Sower Summer Edition 2012-2013

Sower The Bible at work

SUMMER 20122013

EGYPT: Gearing to send Bibles far and wide FRANCE: ZeBible, a new experience for youth CHINA: Paper, the key to affordable Bibles SCRIPTURE GRANTS: Chaplains at the coalface DEVOTION and daily Bible Reading 1

Dear friends, Summer in Australia usually means sun, family, cricket, holidays and a slower pace of life. We settle into the season with a mad rush up to Christmas, then collapse into January for some rest and recovery (that’s if we are fortunate enough to get it).

Holidays are a great time not to turn the brain off, but to turn it on to the things you might have ignored or neglected during the everyday busyness of the year. Time to read a thoughtful book that you heard about but didn’t have time to pick up. Time to really talk with your kids and see how they are going. Time to reconnect with your relatives and friends, either distant or right next door.

And time to reassess the place of the word of God in your life.

This year, Bible Society Australia has been delighted to run our Live light in 25 words Bible reading campaign, and see over 2,500 churches and around 200,000 individuals building their Bible habit. We are hoping to hear of less New Year’s resolutions to “read my Bible more”, because people are already doing it!

But my prayer now is that people who have kindled (or rekindled) their own Bible habit, will use their summer to reflect on the tremendous needs of the world’s

people groups even to have access to a Bible, so they can build a reading habit like us. In Australia, we are blessed just to be thinking about Bible reading: much of the world can’t even get hold of God’s word.

Around the world, the word of God is living and active (Heb 4:12).

It will never go out from the mouth of God and return empty (Isa 55:11).

And yet, so many people still have little or no access to the Bible. Even if they’re believers, they cannot add knowledge and discernment (Phil 1:9) to their love of God. If you have benefited from God’s word in your life, brought to you by the hard work of others (translators, missionaries, concerned Christian benefactors), will you join us in taking the Word to those who don’t have it? I believe it is the right way to respond to God’s generous revelation to us. It’s too good not to share!

In the Lord,

Dr Greg Clarke, CEO Bible Society Australia

Bible Society Australia is a not-for-profit interdenominational organisation. It is a member of the United Bible Societies, a fellowship of 146 organisations working in more than 200 countries. Our mission is to achieve the widest possible, effective and meaningful distribution of the Bible; also, to help people interact with it, and to have their hearts lightened by the Bible’s message of unconditional love in Jesus Christ.

GPO BOX 9874 In Your Capital City P: 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) ISSN 1839-7425 W: biblesociety.org.au E: sower@biblesociety.org.au ACN 148 058 306

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Live light in 25 words

Bible Month to happen every year

John.Karakatsanis

Thumbs up to a little help with growing a Bible reading habit! That’s the feedback received in response to Live light in 25 words. The campaign encouraging Christians to start or renew their daily Bible habit saw thousands commit to reading 25 words (or slightly more) from the Bible every day for 31 days. In October, over 50,000 resources were accessed at the campaign website, 25words.biblesociety.org.au An estimated 200,000 Christians followed the campaign in some form, either on their own or as part of their committed church. While they were mostly in Australia, some participated from overseas.

Post campaign surveys are taking place now, and will help the Bible Society plan for the 2013 campaign. October each year will be ‘Bible Month’, a time for a special focus on engaging with the Bible.

For now, let’s keep on building that Bible reading habit. Those keen to continue receiving a daily Scripture verse can opt in by visiting 25words.biblesociety.org.au/Continue. Resources on the Live light in 25 words website will still be available to help anyone kickstart their 31-day Bible reading, at any time. As CEO Greg Clarke says, “Any month is a good month to build your Bible habit!”

“Thanks for the readings - it has really got me on the right track, and helps with knowing what I could be reading each day. It would be good to continue….”

“I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from church members; 25 Words has inspired a number of the congregation to begin a daily Bible reading habit.”

“My church has been faithfully following and promoting the campaign –and the congregation is loving it!”

“We’re finding the resources very valuable....”

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Paper: the key to providing Bibles for

China

For the majority of Christians and believers in China, buying a Bible is a dream. There are many Chinese doing it tough; in fact, official statistics from last year show that one hundred and twentyeight million live on less than US$1 a day. Twenty-two million urban dwellers, survive on nothing more than a minimum government allowance.

