Impact Report
2025
A Message from the Board Chair and Interim CEO
Dear friends,
This year, Bible Society Australia’s (BSA) core mission remained strong, with our overall mission investment exceeding the previous year. Your support has helped us open the Bible with people across the globe and the impact has been outstanding. Together with our global and local partners, Bible Society Australia supported 60+ projects across 33 countries, helping remove barriers to Scripture through translation, distribution, Bible-based literacy and trauma healing.
We supported the distribution of over 1 million Scriptures, Bible translation in 28+ languages and helped reach more than 80,000 learners with literacy skills, seeing 16,000+ literacy graduates. From refugee camps to remote Indigenous communities, the Bible is bringing hope, healing and transformation.
Yet the need remains urgent. One in five people still wait for the Bible in their heart language and 129 million have no Scripture at all. BSA is committed to removing these barriers and working to ensure all people can open God’s word in a language and format they can understand.
Whilst our mission work is as strong as ever, BSA has faced some organisational challenges this year, including leadership transitions and financial pressures that led to difficult decisions — most notably, the sale of Koorong. These decisions were not easy, but they’ve helped ensure BSA maintains a sustainable financial position and is moving forward with purpose and excitement for the mission opportunities ahead. Through it all, God has been faithful and so have you.
As we work, we hold fast to the promise in Isaiah 55:11 that when God’s word goes out, it will not return to him empty — it will accomplish God’s desire and purpose.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us in this mission. Together, we’re seeing lives transformed as people encounter the Bible and the grace of Jesus.
Yours in Christ,
Andrew Wiseman Board Chair
Bible Society Australia
Chris Melville
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Bible Society Australia
Our Mission
Bible Society Australia’s vision is to see a world where Bible access and engagement flow
like a river, transforming lives with God’s grace through Jesus.
We Open The Bible with all people, everywhere.
We work with our global mission partners and local communities to make the Bible accessible and available through:
• translating the Bible into the world’s languages, including Indigenous Australian languages and Auslan
• distributing the Bible in accessible formats to those who are less reached or resourced, including through Australian chaplaincy and Scripture grants
• engaging people with the Bible through literacy programs, trauma healing courses, devotions and resources that meet people where they are
• advocating for the Bible’s credibility, relevance and beauty in public life, education and culture.
Together, we seek to see lives transformed as people Open The Bible and encounter its lifechanging message.
In 2024–2025, we worked with our partners to Open The Bible through translation, distribution, literacy and trauma healing courses. We supported 65 projects across 39 countries and territories — translating Scripture into more than 28 languages, distributing over 1 million Scriptures globally and equipping thousands through Bible-based literacy and healing programs in places like The Gambia, the Solomon Islands and Jordan. Our impact is measured not just in numbers but in lives transformed by the power of God’s word.
Countries and Territories
French Polynesia
New Caledonia
Vanuatu
Needs and Opportunities
Barriers to the Bible
Despite incredible progress, billions of people still face barriers to accessing and engaging with the Bible. These barriers are not just linguistic — they are also educational, economic and circumstantial. Bible Society Australia is working with global partners to remove these barriers and ensure all people can engage with God’s word.
1 in 5 people still wait for the Bible in their heart language.
129 million have no Scripture at all. Only 781 of the world’s 7,391 languages have a full Bible.
BSA supported Bible translation work in more than 28 languages globally in FY 2024-25.
13.7% of adults globally cannot read — and 2 in 3 are women.
70% of children in poorer countries cannot read by age 10.
BSA supported literacy learning in 15 countries, reaching over 80,000 learners.
123+ million people are forcibly displaced worldwide.
Refugees in Jordan are receiving trauma healing teaching and Scripture.
BSA supported holistic care: healing, hope and the Bible.
Even where Scripture exists, poverty and isolation keep it out of reach.
Most of the 100 million Christians living in China are underprivileged and cannot afford their own Bible.
In Kenya, only 2% of public primary schools have Bibles.
BSA supported the distribution of over 1 million Scriptures globally.
Opportunities for Bible Mission
In parts of Asia, more than half the population (56%) have never even heard of the Bible, and three in four (76%) know nothing about it.
