WINTER 2018 SOWER “I want to work and do something more important with my life,” says Abed, a refugee from Syria. 1 A lamp to their feet A light to their path For long-time Bible Society the Flying Bible Man, who became chaplain to construction workers supporters Bill and Jocelyn Ross, a great asset. on a dam, Trevor Booth went the Bible really has proved to be “I’d go with Trevor in his plane with him to visit the workers. “He “a lamp to their feet and a light to and catch up with people on the had a good fi lm to show in the their path,” as they have navigated stations. I was fl ying with Trevor workmen’s mess service. On one the roads God has taken them. when the Bible Society made a occasion the sound system wasn’t After studying and marrying fi lm about his work in the East working – but it didn’t matter, in Canberra, Bill and Jocelyn Pilbara. What I remember the because Trevor narrated the fi lm! ministered for a few years in most about the fi lming was the He had shown the fi lm so many Albury, NSW, before moving to constant fl ies in our eyes! ... it was times, he knew the dialogue by the far north of Western Australia a wonderful experience” heart.” in 1970 and beginning a life-long When the Rosses moved to Trevor also assisted with the ministry there. Dampier, a Pilbara port town, Bill They began in the town of again engaged in patrols with Kununurra and the patrol district Trevor at several stations in the of the East Kimberley, with the West Pilbara, and Barrow Island. Bush Church Aid Society. “I always carried with me a Since then, the Rosses have small range of Bible Bill and served in Dampier, Blu Point, Society products. Jocelyn Ross Wickham and Port Hedland over a I guess you could period of 45 years. say I was a bit of In Kununurra, their association a colporteur in with Bible Society became central those days!” Bill to their own ministry, as their recalls. paths crossed with Trevor Booth, When Bill was 2 3 Dear friends, e are Bible believers, We’ve lost connection with the yes, but how can a very teachings that brought us Wbook change lives? The what we treasure: neighbourly answer has many parts to it. love, justice mixed with mercy, Freely / Wilmer Edson / Wilmer Freely One is the concept of equity: it a sense of purpose, a moral is simply just that everyone compass. But around the should have equal access world – in countries such to the word of God. It as those featured in this can be economically Sower – people see the challenging, Bible for what it is. It linguistically demanding liberates; it excites; it children’s ministry in schools in and physically enlightens the worried places around the countryside, exhausting. But it is right and confused. They are and supplying Bibles and and just that we continue to hungry for it. Scripture resources. pursue our goal of all peoples and Bible Society is one of the “To always have a supply of languages having access to the oldest mission agencies in Bibles – 4000km from Perth – was Bible. When a new people group the world, and we are always amazing,” says Bill. receives the Bible, they feel like adjusting to the needs of our Bill says, “the Bible has always they matter: now God speaks times. We are still fi nishing the job been at the heart of my ministry, directly to them. of Bible translation and provision. in preaching and teaching and Second, the very process of But we are also playing the role of what I have to say to people translating the Bible changes championing the Bible, especially when I visit them at home or in communities. We are often told in Australian society where people hospital or in the course of life. about the spiritual transformation can get hold of it, but they don’t There is nothing else really that I occurring in translating groups, know why they should bother. have to say – the only worthwhile families and villages as they We know why it is worthwhile, thing is what I have to say from pore over God’s word, their eyes because we see with our own God’s word.” opening wide to the truth that eyes and in our own hearts the Bill and Jocelyn count it a sets us free. Sometimes, this deep way that God’s word turns lives privilege to have supported the dive into the word is so good that around. Thanks for believing in Bible A Month regular giving no one wants the translating to this with us! programme since its inception. end. Bill says it’s encouraging to know And third, the book does its that, “as small as our o ering is best work when people know just able to be, a lot of Bibles have how valuable it is. In the West, Dr Greg Clarke, CEO gone into a lot of hands.” we seem to have forgotten this. Bible Society Australia 2 3 LEBANON Help move life forward for young refugees Hayyan Chahoud dreams of being an engineer and going back to Syria, but his life is on hold in Lebanon. 4 5 n the fringes of a town market gardens or in construction north of Tripoli in in town to supplement their OLebanon, Syrian refugees family’s income. are huddled together in a refugee These are the lost youth of camp, trying to maintain hope and Syria, a generation stripped of dignity in the face of boredom childhood and forced to abandon and despair. education in the horrors of war. A chilly breeze blows from the At an age when youth in other distant snow-covered mountains parts of the world are expanding over the camp, which houses their horizons through learning, about 1100 refugees in about 350 life is frustratingly on hold for densely packed tents. these teenagers. It’s ramshackle and messy, but Fifteen-year-old Abed el-llah this has been home for up to and 13-year-old Hayyan Chahoud fi ve years for these 250 families, have lost their parents. Their most of whom fl ed their city after father died in Lebanon from seeing their homes destroyed in cancer; their mother died in Syria the armed confl ict. from a heart attack. Playing with a guitar brings Having fl ed the war, they are Abed is haunted by memories moments of joy that lift the spirits. living in limbo – unable to work of their uncle, captured, tortured legally in Lebanon but unable to and killed in Syria. return home until the situation “There was a lot of su ering in is stable. There is a sense that my heart,” he says with a bleak everyone is waiting, waiting – but stare. “I saw a lot of people dead for what? and su ering because of As women in the war. It was so hard headscarves sit at the for me to see all this.” doorways of their sturdy Abed and Hayyan do UNICEF tents, the narrow not attend school but alleyways teem with children. they dream of a better life in the The younger children are taken future. to nearby schools in minibuses “I would like to be a builder,” but the teenagers don’t attend says Abed. “I want to work and school so kill time by chasing a do something more important soccer ball or playing war games with my life.” on wasteland nearby. Hayyan was a small child when Many of the teenage boys are a tank destroyed the family forced to work in the nearby home, but he shares his brother’s 4 5 will teach a young refugee to read in a Bible-based literacy class will equip literacy students with Scripture to help life move forward again provides Scripture and practical aid to Iraqi and Syrian refugees Syrian refugee Akram*, 12, in his tent, dreams of being a doctor. dream of going back to Syria and from the Bible. through the word of God,” says rebuilding their house. “This project will help the Joe Eid, Programmes Coordinator, “I am not working now, but my children study here in the camps. Bible Society of Lebanon. dream is to be an engineer one It will prepare them for a better Please, will you help young day,” he says. future back in Syria. Education is refugees to restart their lives Everyday life in the camp is a light in life. It will increase the by teaching them to read God’s not easy. Medical care and even creativity in their lives,” he says. word? Your gift will also bring powdered milk is in short supply. Bible Society in Lebanon aims Bible storytelling to camps in Many mothers, says the camp to teach 6000 young refugees Lebanon, distribute Scripture chief, cannot a ord to treat their to read and write over the next booklets to children, and provide children. “When their children cry, three years. Bibles and practical help to Syrian they cry,” he says. “Because this is a biblical and Iraqi refugees. He wishes he could do more to literacy programme, the other help the refugees in his care. He goal is to give them the truth *Name changed for security. is delighted that Bible Society in Lebanon is ready to start literacy classes in the camp to teach GIVE NOW illiterate teens to read and write.