Spanish New Testament a ‘Path of Hope’ for Puerto Rico’s children

Anticipation: Purto Rican children like these can expect to receive copies of the planned New Testament in Basic SpanishBayamon, Puerto Rico — Children are the hope of the nation. So strongly does the Bible Society of Puerto Rico (BSPR) believe this that a planned New Testament in Basic Spanish has been adapted specifically for them.

As a BSPR report explained, “The motivation for [this] focus is the conviction that a country’s quality of life rests on the values and quality of life of its families, and through this program the Bible Society of Puerto Rico can accompany Puerto Rican families in the formation of future generations.”

Christian values

With backing from Opportunity 21 (O-21), the BSPR is planning a Bible-based reading program, called Path of Hope for Our Children, which is designed to promote Christian values in children between the ages of seven and 12. Churches and other groups with community projects for children will be the Society’s partners in the 10-year project.

“Children have the opportunity to discover and choose values through reading the New Testament in Basic Spanish and so they will become good men and women,” says Wilfredo Estrada Adorno, General Secretary of the BSPR.

Churches throughout the country are now committed to participating in the project

The first step was to design a curriculum aimed at teaching values though the use of the New Testament in Basic Spanish (the equivalent of the Contemporary English Version, with colour illustrations), and then train personnel. Meanwhile, funds were raised, and a a cartoon character identifying the project was designed.

The Society also made presentations to gain support from institutions and other community organisations, including the People’s Bank of Puerto Rico, the Chamber of Commerce, Sprint, the long-distance telephone company, and even a senator.

Presentations about the Basic Spanish New Testament were made to specific Christian audiences, and the project was also promoted on radio, on the weekly radio programmes made by the BSPR, on television, and in the press. Churches throughout the country are now committed to participating in the project, while the Academies of the Christian Churches’ Disciples of Christ in Puerto Rico are considering including its materials in their Christian education curriculum.

Pilot program

Using the New Testament in Basic Spanish and related materials including a workbook and a leader’s manual, four churches were due to start a pilot program in February. Their experiences will be evaluated and the necessary improvements made and then the project will be developed throughout the island.

Excellent

“The New Testament in Basic Spanish has had an excellent reception among churches, academies, and the people to whom it has been introduced,” said Mr Adorno. “Now the children are eager to read it.”

A survey of children aged between seven and 12 revealed that 70 per cent preferred the sample Scripture from Basic Spanish to the Popular Version.

Understood

One boy reportedly told his pastor, “Last night I started reading the New Testament in Basic Spanish. I read a lot and I understood almost everything.” And the New Testament in Basic Spanish is already finding a wider audience than just children. In a reference to Matthew 4:1-11, an elderly man said, “I have never heard of temptation being referred to as a trap. It is a new way to see this passage. I liked this presentation very much.” (WR 359/22 - 4/5.01) [PHOTOS]