Couple are tops as volunteers

ST ELIZABETH PARISH, Jamaica — When Richard Roper was approached about becoming a volunteer for the Bible Society of the West Indies in St Elizabeth Parish, he knew nothing about the organisation. But more than 20 years later, Mr Roper is considered one of the most effective volunteers the Bible Society has ever had.

Jamaicans Richard and Myrl Roper, volunteers for the Bible Society of the West Indies, have been a vital team in sharing God’s Word with the people of their island over the past 20 years. Jamaica. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (JAM01DJ-31)

His success is based on his own love of God’s Word, on his commitment to using other volunteers and on the active participation of his wife, Myrl.
The Bible became important to Mr Roper when he became a Christian while studying at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

“At Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Bible study was a regular feature,” he says. “When I returned to Jamaica, I wanted to bring people to the Lord by reading God’s Word. When university started back in Jamaica, I brought my Bible and said, ‘Anyone for a Bible study?’

“Likewise, when I became an assistant headmaster, we got a Bible study group going.”

So it was not surprising that Mr Roper was open to the idea of serving.
“Clyde Edwards, who was a promoter in those early days, spoke to a group of us about taking over the chairmanship of Bible Society work in St Elizabeth. The others refused the honour, and I said, ‘Well, I am very busy’.

“But there was less than half the year left for the position, so I accepted.”
Mr Roper organised a meeting with young men from different parts of the parish and had them compile a list of Christians who might be willing to take part. He then enlisted volunteers.

Reach the whole parish

“Our goal has been to reach the whole parish,” Mr Roper explains. “I especially wanted to reach children of all ages.”

He and his wife also recruited promoters within individual congregations.
“We would recruit church members to distribute materials and collect the dues,” explains Mrs Roper. “This way, the money would come in and there would be annual renewals.

“Most of the churches will give a special offering on Bible Sunday, but don’t do much with Bible Society membership,” Mr Roper adds. “They are so involved with their own ministries that they don’t give much thought to the Bible Society.”

Mr Roper is especially pleased with the way the annual Bible Quiz is winning the interest of school students. Bible Society Promoter Dalbert Laing explains that the Bible Quiz arose from a desire to make children feel part of the Bible Society.

Questions

“The idea came up at the same time as the Opportunity 21 project to change the school Bible to the Good News Bible,” Mr Laing says. “So we decided to prepare questions from the Good News Bible only.

“We get support from the schools. One of the good things about this parish is that with Mr Roper we get good follow-up in the schools. We send the materials, then he follows up and makes sure that the Scriptures are supplied.”

“It creates interest, and it introduces a lot of children to the Scriptures,” Mr Roper agrees.

The Bible Society’s New Reader Portions were also effective. “These encouraged students to get into God’s word,” says Mrs Roper. “They were for the first six grades, and started out with very short sentences. At the end the students were given a Good News Bible.”

Mr Laing confirms the effectiveness of the New Reader Portions, and says he is still asked about them.

Impact

“Without a shadow of a doubt the New Reader Portions had a tremendous impact,” he says. “Everywhere I go teachers and principals ask me, ‘Where are the New Reader Portions?’

“In fact, people in the church ask for those materials. They find them so meaningful, they ask if they can get them for their students.”

But if the New Reader Portions represent past success, Mrs Roper says there need to be some new approaches, as well. One of the problems is that while the official literacy rate is high, Jamaicans don’t really read much.

Radio

“People can’t read well,” she says. “Reading is a useful tool, but I wouldn’t say the majority would read for pleasure.” One solution is to put the Bible on the radio.

“I think the money would be better spent getting the Bible on the air,” Mrs Roper declares. “If we are going to have an impact on the Jamaican people, we cannot do it just through books.”

While the Bible Society is experimenting with new directions, Bible sales remain a priority. “Bibles for sale are important,” Mr Roper says. “On my route, people know I am not just a volunteer giving out Selections, but that I am also involved in getting the Bible out.”