Latest News #214
September 26, 2002

The following news concerns Zambia.

Bible Society of Zambia plans
Living in Hope booklet

LUSAKA, Zambia — The Bible Society of Zambia is looking to produce at least 60,000 copies of a booklet entitled Living in Hope as part of its efforts to bring God’s Word to the millions of Zambians for whom the famine sweeping across the country has added to the existing burden of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS (see Latest News #209).

Acutely aware that many people can no longer afford to buy a Bible, the Bible Society hopes to offer Living in Hope free. It is planned to have the booklets printed by the Bible Society of South Africa and to produce them in four of the major languages of central and southern Zambia: Chibemba (Bemba), which is spoken by around 2 million people; Chichewa (Chewa), spoken by around 200,000 people; Silozi (Lozi), the language of around 500,000 people; and Chitonga (Tonga), spoken by a million people.

The Bible Society believes that the booklet will be a valuable tool in bringing awareness of God’s love and care to those affected in various ways by HIV/AIDS. It will emphasise that God identifies with the rejected and that the true source of hope is in Christ. The fact that the booklet will be written in local languages will be particularly important, as it will boost understanding of the Scriptures among both the sick and those who care for them.