An Ecumenical Success for Bibles
14 February 2009
You might remember, last month, cliftondiocese.com reported on Bristol parishioner Judy Gunthorpe’s inspired appeal to collect Bibles for people in Africa. You might have even contributed to that great effort. Now Mike Rowe picks up the story and tells what has happened to those Bibles.
For the last few weeks, my wife and I have been living a rather ‘Biblical life’ as every flat surface in our bungalow seemed to be occupied by Bibles of all sizes as well as devotional and theological books. We have also driven many miles collecting from various places. I thought that I knew quite a bit about Bible translations - but modern translations which were totally new to me came in large numbers as well as a number of French translations.
In December I appealed for Bibles and other Christian books for Book Aid. Those who responded were generous and I was able to take around 700 kilos of books down to the collection point, the Christian Resources Exhibition in Exeter. At a guess I would say we delivered around 1200 books. I could not fit anymore in my Zafira!
The Clifton Diocese appeal really helped. Judy Gunthorpe had her imagination well and truly caught by my appeal and promptly organised a collection not only in Catholic parishes but also other churches local to her. BBC Bristol also covered her enthusiastic activity. Her collection was by far the greatest input to the final total.
Apart from those through Catholic and Anglican sources, there were also boxes from Methodist and Baptist communities.
Book Aid was set up to send Bibles and other religious books to Africa where books are both scarce and expensive. Books that are suitable to send - others are sold in UK Book Aid shops to help with expenses - are made up into 20 foot container loads and shipped to Africa. African booksellers buy the container load at a very reasonable price, transport the contents to their shops and will then sell them on to individuals at affordable prices. Something that you buy tends to be valued more than that which you are given! If new books came in at normal European or American prices then these would be, quite simply, unaffordable. The charity is run by unsalaried staff and volunteers.
My thanks to all who contributed and especially to Judy Gunthorpe who really put her heart and soul into this ecumenical cooperative effort in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Bibles and other books continue to be offered and I will be very happy to receive these, ready for the next effort!
Mike Rowe
You might remember, last month, cliftondiocese.com reported on Bristol parishioner Judy Gunthorpe’s inspired appeal to collect Bibles for people in Africa. You might have even contributed to that great effort. Now Mike Rowe picks up the story and tells what has happened to those Bibles.
For the last few weeks, my wife and I have been living a rather ‘Biblical life’ as every flat surface in our bungalow seemed to be occupied by Bibles of all sizes as well as devotional and theological books. We have also driven many miles collecting from various places. I thought that I knew quite a bit about Bible translations - but modern translations which were totally new to me came in large numbers as well as a number of French translations.
In December I appealed for Bibles and other Christian books for Book Aid. Those who responded were generous and I was able to take around 700 kilos of books down to the collection point, the Christian Resources Exhibition in Exeter. At a guess I would say we delivered around 1200 books. I could not fit anymore in my Zafira!
The Clifton Diocese appeal really helped. Judy Gunthorpe had her imagination well and truly caught by my appeal and promptly organised a collection not only in Catholic parishes but also other churches local to her. BBC Bristol also covered her enthusiastic activity. Her collection was by far the greatest input to the final total.
Apart from those through Catholic and Anglican sources, there were also boxes from Methodist and Baptist communities.
Book Aid was set up to send Bibles and other religious books to Africa where books are both scarce and expensive. Books that are suitable to send - others are sold in UK Book Aid shops to help with expenses - are made up into 20 foot container loads and shipped to Africa. African booksellers buy the container load at a very reasonable price, transport the contents to their shops and will then sell them on to individuals at affordable prices. Something that you buy tends to be valued more than that which you are given! If new books came in at normal European or American prices then these would be, quite simply, unaffordable. The charity is run by unsalaried staff and volunteers.
My thanks to all who contributed and especially to Judy Gunthorpe who really put her heart and soul into this ecumenical cooperative effort in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Bibles and other books continue to be offered and I will be very happy to receive these, ready for the next effort!
Mike Rowe
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