Thanks to a Land Rover donated by the Bible Society fellowship, Bible workers in Georgia were able to reach the distant town of Zugdidi, in Central Samegrelo, and refugee camps where hundreds of Bibles brought joy to these poor people who have fled or had their homes destroyed because of violence. People who may never have seen a Bible in their lifetime have the opportunity to get and read their own copy In Belarus and in Russia, Bible distribution rose by 44 per cent and 7 per cent respectively over the previous year, with Russia distributing 312,187 Bibles and just under 200,000 Portions in 1998. Anatoly Rudenko, the Director of the Bible Society in Russia, was delighted when the Society was officially registered early in 1999. Now we can move forward with our work knowing we have the legal authority to do so, he said. The Society has been reaching many people through advertising on television.
People write in to obtain their copy of the Bible.
In this way, people who may never have seen a Bible in their lifetime have the opportunity to get and read their own copy, Mr Rudenko added. The most Bibles distributed by European Bible Societies in 1998 were in Germany, followed by Russia and then in England and Wales. Societies in Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland and Denmark registered significant increases over the previous year s figures. The distribution of Selections can boost a national Society s figures one year, and the following year its distribution appears to have fallen. It is a truly global effort, and there is great cause to praise God for the increases we see.