EMERGENCY APPEAL
From the UBS World Service Center

3 October 2001

To all Regional and General Secretaries

Dear Colleague,

Tragedy in America – Emergency Appeal

The terrible events of September 11th have shocked and moved the world.

In response to the awful suffering the American Bible Society has mounted one of the biggest programs of Scripture distribution in its history.

It has brought the comfort and challenge of the Bible to hundreds of thousands of people at their moment of greatest need. It has been a light in the darkness reminding the bereaved and frightened that in God’s strength:

“We are like clay jars in which treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again”.
(2 Corinthians 4: 7-9)

The public’s response to the distribution of Scriptures has been overwhelming. Already over 600,000 specially prepared Scripture Portions titled “God is our Shelter and Strength” have been distributed. Many recipients have spoken of how the Word of God came as a great comfort and hope at this terrible moment in history. One resident of New York received a Portion and returned asking for more: “I’m Muslim, and I want to get God’s words of comfort to any who hurt. We’re in this together.” he said.

The ABS’s program has been widespread. Full page advertisements offering “God is our Shelter and Strength” have been placed in many of the leading newspapers; public service announcements have been made available by satellite to 5,300 radio stations in both English and Spanish; new Portions, one specifically dealing with grief and the other specifically prepared for children are now available; thousands of Portions were distributed at the “Prayer for America Service”; thousands more have been made available to the Pentagon and copies were given to the New York Police for distribution among workers at “Ground Zero”.

ABS President Gene Habecker reported on a visit to the site: “We were told we needed masks and hard hats. The desire for Scriptures was immediately evident.... we gave Scriptures to anyone and everyone. Only about five people declined our offer of “God is our Shelter and Strength”... once in a while you’d see hugs and tears. Once, when I ran out of Scriptures and was reaching for more, rescue workers waited in line until we could give them their own copy of Scripture. People asked whether it was possible for us to do special fire and police editions of these Scriptures. Happily I could answer yes”.

The Bible Society Fellowship immediately responded with messages of support, many of which were read to ABS staff (all of whom have had to face up to their own grief and uncertainties) at morning worship meetings. ABS Chairman Sally Shoemaker Robinson wrote: “Suddenly the USA is confronting the same kind of fear and uncertainty that so many of you around the world know only too well. Your words of comfort and strength have been very much welcomed by our staff and Board. You have reminded us that ‘The light keeps shining in the dark and the darkness has never put it out’.”

A number of Bible Societies have already pledged financial support to the work of the ABS. The size of the contributions is not as important as the sign of fellowship they represent. I am writing to offer all Societies the opportunity to make a financial contribution to the ABS’s extraordinary work – to make a gesture of solidarity as strong as if we could all stand alongside ABS staff and volunteers on the streets of New York distributing the Word of God. For so long the ABS has been generously supporting Bible Society work all over the world. Now it is our opportunity to support our American sisters and brothers as they make God’s Word available at this “Kairos” moment in history.

If your Society is able to respond to this special appeal please make your pledge to the World Service Center by contacting John Poole (jpoole@ubs-wsc.org).

Thank you and God bless you.