Bible People in the News

KENYA — The Rev John Tompo Mpaayei died on April 3 aged 80. He had been in poor health since suffering a stroke in 1995. Mr Tompo Mpaayei served as General Secretary of the Bible Society of East Africa for 10 years from 1961. From 1980 until 1984 he chaired the Council of the UBS, and made a presentation at the Chiang Mai Assembly, in Thailand in 1980. He led the translation team working on the Maasai Bible and was the author of several books. He also served on the boards of several other Christian organisations. (WR 361/IB1 - 7/8.01)

GERMANY — Rudolf Kasühlke died in Germany on May 4. From 1967 until 1997 he was a highly-respected Translation Consultant for both the German Bible Society and the UBS. He was one of the translators of the Gute Nachrichte Bibel which was launched in 1982 and revised in 1997. In 1978 he was honoured by the North American Baptist Seminary (Sioux Falls) for his role in translating the Bible into Fulfulde, a language of Cameroon, where he lived for many years. (WR 361/IB2 - 7/8.01)

CANADA — The board of the Canadian Bible Society has elected the Rev Canon Christopher Pratt as its new chairman. Mr Pratt is the representative of the Society’s Central Ontario District where he has served for the past seven years. He is also Rector of St George’s Anglican Church, in Owen Sound, Ontario. He succeeds the Rev Robert Thompson. (WR 361/IB3 - 7/8.01)