O-21 helps Colombian Bible Society
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| Mr Alfonso Corzo, General Secretary of the Colombian Bible Society, co-ordinates a vast array of ministries that reach from the slums of Bogota to the deep jungles of the Amazon. He sees Opportunity 21 as key to the Society’s reaching a new level of ministry. Bogotá, Colombia. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (COL01DJ-49) |
By Larry Jerden, UBS Photojournalist
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Alfonso Corzo, General Secretary of the Colombian Bible Society, sees Opportunity 21 as key to the Society’s reaching a new level of ministry – and becoming self-sufficient at the same time.
Achieving that ‘double’ would be quite an accomplishment, because the Bible Society already has one of the most active ministries of any Christian organisation in South America.
September 11
“Our distribution of Scriptures has increased,” Mr Corzo reports, “but in the past year our fundraising has been down. And no-one knows what the impact of the September 11 attacks on America will be. According to our strategy we aim to be self-supporting by 2003, but if sales become slow, I’m not sure we’re going to make it. That’s why we are asking the Fellowship to help us through O-21.”
But even O-21 income is down, he admitted. “We had an O-21 budget in US$456,386 short. We were told to stop producing materials because no money would be available until November. We are still hoping to receive our O-21 funding for 2002, which is US$850,000.”
One thing that is not an option, he says, is to cut back on ministry. “That’s where Opportunity 21 must succeed,” he says. “O-21 will help us build a stronger structure so that after it has finished we can continue at a higher level, without the need to ask for additional resources from outside.”
| From a ministry perspective, O-21 has been a tremendous success because of the Scriptures it has provided, the people it has reached, and the doors it has opened. |
In Colombia, as in other South American countries, O-21 is facilitating the production of materials such as special Scripture Portions and the David video (see related item). But how does that make a long-lasting difference to a Bible Society?
“The O-21 Scripture Selections and Portions don’t provide income, because they are distributed free,” the General Secretary notes. “But along with them we try to sell Bibles and other resources that will help the churches and generate income.”
The special showings of the David video have enabled the Bible Society to put on associated competitions. These of the video, and, more importantly, broaden the outreach the Society.
Excited
“Materials like the David video are definitely doors for us,” says Mr “The churches are very about them, and because have received them they will support us future. So these free materials have not only opened to more sales, but they opened the door to fundraising.”
From a ministry perspective, O-21 has been a tremendous success because of the Scriptures it has provided, it has reached, and the has opened. Financially, however, it has been a challenge the Colombians.
“Because of the O-21 financial situation, we were told to stop producing Bibles and produce New Testaments,” Mr Corzo explained. “So at this point we have produced all of the O-21 Scripture Selections. In fact, except for the Bibles, we have completed most of our O-21 projects to date.
“The problem is that when we began in the 2000-01 fiscal year, we were told that we would have the money. So we started to produce the materials. Then the UBS told us they could not send the money – we had a shortfall. We had already done production, so we had to take some money out of the ‘other pocket’ to pay for them. It has been very difficult.”
Despite the difficulties, however, the Colombian Bible Society reports that its O-21 efforts have achieved many goals. “We are doing the best we can,” Mr Corzo concludes, “but whether the funds from O-21 stop or continue, the needs do not stop, so we cannot stop. We must continue.” (SR 29/14 - 4/5.02) [PHOTOS]