Christmas concert goes far beyond music

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Drama, prayer, video, a review of achievements during 2002 and stalls offering a selection of Scriptures in various formats accompanied musical items at the Bible Society in Lebanon’s Christmas fundraising event in December.

The fundraising focus of the 2002 concert was Bible World, the Society’s multimedia exhibition in Beirut which officially opened in November. A video showed what had been achieved with the money raised at the 2001 concert, which was used to equip the re-opened bookshop in central Beirut, and challenged people to donate once again, this time to meet the cost of operating Bible World.

This presentation, which can be viewed on the Society’s web site at www.biblesociety.org.lb/frconcert/video.html, left “few people untouched by the challenge,” according to Deputy General Secretary Mike Bassous.

Music and drama items presented by a range of choirs and groups contributed to “an evening when Jesus was magnified, glorified and worshipped,” he said.
Extensive media coverage, including the broadcasting of the entire concert by local Christian television station Télé Lumière, ensured that “the promotion of Bible Society work and Bible World was very intense,” he added.
(WR 376/25 - 4/5.03)