Yet, along with these statistics, the Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey also uncovered enormous opportunity:
• an estimated 240 million nonChristians worldwide say they want to learn more about the Bible.
• 70% of people globally, even outside Christian communities, agree it is good for children to know Bible stories.
Bible Society Australia is helping to meet this need, making the Bible accessible and available to all people everywhere.
Impact in FY 2024-25
Bible Distribution
Scriptures distributed 1,018,246
Bible Translation
28+
Asia
South Pacific
Papua New
Guinea
Australia languages
Mongolian
Vietnamese
Vietnamese minority language
Sri Lankan Sign Language
Tongan
Samoan
Ajie
Nelemwa
Drehu
Nengone
Iaai (New Caledonia)
Mele
Ahamb
Erromango
Futuna
Lelepa
Ngunese
Tok Pisin
Magi
Vulaa
Gogodala
Yuna
Pa
Aekom
Motu
Pitjantjatjara
Noongar
Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
Bible-based Literacy literacy projects
17
15 countries involved
80,520 students reached
16,287 graduates
62,488+ Scriptures distributed via literacy projects
Bibles for Australia
Australian Bible Development
16
Custom Scripture projects delivered to schools and ministry partners 15 new Bibles and Scripture editions developed
“Bible Society have always impressed me with the creative ways they seek to get the Bible into the hands of young people. These custom Bibles are always enthusiastically received by our students.
They are a tangible expression that we as a school cherish God’s word and hope that our students will too.”
— Jeremy Wright | Cedar College
“This turned a simple booklist item into a treasured keepsake for our students. It must be the only ‘textbook’ that gets a round of applause when presented.”
— Daniel Lowe | St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School
Australian Bible Distribution
Through BSA Scripture grants
Australian Defence Force: 20,622 Scriptures distributed
Chaplains and parachurch: 23,299 Scriptures distributed
Bibles in schools: 4,981 class Bibles distributed to volunteer teachers
Disaster relief: 2,424 Scriptures
Bible distribution in remote and Indigenous communities
27, 361 Scriptures
Other Bible distributions
100,000+ Christmas 2024 and Easter 2025 free Scripture resources for Australian churches
35,700 Bibles supplied through the Bibles for Churches program, for free distribution by Australian churches
18,700 ‘Read This’ Bibles for youth
17,000 copies of the ‘New Beginnings Bible’
80,000 Scripture editions through Koorong retail
“I ordered nine boxes of the New Beginnings Bibles. I believe Bible affordability is a key part of Bible Society Australia’s mission, and it’s what makes them stand out. Having access to high-quality Bibles that don’t break the bank helps us in our mission to disciple people.”
— Jason Mendis | Pastor at Revive Church
“I felt an amazing feeling of God’s blessing on me, and I realised in that moment I am doing the right thing. God’s pleased and he led me here.“
— Trudy Fraser | Auslan Bible Translator, describing how she felt after releasing the Lord’s Prayer in Auslan on YouTube
Project Spotlights
Australia: Auslan Bible Project
The Auslan Bible Project, coordinated by Bible Society Australia (BSA) in partnership with Wycliffe Bible Translators Australia aims to work closely with the Deaf community to produce visual Scripture resources for the 16,000 Auslan users in Australia (2021 Census).
In 2024, BSA helped set up a state-of-the-art video recording studio at Wycliffe Australia’s campus in Melbourne, dedicated to producing highquality Auslan Bible content. Some of these Auslan videos can also be viewed and shared through the Auslan Bible YouTube channel.
In 2025, a new Auslan Bible website (auslan.bible) was launched, designed with an intuitive, video-based navigation for users.
Through a partnership with Alpha Australia, the popular Alpha course was translated into Auslan, with launch events held in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in July 2025. The translation of eight episodes of the Alpha Course in Auslan has been completed and released with great feedback from Alpha course participants.
Kenya: Bibles for the Young
Bible Society Australia supports the Bible Society of Kenya in providing Bibles to marginalised school children. Though Christian Religious Education is mandatory, many Kenyan public schools lack Bibles, and families cannot afford them. Through this partnership, Bibles and Scripture resources are distributed to children in schools and homes across Kenya.
