Previous Projects

FOUR NATIONS – ONE NEED- GOD’S WORD
South East Asia...beautiful; mysterious; gateway to the Orient...
This region certainly exhibits some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, with its rugged mountains, vast floodplains and tropical rainforests. But it is also subject to some of the most devastating natural disasters. Thousands of people die as a result of cyclones, floods, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis.

The Bible Society is looking to provide God’s Word to the people from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh.

Most of the 252 million people living across these four countries (in a combined area that is smaller than South Australia) have yet to be reached with God’s Word.

Thank you to all who have helped raise funds during 2009 we are currently channelling $144,805 into various projects in these 4 countries to help spread the Good News.

The work in these countries are ongoing – if you would like to donate to this work call the Bible Society office in your State or donate on line.

A Nation at the crossroads. Bolivia shares borders with Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay. Bolivia is the poorest country in Latin America. 64% of the population live below the poverty line and 40% of all children are at risk of exploitation.

As the gap widens between powerful and weak, rich and poor, tensions are mounting.
Desperation is leading to acts of crime and violence, young children are begging in the streets.
The need for God’s Word to be clearly heard, understood and acted upon has never been greater.

The Bible Society is providing Scripture activity books for children to help educate them in reading, CD’s of Scripture in Song for youth, New Testaments for the many miners who work underground in bad conditions, and for the Aymara people who live in the Andes - a new Bible printed in their language.

With the help of our donors around Australia we have raised $195,443.00 to help with the ongoing work in Bolivia.

 The Russian Government has chosen the Bible as the key textbook in every school and university. Through this amazing window of opportunity, it is our sincere desire to see Russia become a Christian country, where people’s morals and ethics, hearts and minds, are transformed by the Bible.

Bibles are being distributed through schools, libraries and summer camps. Teachers are being offered training to assist them to incorporate the ethics of the Bible into their classrooms.

In partnership with churches, schools and groups across Australia, AU$260,000 was raised to help provide Bibles to those who need them, as well as assisting with the ongoing translation of the Old Testament into Yakut.

Please pray that God will speak through His Word, and that Russia will become a nation under God.

The Middle East is a boiling pot of cultures, histories and beliefs. It’s the place where the Bible was birthed, where the early church began and where Jesus himself was born and lived for thirty-three years. It is also a part of the world we often associate with war, violence and continued unrest.

 “The Bible’s message is far more powerful and meaningful than its mere pages. It has the power to change lives; the impact to change the community; the authority to guide our ethics and morality; and the influence to make a difference.” – Mike Bassous, General Secretary, Bible Society in Lebanon.

There is a demand for over one million Bibles every year throughout the Middle East. Praise God that the 2006 Middle East Project raised over AU$380,000 for Scriptures and specialised programs across the region.

The economic and social upheaval in Zimbabwe in recent years, coupled with the crippling AIDS epidemic, has created fertile ground for massive church growth. People are looking for answers and comfort in their distress. From 1992 to 2000, the number of churches doubled to 20,000 as a result of many church denominations working together in church planting. Today, around 70% of the 12.6 million people in Zimbabwe are Christian. The demand for Scriptures is enormous.

As well as providing Scriptures to the churches, the Bible Society of Zimbabwe is currently working on translations in Shona, Ndau and Chikunda. While English is the official language, Shona is the heart language of 70% of Zimbabweans, the remainder speaking one of the many minority languages. Special Scripture leaflets and portions have been developed to provide hope and encouragement to AIDS sufferers and their families; to assist with the growing literacy problems; and to bring hope to prisoners. With the help of Australian churches, Sunday schools, schools, groups and individuals, over $325,000 has been raised to assist the work of the Bible Society in Zimbabwe.

Tafara, a former prisoner in Zimbabwe, received a Gospel of John. Moved by what he read, he gave his life to Christ. On his release from prison, he went to the Bible Society to say "thank you for giving me the Word of Life". Thank YOU for making that possible!

Pakistan is a country of some 150 million people with half its population under 15 years of age. The Christian community is comparable to the population of Queensland. Even though Christians are a minority group in this volatile country the churches have a desire to reach out with the message of love and forgiveness through Christ; especially since the bombing of the office and reading room in January 2004. In view of this the Pakistan Bible Society has vision and plans to assist the churches.

Through our project several States here in Australia have raised $127,213 for Bible work in Pakistan with a further $37,470 in gifts for literacy work. Bike for Bibles activities in South Australia and Victoriahave raised a significant amount of support yet to be determined, but we know as a consequence many thousands of people will benefit in being able to read God’s Word for themselves for the first time.

Another project of the Pakistan Bible Society is to continue supplying a beautiful full colour Children’s Story Bible in the Urdu language. Support raised last year will help to provide a considerable quantity for children in Christian families who in turn will share with their friends and neighbours.We would like to thank the Churches, Sunday Schools and Adult Groups as well as all the individuals who contributed to this great need in Pakistan.

What God is doing in China is a fantastic story that needs to be told.

Through the vision of a few men in the 1980's, the Amity Printing Company has been legally producing Bibles in China since 1987. Over the years, the number of Bibles produced has increased from year to year. At the end of 2002, the 30 millionth Bible came off the Press.

I'm sure that you will praise God that such an unbelievable feat has been achieved. What a miracle it is that this former communist country has been flooded with 30 million copies of God's Word! But the job is not finished. The population of China is 1.3 billion. There are still parts of rural China where there is only one Bible in a Church. Families share the Bible through the week on a roster system. When it is their turn, some people stay up all night reading the Bible. That's how much they love God's Word.

During 2003 Churches, Sunday Schools, Women’s Groups, other small groups and individuals raised $277,817 to provide paper for printing Bibles in China. What a fantastic effort.

Judging by the stories and photos we’ve received, many of them had a lot of fun raising the money and many of them learnt a lot about China and it’s people.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Bible Society’s Annual Project 2003 – Bibles for China.

In a population of 18 million, much the same size as that of Australia, there are about 50 major and another 50 minor languages. Bible Society has 10 translations of portions on the go. There is need for more translations, for Scriptures for schools and for more specialised radio broadcasts. The Bible Society of Ghana receives hundreds of letters each year from children, but has no budget, and so no money to give Bibles.

Last year, Bible Society in Australia helped in this situation by raising $115 720 from the Adult Project and $94 876 from the Children's Project. Ordinary people being creative and generous made it possible to achieve this wonderful result.

The face of Australian society has gone through enormous changes in recent years; in fact change has become an integral part of life in Australia. The Church, individuals and society are facing many challenges and we believe that most of the answers people are searching for can be found in the Word of God.

• Our population is made up from people from every ethnic group around the world
• The number of people becoming involved in religions other than Christianity is steadily increasing
• There are a large number of people coming to Australia who have never heard the Gospel
• There are large numbers of children born in Australia who have not heard the Gospel, never attended Sunday School and never been to church

More than $214,760 was raised by Children’s Groups, Ladies Groups and other fellowship groups within Australian Churches.

Funds raised made it possible for 26,845 Bibles to be distributed throughout Australia.

The needs in Australia.are ongoing and donations for Scripture distribution in Australia are always needed.

More than $200,604 was raised by Children’s Groups, Ladies Groups and other fellowship groups within Australian Churches.

Funds raised made it possible for 25,075 Bibles to be distributed throughout Ukraine.