Extra Insight May

Dear Prayer Partner,

Our May Extra Insight is here!

In our May Extra Insight we share about our Bible-a-Month project in Nepal, the Child of Bethlehem project in Palestine and some news from Northern Ireland.

We hope that you are encouraged by these stories of Bible work around the world.

LOCAL NEWS

Northern Ireland

Friend, this month we are excited to share some big news – our staff team has grown! We are delighted to welcome Suyai Rodríguez-Cameron as our Admin and Project Support Officer. Suyai is originally from Chile and has lived in Northern Ireland for the last 15 years. She has worked in many other mission organisations, including Latin Link.

Suyai will be overseeing the administration of the Bibles for Babies project, as well as helping manage orders for the many other resources and Bibles we have available. Please join us as we pray for her as she settles into our team and that God would bless her time with us.

The Bible Society Northern Ireland offices will be closed for essential maintenance from 28^th April to 30^th May. We will still be working remotely and will be available via telephone or email for all enquiries.

Bible Society Northern Ireland May Dates:

9^th May – Bible Society NI Finance Meeting

Saturday 14^th May – New Beginnings Group in Cookstown with Eleanor Crymble

Sunday 22^nd May – Markethill Presbyterian Church

Pray for the work in NI:

Remember Suyai as she settles into this new role. Pray for us as a team as we grow and continue to serve in this ministry.

Pray for our speaking engagements this month, as we share about our work both here and around the world.

Praise God for the 1,600 babies registered for the Toddler Bibles for Babies project. Pray for our volunteers as they pack these Toddler Bibles and for the homes that they will go to.

BIBLE-A-MONTH PROJECT:

Audio Bibles for the Visually Impaired - Nepal

The Nepal Bible Society is working to meet the needs of those who struggle to access the Bible as a result of being illiterate or visually impaired through audio Bibles. Those who cannot access the Bible for themselves need the assistance of someone to know the words of the Bible.

The Nepal Bible Society is providing those who struggle to access the written Bible with audio devices which read the Bible aloud to them. This gives these people independence to study God's word for themselves. They are able to access God’s Word whenever they want.

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a challenge for this project. It has impacted the importing and distribution of these devices, but thankfully this situation has begun to improve and the Nepal Bible Society hopes to produce and distribute 3,000 copies of the audio Bible in MP3 format this year. The Bible Society staff here have asked to specifically pray for this situation, that it will continue to improve and that they can reach their distribution target. They are specifically focusing on elderly people in homes, those who are blind or visually impaired and those who are illiterate.

Pray for this Project:

Please pray for the guidance and strength upon Nepal Bible Society staff team who will be involved in this project.

Please pray for sufficient electricity supplies, proper functioning of audio machines for those who use them.

Pray for all those who are still waiting for an accessible audio Bible. Pray for comfort and patience until they are able to independently access God's Word.

This project is our Bible-a-Month project for May. By becoming a Bible-a-Month partner you will help to provide Scripture to people all over the world every month. You will receive a free calendar with information about this and 11 other Bible Society projects. Commit to giving just £5 each month and you will ensure that the Word of God is shared across the world. Sign up here.

DARING TO HOPE

Northern Ireland

Here at the Bible Society in Northern Ireland we are so excited to be launching our brand-new, 5 session small group resource, Daring to Hope: Experiencing the Grace of Lament, on WEDNESDAY 25th MAY at 11:30am on ZOOM.

The last few years have been hard on all of us. We understand that people always need to be given time and space to acknowledge the trauma, suffering and struggles they have endured, whilst also providing the means by which they can navigate their way towards the help and hope of Jesus.

This is what Daring to Hope is all about.

If you’re a church leader or a small group leader, or someone passionate about Bible Engagement or pastoral care then we really want to encourage you to join us.

Hear more of Daring to Hope’s story from the team who have created it.

Find out how you and your church can take the next steps into (re)discovering the grace of lament through using this resource with The Bible Society in Northern Ireland by your side.

Registration for this FREE online event will open on Tuesday 3rd May at 12noon. Keep an eye out on our social media accounts @biblesocietyni for details on how to register.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 25^th May @ 11:30am on ZOOM.

CHILD OF BETHLEHEM

Palestine

The Child of Bethlehem project in Palestine reaches out to Palestinian children and youth within all denominational churches, clubs, villages and schools, through a strong Bible-based programme. The project promotes strong Christian education and values, sharing the Bible with these young people.

Every year, the Palestinian Bible Society hosts events throughout Christmas, Easter and Summer including trips, shows, conferences and camps. This Easter they were delighted to be able to arrange several Easter events for the communities throughout their country, from Ramallah to Birzeit to Bethlehem.

The biggest event they hosted took place on Good Friday and attracted people from all over the Ramallah district, mostly Christians but even a few Muslim families. There were over 800 children who attended along with their parents. This event had an inflatable bounce park, craft areas and an Easter egg hunt. Thankfully the Palestinian Bible Society had more than enough sweets and treats to hand out!

Most importantly, the Easter message was delivered to the children and their families, explaining why Easter is celebrated and why the Gospel is important to the life of every person there. The event ended by collectively praying the Lord’s Prayer together with the crowd. Hundreds of Children’s Bibles were distributed to those in attendance. This event, as well as many others like it hope to promote the message of the Gospel, Bible engagement and also to develop relationships with people, opening the door for personal evangelism to take place. Please join us as we pray for these events in Palestine.

Pray for this project:

Pray for the children who participate in this project, especially those who attended these Easter events and heard about the Easter story.

Pray for the families of these children, that they would want to understand more about the Bible stories that their children are learning and come to know Christ as their Saviour.

Pray for the staff and volunteers of the Palestinian Bible Society as they seek to promote the Bible and the message of the Gospel in their context.