Opening God's Word to the World
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AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY | 2013 ANNUAL REPORT STEWARDSHIP God’S WORD GOES FORTH p.11 HEALING TRAUMA’S WOUNDS p.16 THE CHURCh’S ONE FOUNDATION p.22 OPENING GOd’s WORD TO THE WORLD A New Chapter in God’s Story CONTENTS Dear Friends, Now it is our turn. As I reflect on the past year at American Bible Society, I am Nearly, 2,000 years later, we are charged with continuing this 4 PROVIDE consistently reminded of one thing: the urgency of the task before important work of opening hands, hearts and minds to God’s God’s Word for Millions Still Waiting us. Millions of people are waiting to hear God speak to them Word. I couldn’t be more excited to undertake this endeavor with through his Word. It is our responsibility—together with you, our our new president, Roy Peterson, and his wife, Rita. 6 Extending Worldwide Reach partners—to be faithful to this call to open hands, hearts and Roy brings a wealth of experience and a passionate heart for 11 God’s Word Goes Forth minds to the Bible’s message of salvation. Bible ministry from his years as president and CEO of The Seed This task reminds me of a story near the end of the Gospel Company since 2003 and Wycliffe USA from 1997-2003. He of Luke. Jesus has returned to be with his disciples after the has served on the front lines of Bible translation in Ecuador and resurrection. While he is eating fish and talking with his disciples, Guatemala with Wycliffe’s partner he “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24.45 organization SIL. (GNT) As he takes the helm of Amer- What happened next was a new chapter in God’s story of ican Bible Society, I am confident redemption. These disciples, equipped with understanding and that Roy will continue to lead 14 RESTORE insight from Scripture, went on to spread the Gospel throughout American Bible Society mission God’s Word Restoring Broken Lives the world and inaugurate a period of exponential growth in the of eternal importance with excel- Healing Trauma’s Wounds church. They changed the course of history. lence. Last year alone, we reached 16 nearly 49 million people with the 18 Renewing Hope at Home Gospel’s message through the We are pleased to welcome Roy Peterson as the new president and Holy Scriptures. People from all CEO of American Bible Society. Roy walks of life—and from every part is pictured here with his wife Rita. of the world—came to know God’s love for them. Through our programs and partnerships, we’ve helped sur- vivors of war and violence find healing. We’ve helped our military service members find hope on the front lines and at home. We’ve helped victims of natural disasters know that God is their shelter and their strength. And we’ve shown a skeptical generation that the Bible is the greatest love story ever told. On the following pages, we invite you to read the ways the Bible has helped so many people experience God’s love, healing and grace. The depth and breadth of his reach knows no bounds, and we see that daily in our work here at American Bible Society. Thank you for joining us in this important work. 20 ENGAGE Blessings, God’s Word Transforming Church and Culture 22 The Church’s One Foundation 26 Honoring the Past, Securing the Future 30 Advocacy: Creating Conversations 31 Supporting Our Work Here and Abroad Pieter Dearolf 32 Financial Report Chairman of the Board of Trustees 34 Board Members American Bible Society 2 | 2013 Stewardship Report AmericanBible.org | 3 PROVIDE GOD’S WORD FOR ALL PEOPLE God’s Word brings hope to hard-to-reach places. It crosses barriers of geography, translation, oppression and injustice. >> LIVES IMPACTED: 44,459,565 4 | 2013 Stewardship Report AmericanBible.org | 5 EXTENDING WORLDWIDE REACH ecause of the faithful support THE CARIBBEAN assist the West Balkan Partnership of Bible of our partners American Bible God’s Word Empowering Women, Societies to encourage Bible engagement Society is helping to eradicate Protecting Children in their churches. This partnership serves Bible poverty in all its forms. as a catalyst through which the Bible BBy working closely with the global Bible Building on the success in Latin America, a Societies will deliver a series of programs Society fellowship, we focus on regions similar partnership involves the Caribbean that help church members rediscover their One in four Cambodians cannot read or of the world that desperately need Bible Societies: Suriname, Haiti, Nether- passion for God’s Word and its relevance write. But through Bible literacy programs, God’s Word. lands Antilles and West Indies. As with to today’s society. Specifically, the “I Read Cambodians can improve their reading skills Latin America, this cluster