Zhu Yongnan and her husband live in a small Nanjing basement which they sub-let to make ends meet. While they’re in the city, their son remains in a rural village with his grandparents. Zhu works thirteen-hour days in order to earn a living and save for the three trips a year home to see her son.

That leaves very little money for much else.

Zhu is thankful,however, that she has managed to buy a Bible —something she could never have afforded on her own. Amity Printing Press in Nanjing prints and distributes Scriptures at a dramatically subsidised price because the paper is provided for free. Bible Society Australia, together with several other Bible Societies, is undertaking to provide this special paper.

We need your help to do this. Through your donation, more and more Chinese will have access to the good news of hope in Christ. Your past support has helped put millions of Bibles into the hands of Chinese believers. It’s a longing fulfllled for many, but there are still millions more who wait.

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100 millionth Bible from Amity

Soren Moesgaard

The Amity Printing Press in Nanjing China has recently printed its 100 millionth Bible. 58 million Bibles have been distributed in mainland China alone. Only Amityprinted Bibles, stamped with the Government’s printing authorisation, can be distributed in the country.

The Chinese government has approved a printing quota, but a paper funding shortfall would mean fewer Bibles printed—and fewer Bibles going to the Chinese.

Amity’s printing machines go through massive amounts of paper each day. Subsiding the paper is crucial to keeping the unit cost of a Bible down. Your donation can help Amity provide Bibles to meet China’s overwhelming needs, particularly in rural areas.

A mother’s long wait over Madam Guo has been a Christian for 20 years. “Our lives are worth nothing on earth. We are truly blessed only if we have Christ in us,” she says. Her two sons are also believers. For a long time, however, they shared two Bibles between the three of them. When the Amity distribution van turned up in a Henan church early one morning, Madam Guo was there, waiting.

She managed to get a brand new Bible for her son, and couldn’t resist sitting down to lovingly hold and read through it, before taking it home. Their wait was finally over.

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Able to read and grow

It was very difficult for me to read the Bible, because I couldn’t recognise many Chinese characters. Eventually I gave up, and spiritually I was stunted.

Now, through the Bible Literacy Class, I have learned many complicated characters. I am more interested in Bible study. My heart, which had been thirsting for the righteousness of God, can now be satisfied. Wang Lian

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In rural parts of the country there is another obstacle.

Rural Chinese are less likely to be formally educated, and thus many have limited literacy skills.

Unable to read, these Christians depend on others to help them access and understand the the word of God. That’s why the Bible Society is committed not only to distributing Bibles, but also to conducting Scripturebased literacy classes in four rural provinces of China.

Through your donation, thousands of believers in rural China will learn to read and write. Using Biblebased literature, they’ll read about God as they learn.

Please donate to help the Bible Society provide vital Bible paper, and Bible-based literacy resources. Thank you for helping get God’s Word out to China’s millions.

Only donations to the literacy part of the project are tax-deductible. To donate please call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537), visit www.biblesociety.org.au/china or mail us the form on the back cover.

Devotion

Peaceful father, peaceful children

IVETTE FERRERO

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)

Relaxed parents breed relaxed babies. This is what I was told many times over when I was blessed with a laid-back baby who quickly slept through the night, for whom feeding was a breeze and who had a “cruisy” temperament, the envy of many mum-friends.

Children feed off the emotions of their parents.

Teachers have told me that they know when a student is embroiled in conflict at home, without needing a word spoken on the topic. They absorb and reflect the tensions of their environment.

What does this reality mean for us as children of the most-high God? Our Father is a peace-loving God and if we abide in his presence each day, his peace should emanate from us. We can claim that peace as our own.

“Do not be anxious about anything,” Philippians 4:6 begins, “but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The kind of peace Paul speaks about in this passage is profound. It’s not the mere absence of conflict, or two fingers stabbed at the air or some kind of new age zone. It’s a state of being that “transcends” human understanding, a promise from God to guard our “hearts and … minds” from the uncertainty of our world.

The original Hebrew word used for peace was shalom, which has a much broader meaning.

Shalom means wholeness, health, harmony, fullness, completion and rest. The Shalom of God is a beautiful gift we can claim daily by drenching ourselves in the presence of our heavenly Father.

Read the word. Pray. Listen.

And experience that transcendental peace residing in your heart that sets you apart as a child of the King.

