Latest News #188
February 25, 2002

The following news concerns India.

‘Great things done through Bible Society ministry’ in the year following Gujarat earthquake

The Bible Society’s newly-renovated Bible House in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Photo: Bible Society of India (IND02DJ-1.JPG)

AHMEDABAD, India — The year following last January’s devastating earthquake in Gujarat has been “very long, difficult and traumatic” but one in which “great things have been done in and through Bible Society ministry,” according to a report by the Rev Nicholas G Parmar, Secretary of the Gujarat Auxiliary of the Bible Society of India (BSI).

In his reflections on the Society’s response to the earthquake Mr Parmar described how its activities, which included relief work, a massive Scripture distribution effort and an accelerated program of translation, production and distribution, have increased its visibility and credibility in the community.

“January 26, 2001 is remembered with much pain and grief,” he said. “In less than 80 seconds tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and buildings and property worth countless millions of rupees were destroyed. More than fifty million people in the state of Gujarat were directly or indirectly affected.

“Rescue work immediately got under way, swiftly followed by relief work, in which the BSI Gujarat Auxiliary became actively involved. In the prevailing anti-Christian atmosphere, the disaster enabled us to express our solidarity with the suffering community, and the Bible Society and Church provided a positive model of Christian love.”

Mr Parmar described the “sacrificial giving” of the Society’s supporters in response to the fundraising efforts of Bible Society staff, Women’s Work Council members and local churches. Food, tents, stoves, blankets and cooking utensils, among other essential items, were provided by the BSI for 5,000 families who had lost everything in the disaster. Coloured pencils and games were also distributed to children. In some cases, cash was given to desperate families.

“The most important event of the year for the BSI, however, was the Scripture distribution which was carried out immediately after the earthquake,” commented Mr Parmar. “Through this program, hundreds of thousands of people throughout Gujarat were encouraged and consoled by God's Word in their time of trouble.”

He said that the financial assistance provided by the UBS for the distribution had helped the Bible Society and the churches “provide…healing for broken lives” (see World Report 358/24). Some of the distribution took place on March 18 at a meeting held by the Society in Gandhidham in the Kachch district (see Latest News #152).

Relief work in progress involving staff of the Bible Society of India’s Gujarat Auxilliary, alongside Women’s Work Council members and local churches. Gujurat, India. Photo: Bible Society of India (IND02DJ-2.JPG)

“Bereaved families attended this meeting in large numbers and received Scriptures,” he said. “Church leaders from near and far were also given free Scriptures for their ministry among earthquake victims.”

Mr Parmar added that he and BSI General Secretary, Dr B K Pramanik, visited many churches that were damaged by the earthquake to distribute Bibles and New Testaments. The two Bible Society leaders spent time with a number of different congregations, praying with them and encouraging them.

As well as distributing hundreds of thousands of Bibles, New Testaments, Portions and nearly 2,000 audio Scriptures in various languages from its stock, the Bible Society was also prompted to produce more Scriptures to meet the needs of earthquake victims. These included 50,000 ‘Good News Packets’, containing five Scripture Selections, and were distributed through churches and Bible Society branches in eight districts of Saurashtra and Kachch.

Furthermore, the Society also accelerated its translation work in the Kachchi language, spoken by more than a million people in Gujarat and many more worldwide.

“Translation work into Kachchi has been going on for three years but the earthquake made it a matter of urgency to produce Scriptures in this language,” said Mr Parmar. “The Kachchi translation team, led by Henson Harry, dedicated itself to the challenge and managed to finalise the text for all four Gospels. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were quickly published and distributed to earthquake survivors. Mark and John will soon be ready.”

Audio Scriptures in Kachchi, too, were rushed into production by the Society’s Gandhidham branch and the local church and were dedicated just a month after the earthquake struck.

“More than 2,000 of these cassettes have been distributed so far, along with audio Scriptures in other languages,” said Mr Parmar. “These have been greatly appreciated by Christians and non-Christians.”

In the midst of all these activities, the BSI was engaged in the repair and renovation of Bible House in Ahmedabad, which was badly damaged. Having received confirmation from UBS that funds would be made available for this, the Society had to empty the building of Scripture stock and furniture while the work was done. It was a “trying time”, according to Mr Parmar.

“The work on Bible House took almost six months and the distribution of Scriptures, as well as our other work, continued in the midst of all this upheaval,” he said. “We organised various occasions during this trying time - the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Auxiliary’s Women’s Work Council, the launch of the Gujarati Children’s Bible, the dedication of a new distribution vehicle, and various BSI committee meetings.”

The newly-renovated Bible House was opened and dedicated on July 22.

“It was a great day of thanksgiving for all God’s people and many attended to witness God's miraculous protection and provision,” said Mr Parmar. “Our Bible House is stronger and more beautiful than before and we are grateful that the Lord has turned our tears into praise.

“We express our thanks for the very generous and timely assistance provided by the UBS fellowship, which made it possible to undertake the urgent repairs to Bible House and arrange for a meaningful distribution of Scriptures among the earthquake victims.”

Another positive development in Bible work that has followed the Society’s increased visibility in the community is that “doors have opened that will allow [it] to place Scripture resources and Bibles in public libraries, schools, colleges, prisons, hospitals and other public institutions in Gujarat,” according to Mr Parmar.

Many libraries and their contents were damaged in the earthquake and the Society is putting forward a proposal to educationalists, government authorities and heads of public libraries to help replace the books by providing ‘value education packs’ that promote the importance of morals and ethics. The packs would include Scriptures.