Latest News

Summaries of stories which have been e-mailed in the Latest News series since the publication of World Report 379:

MALAWI — Roderick Chingota, Honorary Treasurer of the Bible Society of Malawi, ran a mini-marathon of 25 kms (15.5 miles) on May 31. Motivated by a desire to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the Scriptures, he raised some MK 101,000 (US$1,021) to fund the production of further copies of the Scripture Portion Living in Hope: Help From the Scriptures for Coping with HIV/AIDS. The Society distributed 50,000 copies in four local languages last year and has received many requests for further supplies. e-254 August 14, 2003 (WR 380/22 - 10.03)

LIBERIA — In an e-mail to the United Bible Societies’ Anglophone Africa Regional Service Center in Nairobi on August 11, Daniel Forkpah, the Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Liberia, reported that his apartment had been burnt and his car had been damaged by rocket shelling between rebels and government forces fighting in the capital, Monrovia. The Bible Society also lost some property at the beginning of July, after looters broke into its offices in the city. e-254 August 14, 2003 (WR 380/23 - 10.03)

HONG KONG — The Hong Kong Bible Society has announced the death of its former General Secretary, Dr Heyward Wong Wing-Hee, aged 86, in New York on August 13. Dr Wong, General Secretary from 1975 to 1983, played an important role in the establishment of future Bible work in China when he visited churches on the mainland in 1979 – the year that the Chinese government embarked on an ‘open door’ policy aimed at ending China’s isolation. e-255 August 21, 2003 (WR 380/24 - 10.03)

PR CHINA — Dr Han Wenzao, who has served as General Secretary of the Amity Foundation since its inception in 1985, has resigned due to ill health. Dr Han, who suffered a serious heart attack while visiting the United States in 2001, will continue to serve on Amity’s board as one of five Vice Presidents, and as Vice Chairman of the board of the Amity Printing Company (APC), a joint venture set up in 1987 by the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies (UBS) to print Bibles for China’s Christians. Dr Han is succeeded by Qui Zhonghui, who has been with Amity since 1992, serving as Director of the Rural Development Division and as an associate General Secretary. e-256 28 August, 2003 (WR 380/25 - 10.03)