NewsLetter March 2021

Celebrating 50th AGM

Bible Society of held her 50th transformed formed through the work National Annual General Meeting on of BSK. Looking back, we have a lot to March 27th virtually on zoom. thank God for.

This was a special meeting as the The event was graced by members from society marked its 50th AGM. We thank different branches including; Machakos, God for his goodness as we celebrate Bungoma, Kericho, Nairobi, Kakamega, our heritage throughout all these years Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru, Kiambu and and for the lives that have been Nyeri who turned up to attend the event.

AGM Screen shot General Secretary Mrs. Muriuki cuts a cake to - 1 - commemorate the 50th AGM celebrations. The National Annual General Meeting is an annual Kisau welcomed the new Council » Equipped future church leaders in forum for BSK registered members where they come to members noting that they will steer theological colleges / universities interact, receive reports of performance for the previous the ministry of BSK to greater with Scholarly Scriptures. year, elect new Board members and get projections on heights. He added that as more » Served the visually impaired through the upcoming plans for the year. Christians join the lively team of Braille Bible distribution members, they will collectively The Guest speaker for the day was Mrs. Jemima Chiruyi impact the community positively In March 2021, various branches from International Christian Center. She spoke on this through God’s word. held their AGMs before the main year’s theme “Be still and know that I am God” from AGM. Members interacted and Psalm 46:10. She noted that God reminds us to be still The outgoing caretaker Board reviewed activities of the previous and know that He is in charge. She reiterated that God is Chairman Dr. Timothy Kiruhi lauded years and discussed plans for 2021. sovereign over every situation and the entire universe. all the members for their immense They were optimistic that despite the He wants us to surrender everything to Him and to challenges occasioned by COVID-19, trust in him fully. The gathering was encouraged to contribution to the success of the Bible Society of Kenya work. He the branches would continue to take all their cares and worries to the Lord in prayer support the BSK mission through noted that each member is a even in these unprecedented times that we are living in. carrying out activities that will representative of BSK wherever they enhance the Society’s awareness, New Council members were elected to join the dynamic are hence they are highly valued. implement programmes and mobi- team that steers the mission of the Bible Society of He encouraged them to continue lize resources for Bible work. Kenya to greater heights. The Chairman Prof. Mumo participating in BSK activities and to recruit more members so that the The General Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth family of BSK can continue to grow Muriuki appreciated all members, and influence the generations to Board, Partners and Staff for their come. Dr. Kiruhi highlighted some of contribution to the growth of the the key achievements of the Society Society and bringing a positive in the last 50 years as follows impact to people’s lives through the spreading of God’s Word. She also » Translated and launched the Bible honoured all the staff who had in 17 languages and revised 3 served Bible Society of Kenya for five translations. years and above thanking them for » Distributed over 10 million Bibles their contribution to the Society. in 20 languages » Reached 100s of thousands through A cake was cut in celebration of this audio Bibles great milestone. To God be the glory.

- - Kakamega branch AGM 2 Hope for children through Gods Word

When a dark cloud is lifted For some, their parents and a glimmer of hope do not recognize the blinks in childrens' lives, importance of education. they cannot hide it. As such, they will only allow their children to go It was a joyous one week of to school on some days of the week and the rest? distributing Bibles to some Stay home and take care of the most impoverished of the younger ones. children in Trans Nzoia and Kitui Counties. From 15th In the process, some girls How does such a parent think about a Bible for her child? to19th March 2021, the Bible end up pregnant as early The church is barely talked about! The BSK team took Society of Kenya distributed as 12 years and they must time to share words of life, hope, and purpose with these Bibles to 20 marginalized pause their studies and children and crowned the distribution with prayers. schools in the two Counties wait for a later date to get and the joy exhibited by the back to school. Worse still, It is such a privilege to be a blessing to such children at children was immense. the children may drop out such a time as this! We are so grateful for our partners in of school for some time to this mission! Some of these schools host hunt for jobs. They do this to support their parents Here are some testimonies as shared children from poor families and get food on the table I am happy to receive a Bible today. I will read it when while others reside in because they have a slum areas and scheme going to Church. This Bible will also help me in my CRE hand-to-mouth kind of lessons. Thank you, Bible Society of Kenya, for this settlement areas. existence. precious gift. Stella Baraza, Naisambu Secondary School. - 3 - Bible distribution in TransNzioa and Kitui Counties. I am glad to receive this Bible. My parents could not afford to buy me one. All your children shall be taught by the I promise to read it so that I may follow the ways of God. I will read this Lord, and great shall be the peace of Bible with my friends as we study CRE. Thank you very much BSK. your children. Isaiah 54:13 (ESV) Hilda Nelima, Kibagenge Primary School. To help a child get a Bible, donate through Pay bill 7141769, - 4 - Account: Marginalized Teso New Testament Bible launched

