Mission toWales3

48

Beans for a Bible in Swaziland

The kindness of strangers

Welcome toWinter 2017’sWord in Action!In this edition,we travel aroundthe world to Swaziland,Jordan and Lebanon. Here athome we hear about theexciting Mission to Walesand how to navigate the Biblewith The Bible Course.Please join us for BibleSunday on 29 October andcelebrate Christmas withour fantastic Christmasresources, themed aroundthe greatest journey. We areso grateful to each and everyone of you and the journeythat you go on with us,please keep us in yourprayers using Prayer inAction.

Every blessing LarissaWord in Action editor

Bible SocietyStonehill Green, Westlea Swindon SN5 7DG Tel: 01793 418222 Fax: 01793 418118biblesociety.org.uk

facebook.com/biblesociety

twitter.com/biblesociety

02 | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | 03

wordinaction

Editor: Larissa Morava wia@biblesociety.org.ukDesign: Origin Design Consultants 01249 822688Bible Society product order line:0800 652 5369Free materials order line: 01793 418300

Registered charity 232759Patron: Her Majesty the QueenChairman of the Board: James FeatherbyChief Executive: Paul Williams

PR000337Online ordering:shop.biblesociety.org.uk/wiaDonations hotline: 01793 418222Front cover photography by Layton Thompson

Our Christmas resources are themedaround the greatest journey, basedon Jesus’ incarnation. What hasbeen a great journey in your life?

I embarked on a great journey withmy family, sailing 200 nautical miles in a 40-foot yacht that we sailedourselves. Our destination was a veryremote and mysterious place calledDesolation Sound in British Columbia,which you can only reach by sea. It’s abeautiful, desolate !ord-likelandscape with cli"s and waterfalls.

The hardest part of the trip wasstarting. 10 years previously, we hadmade it a goal to learn to sail togetherbut had to cancel the trip three timesbecause of physical illness in our family.One or another member of the familywas in hospital for more than half thetime for around three years, whichcreated physical and spiritual pressureon us. This led to a new dimension ofprayer and dependence on God.

Then #nally, the season of illnessended and we cast o" from the berthfor our three-week journey. The entirejourney was a spiritual pilgrimage, wedid Bible studies as a family in themorning before we weighed anchorand in the evening after we droppedanchor. Our Bible studies were onpassages in the Gospels that relate to boats and water.

During our trip, we caught someunexpectedly heavy weather as wecame round a headland, and the wind

picked up to over 35 knots. Wesuddenly went from a peacefulbreakfast into a situation of chaos,there were things $ying around thecabin and the boat was heeling over. We had to get to our stations andmake the crossing of the day in thisheavy wind, it was an intense period.

We had a Bible study after the stormhad calmed down and we read thepassage where Jesus is asleep in aboat on the Sea of Galilee in the midstof a great storm (Matthew 8.23–27ESV). Jesus commands the storm tostop and then there is a great calm.Our daughter Hannah drew out theuse of the adjective, great – a greatstorm and a great calm. That spoke to us as we began to experience inour own lives how the presence ofGod, in the storm we had gonethrough in our family illnesses, hadgiven way to a great calm.

That for us had been an incrediblypowerful journey and in a way, ourtrip was a rerun of that journeythrough the storm, a place of calmand the presence of Jesus.

Christmas is also about Jesus cominginto the storm of the world with amessage of peace. We can know aprofound peace of the presence ofJesus in the midst of even the mostextreme storms. He’s able to hold us and bring a very deep inner peace based on con#dence inwho he is when he’s with us.

Chat with ourChief Exec Ph

otog

raph

y by

Lay

ton

Thom

pson

wordinaction | Winter 2017

Talk about being outside your comfort zone – wouldyou go up to a total stranger and tell them: ‘I’ve justgot to tell you two things really quickly: God lovesyou, and he has an awesome plan for your life?’

For many of us, it’s a tough ask. Research shows thathousehold ownership of the Bible has slumpeddramatically over the last 50 years; and alsoreadership – with three-quarters of those polledadmitting they never read the Bible. So, when itcomes to sharing the story of Jesus with strangerswe tend to anticipate a negative response and thiscan put us o" talking about the Bible with them. But that’s exactly what thousands of Christians inWales spent a week doing, in July, as part of Missionto Wales. Mission to Wales is a partnership betweenThe Turning, an evangelistic awakening that beganin the UK in May 2016 and New Wine Cymru, aninterdenominational group of churches on missiontogether in Wales. We have been supporting it witha special giveaway edition of Luke and Acts inEnglish and Welsh.

We’re working hard to support churches acrossEngland and Wales to do mission in whatever formthat takes. So a couple of the Bible Society teamtravelled to Cardi" to support the churches thereand see, #rst-hand, what Mission to Wales is all about.

We joined up #rst with a group of around 50 peoplefrom various churches across the city and spent timein prayer and worship. We were given a script

written by The Turning, which included introducingyourself with a huge smile and asking the name ofthe other person before saying: ‘God loves you andhas an awesome plan for your life.’

Far from people walking away at this point orsharing an expletive, people were both polite andfriendly and, more importantly, interested in whatwas being said. Really meaningful conversationswere held with people of all ages, atheists, de-churched, believers but not church goers andthose who have never attended a church.

Mike Price, from City Church, Cardi", had alreadyspent one day on the streets and said he’d givenout lea$ets before but had never done anythinglike this. ‘It’s a stretch but it is important to do.Three people said the prayer with me yesterday.’

We witnessed one young girl give her life to Godright there in the middle of the street. She hadlistened intently to what was said and admittedthat she didn’t think she would go to heavenbecause she had ‘done too many bad things’.When she began to understand what Christ’sforgiveness meant she agreed to pray and alsosaid she would like to follow up, over co"ee to#nd out more about the Bible and Christianity.

Across Wales there were six regional hubs wherepeople were trained to go onto the streets in thesurrounding towns and cities; this meanthundreds of Christians hit the streets armed witha copy of Luke and Acts and a lot of prayer behindthem.

Over the one week 3,351 people said the prayeraccepting Jesus’ salvation.

There will now be a big follow-up with those whogave contact details. People are being invited forco"ee and to share more about Christianity throughthe discipleship booklet Six, authored by New WineCymru and produced by Bible Society. Please prayfor the churches in Wales as they move forward withthe mission and that the people who heard thegospel will respond over the next few weeks.

Head of Media andCommunications

Rachel Rounds

Missionto Wales

The teambeing trainedand going outon the streets.

Six Luc | Actau

Dau lyfr o’r Beibl

beibl.net

Welcome toWinter 2017’sWord in Action!In this edition,we travel aroundthe world to Swaziland,Jordan and Lebanon. Here athome we hear about theexciting Mission to Walesand how to navigate the Biblewith The Bible Course.Please join us for BibleSunday on 29 October andcelebrate Christmas withour fantastic Christmasresources, themed aroundthe greatest journey. We areso grateful to each and everyone of you and the journeythat you go on with us,please keep us in yourprayers using Prayer inAction.

