UBS appeals for funds for
DR Congo disaster

READING, England — The United Bible Societies (UBS) has made an emergency grant of US$35,000 from its Rapid Response Reserve to meet the Scripture needs of people who lost belongings – including Bibles – when Mount Nyiragongo, in DR Congo, erupted on January 17. The Rev Christophe Kongo, General Secretary of the Bible Society of DR Congo, has indicated that 5,000 Bibles in French (3,000 in français courant and 2,000 Bibles in français Segond) and 3,000 Bibles in the Swahili spoken in Congo are needed immediately.

David Hammond, the UBS Francophone Africa Regional Secretary, described the proposed Scripture distribution as “a matter of urgency”. He also felt it would be valuable to provide 50,000 Peace Portions for distribution to the general population, both Christian and non-Christian, and to set up listening groups for the Scripture listening program Faith Comes By Hearing. He is accordingly ordering 100 sets of audio cassettes in French and Swahili. Members of the UBS fellowship wishing to pledge donations to the Rapid Response Reserve following the grant are asked to contact Simon Strachan, Senior Coordinator, Management Services, at the World Service Center. His e-mail address is strachan@ubs-wsc.org.