Visual Bible Gives Opportunity 21 a Boost

NEW YORK, USA — Opportunity 21 (O-21), the United Bible Societies’ (UBS) global ministry expansion program, has received a commitment worth up to US$6 million from film producers Visual Bible International (VBI).

VBI founder John Hamilton made the pledge by committing two per cent of his company’s gross revenue from sales over the next five years to O-21 through the American Bible Society (ABS). The ABS has set a goal of providing $75 million of the $90 million O-21 target, which is funding the greatest expansion of Bible work in UBS history.

Not limited to print

Welcoming the agreement by VBI, ABS President Dr Eugene Habecker, Chairman of the UBS Executive Committee, said, “I’m grateful that we’re continuing to pursue opportunities like this which will make the Scriptures available to people in formats not limited to print. This type of project lies at the heart of Bible Society initiatives in this new millennium.”

At the same time, the Maclellan Foundation, the major funding partner with ABS, has affirmed its second pledge of $5 million as part of a three-year, $15 million commitment to O-21.

The Maclellan gifts are being matched by ABS, meaning that more than one third of the $90 million goal has been pledged to date. All O-21 projects are to be under way by 2004.

Home video

US-based VBI is dedicated to producing all the books of the Bible in a range of contemporary media, using only the words of Scripture. For this project it has budgeted a total of $400 million. Its productions, which so far include versions of the Gospel of Matthew and the Book of Acts, are designed for television broadcast, cable television and the home video/DVD market.

Beyond supply

With future productions in mind, the company is keen to acquire contemporary translations of the Bible. In addition to the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, which are both ABS versions and visual rights to which are included in the new agreement, it already has the rights to the International Bible Society’s New International Version.

Each year, UBS receives requests for millions of Scriptures beyond what it is able to supply. In 1999 alone the shortfall stood at 67 million, and similar figures are projected for 2000.

Opportunity 21, which has as its theme ‘God’s Word: Light for the 21st Century,’ is a UBS Scripture mission initiative comprising more than 375 projects in over 75 countries. Its newly launched website provides information about more than 200 O-21 projects and also makes possible direct donations to the many areas of need. It can be accessed at www.opportunity21.org.

The new website opens with dramatic animated graphics portraying some of the world’s most pressing spiritual and physical needs. From there, the visitor is welcomed to the site and invited to explore and participate in the many projects being funded through O-21. (WR 355/1 - 11.00)