Every blessing LarissaWord in Action editor

Bible SocietyStonehill Green, Westlea Swindon SN5 7DG Tel: 01793 418222 Fax: 01793 418118biblesociety.org.uk

facebook.com/biblesociety

twitter.com/biblesociety

02 | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | 03

wordinaction

Editor: Larissa Morava wia@biblesociety.org.ukDesign: Origin Design Consultants 01249 822688Bible Society product order line:0800 652 5369Free materials order line: 01793 418300

Registered charity 232759Patron: Her Majesty the QueenChairman of the Board: James FeatherbyChief Executive: Paul Williams

PR000337Online ordering:shop.biblesociety.org.uk/wiaDonations hotline: 01793 418222Front cover photography by Layton Thompson

Our Christmas resources are themedaround the greatest journey, basedon Jesus’ incarnation. What hasbeen a great journey in your life?

I embarked on a great journey withmy family, sailing 200 nautical miles in a 40-foot yacht that we sailedourselves. Our destination was a veryremote and mysterious place calledDesolation Sound in British Columbia,which you can only reach by sea. It’s abeautiful, desolate !ord-likelandscape with cli"s and waterfalls.

The hardest part of the trip wasstarting. 10 years previously, we hadmade it a goal to learn to sail togetherbut had to cancel the trip three timesbecause of physical illness in our family.One or another member of the familywas in hospital for more than half thetime for around three years, whichcreated physical and spiritual pressureon us. This led to a new dimension ofprayer and dependence on God.

Then #nally, the season of illnessended and we cast o" from the berthfor our three-week journey. The entirejourney was a spiritual pilgrimage, wedid Bible studies as a family in themorning before we weighed anchorand in the evening after we droppedanchor. Our Bible studies were onpassages in the Gospels that relate to boats and water.

During our trip, we caught someunexpectedly heavy weather as wecame round a headland, and the wind

picked up to over 35 knots. Wesuddenly went from a peacefulbreakfast into a situation of chaos,there were things $ying around thecabin and the boat was heeling over. We had to get to our stations andmake the crossing of the day in thisheavy wind, it was an intense period.

We had a Bible study after the stormhad calmed down and we read thepassage where Jesus is asleep in aboat on the Sea of Galilee in the midstof a great storm (Matthew 8.23–27ESV). Jesus commands the storm tostop and then there is a great calm.Our daughter Hannah drew out theuse of the adjective, great – a greatstorm and a great calm. That spoke to us as we began to experience inour own lives how the presence ofGod, in the storm we had gonethrough in our family illnesses, hadgiven way to a great calm.

That for us had been an incrediblypowerful journey and in a way, ourtrip was a rerun of that journeythrough the storm, a place of calmand the presence of Jesus.

Christmas is also about Jesus cominginto the storm of the world with amessage of peace. We can know aprofound peace of the presence ofJesus in the midst of even the mostextreme storms. He’s able to hold us and bring a very deep inner peace based on con#dence inwho he is when he’s with us.

Chat with ourChief Exec Ph

otog

raph

y by

Lay

ton

Thom

pson

wordinaction | Winter 2017

Talk about being outside your comfort zone – wouldyou go up to a total stranger and tell them: ‘I’ve justgot to tell you two things really quickly: God lovesyou, and he has an awesome plan for your life?’

For many of us, it’s a tough ask. Research shows thathousehold ownership of the Bible has slumpeddramatically over the last 50 years; and alsoreadership – with three-quarters of those polledadmitting they never read the Bible. So, when itcomes to sharing the story of Jesus with strangerswe tend to anticipate a negative response and thiscan put us o" talking about the Bible with them. But that’s exactly what thousands of Christians inWales spent a week doing, in July, as part of Missionto Wales. Mission to Wales is a partnership betweenThe Turning, an evangelistic awakening that beganin the UK in May 2016 and New Wine Cymru, aninterdenominational group of churches on missiontogether in Wales. We have been supporting it witha special giveaway edition of Luke and Acts inEnglish and Welsh.

We’re working hard to support churches acrossEngland and Wales to do mission in whatever formthat takes. So a couple of the Bible Society teamtravelled to Cardi" to support the churches thereand see, #rst-hand, what Mission to Wales is all about.

We joined up #rst with a group of around 50 peoplefrom various churches across the city and spent timein prayer and worship. We were given a script

written by The Turning, which included introducingyourself with a huge smile and asking the name ofthe other person before saying: ‘God loves you andhas an awesome plan for your life.’

Far from people walking away at this point orsharing an expletive, people were both polite andfriendly and, more importantly, interested in whatwas being said. Really meaningful conversationswere held with people of all ages, atheists, de-churched, believers but not church goers andthose who have never attended a church.

Mike Price, from City Church, Cardi", had alreadyspent one day on the streets and said he’d givenout lea$ets before but had never done anythinglike this. ‘It’s a stretch but it is important to do.Three people said the prayer with me yesterday.’

We witnessed one young girl give her life to Godright there in the middle of the street. She hadlistened intently to what was said and admittedthat she didn’t think she would go to heavenbecause she had ‘done too many bad things’.When she began to understand what Christ’sforgiveness meant she agreed to pray and alsosaid she would like to follow up, over co"ee to#nd out more about the Bible and Christianity.

Across Wales there were six regional hubs wherepeople were trained to go onto the streets in thesurrounding towns and cities; this meanthundreds of Christians hit the streets armed witha copy of Luke and Acts and a lot of prayer behindthem.

Over the one week 3,351 people said the prayeraccepting Jesus’ salvation.

There will now be a big follow-up with those whogave contact details. People are being invited forco"ee and to share more about Christianity throughthe discipleship booklet Six, authored by New WineCymru and produced by Bible Society. Please prayfor the churches in Wales as they move forward withthe mission and that the people who heard thegospel will respond over the next few weeks.

Head of Media andCommunications

Rachel Rounds

Missionto Wales

The teambeing trainedand going outon the streets.

Six Luc | Actau

Dau lyfr o’r Beibl

beibl.net

04 | Winter 2017

wordinaction

What do two buckets ofmaize, three pumpkins, apiglet (depending on size)

and a chicken have in common? InSwaziland, they’re all fair currency tobuy you a SiSwati Bible.

So when our truck rolls into a ruralvillage in a swirl of dust, and the sta"leap out to pop up their banner andtable, local people emerge from theirhouses and down paths with bags ofgrain on their shoulders andsquawking livestock in their arms –and the trading begins.

This is the unique way we sellScripture in a country where three-quarters of people are subsistencefarmers. It’s called ‘Bible bartering’.

The idea came about back in 2015,when boxes of Scripture werestockpiling in the warehouse and noone was coming to the bookshop tobuy them. A new leader had justtaken up the reins at Bible Society inSwaziland – Ngcebo Mbuli. He’s anentrepreneur at heart, and hissolution worked; they now sell threetimes as many Bibles per year as theyused to.

‘There’s minimal cash in our society,’said Mbuli. ‘People didn’t havemoney to a"ord Bibles, and manycouldn’t travel to our two bookshops.So we worked out a bartering system –and now we go to the villages toexchange Bibles for whatever peoplehave.’

It costs £7-9 for a Bible in Swaziland,the price driven up by import costsand the relatively low print runsneeded in this small country. It’sequivalent to two days’ salary for astandard labourer or factory-worker.For hand-to-mouth farmers, it’s anunthinkable amount of money.