Since 2017, over 49,000 Scriptures have been distributed across 317 schools and 24 children’s homes in more than 40 counties in Kenya. In early 2025, BSK missions in Migori and northern Kenya reached 30 schools, giving over 12,000 students their own Bibles. Teachers report improved CRE teaching and student grades, while parents note greater responsibility, morality and motivation in their children. Additionally, students enjoy having their own Bibles so they can read, study and memorise verses at home and with others.
49,431 Scriptures have been distributed to marginalised school children since 2017 through this project
21,296 students received Bibles in FY 2024–25
“The first time I received the Good News Bible from Bible Society of Kenya, it felt like gold!
Most precious tool ever! This was my first Bible and now I know God much [better] than before.
The Bible has taught me to belong to a fellowship and so [I] have started going to church and helping the needy children around me.”
— Carrie* | primary school student
“When we reached the part where we were invited to bring our pain to the cross, I couldn’t hold back my tears. It felt like years of silence and heaviness were finally being acknowledged. I had never cried like that in front of others, but in that moment, I knew I was safe.”
— Nasser* | a participant at a trauma-healing workshop
Jordan: Providing God’s Healing Balm
The Bible Society of Jordan, supported by Bible Society Australia, runs the Balasan Centre, which serves churches across all denominations in Jordan. It specialises in trauma healing, counselling and family ministry. Balasan is Arabic for ‘balm’, named after the cry for hope in Jeremiah 8:22 (NIV): “Is there no balm in Gilead?”
The Bible Society of Jordan’s Trauma Healing project is reaching hundreds of people affected by trauma through healing groups, individual counselling and specialised workshops. Mothers, couples, youth leaders, and refugees have engaged in sessions on emotional awareness, motherhood, pre-marriage guidance and teen development.
In 2025, the Bible Society of Jordan is progressing with plans to establish the Balasan Counseling Institute, which will offer a two-year program to train and equip Christian counsellors across the Middle East and North Africa. Two lay and professional counsellors are currently in training. The program is growing as trauma-healing group participants receive training to support and minister to others. The workshops and traumahealing groups are renewing people’s faith in Christ and building a stronger church community in Jordan.
participants in 6 trauma healing groups
12 people were trained in Initial Trauma Healing Training
9 individuals received one-onone counselling support
2 counsellors are currently continuing training at the Balasan Counselling Institute
Pakistan: Light through Literacy
The Pakistan Bible Society’s literacy project empowers Christian women in villages and slums through Bible-based literacy. Since 2014, it has enabled 38,000 women to read, write and study Scripture, helping them break cycles of generational slavery and build brighter futures for their families.
Pakistan Bible Society’s literacy project continues to empower thousands of women through Bible-based literacy learning. By the end of 2024, a total of 3,819 female learners participated, learning to read, write and do basic maths before progressing to Scripturebased books. Graduates received a certificate as well as a large-print New Testament to further their learning and engagement with Scripture. In 2025, partnerships with 10 churches and organisations were established to support the program. With added health lessons and eye camps, the project continues to transform lives, spiritually and practically, across communities.
38,000 women in Pakistan have learned to read since 2014
3,819 learners participated in the literacy program in 2024
“I am thankful for the teacher for providing me the opportunity to learn to read and write. As I do my homework at home in the evening before going to bed, my children take my books and play with them which creates the interest of studying. I am so glad that I will send my children to school and they will be educated in the future ... I will be educated by the end of this course and will help my children in their studies. I will also read the Bible with my family ...”
— Sana*
Stories of Impact
“Many people find great comfort through reading their ADF Bible in the knowledge that God is real and that God really cares.”
Australia: A Navy Chaplain’s Story
“Constant moves and time away from family and friends makes it hard to build deep connections. Many of our younger members struggle with loneliness. They have friends, but sometimes these friendships are relatively superficial.”
For this Navy chaplain, the ADF Bibles and devotionals, provided by Bible Society Australia through its Scripture Grants program, offer vital comfort and hope. “Many people find great comfort through reading their ADF Bible in the knowledge that God is real and that God really cares.”
He recalls one young recruit who was going through a difficult season in his personal life. “He picked up a Navy waterproof New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs ... reading Matthew’s Gospel when he came across Jesus’ teaching on worry. He said ... ‘Do not worry about your life’ wasn’t some platitude but a real recognition that he could rely on God no matter what and keep everything else in perspective.”
“People who receive ADF Bibles and New Testaments aren’t forced to. They choose to. They are interested.”
Pakistan: Samina’s Story
“I am very happy and proud to be a Literacy Aid Worker because this program has not only taught me but has also allowed me to bring about radical changes in the lives of many,” shared Mrs Samina* of the Komarpur Nazarene Mission.
Samina has served as a Literacy Aid Worker for the Pakistan Bible Society’s literacy program since 2022. Witnessing lives transformed through literacy fills her with deep joy and gratitude. “Just as an irrigator gets soaked in water while watering, I, too, have been showered with blessings while running this program.”
Her classes have fostered friendship and faith, forming a prayer team that now supports troubled and sick villagers. Some members have begun reading the Bible after understanding its message. One female participant, as Samina proudly shares, once shy and reserved, now leads a women’s group in church.
“I feel honoured and grateful to have served as a Literacy Support Worker ... By God’s grace, I have been able to contribute to spiritual, social and moral changes in many lives.”
Jordan: Lydia’s Story
“I am not afraid to wear my cross or hold my Bible.” These are the powerful words of Lydia*, whose life was once marked by deep poverty and fear. “We don’t even have a fridge,” Lydia shares. “Sometimes the three of us survived on just one can of tuna.”
In the middle of this hardship, God revealed his care. Through the love of the church and the Bible Society of Jordan’s Bible and aid distribution project, Lydia and her family saw their daily needs provided for. “God was so generous and good to us,” she says. As her faith grew, Lydia found courage to stand firm despite opposition. “Before, we lived in constant worry,” she explains. “Now, we live with trust. Since the day we believed, God has never failed us.”
Even Lydia’s marriage was transformed. “God worked in me and in my husband, and he turned our relationship into love.”
“What I have seen and lived is the truth. God has been so good to us. Every time we worried about tomorrow, he reminded us that he would not leave us. He provided food, support and encouragement through the church and the people who stood with us.”
*Names have been changed to protect their privacy.
Our Mission Partners
Together in Impact: Mission Partner Perspectives
“We are truly grateful and deeply value our partnership with Bible Society Australia. Over the past year, your faithful support has played a crucial role in meeting both the spiritual and practical needs of people in the most vulnerable and war-affected regions of Ukraine.
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to distribute thousands of Bibles and Scripture portions to those seeking hope amid suffering, pain, loss and death ... The Word of God has become a source of hope, comfort, healing and inner strength. Many people received their very first Bible — and for many, it was their first real encounter with the love and truth of God ... Our partnership has become more than just practical assistance — it has become a true expression of Christian friendship and compassion.”
— Yurii
| Bible Society of Ukraine
“The Australian Bible Society’s partnership has been more than financial support — it has been a true expression of Christian fellowship and shared mission ... This partnership has strengthened our capacity, extended our outreach and reminded us that the global Body of Christ is united in fulfilling the Great Commission.”
— Wilakshitha | Ceylon Bible Society
“The support ... of our friends at the Australian Bible Society is invaluable and of vital importance to the most vulnerable children in Nicaragua. Your contribution makes it possible for the Word of God to reach the beneficiaries and their families, so that in the midst of their pain they can feel and know God’s love in their lives.”
— Rebeca | Bible Society of Nicaragua
“The partnership between the Bible Society of the South Pacific and Bible Society Australia has been a powerful force in expanding the ministry and missions across the beautiful liquid continent of the Pacific region ... The establishment of the Oceania Alliance ... has encouraged a unified approach to Bible ministry ... improving resource sharing and outreach effectiveness ...”
— Geoffry | Bible Society of the South Pacific
“Our partnership with BSA has opened exciting new doors to serve Chinese believers in rural villages across China ... This has made God’s Word more available, affordable and accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to own one ... Together, we are empowering the Church in China and sowing seeds of faith that will flourish for the sake of God’s Kingdom.”
