding whichhas enabled some importantprojects.

Oct 27 - Nov 2

Bible-A-Month Calendar (October): LAOSProject Intro:Little religious freedom but a growingnumber of Christians, Laos is a placewith an increasing desire for the Wordof God. The local Bible Society isaddressing this and reaching out topeople of all ages and from allbackgrounds with the truth of theGospel. (Read more on page 12.)

Please pray for Christians living in Laos. Persecution levels remainhigh, with church building obstructed by the government andministers arrested. Pray for openness to evangelism in this place andfor protection and patience for those sharing the Gospel.

The Bible Society does not have a local office in Laos but worksfrom surrounding areas in partnership with other Christianorganisations. Please pray for staff and volunteers as they work toequip the growing Church.

There is a growing number of youth coming to Christ and the BibleSociety is working to make Scripture relevant and accessible to thisage group. Pray that the communication gap would be bridged andthat young people in Laos would understand God’s message.

This month, £4 could provide a Bible to a new Christian in a difficult cultural situation.

Oct 20 - 26Oct 13 -19Oct 6 -12

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8 9

Pull-out and keep prayer guide: November 2013Prayer at Work

Bible-A-Month Calendar (November):HAITIProject Intro:The Haitian Bible Society is helpingpeople understand God’s Word. Readingcentres are opening, running literacyprogrammes for the local people, and aStudy Bible in Haitian Creole is beingproduced to provide deeperunderstanding in one of the mostcommonly used dialects in Haiti today.

Please pray for this country as it continues to restore normality after thedevastating earthquake in 2010. It is estimated that there are stillupwards of 300,000 people living in temporary camps. Pray that God’sWord distributed to these people by the Haitian Bible Society wouldprovide them with hope.

There are many pastors who are reaching out to communities includingthose in the camps, and they look forward to receiving the new StudyBible to help them teach the Scriptures. Pray for wisdom for the teamtranslating this Bible and pray that it would soon be completed.

Pray that the literacy programmes would reach people of all ages andbackgrounds, giving them the chance to encounter God as they learnwords from Scripture.

£4 could provide a Bible to someone who has just learnt to read

Poland: Give thanks forprogress on the ecumenicaltranslation project and pray forthe translators and editors.Thank God for our dedicatedstaff and prayerful supporters.Pray for all our distributionprojects, especially amongyoung people. Pray for theUBS Fellowship and its future.

Czech Republic: Give thanksfor faithful donors and good co-operation with all Churches.Pray that new Scripture editionswill reach young people andpeople new to the Bible. Prayfor a growing interest from thenon–Christian media in God’sWord. Ask for help withfundraising efforts.

Iceland: The Bible Society(Iceland’s oldest constitutedorganisation) is making plansfor its 200th anniversary in2015. Currently without staff,this is a challenge for theSociety. Pray they successfullyuse this opportunity to promotethe Bible. Remember the Chairand Board members as theyseek to make progress indifficult circumstances.

Macedonia: May the NewTestament translation projectinto the contemporaryMacedonian language blessmany people. Pray for workwith Macedonian Churches andfor funding for Scriptureprojects. Pray that the WestBalkan Partnership of BibleSocieties will unite Churchesand show the Bible’s truemeaning.

Ecuador: Please pray for thesmall Bible Society team inEcuador led by Mr. FreddyGuerrero. Give thanks for themany projects they areinvolved in, including Bibleadvocacy and ministry tochildren. Please also pray fortheir Bible translation teams.Ask God to provide for theseareas of ministry.

Peru: The Bible Societypartners with many churchesto reach children at riskthrough the ‘Bread of Life’feeding and Scriptureprogramme. They also workwith churches and otherorganizations to campaignagainst domestic violence. Prayfor Scripture listening groups,literacy classes and theministries to the sick. MayGod’s Word and Christian loveimpact many lives for Christ.