But after a good harvest, when therains have been plentiful, it’s possiblefor families to exchange theirproduce for Scripture. That’s exactlywhat’s happening in Ntondozivillage.

Phumaphi Maseko (above right) istrading a small bucket of valuabledried beans for a SiSwati Bible. She’snever owned a Bible before – andshe’s thrilled with this copy. ‘I am veryexcited. I never have cash so from thebottom of my heart I thank BibleSociety for allowing me to exchangewhat I grow for the Bible,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Lomagugu Ndzimandzeis handing over a rather forlorn-looking chicken in exchange for alarge print Bible. She immediatelyturns to Jeremiah 11.29, herfavourite verse, and begins to read.‘God is my help,’ she says. ‘Iappreciate the fact that even thoughI might not have money, I can a"orda Bible with what I do have.’

Our team even drive up the roadwhen they hear that one elderlywoman is too poorly to walk to theScripture sale. Jabu Dlamini used tobe the teacher in the village school,and wants a large print Biblebecause of her failing eyesight. She’shanding over a deep bucket ofmaize; enough to feed a family for aweek, she says. ‘I can’t buy a Biblebecause I am retired now. But I amvery happy with this exchange,’ Jabuadds.

At the end of a day’s trading, thelivestock goes straight to market in

Manzini, Swaziland’s capital, to besold. The team are canny though;they stockpile the grain until it is notso plentiful, then get a higher priceat the market when they sell.

After the harvest, from May toSeptember, ‘Bible bartering’ sales likethis take place every week in villagesacross Swaziland’s countryside.

‘Most people from rural Swazilandare now buying their #rst ever Biblethis way,’ said Mbuli. ‘They have theful#lment of owning a Bible, but it’salso special – almost like a donation –because they are giving somethingthey’ve grown or reared.’

Under the bright sun, in Swaziland’sastonishingly beautiful landscape,these simple transactions carry realweight and meaning. The maizecould feed a family for a week. Thischicken can provide vital protein in its eggs. These beans have beengrown from seed and picked by

hand. Is it a fair exchange, I ask?

One of the women, Lomagugu,answers without hesitation. ‘Thischicken is worth a lot, that’s true…But Christ is more. Jesus is life.’

wordinaction

Beans for a Bible

Winter 2017 | 05

Our team have developed an ingenious way to help morepeople own a Bible in one of Africa’s southern nations.Claire Smith went to Swaziland to !nd out more.

‘This chickenis worth a lot,that’s true…But Christ ismore. Jesus is life.’

• A 40-litre container #lledwith maize

• Three pumpkins• One piglet, goat or chicken• A bag of sweet potatoes• A 10-litre bucket of beans

Freelance writer Claire Smith

Phot

ogra

phy

by L

ayto

n Th

omps

on

Buy a Bible inSwaziland for…

04 | Winter 2017

wordinaction

What do two buckets ofmaize, three pumpkins, apiglet (depending on size)

and a chicken have in common? InSwaziland, they’re all fair currency tobuy you a SiSwati Bible.

So when our truck rolls into a ruralvillage in a swirl of dust, and the sta"leap out to pop up their banner andtable, local people emerge from theirhouses and down paths with bags ofgrain on their shoulders andsquawking livestock in their arms –and the trading begins.

This is the unique way we sellScripture in a country where three-quarters of people are subsistencefarmers. It’s called ‘Bible bartering’.

The idea came about back in 2015,when boxes of Scripture werestockpiling in the warehouse and noone was coming to the bookshop tobuy them. A new leader had justtaken up the reins at Bible Society inSwaziland – Ngcebo Mbuli. He’s anentrepreneur at heart, and hissolution worked; they now sell threetimes as many Bibles per year as theyused to.

‘There’s minimal cash in our society,’said Mbuli. ‘People didn’t havemoney to a"ord Bibles, and manycouldn’t travel to our two bookshops.So we worked out a bartering system –and now we go to the villages toexchange Bibles for whatever peoplehave.’

It costs £7-9 for a Bible in Swaziland,the price driven up by import costsand the relatively low print runsneeded in this small country. It’sequivalent to two days’ salary for astandard labourer or factory-worker.For hand-to-mouth farmers, it’s anunthinkable amount of money.

But after a good harvest, when therains have been plentiful, it’s possiblefor families to exchange theirproduce for Scripture. That’s exactlywhat’s happening in Ntondozivillage.

Phumaphi Maseko (above right) istrading a small bucket of valuabledried beans for a SiSwati Bible. She’snever owned a Bible before – andshe’s thrilled with this copy. ‘I am veryexcited. I never have cash so from thebottom of my heart I thank BibleSociety for allowing me to exchangewhat I grow for the Bible,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Lomagugu Ndzimandzeis handing over a rather forlorn-looking chicken in exchange for alarge print Bible. She immediatelyturns to Jeremiah 11.29, herfavourite verse, and begins to read.‘God is my help,’ she says. ‘Iappreciate the fact that even thoughI might not have money, I can a"orda Bible with what I do have.’

Our team even drive up the roadwhen they hear that one elderlywoman is too poorly to walk to theScripture sale. Jabu Dlamini used tobe the teacher in the village school,and wants a large print Biblebecause of her failing eyesight. She’shanding over a deep bucket ofmaize; enough to feed a family for aweek, she says. ‘I can’t buy a Biblebecause I am retired now. But I amvery happy with this exchange,’ Jabuadds.

At the end of a day’s trading, thelivestock goes straight to market in

Manzini, Swaziland’s capital, to besold. The team are canny though;they stockpile the grain until it is notso plentiful, then get a higher priceat the market when they sell.

After the harvest, from May toSeptember, ‘Bible bartering’ sales likethis take place every week in villagesacross Swaziland’s countryside.

‘Most people from rural Swazilandare now buying their #rst ever Biblethis way,’ said Mbuli. ‘They have theful#lment of owning a Bible, but it’salso special – almost like a donation –because they are giving somethingthey’ve grown or reared.’

Under the bright sun, in Swaziland’sastonishingly beautiful landscape,these simple transactions carry realweight and meaning. The maizecould feed a family for a week. Thischicken can provide vital protein in its eggs. These beans have beengrown from seed and picked by

hand. Is it a fair exchange, I ask?

One of the women, Lomagugu,answers without hesitation. ‘Thischicken is worth a lot, that’s true…But Christ is more. Jesus is life.’

wordinaction

Beans for a Bible

Winter 2017 | 05

Our team have developed an ingenious way to help morepeople own a Bible in one of Africa’s southern nations.Claire Smith went to Swaziland to !nd out more.

‘This chickenis worth a lot,that’s true…But Christ ismore. Jesus is life.’

• A 40-litre container #lledwith maize

• Three pumpkins• One piglet, goat or chicken• A bag of sweet potatoes• A 10-litre bucket of beans

Freelance writer Claire Smith

Phot

ogra

phy

by L

ayto

n Th

omps

on

Buy a Bible inSwaziland for…

Four years ago, Yasmine, herhusband, Idris, and three-year-old son $ed their home in East

Aleppo. The city was at the centre ofthe Syrian civil war. Its three million-strong population probably halvedduring the #ghting. Buildings were$attened by artillery #re, barrelbombs and air strikes.

