BRAZIL FOCUS:
To
the Furthest Limits of the Amazon Region Ø
Brazil‘s Bible Society and the Internet
Helping Brazil’s Children Acquire ‘Something
of Great Value’
A Bible in the Language of Brazilians
Formal Versus Functional Equivalence
Bible Society of Brazil Sets Goals for Next Millennium
Unusual Opportunity
Hot Meals, Hugs and Hope (USA)
New ‘Miracles’ Portion for Children (Argentina)
The Bible: A River of Blessing (Colombia)
South America’s
Bible Distribution Well Ahead of Target
|
The following 6 stories appear in A Biblia No Brasil, Oct-Dec 2000, published by the Bible Society of Brazil. |
To the Furthest Limits
of the Amazon Region
BARUERI, Brazil — Motivated and protected by the power of God, the 15-strong crew of the Bible Society of Brazil’s boat Light of the Amazon II made their first voyage to the border with Colombia in June, where they were to support a week’s outreach being undertaken by the Colombian Bible Society and other Christian organisations in and around the port city of Letícia (see article on page 30).
With
a cargo of 5,000 Bibles plus various Selections and Portions in the hold,
Light of the Amazon II weighed anchor in Manaus on the night
of June 20, heading for the town of Tabatinga, a neighbouring town to Letícia
.
Throughout the 13-day voyage along the Solimões and Amazon rivers, the need for a program like Light of the Amazon was seen once again. Although swift, the boat’s passage past countless riverside towns and villages created a unanimous feeling in the crew that they were doing the will of God. They were taking the Good News to the socially and spiritually needy communities who were only too glad to see the arrival of “the Bible boat”.
Whenever the ship put into harbour, people in riverside towns such as Codajás, Coari, Tefé, Alvarães, Fonte Boa, Jutaí and São Paulo de Olivença, came to see it and to buy Bibles at prices they could easily afford – between R$2.00 (US$1.05) and R$5.00 (US$2.60). The other popular Bibles that reach this region normally cost as much as R$50.00 (US$26.30).
The event in Letícia consisted of a varied program of evangelistic meetings undertaken by the Colombian Bible Society and local churches with support from numerous missionaries and ministries. Thousands of local people took part.
One of the highlights of the week was a distribution of Bibles to the pastors and missionaries from the Amazon jungle, many of whom had already been embarked on the ministry for several years among a great many people – without, however, having a single copy of the Holy Bible.
The crew returned to Manaus with joy in their hearts, certain that they had been instruments of God in taking his Word to the farthest reaches of the Amazon region, whither they will return in 2001. (WR 356/17 - 12.00) [PHOTOS]