Daniel | United Bible Societies China Partnership
Australian Languages Mission Partners
“What I appreciate most is BSA’s initiative and ability to strategically bring together like-minded Christian missions to make breakthroughs in areas where a broader range of skills are required. I have found collaborating with BSA to be a genuine expression of our Biblical mandate to work together in unity as the body of Christ.”
— Max Sahl | CEO, Wycliffe Australia
“AuSIL is very thankful to work so closely with Bible Society Australia! There are so many ministry opportunities when it comes to speakers of Indigenous Australian languages accessing God’s word, and there’s no way we could have been involved in nearly as much over the last year without Bible Society’s partnership.”
— Kathy Dadd | Australian Society for Indigenous Languages (AuSIL)
Ministry Grant Partners
“The ADF-specific material made available to the Military Christian Fellowship of Australia via BSA is invaluable to us. It gives us a chance to put Defence-specific Christian material into the hands of those working in this space, and is well received and read ...”
— Julie Jaensch | Military Christian Fellowship of Australia
“I am deeply thankful for the Bibles ... that have all arrived! ... I took them straight in for our Year 5 class, and my goodness, how wonderful and engaging it was for them to read for themselves! I hope the Bibles will mean much to them, and they certainly mean much to me. Thank you!”
—
Dan | SRE Teacher
“Partnering with Bible Society has been a wonderful relationship over many years, enabling access to resources to ensure ongoing translation work as well as the production of print and audio materials to support First Nations Christians in our congregations.”
— Louise McDonald | Coordinate UCA Partnership
“We want to say thank you! It is really encouraging to see children and youth engage in the Bible and be excited about it. You are helping bring Jesus’ Good News to a new generation and their families. We were so grateful for the donation of Bibles to our camp.”
— Scripture Union Camp Coordinator
Church and Volunteer Mission Partners
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Bible Society. We ... have been happy to work together on various projects that promote our shared beliefs and values. We appreciate the focus of the Bible Society in continuing to share the Bible in the communities that we live and work in.”
— Graeme Drinkall | CFO, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Western Australia
“In Tasmania over the past 38 years, Bike for Bibles participants have raised in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. This means that thousands of people have learnt to read, in their own language, using the Bible as a textbook. The first words they read is God’s word.”
— Graeme Perry | Bike for Bibles Volunteer Fundraiser for Bible Society literacy work
“The World Day of Prayer is a global initiative focused on encouraging thoughtful prayer and coordinated action ... We greatly value the continued partnership with the Bible Society and appreciate their collaborative spirit. We look forward to working together on innovative projects that will support and grow our shared mission.”
— Judith Barton | NSW President of World Day of Prayer Australia
Centre for Public Christianity: Upholding the Credibility of the Bible in the Public Square
As Bible Society Australia works to make the Bible available and accessible through translation, distribution, literacy education and trauma healing, we also seek to uphold its credibility in increasingly secular contexts. Within Bible Society Australia, Centre for Public Christianity (CPX), plays a vital role in this mission by engaging mainstream media, schools and public forums with thoughtful, articulate presentations of the Christian faith.
CPX Highlights 2024–2025
Responding to a Growing Curiosity about Faith
While secularisation continues to shape Western societies, there have been interesting signs of late that point in the opposite direction: increasing interest, especially among Gen Z, in spiritual things in general and Christianity in particular.
Recent key findings reveal that:
In the UK between 2018 and 2024, church attendance rose from 8% to 12% (an increase of more than 2 million). For young people (8–24-year-olds) the growth is even more dramatic, rising from 4% to 16% between 2018 and now.
In Australia’s most recent census (2021), although there was an overall rise in ‘no religion’ and drop in Christian affiliation, more than 784,000 Australians who had previously identified with ‘no religion’ ticked one of the Christian boxes
In a recent worldwide Bible attitudes survey, Australia sits with other similar countries in the finding that 18% of nonreligious people are interested in learning about the Bible, increasing to 30% among 18–24-year-olds
16% of those surveyed in this group of countries showed strong interest in learning more about the Bible, with up to 99% of them expressing curiosity and 87% believing the Bible should have more influence in society.
