Putting prayer into action

By Edna Mae Rabago, Communications Assistant, Philippine Bible Society

MANILA, Philippines — Staff at the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) were feeling particularly under pressure in the weeks before the United Bible Societies’(UBS) Day of Prayer on May 9. Within the organisation, they were in the midst of drawing up budgets and project plans for 2004 and were working hard to meet distribution targets. More broadly, they were aware of the need for the Bible Society to respond to the threats to society posed by ongoing terrorist activity and by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

A pedicab driver receives a copy of the Scripture Portion Huli Ka! (‘You’re Caught!’) from a church volunteer. Many Portions were distributed by church volunteers and PBS staff to mark the UBS’ Day of Prayer on May 9, 2003. Manila, Philippines. Photo: PBS/Mark Castro (PHI03DJ-8.JPG)

PBS was determined to ensure that day-to-day concerns did not leave its staff with no time for prayer, however. Indeed, recognising that prayer is vital to the success of Bible work, it was decided to run a prayer chain throughout the working day on May 9, the day designated as the UBS Day of Prayer for 2003. Staff members were encouraged to forgo their 15-minute break time on this day to pray in turn in newly-dedicated small prayer rooms.

Looking to convert prayer into practical Bible work, PBS staff also used the UBS Day of Prayer as an opportunity to distribute Scripture Selections and Portions to people going past Bible House.

A girl receives a copy of Bakit Ako Pa? (‘Why Me?’), a Scripture Portion produced by the PBS for children at risk with the assistance of the O-21 program. The Portions were distributed to mark the UBS’ Day of Prayer on May 9, 2003. Manila, Philippines. Photo: PBS/Mark Castro (PHI03DJ-9.JPG)

In order to broaden the scope of this initiative, the Society collaborated with four local churches to cover a further seven major streets. The items distributed included Selections about Sars (see Latest News #247), family life and drug addiction. Public transport drivers were particularly targeted with Huli Ka! (‘You’re Caught!’), a Portion in both Cebuano and Tagalog containing Bible passages and features such as vehicle maintenance advice and traffic regulations, while street children received copies of Bakit Ako Pa? (‘Why Me?’), a Portion about Joseph in Cebuano and Tagalog. These Portions were both produced with the aid of the Opportunity 21 program (see World Report 372/31).

By the end of the UBS Day of Prayer, PBS and its partners had distributed 6,000 Selections and 1,000 Portions. Encouraged by this achievement, the Society now plans to hold monthly prayer and distribution sessions.