Chile: Give thanks for thetranslation team working on aScripture translation intoRomani. Pray for FranciscoViguera as he leads the staffand volunteers who work withthe Bible Society in Chile. Askfor God’s help in reaching outto families in need andbuilding partnerships with theChurch. Ask God to meet theirfinancial needs and to givethem direction for the futureof their ministry.

Colombia: Give thanks forBible Society projects inColombia led by Dr AntonioLara. Pray for the two ongoingBible translations and the workto encourage Bible readingamong young people. Pray forthe Lectio Divina studymaterials reaching Catholicyouth.

Argentina: Please pray for thebusy Bible Society in Argentina.Their projects includepromoting literacy, supportingprisoners, reaching children atrisk and translating the Bibleinto local languages. Pray forGeneral Secretary, Ruben DelRé, the staff team, volunteers,Board and supporters.

Bolivia: Ask God to speak tohearts through Bible-basedliteracy programmes in locallanguages. Pray too forministries supportingvulnerable women andchildren, the sick and victims ofabuse. Pray for GeneralSecretary Mrs Fanny Cossió aswell as the staff and volunteers.

Mexico: Praise God that theBible will soon be dedicated inthe Mixe community ofQueatepec. Pray for ongoingtranslation and literacy inTojolabal, Purpecha, Nahuatland Chol languages. Ask forhelp reaching Street Kids,young people and the visuallyimpaired. Pray too for theimpact of the FCBH* groups.Pray for Abner Lopez Perez wholeads this extensive work.

Uruguay: Please pray for theBible Society in Uruguay led byRaúl González. Give thanks forthe projects to reach strugglingpeople with the love of God.Some of these include reachingmarginalised groups andsupporting vulnerable womenand children.

Paraguay: Give thanks for the100th anniversary of thepublication of the NewTestament in Guaraní, one ofthe two official Paraguayanlanguages. Pray, too, that theWord of God will continuechanging lives in this country.Pray especially for the ministryto make God’s Word known tochildren and young people.

Venezuela: Thank God forJavier Chacon as he leads theBible Society team of 2 inVenezuela. Give thanks for allthat is being achieved to makeGod’s Word known. Pray forthe projects they are runningwhich include Bible seminarsand working among the deafcommunity.

Brazil: Thank God for livesbeing transformed through thelarge-scale printing anddistribution of the Bible inBrazil. Please pray for ‘Fair PlayBrazil’, an initiative thatinvolves promoting the biblicalmessage during large sportingevents. Pray that churches willseize this unique opportunityto spread the Word of God. Prayfor Executive Director RudiZimmer and the large team.

Nov 24 - 30Nov 3 - 9 Nov 10 -16 Nov 17 - 23

This month, £4 could provide a Bible to a new Christian in a difficult cultural situation.

This Christmas your £4 could give a gift that lasts

Bible Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the fact that millions of peoplestill do not have access to God’s Word in a form they can understand.10

Pull-out and keep prayer guide: December 2013Prayer at Work

Bible-A-Month Calendar (DECEMBER):LESOTHOProject Intro:The Bible Society in Lesotho wantsto reach everyone with God’s Word.With support from other nationalBible Societies and churches andindividuals in Lesotho, they aretaking the good news to people likethese shepherd boys living in theremote mountainous regions.

Please pray for these shepherds. With low literacy levels but a strong desirefor God’s message, this group of people are welcoming the audio Scripturesand literacy training that the Bible Society is bringing them. Pray that theywill understand what they read and hear and that this marginalised remotepeople would know God’s love.

As the Bible Society in Lesotho encourages support from local churches,businesses and individuals, pray that the people there would read theBible, be passionate about sharing its message and know God’s guidancein being part of this vital mission.

This winter BSNI is telling the story of the Lesotho shepherds to people inNorthern Ireland through a mail campaign. Pray that God would use theprayers spoken and gifts given by people here to bless those in Lesotho.

