Rotuman Bible Brings New Hope

ROTUMA, Fiji — The people of this small Pacific island had cause for great celebration recently - the translation of the Bible into their language has been completed after more than a century of Bible translation work.

Fruit

The Rotuman Bible, the fruit of a Bible Society translation project that has taken almost 23 years, was launched on October 16 in Churchward Chapel – a fitting place because the Rev C M Churchward, an Australian Methodist missionary, was one of the first translators to begin work on the Rotuman Old Testament.

1870

In fact, the New Testament in Rotuman was first published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in Sydney, Australia in 1870. A revision of this, done by Mr Churchward and local translator Mosulam Titifanua, was published in 1930. Some work was started on the Rotuman Old Testament, but it was not until 1977, when the Bible Society in the South Pacific (BSSP) began a new translation project to produce the whole Bible, that the work started in earnest.

The UBS supported the project with quality control provided by Translation Consultant, Nigel Statham, and the completed translation was published by the BSSP. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, the General Secretary of the BSSP, Solomone Duru, emphasised the importance of the Bible for the 9,000 Rotuman speakers as they enter the new millennium.

Identity

“This Bible assures the Rotuman people of their identity, their security and destiny,” he said. The Chief of Rotuma, Gagaj Maraf Solomone, agreed, saying that he hoped his people would now read God’s Word daily and apply it to their lives. A prayer dedicating the new Bible to God was offered by the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, the Rev Dr Ilaitia Tuwere. Church and traditional leaders of the island also took part in the dedication ceremony.

Clad in beautifully made garlands, young Rotuman men and women welcomed the new Bible with traditional dances, and sang a song of appreciation to the Bible Society for bringing the Word of God to the Rotuman people. The celebrations ended with a feast of traditional Rotuman food.

Former government minister, Paul Manueli, bought a copy of the Bible for his grandson: “It will help him to rediscover his language,” he said. But the churches are hoping that the new Bible edition will help the people rediscover God and his love for the Rotuman people.

Anticipation

The launch festivities followed months of anticipation by the Rotuman community. Word leaked out when an advance copy of the new Rotuman Bible was sent to the Rev Aveni Fatiaki, the translator and a church superintendent, by the BSSP.

There was a buzz of excitement on the island that the Bible had finally become a reality. An old lady lying sick in hospital heard about this. She sent word to Mr Fatiaki to go and visit her, and bring the new Bible with him.
When he arrived at her bedside and she saw it she asked him if she could keep it. However, it was the only copy available on the island and Mr Fatiaki needed it to show others. So she begged him to let her hold it, and as he placed it in her arms she shed tears of joy.

Rotuman Bibles were made available by the BSSP at the launch ceremony, and Kaveni Tamani, BSSP Field Coordinator, subsequently delivered a further 900 copies to the churches for distribution. In fact, just a week after the launch, the Rotuman Bible was being used in a week-long, island-wide ‘readathon’ – a public reading of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation – which began on October 24.

One church leader, the Rev Jone Langi, said that this 'readathon' signified an important step for the Rotuman people: “It marks our desire for a new beginning, a new light and a new hope through the Rotuman Bible,” he explained. (WR 346/19 - 12.99)

Friendly and Fiji Islands – A BFBS Report (1869)

TONGA — The Rev S Rabone, of Sydney, has remitted the sum of £82 6s. 8d., arising from the sale of Scriptures in the Friendly Islands. No particulars of circulation are supplied. The amount remitted is, however, a gratifying proof that the Word of God is in request, and that many copies are disseminated.

There is an island about three hundred miles north of Fiji, called Rotumah. The population is limited, and until lately was wholly enveloped in heathen darkness. A Wesleyan Missionary has been labouring there for three years, and a real blessing has rested on his self-denying efforts to bring the inhabitants to an acquaintance with the Gospel.

Idolatry

A large proportion of the population have abandoned their old idolatry, and placed themselves under Christian teaching. Early attention has been given to the translation of the Scriptures. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the First Epistle to the Thessalonians and the Epistle of St James have been printed in Australia, and are now thoughtfully read by the people.

Although the entire population is less than 3,000, there are 980 of the number receiving instruction in the schools connected with the Mission. The Rev W Fletcher, the Missionary referred to, is compelled to leave the island in consequence of the extremely trying character of the climate, but before leaving he will have completed a translation of the entire New Testament, which it is wished to print at Sydney.

The importance of having the Scriptures prepared with all possible promptitude arises from the fact, that European Missionaries will not be able to reside permanently on the island, and that the future progress of the Mission must depend mainly on the efforts of native teachers, and the presence amongst the people of the Word of God in their own vernacular.

