Rev.Matthew Skaria, BSI Auxiliary Secretary, Kerala shared the Word on the BSI Day at the Ecumenical Convention, Kattapara, Idukki, Kerala. The Auxiliary also conducted a Bible Exhibition. We thank God for oppotunities for the promotion of the Bible cause and Bible advocacy.
Every three years the Executive Committee of the BSI along with the delegates from the BSI Auxiliaries across the country gather together to assess the Bible work and work on strategic direction for the next triennium . The Central Council consists of the Executive Committee, the office bearers of the Auxiliaries, and delegates representing the Auxiliaries across the country.
This year about 115 delegates gathered for the 27th Triennial Central Council meeting in Bangalore. As many as 16 youth representatives (under 30) attended the council for the first time.
The theme of the Central Council was Philadelphia Promise: Resourcing the vision and mission of the BSI. The key characteristics of the Philadelphia Promise are:
It was a privilege to have Rev.Dr.Robert Cunville, President, UBS, Mr. Michael Perreau, (Director General of UBS) along with Rev.Dr.Roy Pererson (the President & CEO of ABS) at the Central Council meetings.
A good number of leaders from various Bible Societies and denominational Churches brought Greetings and Goodwill messages:
The General Secretary and the Directors presented their reports of the respective departments. They also presented their strategic plans for the next 3 years. The work of the BSI Auxiliaries were appreciated and awards were presented for “Excellence in contribution and distribution”.
Awards of Appreciation was also distributed to the Auxiliaries in recognition of their Bible work. The Central Council also elected the Most Revd. Dr. P.C. Singh as its President, Dr. Mrs. Leela Bose – as Vice President and Revd. Premkumar Soans the Treasurer. The Outgoing Office Bearers, namely, President, Vice President and Treasurer were honoured for their faithful service.
To God be the glory for all great things that God did in and through the Bible Society of India Team during the Triennium as well as what God is going to do during the next Triennium.
The BSI Ranchi Auxiliary organised a two day workshop on Building Digital Communities to build awareness on the digital Initiatives undertaken by the BSI. The two workshop included ‘talks’, ‘discussion groups’, and ‘hands-on’ experience on using the digital.
Mr. Samuel Thambusamy presented the opportunities and challenges of the digital for Bible Societies. He introduced the digital initiatives ( such as Dot Bible, Project Engage, Social Media) undertaken by the Media department and how these initiatives can help in Scripture Engagement, Bible Advocacy and the promotion of the Ranchi Auxiliary.
We had over a 100 people attend the first day of seminar, which was primarily focussed on BSI supporters.
The second day of the seminar was primarily focussed on the youth. Surprisingly, even adults wanted to be a part of the Bible Funshop. The Bible Funshop is designed for groups to read the Bible together in a new and creative way using arts and the media.
The Bible Funshop is about reading familiar passages of Scripture in unfamiliar ways and learning from one another! We had a great time reading John 6: 1 – 12 together at Bible House Ranchi. Young people made Vblogs and Facebook posts based on the lessons they had learnt.
Children and young people were introduced to the Digital Bible tools such as Bible Apps, Youversion Bible reading plans, and Bible game Apps such as Guardians of Ancora. It is always a joy to help children and young people engage with Scripture and see them take a deep dive.!
We hope that children will
Read the Bible
Listen to the Bible
Learn from the Bible
Live out the Bible
And share it’s Light to people!
The response to the Digital Initiatives was overwhelming and it was amazing to see people’s willingness to embrace the digital.
Nagaland is one of the three states where the population is mostly Christian. The Bible has played a significant role in the socio-economic transformation of the various Naga communities.
Nagaland has several indigenous Naga groups, and interestingly they speak mutually unintelligible languages. Hence,English is the ‘unifying’ official language of Nagaland. However, Nagamese – a creole – functions as a lingua franca and is nearly spoken by all.
Nagamese developed out of the need for the hill Naga people to interact with the indigenous Assamese in the plains. It began as a ‘market language’ for the purpose of business communications. Nagamese has gradually become more complex and is written in Roman Script.
Now, Nagamese is preferred for a wider form of communication and is used in all aspects of everyday life. Besides being spoken in casual settings, it is also used for official communique, religious gatherings and in School classrooms to explain subject matters better.
The release of the Nagamese New Testament by Dr. Z.K. Rochill, Sr. Auxiliary Secretary, on the 30th October, 2018 was a proud moment for all of us at the Dimapur Auxiliary.
Most Naga groups have a Bible, a New Testament or at least portions of Scripture in their languages. However, the Nagamese Bible presents the different Naga communities the possibility of reading the Bible together and learning the Bible in fellowship together.
We hope and pray that the Bible in Nagamese would be a great blessing for the different Naga people to engage in Scripture Engagement.
The Bible Society of India serves all Churches in translating, publishing the Bible in many languages and distributing them among their congregations. The BSI is the handmaiden of the Church even as it is a Servant in God’s Mission.
The 14th of November was observed as the Church Relations Day to reiterate the ‘Philadelphia Promise’ – “to serve all Christian Churches and remain fully committed to the principle of interconfessionality.”
The Church Relations Department of the BSI organised a combined Prayer Fellowship at Logos Bhavan to celebrate the unity and “interconfessionality” of different denominational Churches that we serve. Representatives from various denominations introduced the distinctives of their respective denominations and how each of them express the Christian faith in diverse ways at the fellowship meeting. We are thankful to
and all other pastors who participated in the Prayer Fellowship. Rev. Dr. M. Mani Chacko, the General Secretary of the BSI delivered an inspirational message. The service helped all of us to celebrate the diversity of our confessional expressions, worship patterns and faith traditions. It challenged us to be faithful to Christ’s call for the unity of His Church.
The BSI-Church relations day helped us to strengthen our resolve to be at the serve Churches and work towards strengthening relationships with God’s wider faith community. Continue to pray for the Bible Society of India as we work alongside different Churches for the Bible Cause.
Thanking God for the Telugu Bible Translation. This is the Bi-centenary year of the first published Telugu New Testament. Thanking God for the tireless effort, grit and determination of Ananda Rayar, an Indian Christian, who completed the Telugu New Testament Translation even after the untimely death of the missionaries.
The BSI Ranchi Auxiliary had the privilege of taking Bibles to Charid Village. The New GEL Church availed this opportunity and got the Pulpit Bible for their congregation. So happy that the Bible will be read in Church and the congregation will listen to God’s Word read in Charid Village.
We pray that the Church would listen to God speak, that God’s Word will be planted deep in their hearts and the Church will experience transformation that the Word brings!
Now, you can hear what you have been reading. The Audio Bible makes God’s Word accessible to many people, particularly the elderly, the sick and also people on the go. Please pray for the distribution of audio Scriptures in many languages. If you are in need of the audio Bible please contact your nearest BSI Auxiliary.
We welcome Rev. John Basy Paul into the BSI family as he joins the BSI Telangana Auxiliary. Rev. John Basy Paul will give leadership to the BSI Telangana work as Auxiliary Secretary.
After the installation service at St. George’s Church Abids, Rev. John Basy Paul was inducted at BSI office, Boiguda by Rev. Dr. Mani Chako, General Secretary of BSI.
Please send your greetings and wishes to bsitel@biblesociety.in
