Bibles and Scripture booklets will be available to athletes in the Olympic village in Beijing this summer, despite rumours that Bibles would be banned at the games.
In a major breakthrough, Chinese authorities have given the go-ahead for the printing and distribution of:
- 50,000 booklets with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in Chinese and English
- 10,000 Chinese-English Bibles
- 30,000 Chinese-English New Testaments
The Beijing Olympic organising committee has even, for the first time, allowed its logo to be used free of charge on the Gospel portions.
The announcement follows controversy earlier this year over whether the Chinese authorities would allow Bibles to be made available at the Olympics.
James Catford, Chief Executive of Bible Society, said, ‘This is a major and exciting opportunity. We are privileged to be able to support the Church in China in the publishing of these Bibles and Scriptures during the Beijing Olympics.’
The booklets will be available to some 16,000 athletes and officials in the Olympic villages in Beijing and five other cities that are hosting events during the summer.
Other developments:
- Places of worship have been set up within the Olympic village to provide religious services to athletes.
- The Church in Beijing has been asked to provide people to staff the chapel and conduct worship services and prayers.
Please share this news with your church and friends – and please pray:
- Thank God for this unique opportunity to make the Bible available in a country where, only 40 years ago, the Bible was banned.
- Pray that people from across the world would encounter the Bible’s life-changing message through the Scriptures available at the Olympics.
- Pray for those staffing the Olympic village chapel, that they would be powerful witnesses for God’s embracing love.
- Pray for the Bible Society staff who have been working hard to create this opportunity, for continued energy, creativity and passion in their work.
To supporting the printing of Scriptures at the Olympics, visit Bible Society
A gift of:
- £6 helps pay for the paper for 10 affordably-priced Bibles to be printed in China
- £30 provides 50 Bibles
- £350 buys enough paper for 600 Bibles
Thank you.
Bible Society exists to make the Bible heard. We aim to show how the Bible connects with life. We make Scriptures available where there are none. We work with the Church to help it live out the Bible’s message. We do this because Bible poverty is real. And fighting it matters.
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Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, July/August 2008
