Bible
literacy classes grow in popularity
|
PORT
MORESBY, Papua New Guinea —
With less than 50 per cent of the population able to read and write,
one of the key policies of the government of Papua New Guinea is to
promote literacy. The  |
| Inmates at Bomana Prison, PNG, writing exercises on a whiteboard in their Literacy Bible class using materials provided by the Bible Society of Papua New Guinea. Photo: BSPNG (PNG03DJ-9.JPG) |
The Bible Society’s literacy program initially focused on supplying New Reader Portions, mainly in English but also in Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu, to primary school children. In its more recent stages, however, the program’s scope is being expanded to include more of the country’s 750 local languages and work with non-literate adults. It is within this context that the Bible Society has been establishing Bible classes in prisons.
After attending the South Pacific Literacy and Literature Consultation in Fiji, where the Bible Society in the South Pacific, the Summer Institute of Linguistics and other literacy agencies began the process of identifying literacy priorities in the region, BSPNG staff began to hold regular Bible study and literacy classes for prisoners. One of the prisons in which they have been active is Bomana, located on the outskirts of Port Moresby. Here, a literacy program has taken place between March and November for several years. Interest among the prisoners has increased each year, and this year 60 enrolled.
| The classes have also served to create a generally more stable environment within the prison, where rioting and mass escapes, prompted by food shortages, overcrowding and poor conditions, have been recurring problems. |
“The prisoners seem to be very excited about the literacy Bible class,” says BSPNG’s Tammy Miria. “They are hungry for spiritual food, and the spirit of God is moving among them and urging them to come forward and taste this spiritual food.”
As well as having an impact on individual prisoners, the classes have also served to create a generally more stable environment within the prison, where rioting and mass escapes, prompted by food shortages, overcrowding and poor conditions, have been recurring problems.
As this year’s classes got under way, Ms Miria requested prayer support from the United Bible Societies fellowship. “Please pray for us as we commence … this worthwhile ministry,” she said. “We ask God especially that the number of participants will remain high.” (WR 381/6 - 11.03)