Cost

Influenced by these considerations, the Committee have agreed to bear the cost of printing an edition of the New Testament. It may be alleged by some persons that in this, as in some other peculiar cases, the population is small – well nigh insignificant – and that to provide a version of the Holy Scriptures under such circumstances is a waste of resources, which might be applied elsewhere with more promising and lasting results.

It is sufficient to reply, that if a population, how limited soever, can be made acquainted with Divine Truth only through their own vernacular, there is a clearly ascertained case for the action of your Society. Wherever devoted Missionaries are toiling with self-consuming zeal and moral heroism in the cause of the Gospel, it is the legitimate function of your Society to be working at their side, with all the encouragement and help in its power. (WR 346/20 - 12.99)

Twenty-two
Million
and
Counting

Chinese Government agrees
to a further 300,000 Bibles

CHINA, People's Republic of — In September, the Amity Press received good news: the China Christian Council (CCC) has been granted permission to print and distribute an additional 300,000 copies of the Bible during 1999.

Every year an application is made to the Government for the quantity of Bibles that the CCC is allowed to print at the Amity Press. But there is often capacity at the press to print more. Given the ongoing need for Scriptures, especially in rural areas, this will mean that many more Christians will be able to obtain their own copy of the Bible.

Additional Bibles

“With these additional Bibles more Christians and people in China will have a Bible for themselves, and we thank God for this answer to the prayers of many, and for the effort of the CCC,” said Mr Kua Wee Seng, Deputy Coordinator of Asia Opportunity Programs.

The total number of Bibles distributed by the CCC in 1999 will now be 2.8 million. According to the Amity Press Scripture Production Report for September 1999, a total of 79,917 copies of the Bible were printed in September, which brought the total number of Bibles printed by the Amity Print Company (APC) since 1987 to 22,193,386. APC registered the 22 millionth Bible printed in August.

The good relations between the APC, CCC and UBS and the State Administration for the Religious Affairs (formerly State RAB) were further cemented by the visit of the Director General and some of his associates to England in September.

Hospitality

Mr Kua, who accompanied the visitors, said that the officials were very appreciative of the warm hospitality and reception provided by the UBS on their first visit to England. Besides visiting the UBS World Service Center, the party also visited the British and Foreign Bible Society in Swindon where they learnt about the work and ministry of the Bible Society, working since 1804 to make the Bible available throughout the world.

“The visitors felt that the good relationship between UBS and the Religious Affairs government body had been further strengthened,” said Mr Kua. “It is important to do what we can to help and contribute to our partnership with the CCC in Bible translation, publishing and distribution.

“The People’s Republic of China celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 1st. As part of the celebrations, there was a showcase of some of the nation’s achievements over the past 50 years. The people were reminded of how the nation has developed economically and socially since 1949.

This should also be a time when we can remind ourselves of the amazing spiritual transformation of the country. In 1949, there were fewer than a million Christians in China. During the stormy years of the Cultural Revolution, all churches were closed and all Christian activities banned.

13 million

“Today, there are at least 13 million Protestant and 5 million Roman Catholics in the registered churches, and this is not counting the millions more who attend non-registered churches.

“One church leader wrote an article on the ‘Spiritual History of China’ in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebrations. In it he says: ‘There can be no doubt that the survival, revival and growth of the Chinese church over the last 50 years is one of the truly great miracles of church history.’

Miraculous

“We thank God for His miraculous work in the church in China. We also thank God for the privilege of participating in His work in China through our partnership with the CCC and their efforts in making the Bible available to the people,” Mr Kua added. (WR 346/21 - 12.99) [PHOTOS]

Finding Jesus in a Foreign Land

BANGKOK, Thailand — A Thai national who experienced hard times when she moved to France to look for work, discovered the solace and encouragement in God's Word after reading a publication by the Thailand Bible Society (TBS).

High hopes

Pen had high hopes when she first moved to France. She hoped to find a well-paid job, but ended up working for no pay. Eventually she found another job, but with an oppressive employer. Having no family or friends in France, and not being able to speak French well, Pen felt very isolated and lonely. When one of her relatives in Thailand sent her a Bible Society Selection entitled Worried, she read it and immediately wanted to know more about the Bible. She found the address of the TBS, and wrote to them, asking for more Scriptures.

In her letter she explained that she had heard of Jesus before, and knew that he was God, but did not know how he could help people.