focuses on the the Word” campaign is encouraging thou- and engage with the Word of God. LATIN AMERICA power of God’s Word to address domestic sands of people to engage in a 30-day . God’s Word Combating violence. To that end, staff and volunteers Bible reading plan—followed by a 100-day Domestic Violence have partnered with churches and various plan—that will lead people to live out of current topics, are geared specifically nonprofit organizations to sensitize the the hope of Christ found in the pages of for young people who need to hear the God is changing lives in Latin America community through Scripture-based mate- Scripture. message of Christ. In addition, the Bible through the “Read to Live” literacy rials. They also are working with children, Society in Lebanon produced a “Year of program, which addresses the issue of women and the police to eradicate domes- LEBANON the Bible” docudrama that was broadcast domestic violence and empowers victims tic violence, and provide comfort and hope God’s Word On TV In The Middle East on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day last with Scripture-based tools adapted to their to victims. year. Combined, the productions reached reading levels. In a year marked by turbulence and change millions of viewers. These much needed literacy resourc- EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, in the Middle East, the Bible Society of Cambodia is equipping churches with es were developed in partnership with five INDO CHINA Lebanon continued its production of “The CAMBODIA Scripture resources for youth, helping other Bible Societies: Bolivia, Chile, Ecua- Reading Plan Sparks Bible is Yours,” a series of 45-minute epi- God’s Word Changing Young Hearts them find value in God’s Word daily. dor, Panamá and Perú..In this program, Bible Engagement sodes broadcast on secular and Christian This past year, they reached out to participants learn to read and understand satellite TV across Lebanon and the Arab In Cambodia, 50 percent of the population more than 20,000 young people with what’s going on in their lives, while also We thank God for our global relationships world. is under age 25, and many have seen at- Scripture through youth camps, concerts, learning how to address the problems with Bible Societies around the world. Be- These programs, featuring testimo- tempts to eradicate their education and free- Bible Sunday, a digital Bible and the Bible associated with domestic violence. cause of our supporters, we were able to nies of cultural leaders and discussion dom. With God’s help, the Bible Society in Society’s website. 6 | 2013 Stewardship Report AmericanBible.org | 7 In Latin America, literacy classes addressing domestic violence should be offered to women and men in separate classes to prioritize women’s safety while discussing the topic. Although Buddhism is the state religion in Cambodia, Churches in Latin America a small Christian community, should speak out against constituting 2 percent of the violence that destroys the lives population of 13.4 million God so lovingly created. people, is holding steady. CHINA American Bible Society hosted a delega- Ma cares for elderly Ren’s Story Providing Bibles, Training tion from the Bishop’s Conference of the relatives and takes care Church Leaders Catholic Church in China/Chinese Catholic of her home while her God’s Word spreads in China Patriotic Association (CCPA). Bishop Guo husband is away, trying The people of China are so hungry for Jincai, vice president of the CCPA, led the to earn a living. But she Ren is a student at Henan Bible School—the only Bible school the Word of God. But they also need delegation.The group visited theological also travels hundreds in this province of more than 90 million people. Each year, the more trained church leaders to help them schools in Manhattan and Washington, of miles each week to share God’s Word. school has approximately 500 applicants, but they only have the understand and apply God’s Word. With D.C. to learn about programs and to as- capacity to enroll 100 students each year. the help of our supporters and a solid sess the possibility of a faculty exchange. For Ren, the training provided at Henan Bible School is relationship with the Chinese Church the Chinese pastors, priests and lay critical. He wants to return to the rural areas of the province where Bible is transforming the lives of millions of leaders face an urgent need for training, he grew up to teach God’s Word as a pastor. He knows that in Chinese Christians who long for the hope transportation and Scripture resources of the Gospel. including Bibles. order to do that, he needs this solid biblical teaching and Bible On Nov. 8, 2012, the Amity Printing With the help of our supporters, Amer- resources.