Society stays focused amid ‘distractions’

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Like other members of the UBS fellowship, the Bible Society of Ethiopia is engaged in the translation, production and distribution of the Scriptures, and in the fundraising to help make it all possible. Uniquely, however, this Bible Society is undertaking its mission in a country with a Christian history going back 1,670 years.

It is also doing so in a country where the Christian church is represented by Protestant and Roman Catholic branches, as well as the indigenous Orthodox Church, and where the historic challenge of Islam is becoming more confident.

Import tax

General Secretary Kebede Mamo and his 20 staff must also face the reality of providing God’s Word in a country of 63 million people whose annual per capita income is only about US$102. By means of subsidies from the UBS, local fundraising and direct orders from churches and mission organisations, the Bible Society seeks to meet the demands of a growing church.

Although Selections and Portions are produced locally, there being no printers in Ethiopia capable of printing Bibles, the full Scriptures are printed in South Korea or Hong Kong, which currently means the Society incurs a book tax when importing them. The Society has recently begun a Faith Comes By Hearing Amharic Scripture cassette program as well.

Besides taxes, another ‘distraction’ has been the effort to regain possession of Bible House, taken over by the Communist government of Mariam Mengistu (1974 - 1991).

“I have worked three years trying to get it back,” sighs Mr Mamo. “We even had to provide electricity and water bills to prove we are the rightful owners. Now the government has agreed, and we are waiting on the final details. Meanwhile, they are graciously allowing us to use our present facilities rent-free.”

Selling direct

The major effort for 2002 has been in production and in distribution which is done through the churches, two Bible Society bookshops, and two distributors.

While the distributors work mainly with Christian and secular bookshops, they also use the vans to sell directly to the people in outlying towns and villages. Typically, they drive into a village, park the van, and begin selling on the streets.

But there are more targeted outreach efforts, as well: the Society sent 5,000 Bibles to the ‘holy city’ of Axum, supposed location of the Ark of the Covenant, and distribution is reportedly going well there. It also sent 3,000 Bibles to prisons, through both Protestant and Orthodox churches, and, through the Orthodox Church, to monasteries.

Monasteries

“In order to reach the monasteries, the distribution must come from ‘within’,” Mr Mamo explains. “Someone tried to distribute to the monasteries before, but failed, because even though they needed Bibles, other people came to them and said, ‘Why are you accepting these Bibles from missionaries?’