Signs of the Times

"News in Review" American Bible Society Record

From "News in Review" American Bible Society Record New York, New York

Among the displaced persons in Saigon—Taoists, Buddhists, and the few Christians—all are clamoring for the Scriptures, reports the Rev. Edward A. Cline. Secretary for the Bible Societies. These people have been forced by bombings in the rural areas to seek safety in the already crowded towns and cities where they must either find makeshift lodging, live in over-crowded homes or go to refugee camps. Then, with all sense of security shattered by loss of home, family and familiar surroundings, they earnestly seek to know God better and to feel the comfort of His love. The Bible Societies' printing presses are operating at capacity....

In lour days a (christian literature group from the island of Java. Indonesia, sold 100 Bibles, 30 New Testaments and 400 copies of the Gospel of John on the island of Madura, all in the Madurese language. The distribution was noteworthy because Madura is predominantly Muslim. The team went into the marketplaces reading the Scriptures to groups of Muslims who easily understood the story in their own tongue....

Recently a village chief in Central Java heard rumors about a "book of stories" that was causing no little stir in the neighborhood. It seemed so important that he went to Semarang, a coastal town, in search of a copy. Here he was given a Bible and put in touch with a church. Before long he had a regular Bible class hard at work in his village....

In those Asian countries where Bible distribution is especially difficult or practically impossible because of inaccessible mountain ranges, jungles, political beliefs or other reasons, people have started a practice of writing down Bible passages as they are dictated over the airwaves, This is not easy for the poorly educated listeners.... This practice, however, is but one indication showing the great desire of people everywhere to obtain the Word of God. Every day the Bible comes closer for them.

Translated now into 1,250 languages, the Book is and has been the world s best seller for almost 2,000 years. Wherever God's Word goes, in print or over the airwaves, it is at all times "quick, and powerful," and it carries a message for all races and all men.

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