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l NEW YORK — The
American Bible Society (ABS) has published a book which attempts to calm
fears about the widespread chaos predicted if computers should fall victim to
the so-called ‘millennium bug’. Available free, the book, entitled
Y2K: Hope for the New Millennium, mainly comprises the New Testament,
Psalms and Proverbs in the Contemporary English Version. But under headings
such as God Understands Your Anxieties and Fears, Trust the Future
to God and Live in Hope, it also includes introductory material aimed
at providing comfort to readers who are troubled about what the future holds.
It also offers a reading plan designed to take readers through the whole of
the New Testament and twice through Psalms and Proverbs by the end of the year
2000. (WR 344/IB1 - 10.99)
l NEW ZEALAND — The distribution team of the Bible Society in New Zealand has won two major awards at the country’s annual Christian Booksellers’ Association conference. The conference, held last month, saw Des Rankin named Salesperson of the Year, and the Bible Society team awarded the title Distributor of the Year. Mr Rankin was runner-up for Salesperson of the Year last year and this is the second year in succession that the Bible Society has won the Distributor of the Year title. The Association re-elected John Jennings, Scripture Distribution Manager for the Bible Society in New Zealand, as its President. (WR 344/IB2 - 10.99)
l TAIWAN — Kua Wee Seng has been appointed full-time Deputy Asia Opportunity Coordinator, as from August 1. He has held the position successfully on a part-time basis since January this year. Dr I-Jin Loh, retiring Director of Asia Opportunity, described Mr Kua as “an exceptionally gifted person with an amicable personality.” “He is well-liked and respected by our Chinese colleagues,” said Dr I-Jin Loh. “He has already done an excellent job, and his full-time commitment will give our Asia Opportunity program a much needed boost.” Dr. I-Jin Loh himself retires from UBS work in January 2000 after 28 years of service. (WR 344/IB4 - 10.99) [PHOTOS]
l AUSTRALIA — The Bible Society in Australia (BSA) has appointed Mark Francis as its new General Secretary. Mr Francis, who was the manager for Corporate Services in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, succeeds the Rev Philip Oliver in November this year. Mr Francis brings to the post experience in the areas of strategic management and finance in particular. He said: “The Bible Society is blessed by some very talented and creative people. I would like to continue an atmosphere where people are free to be creative.” Mr Oliver, who is returning to a part-time pastoral ministry, said he was delighted with his successor’s appointment. “Mr Francis is a mature Christian with insights and experience in strategic planning, and he will have the ability to harness the collective skills and energy of the Bible Society,” he said. (WR 344/IB5 - 10.99)
l PARIS — The French Bible Society (FBS) used its debut at an Arab book fair in June to make Arabic-speaking communities aware of its activities in Bible translation and publishing. Visitors to the fair found Bibles in classical and contemporary Arabic as well as in Egyptian and Algerian dialects, and were surprised to discover the extent of efforts of the UBS to make the Bible available in the Arab languages. Videos about Jesus in Algerian Arabic aroused considerable interest and a representative of the Paris Mosque left with one about the prophet Jonah. Almost 400 bilingual New Testaments in Arab and French were distributed during the fair. Meanwhile, the FBS has received an order from Agape for 30,000 copies of a special edition of the New Testament for free distribution among Muslims and foreign students. The FBS is meeting half the production costs. (WR 344/IB6 - 10.99)