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| Mónica, aged 10, lives in the poor, mountainous north east of Argentina. She and her family live off the little that they can “harvest” from the mountain. She received a Portion from Roberto González, manager of the Rosario branch of the Argentine Bible Society. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Argentine Bible Society / Roberto González (ARG03DJ-1.JPG) |
Called Argentina in Flames, the project was launched in early 2002 in response to the desperate economic situation in the country. The recession, which began in 1998, had reached crisis point by December 2001. Unable to withdraw their money from the banks or draw their pensions, people took to the streets in violent protests that left 25 dead. Many people lost their jobs and, unable to support their families, became severely depressed. Some committed suicide. (See Latest News #178 & 184.)
Take action
The Bible Society was itself facing financial difficulties, but knew that it needed to take action to help the churches meet the spiritual needs of the growing numbers of people who found themselves living in poverty. With the support of other Bible Societies and the United Bible Societies, which released money from a contingency fund, the Society embarked on a large-scale free distribution program, which took place throughout 2002.
“It took us all year because we wanted to be sure that it was done properly and that the right people were being reached,” explained Bible Society General Secretary Marcelo Figueroa. “The distribution was done through the churches and through ministers serving the poor and dispossessed. In this way, our work was carried out in orphanages, slums, church-run food distribution programs, schools in remote areas, and among homeless people and any other groups who needed the consolation that only the Bible can give, just when all hope has disappeared.”
God’s comfort
Altogether, 30,000 Bibles, 30,000 New Testaments and 100,000 Scripture Portions were distributed through the project. Other Scriptures were also distributed during this time of crisis, some funded through Opportunity 21 and others through the Bible Society’s free distribution programs.
“We received many thanks and heard many stories about how God comforted people through his Word, which they received in their darkest hours,” said Mr Figueroa.
Mónica, a little girl who lives in the mountains of northeastern Argentina – one of the worst-hit areas of the country – was one of many children who received a Scripture through the Argentina in Flames project. Her family, like many in the region, only just manage to survive by hunting and fishing. Mónica’s gift from the Bible Society has brought them all new hope.
One meal
Matilde only survives because she and her daughter and grandchildren are able to eat one meal a day, served at one of many church-run food distribution points, which are known as ‘dining rooms’. She was delighted to receive a New Testament from the Bible Society, while her grandchildren received some children’s Scriptures. Pastor Dimas Zapico from the ‘Jesus Lives’ ministry, which runs a number of these ‘dining rooms’, wrote a letter of thanks to the Bible Society for the joy that the Scriptures have brought to people like Matilde.
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Another pastor, Christian Marcelo Nieva, who runs a ‘dining room’ for children in Buenos Aires, wrote to the Bible Society, thanking it for being “sensitive to the needs in our suffering society, donating material that allows us to carry on sharing the message of salvation.”
For the mother of three young daughters, the Bible Society’s distribution was “the hand of God” moving in her life. In a letter of thanks, she said that the Scriptures had arrived at a time of great stress in the family, when she and her husband had both lost their jobs. The Scriptures, she said, brought them strength and hope as they confronted their problems.
It was not just churches and individuals who expressed their appreciation of the project – local authorities in the city of Leando N Alem, which had been badly affected by the economic collapse, honoured the Bible Society by declaring its distribution project ‘of Municipal Public Interest’. (WR 383/6 - 1/2.04)