BIBLE SOCIETY IN CHINA AND AROUND THE WORLD
The Bible Society operates the Amity Press inside China. Since it started in 1988 over 50 million Bibles have been printed as well as hymn books and other Christian materials. At first the Government restricted the sale of Bibles to the official church, but recently the sale of Bible from Amity Press has been more free.
The Bible Society is working in many countries around the world. In Egypt, where almost 60% of people cannot read or write, the Bible Society has entered into a joint venture with the Coptic Church to develop a special program to help improve literacy so that people can learn to read the Bible. The Bible Society is also involved in literacy programs in Pakistan, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands Antilles and parts of rural China.
A new innovation for people with no literacy is the Mega Voice. This is a low cost digital audio device that stores speech. It has no moving parts and is solar powered and water resistant. Bible passages are permanently recorded onto Mega Voice and can be played over and over again. They are able to be used freely in Middle Eastern countries where printed Bibles may be banned.
The Bible Society has traditionally made available a pocket New Testament for Defence personnel. Army Chaplain Martin de Pyle, who deployed with the Australian Army in Southern Iraq requested full Bibles so he could relate to a country rich in Old Testament history. The Bible Society was able to supply these and they have proved to be very popular with the troops.
FAR EAST BROADCASTING COMPANY
Far East Broadcasting Company, with its UK-based sister organisation, Feba Radio, produces and broadcasts over 600 hours of Christian programming daily in 155 distinct language groups - a potential listening audience of 3.1 billion people.
David and Jan Bayliss, have been working in UlaanBaatar in Mongolia to help run the local FEBC station ‘Wind FM’. In fact they are helping to build the new studio building. They are helped by volunteers from Finland, England and Germany, as well as having Chinese and Mongolian workers on site.
‘Wind FM’ is just one of many smaller Christian radio stations in the FEBC network. As well as the main radio stations in places like Manila and Saipan, FEBC runs smaller local stations in many countries.
FEBC stations are welcomed by many governments because they offer a mixture of community development and educational programs as well as Christian programs. Increases in world oil prices have increased the cost of electricity and there is a danger that some programs may have to be cut back unless financial support increases.
OPEN DOORS AUSTRALIA
In Australia we can freely teach Scripture to children. However in Indonesia three ladies were recently imprisoned for three years for having Muslim children in their Sunday School class. A staff member from Open Doors Australia recently visited the three ladies in prison. They were thrilled to receive cards and letters from Open Door supporters overseas. Before their imprisonment they met for church in Rebekka’s house. Now the church of about 50 members meets in the prison. The service is held outdoors and other prisoners attend or listen at a distance. The jail’s atmosphere has very much improved since the ladies arrived and befriended other prisoners as well as the guards.
Geoff and Lorraine Pankhurst promotes awareness of Open Doors and hold prayer meetings in Toowoomba. Lorraine has been on trips taking Bibles into China. She would be happy to share information with others who feel called to this ministry. Couriers have ranged in age from 15 to over 60 years of age.