By Claire van Ryn, who writes for The Examiner Newspaper, Launceston and blogs at faithlikeamushroom.wordpress.com

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A new experience

Chewing on the Bible and pizza

The ZeBible group in Lambersart, set up by Father JeanLuc Garin (pix, Left), consists of “an hour of Bible and an hour of pizza.” Father Garin says that ZeBible is both attractive to youth and interesting in itself. He follows the ‘post-it’ note method suggested in ZeBible: one of the young people reads the text, then during the time of silence that follows, they all ‘stick their post-its’. An exclamation mark on the post-it indicates a passage they find shocking; a question mark is for something they can’t understand; a plus sign is for something they enjoy; and open inverted commas are for a passage which leads to something else. This is then followed by discussion and interaction over pizza!

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enrico nunziati

In France, a whole generation is growing up without knowing Christ or what it’s like to have him in their lives. Ninety-eight per cent of fifteen to twenty year olds don’t read the Bible, and that includes the thirty per cent who actually own one.

They’re alarming statistics, and the French Bible Society has started a youth-oriented Bible advocacy project to help reverse this trend. Called ZeBible, l’autre experience, or The Bible, the alternative experience, the project uses a special Bible translation and social media to engage with young people.

A multimedia experience combines the printed word, videos, a website, Facebook, YouTube and other channels to help young people, and their friends, to discover the Bible in ways familiar to them.

The whole approach is to engage with young people in “their language” and in “their world” – like Father Jean-Luc Garin of Lambersart has done (story below).

for French youth Apart from learning about the Bible, ZeBible groups are spiritual families for young people too. Each is a place where youth can openly discuss matters of faith, exchange views with people their age, and get support about the things going on in their lives.

Bible Society Australia is supporting the ZeBible project through a collection on the 2013 World Day of Prayer (see below), but we also welcome donations now. To bless youth in France with this “alternative experience” please call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537), visit www.biblesociety.org.au/france or mail us the completed form on the back page.

The World Day of Prayer (WDOP) The WDOP, represented in over 170 countries, is described as “millions of voices worldwide, raised in prayer for one country, over one 24-hour period.”

The 2013 WDOP events (details at www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org) will be held on Friday 1 March. All collections on the day will go towards supporting the ZeBible project in France.

Different views of the Bible

Like many Christian mothers, Ines Ribet (above, left) finds it a challenge to pass on her faith to her children. “I think young people see the Bible as fairy stories—enjoyable, but not necessarily relevant to their lives,” she says. Her daughter Alice, 14, admits that she sees the Bible as an “old book containing stories of ancient times.” But she immediately showed more interest when she heard how young people were planning to promote the Bible through social media like Facebook, a web series, links to videos and Christian music.

Colin Cushman

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Meet the staff

Recognising 10 years of service This year we’ve had the privilege of saying thank you and well done to several staff members who’ve shared in the Bible Society’s mission for ten years or more.

Over morning tea in the different state offices, their managers and colleagues took time out to celebrate

their faithful service and love for God’s work.

Phil and Leeanne Zamagias who have moved on to other ministry work were also recognised for their long service and invaluable work with Australia’s remote and Indigenous communities.

Top (L-R): Alan Harris, Bill Taylor, Belinda Faulks, Steve Guy, and Jen Roberts Bottom (L-R): Sue Brown, Judy Schulz, Phil and Leeanne Zamagias

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Spotlight on supporters

I’ll do all I can for Bibles in schools

Allan Peacock and wife Dawn lead a Scripture class

Allan has fundraised for Bibles three times in City2Surf

Two things are apparent when you ask Allan Peacock, 77, about his support for Scripture in public schools.

First, he’ll do all he can to engage school children with the Bible. And second, he and wife Dawn are a team.

As soon as he retired from local government service, he joined Dawn in teaching Scripture or Christian religious education at two schools on the NSW Central Coast. She had taught for many years and was more experienced, but Allan brought something new to class—including his beloved piano accordian!

Every week, Allan takes it faithfully to school, and the couple lead the children in three or four choruses.

“They find it a novel instrument!” he says. Allan also plays to raise funds. In the past five years, he’s had an annual musical afternoon, playing the piano accordion and keyboards to raise money for Scripture materials.

Of course, Dawn is always close at hand.

