 O-21
progress encourages partner ministries
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
— Steve Aldridge, a missionary
serving in Haiti with the Assemblies of God, was thrilled when Opportunity
21 (O-21) enabled the Haitian Bible Society to get involved
in the Le Livre de Vie (Book of Life) program.
The Haitian Bible
Society has partnered with Book
of Hope International to produce “Le Livre de Vie” (Book of Life)
in French and Creole. This book contains the four Gospels in chronological
order, with questions and answers included. The book is designed to
help young people apply the teaching of Jesus to issues that concern
them, and is being distributed as part of an international ministry
of the Division of Foreign Missions of the Assemblies of God. (See Haiti
Focus, WR 362.)
Solution
“So far,” Mr Aldridge explained,
“more than 150 million copies have been distributed worldwide,
and we have partnered Bible Societies in many countries to put together
a distribution program.”
For Mr Aldridge, O-21 sponsorship of
the project was the solution to an overwhelming workload. When he first
arrived in Haiti and was asked to take responsibility for the program,
trying to promote the ‘Book of Life’ seemed like an impossible
task. He realised he could not manage it effectively on top of his other
tasks, especially as the books were needed out in the provinces as well
as in the towns and cities.
“We were very grateful when the
Bible Society agreed to take it. More importantly, they [the Society]
help prevent a lot of duplication among those trying to reach Haiti’s
children.”
Mr Aldridge praised the Bible Society
for doing what he called “a great job” in tailoring the material
to Haitian readers.
Appealing
“The design and layout for both
the children and teenagers is excellent,” he declared. “You
are looking at people here from those of mixed descent to those of African
heritage. It appeals to them right up front. And I think the children’s
edition, with the map of Haiti on the back, is a real draw. It has been
developed to minister to the people of Haiti and it is working well.
“The writers and designers of the
‘Book of Life’ have worked hard to present issues that are
key for youth in developing countries, especially issues that they might
not get much information about otherwise.”
Mr Aldridge explained that while his
organisation provided the original vision for the materials, the Bible
Society has provided the resources to print it, plus the ideas for format
and how each piece should be developed for various countries.
Positive
“So it has been a positive development
for everyone,” he declared. “The Haitian Bible Society is
the hub of the distribution, not just to the Assemblies, but to other
churches and organisations as well.
“We have a consortium of some 30
denominations considering distributing the ‘Book of Life’
to about 400,000 children in their Christian schools. And other groups
are interested as well. I just pray that more people will see the vision
for this, and realise that the Bible Society is here to help them make
it become reality.”
Another person excited by the ‘Book
of Life’ is Mark Wiersma of the Christian Reformed World Mission.
His groups work with some three dozen Christian organisations in Haiti,
including World Vision. And for him O-21 has been a true answer
to prayer.
Thrilled
“I had worked for three years to
develop a Christian curriculum for Haitian children,” he explained.
“When I heard about O-21, I was thrilled. It is a great boost to
what we are trying to do. Now that we have access to the ‘Book
of Life’, we are actively encouraging the organisations we have
contact with to use it with Haitian children.
“Our goal is to reach a quarter
of all children in Haiti’s elementary schools. Tomorrow I am going
into the remote mountains to sign up rural schools for the O-21 program.”
(WR 363/4 - 10.01)
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