CPX meets this moment by offering clarity and generosity to those exploring Christianity, helping them encounter the truth, beauty and goodness of the Bible’s message.
Media Engagement: CPX commentators appeared in secular media 89 times, with 10 citations by journalists, bringing a Christian perspective into public conversations.
Speaking in the public sector: CPX staff delivered 67 talks to audiences ranging from 50 to 600+, including keynote addresses at national events such as Max Jeganathan at the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast and Simon Smart at the Henry Baldwin Lecture in Hobart.
School Engagement: CPX reached over 3,000 students, trained 1,600 teachers and supported 300+ schools with resources and professional development, including the new Answering Tricky Questions in the Classroom seminars.
Podcast: The Life & Faith podcast released 28 episodes with 76,855 downloads, including a milestone 500th episode and a powerful interview with journalist, Stan Grant.
Events: CPX launched Tapping In, a new event for young adults exploring faith and held in a pub setting with 150 attending. CPX also hosted its largest-ever Richard Johnson Lecture, featuring award-winning Australian author Tim Winton and drawing 650 attendees.
Through these initiatives, CPX helps Australians encounter and engage with the Bible, supporting BSA’s mission not only to distribute Scripture but to ensure it is understood, trusted and seen as relevant in today’s world.
Financial Performance
FY 2024–25
Total donations and bequests
$12.6m
Cents of each dollar raised goes toward mission
0.73c*
*Net of funds held over for future years
In FY 2024–25, Bible Society Australia received donations from over 14,000 generous supporters, made up of:
55
bequestors contributing $3.4 million
13,584 individual supporters contributing approximately $6.7 million
351 church and parachurch groups contributing over $0.6 million
Church partnerships:
16,500
copies of BSA’s ‘Read This’ Bible were distributed to churches in 3 months
151 other organisations contributing over $1 million
375
supporters contributing over $0.9 million to CPX
6,850
Bibles were distributed across 60 events in partnership with Youth Alive
30,000+
people heard about Bible Society Australia’s mission through churches and events
23 fundraising events were held around Australia
Thank You!
At Bible Society Australia, we are deeply grateful for the faithful community that stands behind our mission of Opening The Bible for all people, everywhere. Each year, thousands of supporters — through prayer, giving, partnership and volunteering — make it possible to continue the work of Bible translation, distribution and engagement both here in Australia and around the world.
We want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you. Your generosity and partnership are vital. Whether you give regularly, respond to appeals or contribute in other ways, your support ensures that the Bible remains within reach for those who long to encounter God’s living and active word.
We recognise not only our financial supporters but also the broader community that undergirds this mission with prayer. Our dedicated prayer community of more than 1,180 subscribers to our monthly Prayer Letter faithfully intercedes for Bible work across nations and contexts. Their commitment reminds us that every project and every story is sustained by God’s power and the prayers of his people.
We also acknowledge the many volunteers who give of their time and energy to help raise funds, share the vision and extend the reach of Bible Society Australia. From organising local events to assisting with community fundraising, their contribution reflects the spirit of partnership that has defined Bible mission since our beginnings in 1817. Together, this remarkable community of donors, prayer partners and advocates forms the foundation of Bible Society’s work. We honour your commitment, and we remain dedicated to stewarding your trust with transparency and care.
Thank you for standing with us, so that all people, everywhere, may have the opportunity to Open The Bible and encounter our great God.
The Bible Society Australia Team
The Mission Continues
Even with so much progress made, there is still more work to be done. Around the world, millions of people are still waiting to experience the hope and truth of God’s word — and your partnership can make it possible.
By giving to Bible Society Australia’s ‘Where Needed Most’ fund, you enable us to respond where the need is greatest and where help is needed most urgently. Your support equips us to act swiftly in times of crisis, strengthen Bible engagement and advocacy, continue Bible translation projects and
sustain mission initiatives — including the work of the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and our dedicated teams across Australia and beyond.
Whether you choose to give regularly or make a oneoff gift, your contribution helps ensure that no one is left waiting to Open The Bible. Together, we can keep advancing this mission — until every person, everywhere, can access the life-changing message of God’s word.
