Surviving the tough times

January 27, 2021

This year, you have helped the United Bible Societies fellowship survive one of the worst periods in its history.

At the start of 2020 no one could have predicted how the world would be impacted by Covid-19!

By March or April Bible Societies all over the world were struggling as lockdown restrictions hit and Scripture sales and distribution plummeted. Thirty Bible Societies were quickly classified as ‘critical’ and a further 65 were considered to be ‘at risk’ of closure.

“I was in despair and had sleepless nights,” said Valente Tseco, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Mozambique. The pandemic was only adding to the strain the mission was already under in that country due to two cyclones occurring in 2019 and conflict taking place in different areas.

These worries were echoed all over the world as Bible Societies grappled with similar scenarios. But true to the legacy of unity which the Fellowship was founded on 75 years ago, and with your support and the support of others like you around the world, sister Bible Societies rallied together and set up the Solidarity Fund.

So far, US$4 million has been raised to support struggling Bible Societies with a Scripture donation programme of $500,000 supplementing this fund. Already, 35 Bible Societies have benefitted through this fund.

In Panama, Bible Society General Secretary Marco Gomez describes how he and his team felt about getting help from the Solidarity Fund. “It was like finding an oasis of fresh water in the middle of the intense desert that we have had to face due to the pandemic,” he said.

Marco and his team have been busy providing Scriptures and basic necessities to some of the most vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic. They are using the support to cover the Society’s operating costs, and to develop its online ministry.

“We are grateful to God and also to the Fellowship. We are more committed than ever before to carry out the mission and to do so with excellence,” said Marco.