Latest NewsSummaries of stories which have been e-mailed in the Latest News series since the publication of World Report 377: FRANCE — The Seventh-day Adventist Church is collaborating with the French Bible Society to stage FestiBIBLE, a week-long series of events running from May 14. FestiBIBLE, which includes a special children’s program, a Gospel music concert and a CyberBible facility for young people, aims to present the Bible in a relevant and accessible way to people of all ages. The Bible Society is supplying materials including brochures, New Testaments and complete Bibles for distribution to people who attend FestiBIBLE events and express an interest in receiving them. e-243 (WR 378/18 - 7/8.03) CUBA — Sunday May 4 in Cuba saw the broadcast of The Gospel According to Mark on radio station CMBF. The programme was dedicated to Mother’s Day which was on the following Sunday. The Rev José López, Secretary of the Bible Commission of the Council of Churches of Cuba, called beforehand for extensive publicity for the broadcast by word of mouth. The Bible Commission also held a Bible Sciences Workshop for church pastors, lay evangelists and denominational leaders earlier this month. The workshop was led by two United Bible Societies translation consultants, Alfredo Tepox and Dr Marlon Winedt. e-243 (WR 378/19 - 7/8.03) AUSTRALIA — The Christian Media Project, being run under the auspices of the Bible Society in Australia (New South Wales), is to use direct response advertising techniques to bring the Christian message to “the average Australian”. It will use a series of television commercials carrying a key message and supported by print material, and the aim is for people to call the telephone number displayed or log on to the web site for further information. The project is the outcome of discussions among leading Christian communicators and media professionals. e-244 (WR 378/20 - 7/8.03) KENYA —The latest addition to the Bible Society of Kenya’s services to the churches is ForMinistryKenya.com, a web-based service developed in partnership with the American Bible Society. With colour templates and full graphics and photograph capabilities, ForMinistryKenya.com provides churches with an effective and straightforward way of establishing their own web sites. At the launch, the Rev Wycliffe Balongo, Chairman of the Bible Society Board, encouraged the churches to embrace the new ministry as a means of making God’s Word available to all. General Secretary the Rev Henry Kathii spoke of how ForMinistryKenya.com will expand the Society’s service to the churches. “We are the servant of the churches in Kenya,” he said, “and we are privileged to bring to you a modern, more efficient means of spreading the Gospel,” e-244 (WR 378/21 - 7/8.03) EGYPT — The Bible Society of Egypt sold more than 600,000 Scriptures during the Cairo International Bookfair. Sales were the same as in 2002, despite the prospect of war in Iraq and the weakening of the economy. Attendance at the fair was lower than in previous years, but Bible Society staff had many meaningful encounters with visitors. General Secretary Ramez Atallah emphasised that “although the number of Scripture items sold does not tell the whole story [of God’s Word at work in people’s lives] they are one indication of people’s hunger for the Bible.” He has called for prayers as the Society prepares its summer Scripture distribution campaign, which is due to run in July and August. e-245 (WR 378/22 - 7/8.03) IRAQ — As Riad and Munira tried to start their new life of Christian ministry in Baghdad, God’s Word to them was clear: “I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave” (Joshua 1:9 CEV). They certainly needed God’s encouragement, for things did not go according to plan. The couple had not always been committed Christians, and even after they came to faith they faced a series of ‘attacks’, including their first child falling chronically ill and Riad’s application to lead a church being turned down. During this time, they had to learn to simply live in dependence on God. Riad is now a pastor of a children’s nursery and kindergarten. “It’s been exciting to be a different kind of pastor,” he enthuses. “A pastor for children and their parents from all strata of life.” e-245 (WR 378/23 - 7/8.03)
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