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March, 2010
Dear Prayer Supporter,
In the Old
Testament we find it a common practice of “building an altar to the
Lord.” Building an “altar” implies worship, adoration, surrender,
prayer and an attitude of “walking with God.” Whenever an altar was
built it signified something new. Noah built an altar (first time
mentioned in the Bible after the Flood). It signified a new beginning.
Abraham built regular altars whenever he went somewhere new in his
travels.
In 1 Samuel 14:35 we find that King Saul built an altar, but for
what reason? Why did Saul wait so long to build his first altar? Saul
was not in the habit of doing this, so when he built it, it was out of
need (to help undo a foolish decision) and not out of devotion.
I thank you who pray regularly for the work of the Bible Society as
your prayers are like “building altars” before the Lord. It is worship,
devotion and surrender.
Grace & Peace
Daniel Barreca,
Donor, Church & Volunteer Coordinator
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To download a PDF of this Prayer and News Update, click here
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Please join with the staff of Bible Society as together
we pray for the following projects and opportunities
during the month of March.
URGENT NEEDS FOR PRAYER
Peru - Devastating Floods—Pablo
Gutierrez, Program Director of the Peruvian Bible Society, has just
visited some of the communities in southern Peru affected by last
month's flooding and he said “In the face of all the needs, I just felt
so helpless.” These are the tragic statistics from Peru: 7,000 houses
and 40,000 hectares of cultivated fields have been destroyed and 13,000
families made homeless. He continues: “It is one thing to read the news
and to see the statistics, but another to see it all around you.”
Please pray for this devastated land that the rebuilding process brings
complete healing to all of these families.
WEEK ONE
South African Prisons
World Hope Ministries provides free Bibles through their Prison
Ministry in over 270 South African Prisons. Bible Society has
diligently supplied 25,000 Bibles to this vital ministry over the past
3 years. With a 20% increase each year, there are currently close to
26,000 offenders who are registered and studying with World Hope Prison
Ministries. Please continue to pray for this important work.
Jesus. All About Life (JAAL)
As an ongoing commitment to the
JAAL branding there are a number of activities being arranged this
year. The Royal Easter Show and City2Surf are two events where the JAAL
logo will continue to be used to place the name of Jesus in the
marketplace. Sabbath Sunday (to be held on the last Sunday in October)
is another event that will provide the churches with the resources to
make Bible study exciting again. It is our aim to have people within
churches reconnect with the Bible in meaningful, life changing way.
Please pray for JAAL that it may continue to place the name of Jesus
into the minds and hearts of people everywhere.
WEEK TWO
Egyptian Bookshops
Most Bible Society Bookshops in Egypt have an open Bible in the front
window of the shop, and each day the page is turned. In one shop in
Upper Egypt the page was turned to a section from the Sermon on the
Mount. The paragraph heading stated, "Don't Kill." An agitated man
walking past on his way to take revenge on the death of his 6 year old
son confronted the Bible Society staff and said “Who wrote those words?
How can he say such things? How are we supposed to do this?” They were
able to share with him the radical truths found in God's Word. The man
was impressed with this new teaching, and purchased a Bible for
himself. Immediately he opened his new Bible to see if these verses
were indeed in his copy as well. Continue to pray that God will use
these bookshops to bring people to know Him personally.
Scripture Grants: Hospitals
The following is a testimony from a Pastoral Care Worker in a Sydney hospital: “The
grants have helped us tremendously in the way of providing us with
Study Bibles. Also the leaflets that encourage the patient while in
hospital and other resources such as the Large Print Devotionals help
with those with any vision impairment. The Promises of Life and the
Daily Inspirational book we purchased is also very helpful for when we
have our private chapel time and sharing the Word. So thank you for all
involved in making the grant available to us without it we would not be
able to have purchased these valuable resources.”
WEEK THREE
South Pacific Bible Society
Many smaller Bible Societies need help to become effective in reaching
out to their respective communities. Bible Society is working with the
South Pacific Bible Society to help develop better structures,
strategies, policies and procedures so that they become more effective
in reaching their goals. The eventual aim is to have the smaller
Societies in a position where they can effectively manage and support
their own projects. Please pray for this new initiative.
Bible Friends
"You’d have thought we had given them gold! said Jackie. They thought they were the coolest present!"
These were the comments made after children received Bibles from their
SRE teacher. Bible Friends helps provide Bibles to children and adults
throughout the world. Please continue to pray for this regular giving
program that the number of supporters will increase so that more Bibles
can be provided both here in Australia and overseas.
WEEK FOUR
Austria
Having heard
about the Austrian Bible Society’s refugee work from other aid
organisations, refugees often turn up at the Bible Society Centre
asking for Bibles. With the number of refugees increasing within
Austria it has become a great opportunity to reach out to them.
Iranians are one group of people that are being reached. Please
continue to pray for this great work to continue so that many will come
to know Christ through the Bible.
Free Bibles in Public Schools
This year Bible Society has
10,000 free Bibles to give away to SRE teachers but already
applications for 20,000 Bibles have been received. The need is truly
great. These Bibles are given to Public Primary and Secondary Schools
throughout NSW and ACT. Please pray for wisdom in distributing these
Bibles and for the school children across the state that lives will be
changed for eternity through this program.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Inner West Showcases, March 16th to 20th
Jesus. All about life Luncheon 25th March
Your on-going prayer support for the Staff of Bible Society is greatly valued and appreciated. Also a number of
our supporters from time to time face health, financial and other family issues. Your regular pray for our
brothers and sister in Christ who are in need, both here in Australia and overseas, is both welcomed and valued.
Postal address: PO Box 375 North Ryde NSW 1670
Telephone: (02) 9888 6588
Email: info@biblesocietynsw.com.au
Bookshop Telephone: (02) 9262 6355
"And
the Lord appeared to Abram and said ‘To your descendants I will give
this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to
him."
(Gen 12: 7 NASB)
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