Yasmine says, ‘We $ed because theystarted to bomb our village. The daythat we left, I was preparing foodand my husband was coming hometo have lunch together and a bombdropped so close to our home thatthe whole house shook and thechildren were on the $oor becausethey were so scared.’

Today, the family, who are from a non-Christian background, live inneighbouring Lebanon. Idris has

found work as a caretaker in aschool in the capital, Beirut. It was inthis leafy neighbourhood thatYasmine met Rola, a Bible Societyvolunteer. She invited her to takepart in a trauma healing group. ThisBible-based group gives people thechance to re$ect on the traumaticexperiences of war, loss and grief.

‘The trauma healing group hasgiven me peace of mind,’ saysYasmine. ‘I used to have $ashbacksall the time. I had $ashbacks aboutmy parents, and friends who havebeen killed, and relatives, andimages of our home, rememberingthat we cannot see our familyanymore.

‘I used to remember what it was like when my son was hungry and I didn’t have any food to give him.

There was one time when therewas no water and we didn’t washfor 20 days. I used to think aboutthis and cry and hold all theseissues. But now the burden in myheart and soul has gone.’ She adds,‘I feel that I don’t carry that burdenin my heart anymore. I havecompletely changed. I feel atpeace.’

Today, the family attend the localchurch and have found faith inChrist. ‘I am proud to know JesusChrist,’ says Yasmine. ‘The LordJesus changed our lives. I givethanks that we have come to knowhim before we die. My familyneeds joy. It’s time to forgive andforget what happened with us. It’stime to forget the sorrow. If youkeep on remembering the badthings, you ruin your life.’Two small boys are signing the

10 commandments, their facesanimated, their hands movingfast. For someone who doesn’tunderstand sign language, it iscompelling and beautiful to watch(you can watch the video of the boyssigning at biblesociety.org.uk/swazilandschool). For the boys’ 160peers (including the boy on the frontcover), at Swaziland’s only school fordeaf children, it’s how they engage with the Bible – in the language of their heart.

Our team in Swaziland has beenworking with the Siteki School forthe Deaf since 2009 to translate theBible into sign language. So, far 25stories have been translated andproduced as videos, then testedwith the children in school. There are 107 more stories to go, then the team hope to #ll in the gaps to complete the whole Bible.

Deaf children are very visuallearners, so abstract ideas inScripture such as forgiveness andredemption are di%cult for them to grasp. When you talk about God,

for example, they ask where he lives.Reading the Bible is not easy either – but seeing God’s word in signlanguage brings it to life. According to headteacher ThobilesanatuFakudze, the impact is evidentaround school. ‘The children’sreaction to the stories has beenamazing,’ she said. ‘We have seentheir behaviour starting to change.Bullying is no more. The childrenreally help each other.’

We see this for ourselves. All thechildren here are profoundly deaf,and many have additional needs –but we watch as older children helpless able ones down some steps, anda small boy in a wheelchair is gentlycarried into his classroom by abigger pupil. Everywhere, thechildren welcome us with warmth,smiles and enthusiasm.

The translation is being produced bythree people, including deaf pastorAnthony Langwenya, who is anassistant at the school. The team arebriefed on the background andcontext by a Bible scholar, then

agree between themselves how to retell the story. They shoot a 10-minute video with two signlanguage speakers, one interpreterand a supervisor. Their ‘studio’ is agreen sheet pinned on a wall in ouro%ces. There are around 400 signlanguages in the world but not onehas a completed Bible translation. InSwaziland, sign language is not evenan o%cial language. But our team hope that by pressing ahead withthis signi#cant work, they can reachan overlooked community withGod’s word.

‘Love is always demonstrated bestwhen it’s shown to the leastprivileged,’ said Ngcebo Mbuli, wholeads our work in Swaziland. ‘If we’resaying the Bible is for everyone, wemust love everyone. This is how weshare the Bible.’

A time to weep and a time to laugh …

Trauma healing is a lifeline for many people who haveexperienced unspeakablehorror and been left feelingoverwhelmed withhopelessness and despair. Based on the Bible but usingbest mental health practice, oursmall-group programme helpspeople take the #rst stepstowards recovery. It’s all aboutcreating space for people tospeak out their pain and thenequip them with a newframework within which theycan understand the world andtheir experience, renewing theirsense of dignity and self-worthand restoring hope.

Love to the least privileged

06 | Winter 2017

wordinaction

Winter 2017 | 07

Freelance writer Claire Smith (right)

Phot

ogra

phy

by L

ayto

n Th

omps

on

Chief reporter Hazel Southam

Rola (top left) with Yasmine (top centre) and her extended family.

Phot

ogra

phy

by C

lare

Ken

dall

Four years ago, Yasmine, herhusband, Idris, and three-year-old son $ed their home in East

Aleppo. The city was at the centre ofthe Syrian civil war. Its three million-strong population probably halvedduring the #ghting. Buildings were$attened by artillery #re, barrelbombs and air strikes.

Yasmine says, ‘We $ed because theystarted to bomb our village. The daythat we left, I was preparing foodand my husband was coming hometo have lunch together and a bombdropped so close to our home thatthe whole house shook and thechildren were on the $oor becausethey were so scared.’

Today, the family, who are from a non-Christian background, live inneighbouring Lebanon. Idris has

found work as a caretaker in aschool in the capital, Beirut. It was inthis leafy neighbourhood thatYasmine met Rola, a Bible Societyvolunteer. She invited her to takepart in a trauma healing group. ThisBible-based group gives people thechance to re$ect on the traumaticexperiences of war, loss and grief.

‘The trauma healing group hasgiven me peace of mind,’ saysYasmine. ‘I used to have $ashbacksall the time. I had $ashbacks aboutmy parents, and friends who havebeen killed, and relatives, andimages of our home, rememberingthat we cannot see our familyanymore.

‘I used to remember what it was like when my son was hungry and I didn’t have any food to give him.

There was one time when therewas no water and we didn’t washfor 20 days. I used to think aboutthis and cry and hold all theseissues. But now the burden in myheart and soul has gone.’ She adds,‘I feel that I don’t carry that burdenin my heart anymore. I havecompletely changed. I feel atpeace.’

Today, the family attend the localchurch and have found faith inChrist. ‘I am proud to know JesusChrist,’ says Yasmine. ‘The LordJesus changed our lives. I givethanks that we have come to knowhim before we die. My familyneeds joy. It’s time to forgive andforget what happened with us. It’stime to forget the sorrow. If youkeep on remembering the badthings, you ruin your life.’Two small boys are signing the

10 commandments, their facesanimated, their hands movingfast. For someone who doesn’tunderstand sign language, it iscompelling and beautiful to watch(you can watch the video of the boyssigning at biblesociety.org.uk/swazilandschool). For the boys’ 160peers (including the boy on the frontcover), at Swaziland’s only school fordeaf children, it’s how they engage with the Bible – in the language of their heart.

Our team in Swaziland has beenworking with the Siteki School forthe Deaf since 2009 to translate theBible into sign language. So, far 25stories have been translated andproduced as videos, then testedwith the children in school. There are 107 more stories to go, then the team hope to #ll in the gaps to complete the whole Bible.

