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Index:

• Message from our CEO

• To read the whole magazine, click on the cover image to download a PDF version

  To read previous issues of Bibles@Work - CLICK here

Dear friends,

With the Christmas season almost will be refreshed with the wonder of His first coming amongst us. This issue of Bibles@work is packed with information about the events of the past few months and exciting accounts of what God is doing around the world through the power of His Word.

At the end of June we were able to give thanks to God for His gracious provision to us during the past year. Whilst we did not reach our target, we nonetheless contributed significantly to the work here in Australia and across the world. A more detailed report showing where your funds have been used is included on pages 6-7.

In October we had our first Information Week where the work of Bible Society was showcased. One of the events coincided with our Annual General Meeting where we presented our Annual Report. If you would like a copy, please contact the office. We are so grateful to God for those who have served on our General and Executive Committees over the past year and we welcome those who have been elected to assist us with our governance and direction for the coming year.

Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner was held on 4 November. Morgan Jackson, from Faith Comes By Hearing updated us on the exciting opportunities available to bring Gods Word, in recorded format, to the oral communities around the world.

There are many more developments taking place in this marvellous work and we will be sharing these with you as new resources are produced and released. This is indeed an exciting time to be part of Gods work. Thank you for your prayers and support without which we would not be where we are today.

Projects update

Ever since 1817, Bible Society has been involved in this wonderful work of making the Bible available to a needy world. Over all these years our priorities have remained the same. First, we distribute Scriptures in New South Wales and then to Australias indigenous people, as well as meeting other needs around Australia. We then endeavour to assist in the work of distributing Gods Word around the world.

Through the 2004-2005 financial year God has richly blessed our work with the lavish support of our donors. All up, we have contributed $3.223 million to Bible work around Australia and overseas. Among the projects at home was the distribution of Scriptures to chaplains of hospitals, emergency services, prisons, theological colleges and seafarers. We have given away Bibles in different languages and formats, New Testaments, Scripture portions and tracts. Gods Word was made freely available to Westmead Childrens and St. Vincents hospitals and Silverwater and Long Bay gaols. Overseas, we provided more than $500,000 in Bible distribution and literacy work through Africa and elsewhere throughout the world. In South Africa we have given more than 3,000 Bibles to prisoners who have committed their lives to God. We are committed to distributing 7,000 Bibles a year there for the next 3 years. In addition to the raising of funds and Bible distribution, we have been busy forming key partnerships with other Christian organisations to enable us to more effectively carry out our vital work. These include African Enterprise, Logosdor, Challenge Ministries, Global Aid Network and the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute. As we look back over another exciting and challenging year we yet again recognise the responsibility that our Lord has given us. We are thankful for this task and humbled by the size and significance of it. Our work would be nothing without our wonderful supporters. So we offer them our deepest gratitude and give all praise to God, for how He continues to so richly bless this work.