The only time that Allan is firmly on his own, is the annual 14km trek in Sydney’s City2Surf event. “In 2010, the Bible Society’s Rick George asked Scripture teachers to apply for Big Rescue Bibles. 10,000 had been ordered— but Rick was swamped with a request for 70,000! When City2Surf came up, I decided to walk with Bible Society staff and supporters as they raised funds for the extra Bibles.” Allan has now walked in City2Surf three times in a row, raising over $12,000.

There are literally thousands of children who have received a Bible, or who have been taught the Scriptures, by this dedicated husband and wife team. It’s clearly the kind of impact the Bible speaks of when it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.

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Equipping chaplains at the coalface “I’m grateful for the supply of Bibles that we receive from the Bible Society,” says a South Australian prison chaplain. “The Bible is among the few items inmates take upon release. It’s seen as a precious gift.”

The inmate in the story to the right says that for prisoners, it is their “darkest hour… isolated, ashamed, embarrassed, afraid, and cast into an environment that may be completely alien.”

Those of us not in prison can’t fully understand their experience, but we can all identify with a desperate hour, and how the Word of God helps a troubled soul with a message of hope and restoration.

The Bible Society supports the work of those at the frontline of mission work in Australia. This year we have committed $250,000 through our Grants Programme to provide free Scripture materials to chaplains of hospitals, correctional services, emergency services, the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Juvenile Justice and other Christian missions like Indigenous ministries.

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50,000 pieces of Scripture materials have been distributed to date, and we ask your help to support some of the most crucial ministries in the country.

Please call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) or visit www.biblesociety.org.au/grants to donate.

A call for support from behind bars

I’m not a practising Christian but I certainly do have a Bible. During such times people must find strength in whatever way they can. The Bible is not for everyone…. but even if it is for one, and it makes a difference, doesn’t that make it all worth it? It may be one passage or a phrase or the fact that they find comfort in reading about how others lived their lives. At least they are given a choice to read the Bible when all other choices are taken away from them….. So if it makes the time in prison slightly more bearable and creates a fuller and richer life for that person, then certainly the practice of providing a Bible for every prisoner should be embraced!

Prisoner, South Australia

Miguel Saavedra

Scripture Grants

Story of hope from Victoria

Abel Seaman Samuel found answers in the Scriptures

No longer troubled and all at sea “In the past nine months I have had the privilege of seeing eleven Australian Defence Force members make a commitment to Jesus at the Everyman’s Centre in Sydney. Recently, Abel Seaman Samuel (pix, above) dropped in to talk. He was troubled and considering drastic action. I had shared the gospel with him on several occasions, but this time he gave his life to Christ. I then gave him some Scripture to read in preparation for our next meeting. Three weeks later I saw him again and he said that his life had been turned around, filled with various spiritual experiences since we’d prayed. He is now actively sharing his testimony with other sailors on base. His experience of God is very real and is a powerful witness among his peers.”

Marc Wheway, Chief Commissioner, Everyman’s Welfare Centre, Sydney NSW

Fusion Mornington Australia runs a Bible study group for teenage girls—all new Christians. Often they come from the most gut-wrenching backgrounds (see Client M’s story, condensed below) and are shown love, hope through the Word, and restoration for their lives. “.. there was not a night I can remember that I wasn’t bashed or abused by my father. My mum couldn’t move in... all of the time, to step in between my dad and me or my brother and my dad...there were times when we would sneak out our bedroom windows and go to the park just to escape from everything.... After one night which was not pleasant my father abused me in a way that should never happen... especially by a father to his daughter. After that night I dragged the spare mattress into my room and made my mum sleep on the mattress to protect me.. .. There was court case after court case, and my family now consisted of me, my mum, Joel and the two dogs.. . there was no trust between any of us.... I felt worthless and helpless... it got to the point where I wasn’t able to live with my mum anymore... I stayed a few nights at my best friend’s house before I got a call from Fusion saying that there was a vacancy and that I could take it. So I did....they did a session on the divine word of forgiveness, and man did I cry my eyes out... it was on the last night of foundations that I gave my heart to Jesus, that is the most important moment in my life.. I was able to see hope and light at the end of the tunnel .... I don’t know where I would be without Jesus in my life and the help from Fusion staff. This is my story of how I found my hope!”