Deaf children are very visuallearners, so abstract ideas inScripture such as forgiveness andredemption are di%cult for them to grasp. When you talk about God,

for example, they ask where he lives.Reading the Bible is not easy either – but seeing God’s word in signlanguage brings it to life. According to headteacher ThobilesanatuFakudze, the impact is evidentaround school. ‘The children’sreaction to the stories has beenamazing,’ she said. ‘We have seentheir behaviour starting to change.Bullying is no more. The childrenreally help each other.’

We see this for ourselves. All thechildren here are profoundly deaf,and many have additional needs –but we watch as older children helpless able ones down some steps, anda small boy in a wheelchair is gentlycarried into his classroom by abigger pupil. Everywhere, thechildren welcome us with warmth,smiles and enthusiasm.

The translation is being produced bythree people, including deaf pastorAnthony Langwenya, who is anassistant at the school. The team arebriefed on the background andcontext by a Bible scholar, then

agree between themselves how to retell the story. They shoot a 10-minute video with two signlanguage speakers, one interpreterand a supervisor. Their ‘studio’ is agreen sheet pinned on a wall in ouro%ces. There are around 400 signlanguages in the world but not onehas a completed Bible translation. InSwaziland, sign language is not evenan o%cial language. But our team hope that by pressing ahead withthis signi#cant work, they can reachan overlooked community withGod’s word.

‘Love is always demonstrated bestwhen it’s shown to the leastprivileged,’ said Ngcebo Mbuli, wholeads our work in Swaziland. ‘If we’resaying the Bible is for everyone, wemust love everyone. This is how weshare the Bible.’

A time to weep and a time to laugh …

Trauma healing is a lifeline for many people who haveexperienced unspeakablehorror and been left feelingoverwhelmed withhopelessness and despair. Based on the Bible but usingbest mental health practice, oursmall-group programme helpspeople take the #rst stepstowards recovery. It’s all aboutcreating space for people tospeak out their pain and thenequip them with a newframework within which theycan understand the world andtheir experience, renewing theirsense of dignity and self-worthand restoring hope.

Love to the least privileged

06 | Winter 2017

wordinaction

Winter 2017 | 07

Freelance writer Claire Smith (right)

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by L

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on

Chief reporter Hazel Southam

Rola (top left) with Yasmine (top centre) and her extended family.

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by C

lare

Ken

dall

Good news – we’re bringing the Bible to life for those with dyslexia, adding two newbooks to our dyslexia-friendly range.

It’s estimated that around 10% of the population have dyslexia* so we’re workinghard to make the Bible available in a dyslexia-friendly format.

John’s Gospel and Paul’s letter to the Romans are now available to buy from ouronline shop, along with an updated edition of Mark’s Gospel.

All of them follow the approved guidelines of the British Dyslexia Association fordyslexia-friendly formatting, helping dyslexic readers to enjoy reading these biblicalbooks for themselves with greater ease than ever before.

The books are printed on thicker cream-coloured matt paper to minimise reflection,using a plain font and larger type, laid out with wide line spacing, short paragraphs and bold headings (like the layout of this page).

They use the bestselling Good News Bible translation, which features ordinary,everyday language so that it’s clear and easy-to read – one of many reasons why it’ssuch a popular translation, selling over 150 million copies in the UK alone.

Brand new extra material explains the highlights of each book and gives brief buthelpful tips on how the rest of the Bible fits together. These editions also include theiconic Annie Vallotton illustrations.

The dyslexia-friendly Scripture is ideal for everyone – even those who have beenChristians for many years – who lack confidence in reading and understanding the Bible because of their dyslexia.

Visit biblesociety.org.uk/dyslexia to get your copy and to listen to interviews withreaders who have had their experience of the Bible transformed by the dyslexia-friendlyrange.

Good news for people with dyslexia

Winter 2017 | 11

Back in 2010, a number ofpeople in Cornwall werecoming to faith, getting

baptised – usually in the sea – andstarting to explore the Bible. Butthey had little prior knowledge andnot much interest in going away toread whole books about Scripture.

So Andrew Ollerton (left), who wasleading some churches in Cornwall atthe time, brought these newChristians together – and began toteach them.

Today, the short series of sessions heput together has become The BibleCourse, and it’s about to launch itsthird edition with a new, improvedformat. More than 15,000 workbookshave been bought since it mergedwith us, and the feedback has beenoverwhelmingly positive.

Andrew, who has recently completeda PhD and is a teaching pastor atKingsgate Church, Peterborough,said, ‘The whole thing has just takeno". What surprised me was thatalthough I pitched it as a beginners’guide to the Bible, people who havebeen Christians longer than I havebeen alive tell me they like it becauseit’s the #rst time they’ve stepped backto see how the whole Bible #tstogether.’

The course runs for eight weeks, andeach session works in two 30-minuteblocks. There’s a video introductionfrom Andrew and co-presenter,Heather (left), a 20-minute groupdiscussion, then another 15-minute

video clip and #nally a space forpersonal re$ection to apply themessage to real life. It can be run on aone-to-one basis, as a church, in smallgroups, or even in workplaces andprisons. The whole focus of thesessions is to show how the epic storyof the Bible #ts together.

Andrew said, ‘When you tip a jigsawonto the $oor, you know the piecesbelong together, but it’s a job to workout how. Kids learn to get the lid andhold up every bit in reference to thebigger picture. It’s the same with theBible.

‘There are some amazing micro-stories in the Bible, but they’re part of a bigger story. The Bible was neverintended to be read piecemeal. Itrequires us to give real seriousattention to the narrative arc. It’s hardwork – but it’s so rewarding when youstart to see it click together.’

The Bible Course will be available in theautumn. Andrew added, ‘The need forthis is huge, and the opportunity isgreat. I hope we’ll see a revival of Biblereading, and people with con#denceto apply it to daily life.’

Find out morebiblesociety.org.uk/biblecourse or call 01793 418222.

See the big pictureof the Bible

Freelance writer Claire Smith

wordinaction

10 | Winter 2017

Phot

ogra

phy

by Jo

nath

an Fa

int

*British Dyslexia Association

‘The layout is spectacular for adyslexic. This is something thatopens up the word of God to us even more.’Mark Wilson, Curate at St Thomas’s Church Ph

otog

raph

y by

Whi

test

one

Med

ia

Good news – we’re bringing the Bible to life for those with dyslexia, adding two newbooks to our dyslexia-friendly range.

It’s estimated that around 10% of the population have dyslexia* so we’re workinghard to make the Bible available in a dyslexia-friendly format.

John’s Gospel and Paul’s letter to the Romans are now available to buy from ouronline shop, along with an updated edition of Mark’s Gospel.

All of them follow the approved guidelines of the British Dyslexia Association fordyslexia-friendly formatting, helping dyslexic readers to enjoy reading these biblicalbooks for themselves with greater ease than ever before.

The books are printed on thicker cream-coloured matt paper to minimise reflection,using a plain font and larger type, laid out with wide line spacing, short paragraphs and bold headings (like the layout of this page).

They use the bestselling Good News Bible translation, which features ordinary,everyday language so that it’s clear and easy-to read – one of many reasons why it’ssuch a popular translation, selling over 150 million copies in the UK alone.

Brand new extra material explains the highlights of each book and gives brief buthelpful tips on how the rest of the Bible fits together. These editions also include theiconic Annie Vallotton illustrations.

