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Vivid
Picture of Need for Bibles in Rural China
Scripture Distribution as a Way of Life
(Philippines)
Bible Society Distributes Scriptures and Goods
to Survivors of Garbage Avalanche (Philippines)
NANJING, China — Letters written recently by believers in mainland China paint a vivid picture of the scarcity of Bibles among the poorer people in rural parts of the country and the extraordinary sacrifices which they make in order to gain access to the Scriptures.
The letters are among many received by the China Christian Council (CCC) giving thanks for supplying Bibles.
The pastor of a church in the province of Shan Xi, in northwest China, says that in order to purchase a Bible from the CCC in the provincial capital, Xian, Christians living in An Kang would have to travel for 10 hours. Others in the mining district of Daliuta normally obtain Bibles from Baotou in Neimonggu, a journey of three days.
Provision of Bible distribution vehicles to help CCC Distribution Centres, usually located in provincial capitals, to get the Bibles to Christians in the rural areas is one of the projects awaiting finance as part of the Opportunity 21 UBS global funding initiative.
Another letter comes from leaders of a church of some 4,000 members in a poor region in the province of Guizhou.
“It is very hard for us to be able to own a Bible,” they say. “In several meeting places, there are only one Bible and one hymn book [for each congregation]. Moreover, they are meant for the worship leader to use. In slightly better-off places, an average of 10 families would share a Bible and hymnal.”
When word came to the church that the CCC had sent them some Bibles, four young men immediately went to the post office, some 30 km away, to collect them. When they returned, more than 2,000 church members gathered for a service of thanksgiving and the distribution. After receiving the Bibles and hymnals, the leaders add, they were able to start a Bible evening class and to prepare to undertake evangelism.
A third letter, from a church representative in a farming area of Yunnan province, says, “Life is difficult here… In order to buy a Bible, one has to sell a hen or some eggs. Now we receive Bibles from you free of charge, we are full of gladness and joy.”
In Gansu province some families have to share a single coat in winter – “the one who is going out gets to use the coat,” says a letter. In some churches, the letter says, 100 people share a single Bible, taking it in turns to read it by making reservations. Despite such constraints, at least one church has been running Bible study classes.
“Thank God,” writes church leader Mr Wu, “that when we run the training course this time, all of the 30-plus students will have Bibles and books from the CCC. We thank the Lord and you for what you have done for us.”
In Hunan province, a post office worker took a Bible from a consignment meant for the church. He read it and came to faith. Since then he has brought other people to Christ.
“That one Bible was worth more than the 99 that we received,” says a letter from a church in Yiyang.
The CCC also distributes Bible readings on audio cassette, and a letter from a church in Liaoning province describes the effect the tapes of the New Testament had.
“When we received the gift of the cassettes our hearts were deeply touched. The Word of God has comforted our hearts so much that our hard work became nothing to us and we felt our own weakness and unworthiness. This is especially so for the illiterate brothers and sisters. They held Bibles in their hands and tears came running down while they were listening to the cassettes. They were sad because they could not read the Bible by themselves. They often cried to God for the provision of Bible cassettes so that they could listen to God’s Word. Now God has accomplished a great task for them in fulfilling their hearts’ desire.”
The provision of Scriptures on audio cassette is another O-21 project which requires funding. (WR354/29 - 10.00)
MANILA,
Philippines — For Mrs Remedios Diaz, Scripture distribution is more than
a habit: it is a way of life. A resident in the town of Balayan, Batangas, she
hands out Bible Selections at home, in the market and even at her husband’s
law office.
Her name has become synonymous with active Selection distribution in the area. And she is quite well aware that her husband’s position – lawyer to the town council – does no harm to her Bible work.
The Philippine Bible Society (PBS) got to know the extent of her devotion to their cause during a visit to Balayan by its Communications Team. As visitors arrived at her husband’s office, which is in their home, she gave them Scriptures to read while they waited.
She told them she distributed Scriptures along with her husband’s publicity handouts when he was campaigning in the town council elections.
Recently she has started inserting Selections in envelopes to give away at weddings. There is always a pile of them placed prominently on a central table in her lounge.
She even puts copies in with legal papers that go out of her husband’s office. It was one of these that reached a man who had been arrested on charges of taking part in robbing a government official. Because of what he read in the Scriptures, Ben Vidal came to know the Lord and his life was transformed. Nowadays he pastors a young church.
Asked when she first started sharing God’s Word with people, Mrs Diaz says that it was as soon as she first came to know the Lord. A manicurist she went to was evidently good at ‘gossiping the Gospel’ and, keen to find out more, Mrs Diaz began attending church regularly. With the change in her life came the habit of sharing God’s Word with others.
“I don’t think Mrs Diaz will ever stop giving away Selections”, said Pastor Arman de Guzman, an active member of the PBS who is her Scripture supplier. “For her this is a glorious habit: a habit of helping bring about transformed lives!” (WR351/30 - 10.00) [PHOTOS]
MANILA,
Philippines — The Philippine Bible Society distributed
Scriptures and relief goods to people made homeless when an avalanche of garbage
engulfed shanty dwellings on the outskirts of Manila.
At least 218 people were killed when the mountain of refuse, 50 foot (15.5 metres) high and stretching for hundreds of yards, collapsed in July after days of heavy rain.
The disaster took place in an area known as Payatas, in Quezon City, part of metropolitan Manila. The garbage dump itself is ironically known as ‘Lupang Pangako’, ‘The Promised Land’. Thousands of dwellers in makeshift houses on its slopes make a living by reclaiming recyclable materials from the acres of trash.
The
Bible Society began its distribution in the immediate aftermath of the avalanche,
as the authorities and the Red Cross were still trying to retrieve bodies.
Through donations from church partners and individual supporters, it was able to give out relief goods such as clothing and groceries. Aided by volunteers from the Philippine Wesleyan Church, which is based near the site of the garbage dump, it also gave out 500 copies of Bible comics, 400 Portions on the theme of God’s promises and about 5,000 Scripture Selections.
The distribution took place at a three-storey school building which had been turned into an evacuation centre. One room had become a temporary home for as many as 50 families. The evacuees also included orphans and sole survivors from large families, including one of 12 members.
Arrangements for the distribution were made with Eliza Salazar, a worker from the city’s Social Services office, who was handling incoming donations for the evacuees.
While speaking to Bible Society representatives close to the scene of the disaster, Mrs Salazar had to cover her mouth because of the swarms of flies.
“We really appreciate your help,” she said. “Thank you for giving these people hope. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I hear of the Philippine Bible Society.” She first came across the Society, she added, while dealing with victims of a fire a few years ago. (WR351/31 - 10.00) [PHOTOS]