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BSA Update

Wild for new Bibles

45,000 Bibles, New Testaments and Scripture-based materials, including 22,000 Bibles fresh off a container from Amity Press, are ready for children and youth in public schools! Christian religious education teachers working in 740 public schools can’t wait to get and use the Bibles in class.

Sound of hymns in SA

Combine a brass band,a pipe organ and a congregation in full voice and what you have is Hymnfest. Bible Society supporters from across the Riverland region in SA got together in Renmark to worship, sing their favourite hymns and to raise funds for Lebanon. New Hymnfest dates for 2013 will be advised soon.

Road to 200 begins

CEO Greg Clarke kicks off the “Road to 200” programme in December, starting the journey towards 2017 when we’ll celebrate the Bible Society’s bicentennial in Australia.

Fundraising dinners happening in major cities will help us get the ball rolling, as we plan activities to mark this amazing milestone.

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100 years of staunch support from Albany WA

While we’re on the the “Road to 200”, we’re marking other milestones along the way. In October, the Albany Bible Society Action Group in WA had a big celebration for its centennial. For a hundred years, supporters from this southwestern corner of Australia have faithfully helped the Bible Society touch lives worldwide through its projects. Well done Albany!

Aboriginal Christian artwork

The Bible Society’s Remote and Indigenous Ministry Support (RIMS) team, working with author Christobel Mattingley, is producing a book of Aboriginal art with a biblical context. Artists are invited to submit work depicting a Bible story with particular meaning for them.

Support all mapped out for BFB

Before the Bike For Bibles (BFB) team hit town on the Albury to Adelaide ride, youth from the Swan Reach Lutheran Church raised $27 by cycling on an exercise bike! They stuck the money on a map outlining the route and happily handed it over when BFB arrived!

Call for 2013 GodSpeak Advocates

In November, 2012 Advocates Larissa Boon, Rachelle Brooks and Marguerite Malan left for India with the $30,000 they’d raised for literacy. It’ll soon be time for new Advocates to start, and a “sign up now” video by Coordinator Kaye Minnaar (pix) is making the rounds.

A taste of Africa in Hobart

A silent auction to raise funds for Rwanda was the only quiet part about African Night! 84 people had a great time, enjoying traditional African food, singing and dancing as they raised support to help the people of Rwanda ‘learn to read, forgive and live as one.’

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Floorspace, but no floor There’s an urgency in the air, as workers drill and solder to complete the massive distribution centre that will send Bibles out across Egypt.

It now only needs a floor and final fixtures, but work on the centre is hampered by a shortage of funds.

Because of the desperate state of the economy in Egypt, the Bible Society there has been forced to subsidise the production cost of Bible products. This is the only way they can keep Scripture materials affordable for a people struggling to cope in uncertain times. However, subsidising the Bible products has had an impact on overall operating costs. The Bible Society of Egypt desperately needs outside support to complete the building, especially now that the time is right for outreach in this nation of 84 million.

Out on the streets of Egypt, an uneasy tension prevails. There is still political uncertainty, with a question mark over how long Egypt will remain a secular state.

Faced with this, and a deteriorating economy, millions of people are searching for answers in a situation where none seem to exist.

For the Bible Society of Egypt, however, this is every reason to step up the pace. They’ve made full use of opportunities to give the Bible a voice in the public square,

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Staff of the Bible Society of Egypt distribute Scripture leaflets to tens of thousands in the streets.

yet for Egyptian Bibles purchasing advertising space in the media and proclaiming Bible messages with unprecedented freedom.

They are also distributing more print materials than ever before.

So while funding is a challenge, work continues, distributing the Bible as widely as possible across Egypt and the Middle East. In fact, the Bible Society of Egypt is the largest Arabic Bible publishing operation in the world. In 2011, over 2.5 million Scripture items were produced for Egypt alone.

This is why the completion of the national distribution centre is vital.

Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt, calls it “a significant step forward for the cause of providing Arabic Scriptures to those who need them.” He hopes that the centre will open in a few months. The workers, tools in hand, are ready to complete the job.

Will you partner with us in making this happen, so that Scriptures will be available across Egypt?

Please make a donation today at www.biblesociety.org.au/egypt, call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) or mail us the form on the back page.

Work on the final fixtures is all that remains, but funds are needed to complete the distribution centre.

