Fundraising:

Gulf Christians give generously to translation fundraising project

BEIRUT, Lebanon — A fundraising project to speed up Scripture translation work has received overwhelming support from churches in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Launched by the Bible Society in the Gulf (BSG) last October, the Speeding Up Scripture Translations project aims to raise US$ 100,000 – enough to sponsor the translation of at least one Gospel into 40 new languages.

Bible of empty pages

At the project’s launch in Oman, church leaders and supporters of Bible work gathered to pray around a Bible filled with empty pages, representing the 4,267 languages in which the Scriptures are still not available. Churches in each country committed to support at least 10 new Gospels.

The response to the fundraising effort has been swift, and by mid-February the BSG had already received enough pledges from Kuwaiti churches to sponsor the translation of eight Gospels. So far, churches in Oman have pledged support for seven new translations, while UAE churches have reached 55 per cent of their target. One church has sponsored 1,110 verses, while a doctor and a schoolteacher in Oman have sponsored 250 and 500 verses respectively.

“This is not only the Bible Society’s project – it is ours as well because it is God’s,” said one of the leaders of the Vineyard Church in Kuwait. “We want to be involved in a meaningful project like this, which affects the Kingdom of God.”

The project operates on a coupon system. Each coupon costs around US$2.50 and sponsors one verse of Scripture. According to Hrayr Jebejian, BSG Executive Secretary, these coupon gifts can make a real difference to Scripture translation work around the world.

450 languages

“Thousands of people have lived and died in ignorance, fear and hopelessness because they cannot hear God when he speaks in a foreign language,” he said. “There are about 450,000 Christians in the Gulf who are members of about 900 congregations. If each person sponsored just one verse, we should be able to sponsor one Gospel each in 450 languages.”

He added that much progress could be made in Scripture translation if other countries also embarked on similar fundraising projects.