Estonia: Please pray for thesmall team working in Estonialed by Mr Jann Bärenson. Givethanks that they are involved inencouraging debate betweenthe Church and secular societyand providing Bibles toconfirmation candidates. Prayfor opportunities to make God’sWord available.

Lithuania: Please pray foryoung hearts exposed to secularteaching. Pray also for thosewho are seeking, discouragedor needing comfort. Givethanks for partners and donors:may their work reap good fruitfor the Lord. Pray forVilhelmina Kalinauskiene asshe leads the ministry.

Latvia: Thank God for the newLatvian Bible translation andfor this new opportunity toproclaim his Word. Ask God todraw people to it who don’tnormally read the Bible indownload or print format. Givethanks for the many partnersaround the world who madethis translation possible.

Serbia & Montenegro: MayGod guide progress on theSerbian Old Testamenttranslation, so it may soon beavailable. Give thanks for thetranslation of the Gospels intoSerbian Romani which waspublished in July. Pray thatmany Romani people willbecome followers of Christ.Pray also for strongrelationships with theChurches.

Ukraine: Ask for God’s wisdomfor the Bible Society and forthe Holy Spirit’s influence onthe government and people.Pray for opportunities andresources to reach people inneed and to co-operate closelywith Churches. Remember theBible for Education project forsecondary schools, launchingin 2014.

Belarus: Please pray for youngpeople who have receivedBible Society Scriptures. Askthat God’s Word will flourish intheir hearts. Pray also forvulnerable children, especiallythose in orphanages. Ask thatthe Bible will become a sourceof spiritual revival among ourpeople.

Denmark: Give thanks forfaithful supporters. Pray thatbiblical literature and BibleSociety presence at publicevents will continue to be wellreceived. Pray that Scriptureswill still play an important rolein society. Remember work inGreenland and the FaroeIslands also.

Norway: Give thanks thatalmost 180,000 copies of the2011 Norwegian Bibletranslation have sold so far,topping bestseller lists. Praythat the Bible will reach youthand non-Christians also. Ask forstrength and wisdom fortranslators of Sami minoritylanguage. Pray too for effortsto raise money for Bibledistribution in other countries.

Finland: Give thanks for asuccessful bicentenary year in2012. Pray for those who werereached through two campaignswhich aimed to show howbiblical themes are still part ofeveryday language. Pray forGod’s guidance in continuing toserve all Churches and reachingnew audiences.

Sweden: Pray for the small staffteam led by Dr KristerAndersson. Ask that they willbe able to fulfill responsibilitiesto the churches and that theywill find the resources to meetcommitments to fundinginternational projects. Pray fornew donors who have a heartfor Bible projects around theworld.

Uganda: Praise God that thisyear three Bible translationprojects will be complete - theLusoga, Kumam and LugandaBibles. Pray that God willprepare people’s hearts so theseare eagerly received. Ask forGod’s guidance as plans are putin place for the next five yearsof ministry. Pray too for justicein an ongoing legal battle.

Rwanda: Please pray for theBoard and staff in Rwanda, ledby Rev Emmanuel Kayijuka. TheBible Society’s ministry in thiscountry includes combatingilliteracy, promoting the Bibleand supporting thosetraumatised during thegenocide. Ask God to providethe needs for theseprogrammes.

Burundi: Please pray for Biblework in Burundi led by MrsMarjorie Niyungeko. Ask Godto provide for their needs asthey minister in this poorcountry. Ask God to use the Good Samaritan programmeto touch many lives with Hiscompassion. Pray too for theongoing supply of audioScriptures, may these meet theneeds and touch the hearts ofmany.

Kenya (& Somalia): Praise Godfor the Bible Society ministriesin Kenya. Pray for the effortsto reach out to children andyoung people with Scripture.Give thanks for the HIV andAIDS workshops for churches.Ask that God’s Word mightbreak through stigma andrejection. Give thanks forElizabeth Muriuki who leadsquite an extensive team. Praytoo for ministry in Somalia.

