July is Bible Month in Aotearoa. Bible Society Group Chief Executive Officer Neels Janse van Rensburg, reflects on the work being undertaken.

This year, the Bible Society in New Zealand will mark a remarkable milestone -178 years of pivotal role in bringing and engaging people with the Bible in Aotearoa.

From the early days of translating the Bible into te reo Māori to contemporary initiatives of audio Bibles, completing the Tokelau translation, and supporting other translation initiatives globally that bridge the digital divide, the Bible Society has consistently adapted its approach to meet the ever evolving needs of New Zealanders.

As an organisation, the Bible Society has weathered many storms, We know that the message of the Bible will never change, but we understand how we engage with it has changed. As we celebrate a long and storied history of nurturing faith and enriching lives across the nation, we stand on the shoulders of giants of faith who have gone before us. We are grateful to every donor and prayer warrior who continues with us on this journey of helping make the Bible accessible and encouraging interaction with it.

Bible Society in New Zealand: A Historical Perspective

The Bible Society in New Zealand (BSNZ) is part of a global network of 158 Bible Societies known as the United Bible Society. We are committed to translating, publishing, distributing the Bible and encouraging engagement. Bible Society's origins trace back to the British and Foreign Bible Society, established in 1804 by a group including William Wilberforce, who also championed the abolition of slavery. This historical commitment to spreading the gospel is evident in BSNZ's ongoing projects and initiatives.

Key Achievements in 2023

The past year has been marked by significant achievements for the Bible Society in New Zealand, with a few key highlights below:

● Scripture Distribution: The Society gifted 75,779 scripture items, including full Bibles, New Testaments, and children’s resources.

● Community Outreach: Through Manna Christian Stores, BSNZ reached diverse communities, ensuring the Bible was accessible and encouraging meaningful interactions. Notably, 96,073 Bibles were sold, 4,618 of which were Māori Bibles and New Testaments.

● Digital Engagement: There were 5.2 million downloads of Bible Society Bibles globally, primarily through the YouVersion app, highlighting the increasing importance of digital formats in scripture dissemination.

Helping the Māori Community

One of BSNZ's key priorities and pivotal to our mission is supporting the Māori community. A priority has been translating and distributing the Bible in contemporary Māori. In the past year, 831 Māori Bibles, New Testaments, and resources, including Tāku Paipera, were gifted. This initiative ensures that Māori speakers have access to the Bible in their native language, fostering a deeper connection with the scripture.

 Community Stories: Impact on Lives

Manna Christian Stores, a vital part of BSNZ since 2017, have become centres for community support and spiritual encouragement. For example, in Hamilton, a young man new to faith was helped by staff and customers alike to find his first Bible, illustrating the supportive community fostered by these stores. Another story comes from Albany, where a customer with impaired vision was moved to tears upon receiving a giant-print NIV Bible. This story showcases the personal and emotional impact of the Society's work.

Global and Local Initiatives

In 2023, the Bible Society supported 49 global projects that stretched across translation, Bible distribution, trauma healing, women's and children’s programmes, and Bible literacy programmes, many of which are implemented in challenging Christian contexts. The impact of their work extends far beyond statistics. T

hrough the generosity of donors, despite challenging times, Bible Society provides Bibles and scripture portion grants to hospitals, prisons, and other institutions, offering hope for those in need. Their commitment to mental wellbeing is exemplified by recent initiatives such as Bibles specifically designed for the New Zealand Police Force, which is at its second print run, having granted 7000 already, and a particular Bible for the Order of St John, completed early this year. This thoughtful gesture equips officers and first responders with a source of strength and solace as they navigate the demanding realities of their work.

Embracing Technology for Wider Reach

Recognising the evolving landscape of faith engagement, the Bible Society has embraced innovative solutions to ensure scripture remains accessible and relevant. A cornerstone of this approach is the investment in digital platforms and partnerships. The partnership with YouVersion, a popular Bible app, has resulted in over 1.3 million Bible chapters delivered to devices within New Zealand in the past year. The collaboration with Right Now Media also provides small group and thematic video and digital content from renowned authors and speakers globally. This digital accessibility ensures that busy schedules and geographical remoteness don't become barriers to faith exploration. 

As the Bible Society looks towards the future, its commitment to Aotearoanremains resolute. It continues to foster partnerships with churches and Christian organisations nationwide, ensuring a collaborative approach to faith development. Its dedication to education goes beyond simply distributing Bibles. It continues to invest in developing and offering resources and programs, encouraging critical engagement with Scripture to achieve its goals of increasing Bible engagement and literacy and addressing Bible poverty.

Visit the Bible Society in New Zealand website for more information.

www.biblesociety.org.nz

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