communicate Christ,� says Phil, “and part of that is bringing the biblical narrative alive – to take it from being two-dimensional when looking at black and white on paper and giving it the Avatar experience, making it 3D.� For a generation that doesn’t read, theatre is an easy way to understand the Bible, Phil says. Reading ability or lack of enthusiasm are no longer barriers to getting to know God’s Word. “We understand theatre,� he says, “but books can be quite daunting, particularly for young people who find it hard to relate to the Bible.� Phil remembers hearing about an 8-year-old boy who had seen another Saltmine production. “Later, the little boy was trapped in a car for hours and hours,� he says. “After he was rescued his mother asked him how he had coped, and he said, ‘I remembered the play and I sang the song.’ That child in that moment related to the biblical story. That’s a wonderful thing.� saltminetrust.org.uk
‘There’s a macro narrative of life and God’s interaction with the world’ speaking to them directly through the Scriptures. “Also, we are doing this as a community, as a church-wide thing,� says Anders, “and that brings a significant benefit I think. Any time you get many people with a common purpose, aim and experience I do believe it blesses us as a community.� Already, Kate and Anders are looking forward to 2011 and doing the One Year Bible again. “I can’t talk highly enough about it,� says Kate. “I would never have thought to read the Bible this way. But it means that I’m reading the Bible far more than I did, even though I’m a committed Christian.� htb.org.uk/one-year-bible
Case study 4: Read the Bible “I am so excited about the Bible now,� says 33-year-old church worker Kate Litzell. She and her husband Anders (pictured) are reading the Bible in a year under a scheme run by their church, Holy Trinity Brompton in West London. More than 1,600 people at the church already receive the One Year Bible daily by email, with accompanying thoughts from church leaders Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. The scheme first ran in 2009 with a goal to unite the church through learning and prayer. Kate and Anders started to read the One Year Bible this January. “I used to find it difficult to read my Bible and to know where to start. This just sets it out for you; it’s so easy,� says Kate. “I thought this would be a good discipline to do it daily. And I’m quite surprised at how much I love doing it. It’s also blessing our marriage. It’s a lovely time for us to spend time with God.� Already the couple says they've been aware of times when they felt that God was
Take it further WHY BIBLEFRESH? The initiative aims to get Christians more engaged with the Bible. WHOSE IDEA WAS IT? Biblefresh is backed by 100 Christian organisations including the Baptist Union, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Bible Society and the Alliance. WHEN IS IT HAPPENING? Throughout 2011 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. WHERE IS IT HAPPENING? Thousands of churches around the country are expected to get involved next year. HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? Sign your church up to the Biblefresh pledge to: (1) read the Bible, (2) train leaders in understanding the Bible, (3) give to translate the Bible for Burkina Faso and (4) provide the opportunity for people to experience the Bible in new and creative ways (biblefresh.org.uk). WHAT CAN I DO RIGHT NOW? Sign your church up now. Find out more at the Christian Resources Exhibition 11-14 May in Esher, Surrey (creonline.co.uk). Get a copy of the Biblefresh book, just ÂŁ5 from Authentic (authenticmedia.co.uk).
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idea may/jun 2010 • 21