Tanzania: Please pray for theconstruction of a new BibleHouse and for funding for theplanned 2014 projectsincluding literacy, translation, Good Samaritan and FCBH*.Ask that religious and politicaltolerance will continue toprevail and pray for God'swisdom for the nation’sleaders. Pray for GeneralSecretary Rev Dr MkungaMtingele and the small team.

Dec 15 - 21Dec 8 - 14Dec 1 - 7 Dec 22 - 31

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Bible Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the fact that millions of peoplestill do not have access to God’s Word in a form they can understand. 11

Bible SundayFOCUS

Each year Bible Societies in many countries produce materials to help their local churches host a ‘Bible Sunday’. Many churches here have been running a special Bible Sunday for many years, othershost one occasionally... still many more have never considered, or even been aware of such a thing!Perhaps your church has never had a ‘Bible Sunday’ and you are wondering what it is all about?

Bible Sunday is an opportunity to stop and thankGod for His Word and to reflect on how importantit is to us as individuals, but also as a church.This year’s theme is ‘FOCUS’, challenging us tolook at where our focus really lies, askingwhether our eyes have slipped and locked intoplace on things that are not important, orwhether we are focused on God and Hisprecious Word. The material is based on2 Timothy 4, also making use of Luke 18:9-14.

Bible Sunday material can be accessedthrough our website and is completelyfree to download. Churches are free tocopy the material, making use of andadapting whatever is helpful for theirown specific environment. If no-onein your church is able to access theinternet, please do get in touchwith Julie on 9032 6577 and wewill make sure that a copy of theBible Sunday resources are sentto you.

Bible Sunday can be held on any Sunday that suits your church, or youcan use the material throughout the week if small groups settings are better foryou. If your church likes to follow the more traditional Church calendar then you may prefer to stick toone of the recommended dates:

28th October: Church of Ireland 9th December: Presbyterian and Methodist Churches.

Find ‘FOCUS’ at www.bsni.co.uk Go to the Resources tab and click on Bible Sunday

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AutumnAPPEAL

Laos: When theImpossible BecomesPossible

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, youcan say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it willmove. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 (NIV).

How many times do we look at a situation and think it’simpossible? Whether something seems too hard, toocomplicated or just too much work, we often don’t try becausewe think it’s impossible. And yet Scripture tells us that when wehave God on our side the impossible becomes possible!

Read on to discover how, in the midst of the impossible, Godused the faith of just one man to do amazing things...

Thirteen years ago Va Cha (pictured right) was living in a village in themountains in north Laos. Part of the Hmong people – a minority ethnic groupin Laos – at that time there were 300 families living in his village, all with animistbeliefs.

One day Va was listening to the radio when he came across a FEBC (Far EastBroadcasting Company) programme in the Hmong language, “I was fiddlingwith my radio one day and was excited to hear a broadcast in my mothertongue. I stopped to listen and although I didn’t fully understand the things theywere talking about, I felt soothed. So I kept listening in secret every day and oneday I said the sinner’s prayer and gave my life to Christ.”

It seemed like an impossible situation for Va. He kept his new faith hiddenknowing that there would be consequences if he spoke about it, especially ashis father was an animist shaman (someone who interacts with the spirit worldpractising divination and healing).

It was during the next three years that Va met three other Hmong people fromneighbouring communities who were Christians. Meeting together he found theconfidence to start sharing the Gospel with his village.

Va’s father became aChristian when his sonwouldn’t give up telling

him about Jesus

The launch of the Revised Lao Bible was celebrated last year -Bible Society is now distributing these to the growing Church

Va’s father was furious athis new beliefs and cast

spells to try and harm him –but Va didn’t give up. He kept

talking to his father about Jesus andone day, during a drug-induced trance as

part of a shamanistic ceremony, he met theGod that his son had told him about and hebecame a Christian.

AutumnAPPEAL

The launch of the Revised Lao Bible was celebrated last year -Bible Society is now distributing these to the growing Church

Then, one by one, everyone in the village became Christians! God had made what seemed impossible possible!

