FEATURE ARTICLE: SHARING THE GIFT OF LIFE THIS CHRISTMAS

“...So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God...” —Colossians 1:10

Man have been given two commands as the image of God: be fruitful and subdue creation (Genesis 1:28). This is the overall plot of the story of the Bible—that humans were created by God to rule creation as His image bearers, and to multiply His image, and in doing so, multiply His glory across creation. Throughout Scripture, the glory of God and His image are connected (1 Corinthians 11:7).

Jesus came as human at Christmas to rescue His true love, His image bearers, from the deception and destruction of the enemy; restoring us to our original purpose and station. This festive season, and after over 200 years of keeping the legacy of the Bible Mission in Singapore, the Bible Society translates our faithfulness to the mission to fruitfulness in the lives of nations.

Over the years, we have been blessed to be able to give where it is needed and further the Great Commission, whether in financial or spiritual support. The Bible Society continues to support our sister Bible Societies and evangelical communities in their efforts to bring the transformative power of Scripture and help to disadvantaged communities at their doorstep.

We are blessed to have personally interacted with the Chairman of the Bangladesh Bible Society (BBS) as he shared the impact of our prayers and contribution amid the challenges they face.

Reaching the Unreached in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, once among the world’s poorest nations, continues to grapple with the enduring challenges of natural calamities and poverty to this day. Despite recent strides in poverty alleviation, the progress hasn’t reached its 75 ethnic groups, including the Santal, Chakma, and Garo. In light of this, it is the objective of BBS to bridge this gap by providing Bibles in their heart languages.

As one of the most flood-prone regions in the world, Bishop Philip Adhikary, Chairman of BBS, shares the current challenges and needs of Bangladesh: “We are providing support to the victims of the recent flood and cyclone. This year, 75 million people have been affected by the flooding. People have lost their homes and livestock, and are now taking shelter either at government schools or along highway roads. Food shortage is also a problem. We are praying for God to supply and it is our goal to provide Bibles to these people to bring them hope in their time of trouble.”

Apart from humanitarian efforts, BBS also focuses on other ongoing Bible Mission projects. Bible production and distribution is the core of their mission in reaching out to the nation. There is a hunger for Bibles throughout the 42 tribes and languages in Bangladesh, which BBS tries to cater to through their initiatives. In 2022, the Bible Society reached 6,000 individuals from three ethnic groups, including pastors, youth, and believers, with Scripture.

One of the major ethnic groups in Bangladesh that they distribute Bibles to is the Santals. Today, BBS is translating children’s Scripture materials into Santali, a language spoken by the Santal people, which numbers around 130,000 in Bangladesh. This will enable 24,000 Santal children to benefit from having access to the Bible.

In the coming year, BBS also hopes to distribute at least another 10,000 Bibles, as well as to reach 40 unreached groups and all minority groups. The aim is to allow more people to encounter the peace, eternal life, and saving power of the Word of God.

Partnering in Christ

“In our partnership with The Bible Society of Singapore, they have helped us with Bible distribution and providing aid to the Rohingya people. We have also collaborated in reaching out to many unreached groups. Looking forward, we hope to be able to produce and distribute more Bibles with the support of the Bible Society and its donors,” shared Bishop Philip.

Your generous donations and support have impacted the lives of the unreached and the victims affected by the flood who are in dire need of help. Let us continue to unite in shared compassion and mission to bring the gift of life to disadvantaged communities all around the world.