Moving

Because she was moving to another address she requested that the Scriptures reach her before the end of the month. However, the Bible Society only received her letter late in the month. The staff was moved by her appeal and chose some books to send, even though they did not know how they were going to get them to her on time.

It was at this point that one of the staff members heard that a friend was leaving for France the next day and he willingly agreed to take the books with him.

Received

The two Christian friends with whom he was staying in France then mailed the books to Pen, who received them before moving.

“I was thrilled to receive the books,” she wrote in a letter to the TBS. “I did not think they would reach me on time. I read them immediately. The first book I read was Who Is Jesus? I read the entire book and now I have given my whole life to Jesus.” (WR 346/22 - 12.99)

From ‘Killing Fields’ to ‘Living Fields’

SEOUL, South Korea — The Korean Bible Society (KBS) has launched an appeal to donors to provide more funds for Bible work in Cambodia. After the success of the new Khmer Bible launched there last June, the KBS is determined to continue working with the Bible Society in Cambodia (BSC) to bring the Word of God to the Cambodian people.

In a report sent out to Korean churches and other donors, KBS Fundraising Secretary Won Suk Soh said that even though Cambodia still bears the scars of decades of persecution, killing and oppression, it is “transforming, little by little, as the Gospel and the missionaries are brought in”.

Dream

The dream of the BSC, the KBS, and all the missionaries, he says, is to turn the country once known as the ‘Killing Fields’ into the ‘Living Fields’. Bible work only really began again in earnest in 1991 when the BSC re-opened after being forced to shut down in 1976 by the Khmer Rouge.

Since then, the General Secretary, Yos Em Sithan, and her four staff members have been working to take the Word of God to the people of Cambodia, beginning the healing process that the country so desperately needs. They have been particularly active in producing Portions and Selections.

Their efforts have been aided by the KBS, which has been raising funds to send Bibles to Cambodia, and played a key role in helping to fund and produce the new Khmer Bible, which was launched in June 1998.

As part of its support, the KBS funded 9,000 copies of the new Bible last year, which the BSC has already distributed. Most of the Bibles were bought by the Assembly of God Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and a missionary working through a Korean church. The Bibles were either highly subsidised, or given free to smaller churches unable to support themselves.

Sought after

The new Khmer Bible is much sought after because it is easier to understand than the old version. In addition, the dedication of the new translation to King Sihanouk, who gave it his blessing, has given Christianity an increased status in this predominantly Buddhist country.

With an estimated 50,000 Christians in the country, and all 9,000 copies of the new Bible sold out, it became clear that there was a need to print more. To try to satisfy this hunger for the Bible, the KBS funded a further 4,000 copies this year, and is planning to fund another 8,000 copies for distribution next year.

The BSC continues to work closely with the KBS on future distribution projects and a good working relationship with Korean missionaries now exists. These are playing an important role in the growth of Christianity in Cambodia.

According to Mr Won, these missionaries have, over the past few years, worked hard to plant churches and start literacy classes. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, many of the country's intellectuals were rounded up and killed, leaving an almost total shortage of skills.

Practical training

Some of the Korean missionaries have opened schools – offering practical training in English, computers, and beauty care. These schools are highly regarded, attracting pupils from all over the country. While not all of the schools offer Bible classes, the Bible is used as a teaching resource in the English classes, and in this way, some students are becoming Christians.

Mr Won says that the hope for Cambodia rests in the younger generation – those born after 1979 are called ‘the generation of hope’. Influenced by missionaries whose activities were legalised in 1992, many young people have taken the Bible’s message to heart, and are determined to rebuild Cambodia through the Word of God.

Potential

To help these young people reach their potential, the BSC, with funding from the UBS and Opportunity 21, plans to train 500 young people in Bible knowledge and evangelism over the next four years. The new Khmer Bible, which will play a major part in the training of these young evangelists, has already had an impact upon future leaders during the first youth workshop held last August (please see World Report 344, p.20 for a full report).

There are further plans to distribute Bibles to 100,000 young people with the aim of evangelising 50,000 Cambodian families.

Mr Won believes that Cambodia is ripe for Bible work, and that the country is open to God’s Word: “In Cambodia, foreign missionary activities are freer than in neighbouring countries,” he says. “It is my sincerest hope that the Korean church may extend deep concern and love to this country. Just as our true hope lies in heaven, our true hope for Cambodia is to let the Word of God be known to them.”

The KBS is committed to raising funds to provide more Khmer Bibles, and to fulfil the dream of regenerating the ‘Living Fields’ among the younger generation in Cambodia. (WR 346/23 - 12.99)