In 2003 the village moved from the mountains to Vientiane Province and all settled together. One of the firstthings this new Christian community did was build a church.

Va Cha is now a Pastor and says, “We are truly blessed to be able to worship here. One of the very first thingswe did as a community when we moved to this area was build our church. Now our church is bursting at theseams with all the people who come. We still pray daily for protection because although things are gettingeasier, Hmong people continue to be a marginalised group in Laos. But we praise God that we are able toworship him and that we have our own church.”

The congregation is growing so much that ten years on Va is planning to build an extension on the church. Buta significant challenge remains… “We only have five Hmong Bibles in our church – not nearly enough togo round. We place great importance on being able to read God’s Word in our own language, so we areteaching our children to read Hmong, which uses roman script, in the belief that God will one day provide aBible for every Hmong Christian. This seems far out of our reach now but we know that God never forsakesthose who follow him and we keep praying.”

Va Cha has faith that everyone will receive a Bible, and knows that even with faith as small as a mustard seedGod will make the seemingly impossible possible.

This church in Vientiane Province is just one of themany new churches in Laos needing Bibles

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Laos factfileLocation: South East Asia,between Thailand and Vietnam

Population: 6,695,166 people –the Hmong ethnic group makesup 8% of the population.

Only 1.5% of the populationof Laos is Christian. Despitepersecution being prevalent atthe local level this figure grows.

The Church recognises thatpersecution keeps thempraying and relying on Godand is joyful that each yearmore people dedicate theirlives to Christ.

Project basicsDespite the high levels of persecution in Laos, Christianity is growing. However, asnew churches emerge a significant challenge is highlighted – there is a shortage ofBibles.

Many new Christians simply can’t afford to buy a Bible or there isn’t one availableto them.

United Bible Societies is working through the Laos Partnership to supplyScriptures at a price that can be afforded. As Christians receive God’s Word theirfaith is nurtured and they can understand God’s promise of His presence in theimpossible.

What can you do?Take an example from Va Cha and his village in Laos - pray withfaith believing God can make the impossible possible! Pray forChristians who are persecuted and give thanks that the Churchgrows despite objections to it.

Please prayerfully consider whether you could support thisproject financially. By giving a gift you could place God’s Wordinto the hands of someone who needs to know God’s words ofassurance. If you would like to give a gift then please send it toBSNI with the envelope marked ‘Laos’, or if you were mailed thismagazine then use the reply slip enclosed.

We would like to place as many Biblesas possible.

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Pressures in Malta

International News

Running out of Bibles ...the prospect of producing a freshprint run in new styles... meeting the demand for Biblesfrom parents and their children before the new schoolyear....

These all sound like satisfying challenges – especially whenthere is a keen demand for the Bible text. The problemwas that the Bible Society of Malta did not have the moneyin hand to finance either the re-printing of its 4th EditionMaltese Bible or its 2nd edition My First Bible book forchildren. John Doherty was in Valletta for four days to helpthe Board and Paul Agius, the only (part-time) staffmember, to plan their future ministry.

Happily, on the day before John was to travel, a local bankagreed to provide the Society with a €40,000 loan, and to

Over the August bank holiday weekend, BSNI was delighted towelcome back Ramez Atallah as one of the speakers at BangorWorldwide. Ramez, General Secretary of the Egyptian Bible Society,was a popular contributor to the Worldwide event back in 2005. Thistime he was accompanied by his wife Rebecca who carries on her ownministry among children with Special Needs in the Garbage Village ofCairo.Recent events in Cairo were very much on our minds as we listened tothese two people who are never daunted by challenge or adversity. Itwas good that they undertook media interviews and spoke inchurches in Ballyhenry and Dublin. Watch them in Bangor athttp://vimeo.com/73149027 or Ramez speaking in 2011 about theBible Society strategy in Egypt (4 mins) at http://vimeo.com/18869877.Listen to Ramez’ interview with the Church of Ireland Gazette atwww.gazette.ireland.anglican.org/audio (Interview 42). Let us uphold them both in prayer as they return to minister in anincredibly complex and politically charged environment.