The dyslexia-friendly Scripture is ideal for everyone – even those who have beenChristians for many years – who lack confidence in reading and understanding the Bible because of their dyslexia.

Visit biblesociety.org.uk/dyslexia to get your copy and to listen to interviews withreaders who have had their experience of the Bible transformed by the dyslexia-friendlyrange.

Good news for people with dyslexia

Winter 2017 | 11

Back in 2010, a number ofpeople in Cornwall werecoming to faith, getting

baptised – usually in the sea – andstarting to explore the Bible. Butthey had little prior knowledge andnot much interest in going away toread whole books about Scripture.

So Andrew Ollerton (left), who wasleading some churches in Cornwall atthe time, brought these newChristians together – and began toteach them.

Today, the short series of sessions heput together has become The BibleCourse, and it’s about to launch itsthird edition with a new, improvedformat. More than 15,000 workbookshave been bought since it mergedwith us, and the feedback has beenoverwhelmingly positive.

Andrew, who has recently completeda PhD and is a teaching pastor atKingsgate Church, Peterborough,said, ‘The whole thing has just takeno". What surprised me was thatalthough I pitched it as a beginners’guide to the Bible, people who havebeen Christians longer than I havebeen alive tell me they like it becauseit’s the #rst time they’ve stepped backto see how the whole Bible #tstogether.’

The course runs for eight weeks, andeach session works in two 30-minuteblocks. There’s a video introductionfrom Andrew and co-presenter,Heather (left), a 20-minute groupdiscussion, then another 15-minute

video clip and #nally a space forpersonal re$ection to apply themessage to real life. It can be run on aone-to-one basis, as a church, in smallgroups, or even in workplaces andprisons. The whole focus of thesessions is to show how the epic storyof the Bible #ts together.

Andrew said, ‘When you tip a jigsawonto the $oor, you know the piecesbelong together, but it’s a job to workout how. Kids learn to get the lid andhold up every bit in reference to thebigger picture. It’s the same with theBible.

‘There are some amazing micro-stories in the Bible, but they’re part of a bigger story. The Bible was neverintended to be read piecemeal. Itrequires us to give real seriousattention to the narrative arc. It’s hardwork – but it’s so rewarding when youstart to see it click together.’

The Bible Course will be available in theautumn. Andrew added, ‘The need forthis is huge, and the opportunity isgreat. I hope we’ll see a revival of Biblereading, and people with con#denceto apply it to daily life.’

Find out morebiblesociety.org.uk/biblecourse or call 01793 418222.

See the big pictureof the Bible

Freelance writer Claire Smith

wordinaction

10 | Winter 2017

Phot

ogra

phy

by Jo

nath

an Fa

int

*British Dyslexia Association

‘The layout is spectacular for adyslexic. This is something thatopens up the word of God to us even more.’Mark Wilson, Curate at St Thomas’s Church Ph

otog

raph

y by

Whi

test

one

Med

ia

Winter 2017 | 1312 | Winter 2017

The Greatest JourneyGo on a Christmas adventure as you follow in the footsteps of thegreatest journey ever! Our own DaiWoolridge has collaborated withsupporter Hannah Bunting to bringyou this brand new children’s storybooklet.

Journey toBethlehemSing your way toChristmas with ourJourney toBethlehem carolsheet. Containingten well-knowncarols and keyChristmas Bibleverses, we’veproduced this

booklet in partnership with HOPEand Sports Chaplaincy UK. It’sperfect for carolling or outdoorservices.

We’ve enclosed a sample copy inWIA as a gift for you. To order bulkcopies for events go to cpo.org.uk/christmasjourney

Pop-Up NativityYou told us how much youappreciated last year’s no-rehearsalPop-Up Nativity script – so we justhad to do another one! Based onThe Greatest Journey story it’s free todownload online. And we’re makingThe Greatest Journey bookletsavailable at discounted prices, soyou can give them away afterwards.

Keep an eye out for other freeGreatest Journey resources too,including a video animation andcolouring pictures.

#AdventChallengeJoin the #AdventChallengemovement as thousands of peopletake on daily Bible-inspiredchallenges in the run up toChristmas. Each day of Advent you'llreceive an email with three practicalchallenges. Look out for brand newfeatures this year, including child-friendly challenges for families and schools.

Spoken TruthAs well as writing The GreatestJourney, Dai Woolridge is alsocreating a Christmas video resourcefor your church.

You'll be able to experience theChristmas story from Mary’s point of view in this short #lm, availableonline from November.

StickersShare the real Christmas story (andsome extra festive sparkle) on yourcards and gifts with our Christmasstickers. Artist Emma Skerratt hascreated some brand new designsthis year, and we’ve also made someof your old favourites available too.

Bring the Bible to life this BibleSunday. We have created resourcesfor you to choose from as youprepare to celebrate the Bible withyour church this autumn.

The sermon notes by Bible Society’sHead of Community Giving, AndyBissex, focus on Nehemiah 8. In thispassage we hear how Ezra reads thelaw of the Lord to the people of Israelafter their return from exile. Andyexplains how the Bible has gonefrom being the supreme point ofreference for most people in publiclife to being perceived by some asuseless.

We will be taken on a journey todiscover how we can put God’s wordinto practice through being united, being hungry for God’s word andresponding to the Bible throughworship.

The all-age resources have beenprepared by Ali Jensen from LisvaneBaptist Church in Cardi" and includeideas to get your whole congregationthinking about the Bible. Share thepassage using props, ask volunteersto tell the story with a script or sendyour congregation on a treasurehunt around the church to #ndhidden Bibles. There are somebrilliant activity sheets for youngerchildren too.

You can download a video of The Bible Poem by Dai Woolridge,helping you and your congregationto think about how amazing it is tohave the privilege of holding theBible in our hands and what it meansfor us every day.

There are also some presentations to help you share our mission tobring the Bible to life around theworld and here at home.

Let’s celebrate Bible Sunday togetherbecause we know that when peopleengage with the Bible, their lives canchange, for good. Our prayer is that,on Bible Sunday, God’s word willcome to life for your church in awhole new way. And we hope you’llbe inspired to join us in this missionto o"er the Bible to every man,woman and child around the world.Together, we can do somethingamazing: bring the Bible to life forthose who need it most.

Bible SundayCelebrate the Biblewith your church

wordinaction

on Sunday 29 October 2017

Go to biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday for your free resources

Celebrate the journey that changed the worldChristmas resources for you and your church

Phot

ogra

phy

by Jo

n Ch

allic

om

Get your

resources from

biblesociety.org.uk

/christmas or call

01793 418300

1

Chris

tmas

des

igns

by

Emm

a Sk

erra

tt

Winter 2017 | 1312 | Winter 2017

The Greatest JourneyGo on a Christmas adventure as you follow in the footsteps of thegreatest journey ever! Our own DaiWoolridge has collaborated withsupporter Hannah Bunting to bringyou this brand new children’s storybooklet.

Journey toBethlehemSing your way toChristmas with ourJourney toBethlehem carolsheet. Containingten well-knowncarols and keyChristmas Bibleverses, we’veproduced this

booklet in partnership with HOPEand Sports Chaplaincy UK. It’sperfect for carolling or outdoorservices.