(L and R) The Bible Society’s presence at the 2012 book fair in Cairo enabled many to buy Bible materials in bulk and at low cost.

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Bible reading guide

January 1-10 1 Cor 1–6 1.1–9 1.10–17 1.18–31 2.1–16 3.1–9 3.10–23 4.1–21 5.1–13 6.1–11 6.12–20 January 11-19 Psalms 57–65 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65

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January 20-26 Numbers 3–12 3.1–13 6.22–27 9.1–14 9.15–23 11.1–15 11.16–35 12.1–16 January 27February 5 1 Cor 7–11 7.1–16 7.17–24 7.25–40 8.1–13 9.1–27 10.1–13 10.14–22 10.23 – 11.1 11.2–16 11.17–34

February 6-13 Numbers 13–20 13.1–3,17–33 14.1–25 14.26–45 16.1–22 [Ash Wednesday] 16.23–50 17.1–13 20.1–13 20.14–29

February 24March 2 Numbers 21–27 21.1–20 21.21–35 22.1–20 22.21–40 22.41 – 23.12 23.13–26 27.12–23

March 10-18 Psalms 66–74 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

February 14-23 1 Cor 12–16 12.1–11 12.12–31a 12.31b – 13.13 14.1–12 14.13–25 14.26–40 15.1–11 15.12–34 15.35–58 16.1–24

March 3-9 Proverbs 10–31 10.1–22 11.1–11 11.18–31 14.16–27 16.6–11 21.25,26 26.13–16 28.6–8,19–28 31.10–31

March 19-28 Matthew 26–28 26.47–56 26.57–68 26.69–75 27.1–10 27.11–26 27.27–44 27.45–56 27.57–66 28.1–15 28.16–20

March 29-31 Titus 1.1–16 2.1–15 3.1–15

The readings in this guide are taken from Series 1 of the Scripture Union Bible reading notes, “Daily Bread”.

The whole Bible is covered in four years (Series 1 -4).

Literacy for Life

Sharing the blessing of words

“In this class I held a pen for the very first time in my life.”

For many, literacy helps to break the cycle of poverty.

Sixty-nine year old Li Fenglian’s hand trembled as she etched out her first written words.

With the stroke of a pen she had overcome a lifetime of illiteracy, and she rejoiced at the potential.

For Teresa in Mozambique, bus timetables and signs were just a jumble until she attended a literacy class.

“Now when I travel, I can read and not get lost.”

All over the world, people are learning to read and write through pledges to the Bible Society’s Literacy for Life programme. Thousands read using Bible-based materials, and this achieves other things too: • builds confidence and a sense of worth • opens doors of learning and knowledge • improves employment prospects • breaks the cycle of poverty • teaches people about God as they learn to read • influences families and communities You can be part of this life-changing programme.

You decide on the amount, then pledge to provide that every month to the Bible Society. With your pledge, we can commit to providing materials and teachers.

Every gift to the Literacy for Life programme has a lasting and potentially eternal impact. That’s why it’s called one of those gifts that keep on giving.

Donations to Literacy for Life are tax-deductible.

To sign up or to request information about Literacy for Life, please call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537). You can also email donor.support@biblesociety.org.au

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BSA Diary

On the road, in the air

Dec 3 - 11

“Road to 200” Fundraising Dinners

Dec 4

Albany Action Group: Christmas event Dec 10 Life of Jesus Cinema Event Jan 13 - 18 BFB Snowy Mountains Summer Ride Feb 16 - 19 BFB Victorian Alpine Challenge Feb 26 - Mar 3 Avalon Airshow (Flying Bibleman exhibit with MAF Australia) Feb (date TBC) Pitjantjatjara OT Translation project workshop Feb - March Get The Word Out (Rwanda) Launch

March 1 March 1 (TBC)

World Day of Prayer events (supporting ZeBible appeal) BFB Burnie Circuit Ride

Dec 3 –Perth WA Dec 6 – Sydney NSW Dec 10 – Adelaide SA Dec 11 – Darwin NT Albany Baptist, Bethel Way, WA Hoyts Warringah Mall, Sydney NSW Snowy Mountain, NSW High Country, VIC Avalon Airport, Geelong, VIC Areyonga, near Alice Spring, NT Feb 12 - Brisbane, QLD Feb 21 - Launceston, TAS Feb 22 - Ulverstone, TAS Feb 23 - Hobart, TAS Feb 22 - Melbourne, VIC Mar 2 - Adelaide, SA Mar 9 - Sydney, NSW Please find list of events at worlddayofprayeraustralia.org.au West Park Oval Track, TAS

