New Slim Bible is Building a Fundraising Success (Philippines)
Oamaru Minister in Bible Reading Marathon (New Zealand)

MANILA, Philippines — A significant event in November last year began what will be a major fundraising campaign building up to the Philippine Bible Society’s (PBS) 100th anniversary in 2000. This was the launch of the Good News Bible (GNB) trimline edition.

“One of the things I like about this Bible is that it is women-friendly,” said Dr Melba P Maggay. “You can easily carry it in your handbag,” she said. Dr Maggay is the founder and President of the Institute for Studies in Asian Churches and Culture and currently serves on the board of the PBS.

But even more significant about this Bible is that it is the result of a partnership of two national Bible Societies and a printing organisation. The PBS, the Korean Bible Society and Sun Jin Publishing all helped to produce this edition for the lowest possible cost.

The GNB trimline edition not only responds to the needs of women and of professional readers, but it is going to be a great boost to the PBS funds. The intention is to use funds raised from the sale of these Bibles to complete the PBS building project in St Mesa, Manila.

The Bible was a product of a pledge made by the Korean Bible Society and Sun Jin Publishing in response to a request by the PBS for help in building this new facility. The Korean Bible Society gave their services and shouldered the cost of the printing, while Sun Jin Publishing offered the typesetting free of charge.

“We especially cherish this partnership because this is not the first time brothers and sisters have proved their solidarity with us in our projects,” said Dr Maggay. She reminded those at the launch of the efforts of the American Bible Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society in making the Bible available to Filipinos 100 years ago.

“So now we celebrate this partnership together and we dedicate the distribution of this Bible to the Lord,” she said. In her concluding prayer Dr Maggay said she hoped the Word of God would continue to help men and women get back on their feet; that the reading of the Word would honour God, and make its way into the hearts and minds of the Filipino people and nation. Also she prayed that, “We may be truly transformed by the renewal of our minds as your Word comes to us.” (WR 340/22 - 4/5.99)

OAMARU, New Zealand — A Presbyterian minister was intending to read the Bible out loud for 24 hours without a break in March. The Rev Peter MacKenzie volunteered his voice for a sponsored biblical challenge, raising funds for Bible work supported by the Oamaru branch of the Bible Society of New Zealand.
     Originally, Mr MacKenzie had thought he would be able to read the whole of the Bible in one day. But his plans were revised when he discovered that even at the rate of a page every four minutes it would take him at least 66 hours to read the entire Bible. He decided to read as much as he could and skip the book of Psalms so that he could read some of the New Testament.
     There was someone present throughout the whole of the reading – a rota of volunteers was drawn up. And to make things a little more interesting, there was a competition to guess exactly where Mr MacKenzie would be – chapter and verse – at various time intervals. Prior to the reading marathon Mr MacKenzie was very confident: “I’ve got plenty of voice,” he said. “I’ll be using a microphone. I expect still to be able to deliver a sermon in church the following Sunday.” (WR 340/23 - 4/5.99)