We’ve enclosed a sample copy inWIA as a gift for you. To order bulkcopies for events go to cpo.org.uk/christmasjourney

Pop-Up NativityYou told us how much youappreciated last year’s no-rehearsalPop-Up Nativity script – so we justhad to do another one! Based onThe Greatest Journey story it’s free todownload online. And we’re makingThe Greatest Journey bookletsavailable at discounted prices, soyou can give them away afterwards.

Keep an eye out for other freeGreatest Journey resources too,including a video animation andcolouring pictures.

#AdventChallengeJoin the #AdventChallengemovement as thousands of peopletake on daily Bible-inspiredchallenges in the run up toChristmas. Each day of Advent you'llreceive an email with three practicalchallenges. Look out for brand newfeatures this year, including child-friendly challenges for families and schools.

Spoken TruthAs well as writing The GreatestJourney, Dai Woolridge is alsocreating a Christmas video resourcefor your church.

You'll be able to experience theChristmas story from Mary’s point of view in this short #lm, availableonline from November.

StickersShare the real Christmas story (andsome extra festive sparkle) on yourcards and gifts with our Christmasstickers. Artist Emma Skerratt hascreated some brand new designsthis year, and we’ve also made someof your old favourites available too.

Bring the Bible to life this BibleSunday. We have created resourcesfor you to choose from as youprepare to celebrate the Bible withyour church this autumn.

The sermon notes by Bible Society’sHead of Community Giving, AndyBissex, focus on Nehemiah 8. In thispassage we hear how Ezra reads thelaw of the Lord to the people of Israelafter their return from exile. Andyexplains how the Bible has gonefrom being the supreme point ofreference for most people in publiclife to being perceived by some asuseless.

We will be taken on a journey todiscover how we can put God’s wordinto practice through being united, being hungry for God’s word andresponding to the Bible throughworship.

The all-age resources have beenprepared by Ali Jensen from LisvaneBaptist Church in Cardi" and includeideas to get your whole congregationthinking about the Bible. Share thepassage using props, ask volunteersto tell the story with a script or sendyour congregation on a treasurehunt around the church to #ndhidden Bibles. There are somebrilliant activity sheets for youngerchildren too.

You can download a video of The Bible Poem by Dai Woolridge,helping you and your congregationto think about how amazing it is tohave the privilege of holding theBible in our hands and what it meansfor us every day.

There are also some presentations to help you share our mission tobring the Bible to life around theworld and here at home.

Let’s celebrate Bible Sunday togetherbecause we know that when peopleengage with the Bible, their lives canchange, for good. Our prayer is that,on Bible Sunday, God’s word willcome to life for your church in awhole new way. And we hope you’llbe inspired to join us in this missionto o"er the Bible to every man,woman and child around the world.Together, we can do somethingamazing: bring the Bible to life forthose who need it most.

Bible SundayCelebrate the Biblewith your church

wordinaction

on Sunday 29 October 2017

Go to biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday for your free resources

Celebrate the journey that changed the worldChristmas resources for you and your church

Phot

ogra

phy

by Jo

n Ch

allic

om

Get your

resources from

biblesociety.org.uk

/christmas or call

01793 418300

1

Chris

tmas

des

igns

by

Emm

a Sk

erra

tt

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

14 | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | 15

wordinaction wordinaction

Pastor Anthony Langwenya is part of the team translating the Bible intosign language in Swaziland, and isalso an assistant at the country’s onlyschool for deaf children, Siteki Schoolfor the Deaf.

‘This verse, when I share it with thechildren, helps them deal withsituations they meet in life. Some areaggressive and act with anger whenhurt, so this verse helps them knowthe expectations of a Christian life,and choose to do good things. It alsohelps me to grow spiritually and in

my work translating the Bible intosign language.

Deaf children are di"erent fromhearing children. They learn visually,so as they see sign language itillustrates the story and it becomeseasy for them to tell what thenarrative is about. Please pray thatthrough this work, deaf children willunderstand the word of God and his will.’

Pastor Anthony Langwenya,SwazilandO

ne ve

rse

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against suchthings there is no law.’ Galatians 5.22–23 (ESV)

Hala Ajilat, 29, is the Sales andDistribution O%cer for Bible Societyin Jordan.

‘My family were believers and I wentto Sunday school. Later, I went touniversity to study archaeology,which is my passion. During that timemy professors told me that the storiesin the Bible were just that, stories, thatthe places in the Bible didn’t exist.That really a"ected me. I felt that Ihad to choose between faith andfollowing archaeological evidence. I was really confused, I left church as I thought I couldn’t believe in it.

After university my strugglescontinued. But I could see that thestories in the Bible a"ected people’slives. So I made a step of faith and Idecided to get baptised. After that,when I read the Bible it felt di"erent.Suddenly, I felt as if God was speakingto me through these stories.

I’m now studying an MA in Theologyin my spare time. For me, science andtheology both point the same way.But I’m careful. I still go onarchaeological digs, I love it. But I’mnot digging trying to prove my faithanymore, I dig just to see what’s there.

Before, the Bible was a stumblingblock for me. Now, I think the Bible isthe most valuable thing. Now I’mresponsible for distributing it to otherpeople, that’s such an honour.’

This morning I picked up the Summer edition of Word in Action. I read Paul Williams’s description of the memorable experience from his trip to Jordan.Then I read Tim Foggin’s article enlarging the details ofthat memorable experience. I read how the family got their hope from Psalm 13. The magic of that forme was that despite (or because of?) all their su"ering,their fear and the horrors through which they lived,suddenly that family, obviously totally unknowingly,reached out to me in my su"ering which, bycomparison with theirs, is as nothing. As I read Psalm13, in WIA and in my Bible, I was moved to tears. God really is at work. JEFF, LINCOLN Biblepeople:Your support for Prom Praise for Schools resonatedwith me – it looked inspiring, invigorating, refreshingand subtly challenging. Well done Bible Society. I’mnot one to o"er praise lightly. I found Rezi’s verbatimquote (same age as my son) both profound andinsightful. Thank you. Impressive stu".ROB, MARKET HARBOROUGH

Phot

ogra

phy

by L

ayto

n Th

omps

on

An unmissable line-up of authors,speakers and activists are comingtogether for an outstanding day ofinspirational talks.

Hosted by author and activist KrishKandiah, Books for life LIVE is aunique event packed with incrediblespeakers. Why not invest in yourspiritual life by joining us for the dayand allowing some of the world's topChristian authors to challenge andinspire you. Books for life LIVE is afantastic chance to discover your nextbest read. The event takes place inCheltenham, on 10 October 2017,

09.45 – 21.00, at the beautiful TrinityChurch, during the world renownedCheltenham Literature Festival.

We will be promoting our latestresources for Bible engagement aswell as our Open the Book primaryschool ministry.

For further information please visitbooksforlife.uk/live

Bible Society is delighted to be supporting Books for Life LIVE!

Phot

ogra

phy

by C

lare

Ken

dall

When Sarah asked her daughter Ellie how her Openthe Book assembly at school was, she replied, ‘OhMummy, you missed one of the best ones! The lady’scoin went missing but she had to #nd it and we allhad to count the coins. And Mummy, God cares abouteverybody, if one goes missing he has to get themback because God loves everyone.’

