VIETNAM
In 1954, the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam. In 1975, Vietnam was reunited under communist rule.
The Bible Society of Vietnam is working to translate the Bible into indigenous languages and into Vietnamese Sign language. Partnering with churches, it is distributing Bibles to children and youth. One young person who has benefitted from receiving a Bible is Michael*.
“I go to a public high school, where I have to study hard and compete with my classmates. My family puts a lot of pressure on me to excel at school. But I don’t like school very much.
But one day, a lady came to visit our neighbourhood. She was from a local church, and she gave me a book that looked different from any other book I had seen before. She said it was the Bible. I was curious and interested. The more I read the Bible, the more I felt like the book was talking to me personally and powerfully. I felt like the book showed me a new way of living and thinking.
I saw some changes in my life. I became more peaceful and calmer under stress. I learned how to trust God and His plans for me. I learned how to forgive others and myself. For me, the book is so special, it is the closest friend to me. I keep it under my pillow and read it every night before I sleep.” Your gift to Bible a Month Regular Giving this month will help to support this project.
View the PDF version of your Member’s Report here.
* Name changed
Prayer Points for VIETNAM
Give thanks for the growth of Christianity among the mountain tribal peoples in central and southern Vietnam.
Pray for unity among Christians and Christian organisations who are seeing an increase in new believers.
Pray for freedom from government repression of unregistered house churches.
Pray for ways to be found to change the social ills that are affecting Vietnam, including drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, and prostitution.
Pray more with us here.
FURTHER BIBLE MISSION PROJECTS
PERU
In 1532, the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire establishing the encomienda system whereby Spanish soldiers were rewarded with land, effectively enslaving the indigenous population at the same time. Along with this came enforced conversion to Catholicism, which led to syncretism between Catholicism and indigenous beliefs.
In 1824, Peru achieved independence from Spain, but since then the country has struggled under a series of dictatorships and repressive military rule. Unfortunately, Peru suffers from high levels of domestic violence. In 2024, the Bible Society of Peru is running its “Building Healthy Families” course aimed at strengthening families and preventing domestic violence. Partnering with churches, the course includes Bible study sessions and subsidised Scriptures for families.
Egypt
Christianity was first brought to Egypt by Saint Mark in the mid-first century AD. Since then, Egyptian Christianity has given much to the world, including great theologians, such as Origen, the “Father of Theology,” and the monastic movement which began in the deserts of Egypt and spread to other countries.
For 1,000 years, Egypt was a Christian-majority country. Today, Coptic Christians make up 10 per cent of the population. Through its network of nineteen Bible shops, the Bible Society of Egypt is serving the Church and communities by providing Scriptures. Bible Society is providing subsidised Bibles, New Testaments and Scriptures for churches and evangelists to connect people with the Word of God.
Honduras
Originally occupied by the Maya people, Honduras was first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1502. In the 16th century, Honduras became a Spanish colony. In 1821, it achieved independence from Spain becoming part of a federation of Central American states. In 1838, the country became fully independent. Since then, it has experienced a series of revolutions and revolts and has been under military rule.
Today, Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world with a very high rate of homicide. The National Police Force is corrupt, and the prisons are full to overflowing. The Bible Society of Honduras is seeking to change this by teaching biblical principles at Police School, endeavouring to influence the military, and promoting evangelism in prisons.
Rwanda
In 1900, German Catholic missionaries established a mission station in Rwanda. Between 1916 and 1945, Rwanda was governed by Belgium under a League of Nations mandate. Rwanda suffered a civil war between the government and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) from 1 October 1990 to 18 July 1994. The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during which armed Hutu militias killed an estimated 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority group.
In 2012, the Bible Society of Rwanda began its trauma healing programme to help people who are recovering from the 1994 genocide. The programme is aired on local radio stations while the beneficiaries listen in groups under the guidance of trained facilitators..
Soul Care
Are you overwhelmed by the noise, busyness, and pace of your life? Join Jason Perkins for this six-part series on Soul Care and learn to tend to the garden of your inner life. Discover what it means to apprentice under the Master, Jesus — not just by believing His teachings, but by living the way He lived. As you adopt His rhythms of rest and relationship and practise His habits of silence, solitude, Sabbath, and simplicity, your soul will begin to thrive and bear fruit.
EMPTY HANDS
BIBLE POVERTY
EMPTY HEARTS
BIBLE ENGAGEMENT
EMPTY MINDS
BIBLE LITERACY
