Bible Society scoops broadcast awards

SWINDON, England — Two video productions developed by the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) together with partner organisations, recently won three prestigious broadcast awards presented by the Commission for Racial Equality and the Sandford St Martin Trust.

“...at Bible Society we believe that these students need to have creative opportunities to engage with the inspirational wisdom of the Bible. ... Our collaboration with BBC Education has been a vital partnership, ensuring that the Gospel story is at the heart of our educational system.”

The Test of Time, a four-part series exploring the relevance of Jesus’ teachings in today’s world, won the Commission for Racial Equality’s Youth Award at a ceremony in April. Other contenders for the award included non-religious productions by two major British television companies – Channel Four and Channel Five.

Innovative

Judges described the series as “innovative” and added that it “encouraged thought as it ended with questions rather than pat solutions.” The series, which was produced by the BFBS in conjunction with the BBC, All Saints Educational Trust and Gateway Films, also won a Sandford St Martin Award for Excellence in Religious Education Resources.

Available in a package that includes a book for teachers, The Test of Time was broadcast on national television and is designed for use in Religious Education classes to stimulate debate among students. It uses teenage vox pops, case studies and biblical text in a dynamic presentation of how Christians today are interpreting Jesus’s teachings.

“The number of teenage students studying Religious Education and Religious Studies is on the increase and at Bible Society we believe that these students need to have creative opportunities to engage with the inspirational wisdom of the Bible,” said Neil Crosbie, BFBS Chief Executive. “Our collaboration with BBC Education has been a vital partnership, ensuring that the Gospel story is at the heart of our educational system.”

The Miracle Maker – an animated feature film promoted by the BFBS in partnership with Icon Film Distribution – also received a Sandford St Martin Award for Excellence in Religious Education Resources. The film, which tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of a young girl, was broadcast on national television at Easter and went on general release in cinemas around the country last year. (See World Reports 351/25 and 349/20.)