October 2013

[There was no vicars letter for October, instead this was an article  from Bible Society]

BE PART OF THE BIBLE STORY IN CHINA

27th October is Bible Sunday, and this year the focus is on Bibles for China..


Have you heard the amazing story of the Bible in China? How it’s gone from being a banned book to a bestseller? How it’s part of incredible Church growth, where around a million Chinese people come to faith every year?


And did you know that YOU – and your church – can be part of the story?
Bible Sunday, organised by Bible Society, is an annual opportunity to celebrate the blessing of owning and reading your own Bible. This year, it’s also a time to join the amazing story in China – by helping provide Bibles to Chinese Christians too poor to afford a copy of the Scriptures themselves.


In the last 12 months, a million people have come to faith in China, according to estimates. Imagine that. It’s equivalent to one more person making a commitment to Christ by the time you read this article.


These new Christians are mostly from rural areas – and they are mostly poor. It means the cost of a Bible is simply out of their reach. And it’s created a huge Bible shortage.
Nearly half of all Christians in China don’t own a Bible. In some places 10 Christians have to share a single copy of the Bible between them.


Earlier this year, the Chinese government gave permission for the printing of 3.5 million Bibles for the churches there. They’ll be printed at Amity Printing Company in Nanjing – which is part-owned by Bible Society.


The printing presses are ready to roll – with the capacity to print almost 50 Bibles every minute. It’s only the cost of the paper that’s missing. Just 80p could buy the paper for one Chinese Bible.


Through Bible Sunday, your church can help raise funds to buy Bibles for Chinese Christians. The Bible Sunday theme this year is ‘the Bible’s message of freedom’ – and there are stacks of free resources to download right now. There’s everything from children’s activities and fundraising ideas, to our origami dove challenge, to a four-week home group study on spiritual freedom.


Visit biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday or call 07193 418222 to find out more. If you would like to donate towards the cost of paper send your donation via the above website or to Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG