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Bible Society New Zealand has just given 5,000 specially designed Bibles to the chaplaincy service of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). For the first time ever, the Bibles were individually tailored to members of New Zealand’s Airforce, Navy and Army. Each of the three different editions of the NZDF Bible includes messages from the Governor General and the Principal Defence Force Chaplain Ants Hawes, along with NZDF photographs, the National Anthem and the relevant prayer for each of the Forces. The majority of the Bibles will be given to new NZDF recruits who can choose to attest on the Bible at their swearing in ceremony. “They are then asked if they would like to keep the Bible,” Ants Hawes says.

More than 65,000 Kiwi kids and their families were reached with a seriously surprising Easter story Bible Society’s colourful little booklet, The Seriously Surprising Story has been positively received by tens of thousands of Kiwi families this Easter through churches, in Salvation Army Family Stores and schools. “I know our students will enjoy reading The Seriously Surprising Story books that were received last week,”  said one Catholic School Principal. Bible Society published The Seriously Surprising Story to reach the many Kiwi kids who do not know about Jesus or know the real meaning of Easter. The booklet encourages children to engage with the biblical story of Easter as they read about the journey of Jesus’ followers from Jerusalem to Emmaus. On the road, Jesus’ followers meet a stranger and tell him about some of the amazing the miracles Jesus performed. The children will be surprised to learn that Jesus himself is the stranger! Bible Society New Zealand would not have been able to bring The Seriously Surprising Story to Kiwi kids this Easter without the generosity of its supporters and donations. You can still order copies of The Seriously Surprising Story on Bible Society’s website.

This is the remarkable story of penniless, homeless war veteran, who buys a Bible that someone found in a trash can and has his life turned around. Suddenly he discovers hope. He reads and studies the Bible daily praying to God while sitting on his piece of cardboard on the pavement. God answers his prayers and he finds a home. By Arun Sok Nhep, United Bible Societies Team Leader, Asia Pacific As I was walking across Vientiane’s market (Laos) after dinner, I noticed a man sitting on the street who appeared to be homeless. I was intrigued as he didn’t seem to be begging but was intensely reading a book and taking notes. Curious, I approached him and immediately recognised the Revised Lao Bible we published in 2012. Even more intrigued, I asked him where this Bible came from and he told me he had purchased it from someone who had found it in the trash.

The arrival of Catholic Poqomchí Bible represents hope in Guatemala, a country battling poverty and drug related violence. For the country’s 70,000 Poqomchí people, more than half of whom are Catholic, it could be life-transforming.  Vilma de Cojoc, leader of the town’s Catholic community, summed it up, “Without the Bible – the Word of God – life is impossible” More than 2,500 people attended the launch of the Bible, some having travelled for hours along dirt roads from the mountains of the Sierra de Chamá eager to welcome the Bible in their language. Resonates with Catholic traditions Emilio Morán, a catechist in a church in Quiché, was delighted when his church received copies of the new Catholic Bible. “How exciting to have the Bible in the language of our grandparents, who taught us our culture,” he said. “Now we will hear the Lord’s voice in the language we speak and understand.”

An order of Dominican nuns in Iraq, committed to living and preaching the Gospel amidst the horrors of war, are determined to stay. “We will not leave our people. Wherever they go, we will go,” says Sister Huda who is 66 years-old. She, along with other remaining sisters, is serving 200 children, most of whom are from Mosel. Bible Translation Work The Dominican Nuns also partner with Bible Society Iraq to facilitate Bible Translation work. Bible Society Iraq CEO Nabil Omeish explained the two groups have been working together for 30 years on the Bahdini (Kurdish language) New Testament Bible translation and are also working on the Old Testament. Sister Huda recalled the sufferings they have experienced, and the hope and faith that sustained them.