Scripture Distribution Brings Message of Life
to Places of Death

MEXICO — A traditional holiday in Mexico at the beginning of November when families gather to celebrate and remember their dead is now the occasion for a major outreach including a distribution of Bible Selections on the theme of life.

November 1, All Saints’ Day, known in Mexico as Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is traditionally a day when family members share memorable stories which commemorate their family life. Some construct a special altar adorned with pictures of their dead relatives and ancestors to remind the younger generation of their roots. Many go to cemeteries where they clean up the sites of family graves, decorate them with flowers and candles, and hold picnics at which they offer food and drink to the dead, supposedly to strengthen spirits enough to return to the other world.

The Bible Society of Mexico (BSM) first undertook a distribution on the occasion in 1998. It formed part of a broader plan which involved other Christian agencies such as Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) and the Jesus film project. CCC provided training in methods of outreach and in five of Mexico’s largest cities thousands of church volunteers visited more than 15 cemeteries.

“Never in my life have I heard a message like this.
Please tell me more.”

One of the most important sites for the celebration is the cemetery in Iztapalapa, Mexico City. Every year over the first two days of November an estimated five million people pour into the cemetery to honour their dead. Over the two days, the volunteers distributed some four million Selections, proclaiming the message of life.

Afterwards, many stories went round about the reactions of the people at the gravesides. One old man said, “Never in my life have I heard a message like this. Please tell me more.”

Local churches were made responsible for following-up the contacts made through the distribution and many new Bible groups have been started as a result. In Veracruz, some 20 groups are said to be meeting as a result. One of the contributions to follow-up by the BSM was the production of special editions of Luke’s Gospel.

Outreach

A similar distribution took place last year and this year there are plans for outreach in no fewer than 14 cities, including Mexico City and Acapulco. Volunteers will be visiting at least two cemeteries in each city – more in the big cities – and the overall aim is to reach some 15 million people. Although BSM is not able to participate in this year’s outreach, it is likely to be involved again soon, according to Mexico-based UBS Publishing Consultant Sue Mills.

Appreciated

Its contribution thus far has certainly been appreciated. A representative of CCC has gone on record as saying that without it, “Frankly, there would have been a hole in our campaigns.”

Moreover, the Selection given out during the first two years carried the BSM’s e-mail address, so there has been a steady stream of enquiries, mostly from people wanting to know where they can obtain more materials and what other materials are available.

“All this is bringing new or closer contacts for BSM with the churches and possible new markets for Scripture materials,” says Ms Mills. She adds that the Day of the Dead distribution has also had an impact on the participating churches.

“They have a vision for their own evangelistic potential,” she says, “and they are enthusiastic to continue with similar projects. Many feel that they are achieving a new visibility for the Gospel in this country of 100 million inhabitants. So they are asking for more materials to help them in their outreach.” (WR 355/20 - 11.00) [PHOTOS]

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Bible Translation into ‘Simple Spanish’

MEXICO — Mexico-based UBS Translation Consultant Alfred Tepox is working on a new translation of the Bible into simple Spanish. The level of language the translation is aiming at, he says, is “the Latin American Spanish spoken by young people”.

There is a great need for this because even the modern translation Dios Habla Hoy, which was intended to follow the style of Today’s English Version, also known as the Good News Bible, became a “more literary” translation than was originally intended.

“Our young people need immediate access to the message of the Scriptures, something which is aimed at their level of communication and understanding,” he says. “Mexico is being greatly influenced by what comes out of the United States, now that the two countries are coming closer through trade.

“We don’t seem to have control over our young people any more,” adds his wife, Elena. “The violent street life, drug-taking and -trafficking, and the so-called ‘sexual freedom’ – which is really promiscuity – seem to have taken over in our suburbs and cities.

“And what can we do about this? The churches need to address the issue, and target young people who are in danger of being lost to the false pleasures of the world.” (WR 355/21 - 11.00)