Seeking relative calm in Northern Ireland

pay for the bank interest as sponsor of the Society! By thetime that you read this, both the paperback and hardbackversions of the 4th edition Bible will have been deliveredin time for the new school year. Unhappily, much of thesales proceeds will have to be used to repay the loan,leaving precious little left to develop the Society’s ministry,including their popular Bible teaching classes. On the plusside, they have decided to make their Maltese Bible textavailable for free download from the Bible Societies’Digital Bible Library at www.youversion.org. That way,Maltese speakers all over the world can benefit.

Please pray that BS Malta will be able to develop itsministry, especially to children, complete its Malteseedition of My First Bible and stir public support throughthis, its 55th anniversary year.

The Maltese Board (Paul Agius second right)

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Malta Meets China

Chen Yongmei and her husband both work at the AmityPrinting Company in Nanjing, China where millions of Biblesare printed. Mrs Chen became a Christian through herhusband, who became a Christian while working at the Press.The Bible has an impact everywhere!

It is strange that two such dissimilar countriesare experiencing a similar problem – a lack offunds to print Bibles. Especially when one has apopulation of 400,000 and the other has morethan 1.3 billion people! But the lesson is clear:the growth of the Church in many countries isoutstripping our capacity to provide Scripturein all the languages that people speak. And ithas a danger: in China authorisation is giveneach year to the China Christian Council for itsrequest for printing. If Bible Societies cannotcome up with sufficient funds to meet thequota for Bibles (each bale of paper costing£495 produces, on average, 630 subsidisedBibles) there will be difficult questions toanswer from the Government. It is only throughtheir annual permission that millions of Biblesare printed at the Amity printing press inNanjing, and distributed freely across theChinese mainland.

BSNI is one of the main contributors to thisextraordinary enterprise and is seeking toincrease the number of bales of paper that itssupport provides.

Now, if ever there was atopic for prayer.......

Syrian Bible SocietyStruggles on...Our colleagues in Syria have been updating us asbest they can amidst total chaos and turmoil.They are struggling to get Scriptures as they havebeen trapped by blockades for weeks, they havebeen in physical danger, they have been underthreat and even had to handle two staffmembers being kidnapped and held hostage.Syrian Christians are being increasingly targetedand yet, despite all this, they continue to servethe Lord and continue to ask us to pray for themand the spread of God’s Word. The GeneralSecretary ended a recent update with thesewords. “...Can you promise to pray for our cityand for the whole country of Syria? And can youask others to pray that the Word of God willcontinue to reach the people of this country?"

27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NBTelephone: 028 9032 6577e-mail: GSec@bsni.co.ukwebsite: www.bsni.co.ukN.I.Reg. Charity No. XN46187

Published in January, May and September.Design: Tracey AllenCirculation: 13,000

Simply pop yourchange in thebox... when fullwrite a cheque forthe amount andsend it to BSNI.Reuse your box.

Your ‘CHANGE’ can make a big difference...It has been many years since the Bible Society in Northern Ireland hasproduced a collection box of any kind. We are thrilled that we now havea new box available for our supporters to collect change in.

We have been asked for these boxes from time to time, so we thought youwould appreciate your own box to make use of. Place it somewherehandy where you can remember to pop in some coins every now andthen. Also let it remind you to pray for individuals, churches and schoolswho will be receiving Bibles thanks to supporters just like you.

We hope you like your ‘Bible Change’ collection box. If you fill it – wepromise to change your ‘change’ into Bibles.

If you have afriend, or a group,who would liketheir own boxes –just ask, we will beVERY happy tosend more!

Change a Life...

BIBLECHANGE

God’s Word Can

Change a School... Change a Church...

collection box

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