Bible Society NI Extra Insight September 2020

Dear Prayer Partner,

In September our Bible-a-Month calendar is focusing on Pakistan.

Pakistan is found in south Asia and boarders India, Afghanistan, Iran and China.

They are famous for their cricketing prowess and spicy food, as well as breath-taking landscapes.

All of the Pakistan Bible Society’s projects were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many had to be suspended or cut back to comply with social distancing measures. Still, they are doing their best to share God’s Word while following the law and keeping their staff and volunteers safe.

In this Extra Insight we'll share some updates from the Pakistan Bible Society and how the "Beacon in the Light of Illiteracy" project has been operating during these times.

Pakistan

Capital: Islamabad

Population: 233,500,636 (July 2020 est.)

Official language: Urdu

Religion: Muslim (official) 96.4%, other (includes Christianity and Hindu) 3.6%

Statistics and map taken from The World Factbook and Operation World.

Ministry in Pakistan

The Pakistan Bible Society’s main priority is to produce and distribute God’s Word in a language the people can access and understand. Pakistan is a predominately Muslim country, roughly 96% of the population following Islam. Being a Christian can often be hard, but the Pakistan Bible Society is still promoting the Bible to their community.

There are currently 7 Bible translation projects going on in Pakistan, alongside 12 other Bible engagement and advocacy programmes. Their work includes projects among children, youth, families, elderly and those who live with a disability.

In 2019 the Pakistan Bible Society distributed over 88,000 Bibles, over 170,000 New Testaments and over 19,000 portions of Scripture. These are distributed in churches, Christian bookshops, hospitals and through different Christian organistaions. The Pakistan Bible Society works alongside the local church to carry out these projects. It is estimated that 75% of Christians live under the poverty line. Part of the Bible Society’s mission here is to support these poor Christians, providing Scripture and support where needed.

"Beacon in the Darkness of Illiteracy" - Pakistan

The Beacon in the Light of Illiteracy project aims to help illiterate woman from villages and slums in Pakistan to learn to read and write through studying the Bible. Every year roughly 7,000 women participate in this project. This project hopes to empower women through the Gospel and teaching them these life skills. Once a lady has completed this course, she is able to take home her own copy of the Bible. These women are encouraged to read the Bible with their families, sharing the Word of God with their loved ones.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted this project greatly, both negatively and positively. Many classes had to pause for a short time from February to March, due to lockdown restrictions. However, many were able to start up or continue with social distancing measures in place. Because many women had lost their jobs as a result of lockdowns, the popularity of these literacy classes began to grow. Ladies had more time and were able to focus on learning new skills such as reading and writing.

Rabbia, 72, is one of the women who enrolled in a literacy class at the start of 2020. When it was announced that her granddaughter, a university graduate, would be leading the literacy classes at their church, Rabbia immediately stood up and exclaimed that she would join the class. While many laughed at her, she was overjoyed at the thought of being able to read the Bible and to be taught such a skill by her granddaughter. During the pandemic outbreak her granddaughter asked her not to come to the classes for fear of her getting sick, but Rabbia refused, insisting on going along, wearing a face mask and using hand sanitiser. Being able to read her Bible for herself during this time has been such an encouragement to Rabbia. She told the Bible society staff-

“It was very difficult for me to understand to recognize the alphabetical words for me but slowly slowly I start reading. Now I am thankful to the Lord that I can read even not fluently but with consideration. I hope that I will read the Bible very soon.”

This month your £5 well go towards allowing someone like Rabbia to participate in a literacy class and to receive their own copy of the Bible.

"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”"

Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)

Pray for this Project:

Pray for the ladies involved in these classes, that they would come to know Christ as they learn to read through the Bible. Pray that they would be able to attend these classes in a safe manor and be able to social distance.

Pray for The Bible society staff and volunteers, as well as the teachers who carry out this project. Pray that they would continue to be protected from the virus, and that they would have wisdom when teaching these ladies.

Pray for those in Pakistan who live in slums or densely populated areas, who are more at risk to the virus as a result of not being able to socially distance. Pray that God would watch over them and that they would remain healthy.

Give

Every £5 donated to this project will help the Pakistan Bible Society to provide literacy students with Scriptures.

Make a donation online now.

This project is our Bible-a-Month project for September. Decide to become a Bible-a-Month partner today! 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.

BIBLE SOCIETY NI

27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NB

028 9032 6577 Charity Reg. No. NIC102557

www.biblesocietyni.co.uk

Header image shows a woman teaching a literacy class in Pakistan.