The growing demand for Bibles in Africa

Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa. It’s estimated that by 2060, more than one in four of the world’s Christians will live in sub-Saharan Africa.

With this church growth has come a corresponding growth in demand for the Bible.
To help in this task, we’ve pledged to support the Bible Societies in Tanzania and Uganda as they aim to share the hope of the Bible with as many people as they can.

Bible benefits Maasai children

This little boy is just one of the children to recieve a Bible from the Bible Society in Tanzania.

Sara Lepilal is a Maasai school girl. She is one of only five girls in her village who has reached primary school because, in the Maasai culture, education for girls is not valued.

Through Bible Society Tanzania she received a Bible.

On a recent visit to the area, Edward Kamwela from Bible Society Tanzania found Sara reading the Bible to 12 other non- school children. Not only was she reading them the Bible, she was dramatising the stories of the Good Samaritan and Zacchaeus.

Sara loves the Bible and told Edward, “I am very happy to own a Bible in my heart language. I understand it. In reading God’s Word, it has changed my life for the better and has influenced my friends both at school and at home.

About Tanzania

Population: 53 million
Christian: 61%
Children/youth 0-14 years: 45%

Bible Society General Secretary: Mkunga Mtingele

“Thank you for your generous and invaluable support of Scriptures for children. We don’t have adequate words to express our gratitude, but God the Father who dwells in heaven can see our hearts.” Mkunga Mtingele

“I got to know about Jesus through weekly religious classes at school, where the teacher taught us many Bible stories. My father was not literate but he was proud of my progress at school. My father allowed me to gather other children at our home to share with them about Jesus. To motivate them he gives them milk from our cows.

Another reason girls from the Maasai culture don’t complete an education is the dowry system. Sara explains, “There was a time when my father’s friends approached him to hand me over for marriage, promising to pay many cows as dowry, but my father refused. He has promised me that he will support me to carry on my schooling.”

Sara is just one of thousands of children Bible Society Tanzania wants to reach with the Word of God. They aim to distribute 60,000 Swahili and diglot (two language Bibles – English/Swahili) children’s Bibles throughout Tanzania, where children make up 45% of the population.

Can you help bring the Bible to children in Tanzania by making a donation to this important work?

Tanzanian Sunday school kids love Jesus!

Aggrey Alfred is a Sunday school boy in Tanzania who recently learned the Bible story of Joseph. Then one day someone dropped their wallet while driving a motorcycle and Aggrey picked it up. The wallet contained an identity card, bank ATM cards, and 10,000 Tanzanian Shillings (about $6.50). Aggrey gave the lost wallet to his teacher with everything in it, including the money. When Mary, his Sunday school teacher, heard about this she asked him how he learnt to be so honest. Aggrey replied, “I want to be like Joseph from the Bible. He was an honest person and God fearing. As a result God made him the Prime Minister of Egypt. By being honest, one day God will make me the Prime Minister of Tanzania and enable me to help my brothers and sisters during famine times.” Atupakisye (in the middle of the picture above in yellow blouse) says, “I thank God for providing me and the rest of us with Scriptures. We thank the Bible Society of Tanzania for the gifts. The Bible is very good with beautiful pictures of Jesus. I love Jesus very much. He is so merciful, he brought Jairus’s daughter back to life.” Aggrey is just one of thousands of children Bible Society Tanzania wants to reach with the hope of the Bible and, like Aggrey, impact their lives for good. You can help by making a donation today.

A Bible in every Ugandan hand

A Ugandan woman receives a brand new Bible from the Bible Society.
Uganda is a country full of God’s people – 84% of the population is Christian. But many of them are without the Bible. “The Bible is a book people crave for,” said the Bible Society of Uganda CEO, Peter Mukhama, who wants to get Bibles to everyone in his country. Most importantly, he wants the Bible to be in everyone’s heart. The need for Bibles is urgent in Uganda because of the large Christian population as well as the high levels of poverty. “Close to 50% of the population attend church but many of them cannot afford a Bible at the current price,” said Peter. “Church leaders are continuously requesting low-cost Bibles as much of the population is poor and struggling to provide for their own needs. Church leaders say they are challenged to maintain congregations where many young people don’t have a Bible,” said Peter.

About Uganda

Population: 39 million Christian: 84% Children/youth 0-14 years: 49% Bible Society General Secretary: Peter Mukhama “On behalf of the Bible Society of Uganda thank you for partnering with us and helping support this initiative. This is a project we are passionate about and trust that, with growing church numbers, the availability of a Bible will help Ugandans engage better with their Christian faith. To you our dear friends in New Zealand, know that your labour in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).  May the good Lord bless and reward you as you serve God.” Peter Mukhama
“Once the price is as low as possible, around two dollars, more people will be able to access the Bible.” And while in the developed world many young people have the option of accessing a digital copy of the Bible, in Uganda the power supply is too unreliable to use the internet. “The printed Bible remains the most popular option for youth, who are mostly in the poor rural areas,” commented Peter. The Bible Society of Uganda has noted the need, longing and desire of young people to own a Bible. You can help them by making a donation. Your donation will ensure more Ugandans are able to have a Bible.

African Christians are calling out for Bibles, the need is great. You can help bring Bibles to people in Africa by making a donation to Bible Society. If you’d like to help, you can make a donation using our secure form.

Make a donation now

The Bible translation roadmap

Inspired by the Great Commission, The United Bible Societies has the ambitious vision to complete 1,200 Bible Translations by 2038 which will make the Word of God accessible to 600 million People.
Learn More

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Inspired by the Great Commission, The United Bible Societies has the ambitious vision to complete 1,200 Bible Translations by 2038 which will make the Word of God accessible to 600 million People.

Learn more