UNCHANGING Word September - October | 2016 Kiribati New Version Bible Launched Bible launch Guest Speaker: Kiribati Government Vice President Mr Kaurabi Nenem More than 200 people gathered at the Kiribati Uniting Church’s maneaba (meeting place) in Antebuka Tarawa on the 17 September to celebrate the launch of their new Bible version in today’s Kiribati language. who helped finish the project and who The Bible Society of the South Pacific were so happy to be present at the in partnership with the Churches in launch service are Pastor Teakamatang Kiribati started this project in 1988. The Eritai of the Assemblies of God Church New Testament was translated by the and Rev Iote Tebaio from the Kiribati former Moderator of the Kiribati Uniting Uniting Church. After the launch, Church, the late Rev Baiteke Nabetari everyone received a copy of the new who passed away in 2005. bible and started reading straight away. $14 The Old Testament was translated by the These bible gifts were sponsored by the late Rev Raubane Naikara who passed Dayspring Ministry through the Bible ▶ Fijian Lines - Coming Soon away in 2006. The other two translators Society of New Zealand. ▶ Catholic Diary is now available in our Bible Society Bookshop The Unchanging Word 1 Bible Distribution to Victims of Cyclone Winston Continues A total of 87,200 scriptures (English Bibles, Fijian itaukei New Testaments, Fiji-Hindi New Testament, Tracts, etc.) were sponsored by the Bible Societies around the globe to be distributed free of charge to every family and individuals affected by the aftermath of Cyclone Winston in February of this year. The scriptures arrived from the Bible Society of Korea existing networks helped and Rotuma, Global Compassion printer in June 2016. Through continue to bring God’s Word Ministry, Assemblies of God, the Society’s to the people in Lomaiviti, Lau, Anglican Church, Roman Catholic Tailevu North, Ra, Bua, Taveuni, Church, and other partners. Yacata, Savusavu, and Naitasiri. The LORD is to be praised as we Some areas are yet to be covered receive encouraging testimonies as the distribution task is still from recipients of the scriptures. continuing. Pray that people will read the scriptures and allow God to speak partnership with We praise God for our major into their traumatic experiences Churches and Mission distribution partners namely during this recovery period. organisations, these the Methodist Church in Fiji and Volunteers from the Global Compassion Ministry distributing Bibles to individuals in cyclone affected areas The Unchanging Word AOG Church bible distribu- tion with Rev Teakamatang Eritai (standing far right) Bible Donors Sincerely Acknowledged Kiribati new Bible translator, Rev freely in Kiribati. Rev. Eritai challenged process from Every Tribe Every Nation Teakamatang Eritai gave an almost his people to cultivate an attitude of (ETEN) ministry was also acknowledged. never-ending Vote of Thanks speech giving rather than receiving – to give On this note, it is the constant desire and during the launch of the Kiribati New back to God through the Bible Society prayer of the Bible Society in the South Version on September 17. whether in offering or prayers of Pacific that families and individuals will thanksgiving and continuous support rise up in every country like Kiribati, Rev. Eritai grabbed the opportunity to to the work around the region and the Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, kindly acknowledge every individual world. He also thanked the United Bible Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji to be Bible who sacrificially gave money in Societies for all the technical help given donors (join the Bible-a-Month Club) and Aotearoa, New Zealand through the by the Translation consultants in the be a source of blessing to other people Bible Society of New Zealand to help 28-year long period of the project. The groups that are in desperate need of pay for the 3,000 bibles that were given assistance to speed up the translation God’s Word. Participants of the Literacy workshop held in Suva, Fiji Encouraging Literacy Work in The main event was the facilitation of certain children between the ages of six the South Pacific a two-day Pacific Literacy Workshop to and fifteen in the churches in both the identify some specific needs in Literacy village and semi-urban communities. A group of facilitators from the United for the Pacific island nations and map Bible Societies and neighbouring the way forward in meeting such needs What followed after the Literacy National Bible Societies from Australia, through a collective project. workshop was a one-day Fundraising New Zealand and Papua New Guinea workshop to look into ways of raising were guests of the Bible Society of Participants of the workshop were funds for the work of the Bible Society. the South Pacific in Suva on 26-30 from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. September. What has been identified is the failure to read and comprehend amongst The Unchanging Word 3 The Bible Society Needs More Bible Donors An urgent need of the Bible Society right dinner in Suva to give this opportunity Are you willing to join the Bible Society now is to encourage more people to to new individuals, families, churches today as a new donor partner? If so, raise their hands to willingly support the and organisations to join God in his work God willing, kindly let the Society know work of scripture translation, scripture through the Bible Society. Operation ISP by sending an email to bibsoc@bible. production and scripture distribution in is therefore seeking for new donors and org.fj and we will get back to you as Fiji and the South Pacific through their friends of the Society who are willing to soon as possible. And if you wish to be generous donations each month or partner with the Bible Society in making a prayer partner, kindly let the Society once a year. God’s Word available and accessible to know, too. Be a donor today to fulfill A fundraising project, Operation the Pacific community and particularly God’s command (1 Timothy 6.17-19) and “Increase Scripture Production” (ISP) to help increase the Fijian itaukei Bible experience God’s blessings. has been recently launched on 29 production which often runs out of September at a Bible Society organised stock every now and then. 4 The Unchanging Word.