American Bible Society spreads God’s Word in person and on television

USA — The American Bible Society’s (ABS) continuing ministry to the victims of Hurricane Katrina will include the distribution of 10,000 Bibles to residents of the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana who are beginning to leave the temporary accommodation in which they have been living since floods drove them out of their homes last September.

From the earliest days of its work among those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, ABS was aware that it would need to show long-term commitment to this ministry and that it would need to plan “a prolonged and energetic response in a myriad of ways” (see Latest News #325). It was also aware that the most effective approach would be to work collaboratively with local churches and with faith-based partners (see Latest News #330).

So when ABS President and Chief Executive the Rev Paul Irwin visited Louisiana in March, he was accompanied by the Rev Charles Mock, Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Board of the National Baptist Convention USA. The convention’s 206 local churches will be responsible for distributing the Bibles supplied by ABS, and Mr Irwin expressed his appreciation for the convention’s assistance in fulfilling the Society’s mission.

In response, Mr Mock emphasised the continuing commitment of members of the National Baptist Convention to supporting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. “Our churches across the country have adopted affected churches,” he said. “They’ve adopted pastors, adopted families and they collected food, water and clothing that was distributed by our teams across the Gulf Coast.”

Responding to crisis situations like Hurricane Katrina is also the theme of a programme recorded at the Second Baptist Church in Baton Rouge during this visit. The programme, entitled Ministering in Crisis and scheduled to be broadcast in last May or early June, is part of a national television series, The American Bible Society Presents. This consists of half-hour talk shows hosted by Mr Irwin and featuring panellists discussing the Bible’s links with modern life. The first programme in the series, Debunking the Da Vinci Code, was broadcast in early April on 275 stations on the WB and Urban America networks. Other programmes cover topics including the Faith Comes By Hearing audio Scripture ministry, Bible translation, outreach to prisoners, interdenominational projects and Bible-based literacy initiatives.

As he watched the recording being made in his church, the Rev Leo Cyrus spoke about the importance of the work being carried out by ABS and its partners in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. “It’s very important to have the American Bible Society here to recognise what we are doing in Baton Rouge,” he said. “Many people lost their Bibles during the storm. Many people needed Bibles before the storm. I thank them for coming down here to share with us.”

Based on an article on www.theadvocate.com. Further information about The American Bible Society Presents can be found at www.biblesocietytv.com (WR 402/10 - 06.06)