Can you imagine what it feels This Bible is interconfessional like to get a Bible in your and done in partnership with language? all the Churches in the Teso-speaking area. The The Christians in the Teso translation team consists of Fr. community expressed their Gregory Ejakait from Catholic joy by dancing and singing at Church, Pr. Fred. Etyang Church leaders holding the Teso New Testament Bible the launch of their New Testa- representing the Pentecostal / ment after 10 years of hard Charismatic Churches and Speaking at the event Bishop John Okude, ACK work and dedication, at Ama- Rev. Eliud Omunyokit from Bishop Katakwa Diocese noted that the launch goro Primary School on March Anglican Church. This team of of this Bible is a great milestone for the Teso translators is backed by a 13th, 2021. community, and it will be instrumental in helping competent team of reviewers, the speakers of the language to understand the who are versed with the The Ateso Bible project in language. word of God. He added that the Teso New Testament Kenya was officially launched Bible will also be of great help to the elderly who at a public ceremony held at In 2014 six New Reader cannot read English or Kiswahili. Amagoro, Teso, on July 7, 2011. Portions and the Gospel of Luke This was done after research were published. The translation The Guest Speaker Pst. Fredrick Orikodi noted that that confirmed the need for of the New Testament (Psalms Christianity will now grow in Teso land as people this project and a request by and Proverbs) work was will be able to understand God’s word better and the Church leaders of the Kenya finalized by end of 2019 and Church will disciple the community effectively. Ateso community. published in 2020. - 5 - A lady holding her copies of the Teso New Testament Official dedication of the Teso New Testament All smiles by John Ikapes a reviewer on receiving his copies of the New Testament Head of Business development Mr. Thomas I am very happy to receive the Bible I thank the Bible Society of Kenya Tharao thanked the guests for attending in my local language - Ateso. This for translating the Bible into the the event adding that the Bible Society of Bible will help me to grow my Teso language. It will help me in Kenya avails God’s word so that everyone relationship with God. It will also be preaching the gospel in the can hear the good news. He added that the used in Church to interpret the word community I serve. It will also Society has recorded the Teso Bible in audio of God for the elderly who cannot make the word of God easy to understand. Major format and the Jesus film as tools for understand English or Kiswahili. Okeiga, Salvation Army Church. evangelism that will enhance spiritual Pst. Maxmilla Alumasi, PCEA Church. growth in the community. We thank God for this great milestone! We know that Currently, intensive work is going on I am happy to see the fruit of my this Bible will bring a great to finalize the Translation Consultant labour today as we launch this transformation in the lives of the Checking of the Old Testament and Bible. It has taken a lot of time and Ateso community and there will deuterocanonical books so that translation commitment and today I celebrate be spiritual growth which will work is finalized by end of 2022 – so that by this great achievement. Fr. Gregory bring a positive transformation end of 2024 this Bible can be launched. Ejakait, Teso Bible Translator. in the society at large.

To support Bible translation work, donate through - 6 - Pay bill 7141769, Account: Translation Thriving After Trauma We are living in unprecedented times occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic and other life’s challenges that we are sometimes not in control of. However, there is a ray of hope, we can put our trust in God who is a present help in time of our need.

We have continued to reach out to people who have undergone traumatizing experiences in life through our Bible-based trauma healing programme. Participants following the trauma healing training session We have conducted trauma healing sessions in “I would say this is a miracle to me The lesson on forgiveness has Churches, schools, and other groups within the and a unique way of God to heal me. helped me to forgive the school Community. We have done both virtual and physical This has come when I am mourning and the doctors. I thank God and Classic Initial training and Healing sessions where the loss of my daughter, who died the facilitators for this healing we reached 372 people since the year began. mysteriously in February while at session”, Anne Munyao, Nanyuki. school. It has been very hard for me and I have been asking God if he Trauma Healing continues to Testimonies be one of the avenues to bring “I am so excited that my team of pastors and I have cares. I have almost doubted God until this week. I feel so helped in my healing and restore hope in had a chance to go through this training. The week people’s lives. We will continue has been full of healing sessions, most of us did not grieving journey, strengthened in my faith that God still me to reach out to more people in know we had heart wounds from the post-election our communities so that they despite what has happened. I now violence experience in 2008. We have started the may regain hope for life feel I have the knowledge I needed to through God's word. healing journey. For me, the climax of the session go through this season in my life. was Taking the pain to the cross. It was so real for me and a new experience altogether. We are so grateful to Bible Society and we will organize more healing sessions for our teams.” Bishop John Mugo, Director, GOBIT Pastors Fellowship.

To participate in the trauma healing programme - 7 - call: 0719250559 or email: [email protected] To order a Bible visit www.shop.biblesociety-kenya.org