Sarah says, ‘Clearly I was delighted to hear that thismessage had got through to my daughter as she’s not really the type to remember and recount muchthat goes on in school or church, so it had obviouslymade its mark. Just wanted to thank the group thatran Open the Book that week and also to reallyencourage you that you do make a di"erence tothose children and only God knows what seeds areplanted into those watching the Bible stories.SARAH, CHELTENHAM

I have been in the Bible a Month Club since the start in 1977 and am thrilled that so many Bibles have been issued to so many people. MARJORIE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

I was moved to tears by the article in the most recent Word in Action headed China’s pastor crisis –so many people wanting to hear God’s word, and sofew pastors to teach. The challenge continued as Iread Kua Wee Seng’s One Verse about the eternalimpact of God’s word... God bless you in the work.REVD JONATHAN, BIRMINGHAM

Email us your thoughts and comments at wia@biblesociety.org.uk or use the comments form attached.We reserve the right to edit letters for style and length.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Bible Society.

How much longer, Lord, will you forget about me? Will it beforever? How long will you hide?How long must I be confused andmiserable all day? How long will myenemies keep beating me down?Please listen, Lord God, and answermy prayers. Make my eyes sparkleagain, or else I will fall into the sleepof death. My enemies will say, ‘Nowwe’ve won!’ They will be greatlypleased when I am defeated. I trustyour love, and I feel like celebratingbecause you rescued me. You havebeen good to me, Lord, and I willsing about you.PSALM 13 &CEV'

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

14 | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | 15

wordinaction wordinaction

Pastor Anthony Langwenya is part of the team translating the Bible intosign language in Swaziland, and isalso an assistant at the country’s onlyschool for deaf children, Siteki Schoolfor the Deaf.

‘This verse, when I share it with thechildren, helps them deal withsituations they meet in life. Some areaggressive and act with anger whenhurt, so this verse helps them knowthe expectations of a Christian life,and choose to do good things. It alsohelps me to grow spiritually and in

my work translating the Bible intosign language.

Deaf children are di"erent fromhearing children. They learn visually,so as they see sign language itillustrates the story and it becomeseasy for them to tell what thenarrative is about. Please pray thatthrough this work, deaf children willunderstand the word of God and his will.’

Pastor Anthony Langwenya,SwazilandO

ne ve

rse

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against suchthings there is no law.’ Galatians 5.22–23 (ESV)

Hala Ajilat, 29, is the Sales andDistribution O%cer for Bible Societyin Jordan.

‘My family were believers and I wentto Sunday school. Later, I went touniversity to study archaeology,which is my passion. During that timemy professors told me that the storiesin the Bible were just that, stories, thatthe places in the Bible didn’t exist.That really a"ected me. I felt that Ihad to choose between faith andfollowing archaeological evidence. I was really confused, I left church as I thought I couldn’t believe in it.

After university my strugglescontinued. But I could see that thestories in the Bible a"ected people’slives. So I made a step of faith and Idecided to get baptised. After that,when I read the Bible it felt di"erent.Suddenly, I felt as if God was speakingto me through these stories.

I’m now studying an MA in Theologyin my spare time. For me, science andtheology both point the same way.But I’m careful. I still go onarchaeological digs, I love it. But I’mnot digging trying to prove my faithanymore, I dig just to see what’s there.

Before, the Bible was a stumblingblock for me. Now, I think the Bible isthe most valuable thing. Now I’mresponsible for distributing it to otherpeople, that’s such an honour.’

This morning I picked up the Summer edition of Word in Action. I read Paul Williams’s description of the memorable experience from his trip to Jordan.Then I read Tim Foggin’s article enlarging the details ofthat memorable experience. I read how the family got their hope from Psalm 13. The magic of that forme was that despite (or because of?) all their su"ering,their fear and the horrors through which they lived,suddenly that family, obviously totally unknowingly,reached out to me in my su"ering which, bycomparison with theirs, is as nothing. As I read Psalm13, in WIA and in my Bible, I was moved to tears. God really is at work. JEFF, LINCOLN Biblepeople:Your support for Prom Praise for Schools resonatedwith me – it looked inspiring, invigorating, refreshingand subtly challenging. Well done Bible Society. I’mnot one to o"er praise lightly. I found Rezi’s verbatimquote (same age as my son) both profound andinsightful. Thank you. Impressive stu".ROB, MARKET HARBOROUGH

Phot

ogra

phy

by L

ayto

n Th

omps

on

An unmissable line-up of authors,speakers and activists are comingtogether for an outstanding day ofinspirational talks.

Hosted by author and activist KrishKandiah, Books for life LIVE is aunique event packed with incrediblespeakers. Why not invest in yourspiritual life by joining us for the dayand allowing some of the world's topChristian authors to challenge andinspire you. Books for life LIVE is afantastic chance to discover your nextbest read. The event takes place inCheltenham, on 10 October 2017,

09.45 – 21.00, at the beautiful TrinityChurch, during the world renownedCheltenham Literature Festival.

We will be promoting our latestresources for Bible engagement aswell as our Open the Book primaryschool ministry.

For further information please visitbooksforlife.uk/live

Bible Society is delighted to be supporting Books for Life LIVE!

Phot

ogra

phy

by C

lare

Ken

dall

When Sarah asked her daughter Ellie how her Openthe Book assembly at school was, she replied, ‘OhMummy, you missed one of the best ones! The lady’scoin went missing but she had to #nd it and we allhad to count the coins. And Mummy, God cares abouteverybody, if one goes missing he has to get themback because God loves everyone.’

Sarah says, ‘Clearly I was delighted to hear that thismessage had got through to my daughter as she’s not really the type to remember and recount muchthat goes on in school or church, so it had obviouslymade its mark. Just wanted to thank the group thatran Open the Book that week and also to reallyencourage you that you do make a di"erence tothose children and only God knows what seeds areplanted into those watching the Bible stories.SARAH, CHELTENHAM

I have been in the Bible a Month Club since the start in 1977 and am thrilled that so many Bibles have been issued to so many people. MARJORIE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

I was moved to tears by the article in the most recent Word in Action headed China’s pastor crisis –so many people wanting to hear God’s word, and sofew pastors to teach. The challenge continued as Iread Kua Wee Seng’s One Verse about the eternalimpact of God’s word... God bless you in the work.REVD JONATHAN, BIRMINGHAM

Email us your thoughts and comments at wia@biblesociety.org.uk or use the comments form attached.We reserve the right to edit letters for style and length.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Bible Society.

How much longer, Lord, will you forget about me? Will it beforever? How long will you hide?How long must I be confused andmiserable all day? How long will myenemies keep beating me down?Please listen, Lord God, and answermy prayers. Make my eyes sparkleagain, or else I will fall into the sleepof death. My enemies will say, ‘Nowwe’ve won!’ They will be greatlypleased when I am defeated. I trustyour love, and I feel like celebratingbecause you rescued me. You havebeen good to me, Lord, and I willsing about you.PSALM 13 &CEV'

Let’s celebrate the Bible

Download our free resources biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday including:

Sermon • Prayers • All-age worship • Presentations bringingthe Bible to life • The Bible Poem by Dai Woolridge

Bible Sunday - 29 October 2017

Registered charity 232759 Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG

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