Here’s how to stay informed and get involved with the Bible Society: • Visit our website www.biblesociety.org.au to keep in touch with all of our activities • Give to one of our exciting projects, some of which are tax-deductible • Pray for those who do our work, and those who can benefit from it • Become a “partnering Friend” and receive journals, literature, prayer info and more

For details: Call 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) See 25words.biblesociety.org.au and bikeforbibles.org.au 20

UBS Update

Faith comes by hearing in Togo “I never had the chance to go to school,” says Afiwa Koumazan (right) of Togo in West Africa. Like one third of the population, Afiwa was once illiterate — but not anymore! The Bible Society of Togo has teamed up with Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), using audio Scriptures and printed Bibles. With the FCBH listening sessions, Afiwa could first listen to the Scriptures as she learned to read through the programme’s literacy classes. “I also got my own Bible from the Bible Society for my attendance, and I am using my new Bible. Now that my daughter and I have a Bible we can both read God’s Word.”

Bible in the language of the heart Half the world’s population doesn’t have access to the full Bible in their language, and one in twenty doesn’t have any Scripture translation in their language at all. Bible translation is something we cannot afford to ignore, if we hope to reach all people groups. Please pray with the United Bible Societies as we seek to share God’s Word across the globe, and specifically for the 450 translation projects underway across the globe.

Jiizas book, the NT in Jamaica A special New Testament translation in Jamaican Patois was published to coincide with Jamaica’s 50th year of independence. The people of Jamaica finally have the Word of God in the day-to-day English patois that many speak at home and on the street. In the familiar Christmas reading, when the Wise Men come to give their gifts to the baby Jiizas, they tell Herod that they want to give him ‘rispek’. Praise God for this unique Bible translation!

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Remembering Betty Newman From time to time the Bible Society learns with regret of the passing of faithful friends and supporters. In August we heard about Betty Newman, long time Board Member (1982 – 1995) of then Bible Society WA. She passed away peacefully a day after her 93rd birthday, and we extend deepest condolences to her family.

Trevor Booth, former State Director of Bible Society WA, remembers her as a gracious and humble woman.

“For many years, Betty was the only woman on a Board

comprised largely of businessmen. She brought grace and a woman’s perspective to the Board that was very helpful. Her commitment to the Bible Society was very strong and she was available for anyone.”

We remember with gratitude Betty and all our dear supporters who have gone on to eternal rest. Their giving, their time and their love for reaching the lost have left a legacy that lives on. “A good person leaves an inheritance to his children’s children...” (Prov 13:22)

The best way to reach Christians Eternity, Australia’s largest inter-denominational newspaper is delivered FREE on request to churches, Christian schools, colleges, bookshops, cafes and other organisations.

Advertising helps us to keep it free, and in return, our advertisers reach a targeted, niche audience nationwide. The paper has a monthly circulation of 100,000, delivered to

4000 organisations all across Australia. There are creative advertising opportunities, like adhesive notes, onserts, inserts, lift-outs and more. Further details are available in the Media Kit, so please email paul.hutchinson@biblesociety.org.au or call Mobile 0423 515 899 to request for one.

From time to time readers ask if they can pay for the paper. We’ve now worked out a way for people to give money to Eternity, which helps with our distribution cost to an ever growing mailing list. You’ll find a form on the Bible Society website at biblesociety.org.au/ eternity which takes a credit card or PayPal payment.

If your church isn’t on the distribution list yet, please email eternity@biblesociety.org.au for free copies.

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For those who do not like to cut up their Sower we have provided a copy of this form with your address slip for mailed copies.

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o Please send a receipt o Please send a tax deductible receipt* o Please send me information about becoming a partnering Friend of the Bible Society

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Please return to Bible Society, GPO Box 9874, In Your Capital City You can also donate online at www.biblesociety.org.au or by phone on 1300 BIBLES or (1300 242 537) If these programs are over subscribed, the money will go to another Bible Society project. *Receipts for tax deductible donations of $2 or more will be issued by the trustee for Bible Society Foundation. ABN 41 725 839 724