Bible Week brings surprises

MANILA, Philippines — In a twist to the more usual scenario, it was Philippine Bible Society (PBS) representatives who were invited to a Bible study by a member of Manila City Council after a presentation at City Hall marking the beginning of National Bible Week.

The official ceremony, which took place on January 21, involved Manila City Mayor Joselito Atienza Jr receiving a large lectern Bible on behalf of the city from the PBS during the City Hall employees’ flag ceremony.

Important role

“We shall place this Bible in a prominent place in the City Hall so that anyone may read from it any time he or she wishes,” he promised. “The Bible plays an important role in our families and in our city.”

He also challenged city councillors and law enforcement and traffic personnel to follow the Bible’s teaching on moral, social and spiritual questions in the pursuit of their work.

Presenting the Bible along with the PBS representatives were pastors from the United Christian Ministers of Manila Association, the umbrella organisation of Manila pastors. Doing so in front of the entire staff of the City Hall during the flag-raising ceremony came as a pleasant surprise to the Association’s chairman, the Rev Peter Reyes.

As part of national Bible Week the Philippine Bible Society gave out 180 Bible Comics. This boy is engrossed in reading his copy. Manila, Philippines. Photo: Philippine Bible Society / Edna Mae Rabago (PHI02PC-1)

“I was informed that our Bible presentation was to be held in a conference room after the ceremony,” he said.

There was a further surprise when a member of the City council invited PBS representatives, city council staff and members of the public present to a short Bible study immediately after the flag ceremony.

The time of fellowship opened more opportunities for partnership between the Bible Society and the small but growing group of Christians working at the City Hall. The PBS representatives also left Scripture Selections to be placed in council members’ offices for distribution to Manila residents conducting business there.

The theme of the 2002 National Bible Week was ‘The Word of God Builds Up the Family’ and in a statement Archbishop Orlando B Quevedo, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cotabato, described the family as “the basic cell of the Church”.

Intensive campaign

Arguing for the integral formation of faith in the family, he said, “Through a more intensive evangelisation campaign focused on the family, the family has to become a key agent in the proclamation of the Gospel.”

National Bible Week is now an event enacted and protected by presidential proclamation in the Philippines and, as the main agency responsible, the PBS takes the opportunity very seriously. There was a heavy promotion by means of poster-calendars and fliers, and, as well as the presentation at Manila’s City Hall, there were distributions of Scriptures at two orphanages. At ‘My Father’s House’ in Manila and ‘The Home of Joy’ in Cavite the PBS gave out a total of 180 Bible Comics and colouring books to the children and held showings of the American Bible Society video Kingsley’s Meadow.

Elsewhere a seminar on Bible translation drew some 80 pastors, church workers and others to hear guidance on how to choose a translation of the Bible appropriate for family reading. The high level of interest shown at the half-day session has prompted the PBS to organise two more such events.

Meanwhile churches across the country joined in the celebrations with their own local activities. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo City put on a Bible exhibition, organised writing and poster-making competitions and undertook a visit to a prison. Others conducted Bible quizzes and held special events on the morning of Bible Sunday.