News up until 5th July 2010

Scripture Listening Groups being established in Niger.

The Bible Society in Northern Ireland Prayer Circle

Dear Friend,

Bible Societies often find themselves ministering to people who are in crisis - suffering from food shortages, natural disasters, political unrest etc. While Bible Societies often help in many practical ways, they do not forget that Spiritual nourishment is vitally important to people who feel like their hope is gone. We always remember the words of Christ when He was tempted to satisfy His own hunger.

The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."  Matthew Ch 4:3-4

Nourishment for Niger 

The Bible Society in Niger is currently working in a difficult environment with a serious food crisis affecting half the population. There are fears that many thousands of people are at risk of starvation due to crop failures. Please pray that the Lord will intervene here and that nourishment will be made available for people who are starving.

While people hunger for physical nourishment, the churches hunger for spiritual nourishment. Praise God that the Faith Comes by Hearing listening programme has been able to commence, reaching people with God's Word who are unable to read it for themselves, either because they are illiterate or do not have Scripture of their own. Faith Comes by Hearing uses wind-up listening devices called Proclaimers which are greatly appreciated by the Churches because of their effectiveness among largely illiterate audiences. Give thanks that this programme has commenced and please pray that it will be successfully developed, with many groups being established.

In This Issue

- Nourishment for Niger

- Scenes of Hope in Haiti

- Guatemala's Challenge

- News at Home

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Link to the United Bible Societies Weekly Prayer Topics. 

Scenes of Hope in Haiti

Having already distributed 200,000 Scripture Selections and Portions since February, the Haitian Bible Society (HBS) is now hard at work giving out 28,000 Creole Bibles. More than 11,000 copies have been distributed so far.

"'My people don't have anything,' HBS Program Coordinator Marie Carme Derivois said, 'and when you don't have anything, only God's Word can bring you comfort...'"

When an announcement was made at the Tabernacle de Glorie church that Bibles were to be given to those who had lost their copies during the earthquake, at least 1,000 people lined up to receive one. Many people were kissing their new Bibles - a response that has been repeated in various settings.

Praise God that many are turning to him it has even been said that Haiti is seeing a revival. Pray that enough Bibles will be available to meet the need and that people who have lost so much will discover comfort hope and new life in Christ.

Guatemala's Challenge

Marco Vinicio Martínez, Director of Administration of the Bible Society of Guatemala, has described as "a huge challenge" the task facing the Society in the wake of last month's volcano which deposited ash, sand and rocks on a large area of the country and which was rapidly followed by the first hurricane of the season.

With the needs of those affected increasing every day, Mr Martínez said the Bible Society staff were working on the launch of a project called Have No Fear, Guatemala. The aim will be to bring help to the many thousands of people who have been injured or are living in temporary shelters, and to give Scriptures to all who need them.

"For the time being," he added, "we derive comfort, encouragement and strength from the messages we are receiving from the UBS fellowship and from the prayers that we know are being offered for our country. There is much we want to do but time is not on our side. Nevertheless, in spite of the difficult conditions that you know we are working under, we hope to mount a response."

Please pray for the Scripture materials being distributed to bring encouragement to people who are facing the hurricane season. Pray that the Bible Society team will be kept safe and that they will be able to carry out their ministry unhindered.

News in Northern Ireland

Speaking Engagements

Pray for John who will be speaking at...  

Druminnis Presbyterian Church, Armagh on 4th July at 10.00am

Redrock Presbyterian Church, Armagh on 4th July at 11.15am

Thank you for your continued prayerful support. Please feel free to forward this email to friends who might be interested in using this material in their personal devotions.