eNews April 2016
In this issue:
- A ‘New’ Bible for New Times
- Join us in prayer
- LPA CEO Gillean Smiley writes…
A ‘New’ Bible for New Times
It’s all change in Myanmar!
In Myanmar (Burma) the first freely elected parliament for 50 years has held its opening session.
It is an exciting Hopes are high. New government. New democracy…
For Christians this season of new beginnings holds the prospect of a new Study version of the Burmese Bible due in just over a year’s time!
It was surely no coincidence when Jacob Mung (above), the publisher and founder of Christian Literature Crusade (CLC) Myanmar, felt prompted around five years ago to start commissioning it…
Since 2015, Langham Literature’s Publisher Development Programme has partnered with CLC in financial support for the costly final editorial and formatting stages.
Imagine wanting to read the Bible, but the only version available is in unfamiliar, outdated language. You have no additional helps whatsoever. Not a single cross-reference in the text. Not a footnote. Not a sentence of introduction. Just the biblical text. In old
Unless you are in a Christian family, or can find someone to sit with you and explain the text, it would be hard to understand what you are reading. You may give up reading it altogether.
That’s how it is for Burmese Christians. Their most widely-used Bible was translated by Adoniram Judson from Greek and Hebrew almost 200 years ago! It is much loved; but its language needs correcting or updating. Reading it is especially difficult for new believers.
Many Burmese words have obscure meanings unless you know ancient Pali language. In the new Study Bible, spellings and vocabulary have been updated to reflect the latest knowledge. Also, study notes and explanatory ‘helps’ have been written for Burmese people today, and especially to help readers with little or no Christian background.
Jacob recently had to travel to Korea for treatment of a heart condition. It seemed uncertain whether he would ever be able to return to Myanmar. His overriding concern became that God provide someone who could complete the Study Bible project. God answered: Jacob Mung and his family are well and back in Myanmar!
The original Judson Bible was miraculously preserved. It went on to bless the church in Myanmar, and the church grew.
What a privilege to be part of bringing this newly updated and Study version to the Burmese people at this time.
Remember Myanmar: new government, new democracy … new Study Bible!
By Colin MacPherson, Director of Publisher Development, Langham Literature
Join us in prayer
PREACHING
- Steve Williams, recently appointed Coordinator for Langham Preaching in the South West Pacific, asks us to pray for a visit he is making to Papua New Guinea at the end of this month, with Tim Johnson (a Minister from Melbourne) who is the Facilitator for Langham Preaching in PNG. Pray that they will have good connections with all the relevant people while they are there and that the necessary planning will go ahead so that a successful training event may be held later in the year.
- In early May, the Global Leadership Team for Preaching will meet in Antalya, Turkey for their annual gathering. Please pray for an excellent time of sharing, planning and refreshment.
LITERATURE
- The College Library Grant Program is in full swing with many books being dispatched to member colleges across the world. Please pray for the safe delivery of these precious resources.
- On 28 April, a book launch will be held in Oxford (UK) of the Langham title “Thinking Biblically about Islam” by Ida Glaser. Please pray for the effective use of this significant resource.
SCHOLARS
- Pray for Anwar Berhe and his family (from Ethiopia) as Anwar studies at Melbourne School of Theology and battles a chronic illness.
- Please pray for the Langham Scholar selection committees that are meeting this month. Pray that they will have wisdom and insight as they select the leaders for future training and support who will have the most strategic and significant ministries in their own countries.
Langham Australia CEO Gillean Smiley writes…
Our Scholars are remarkable people. In addition to their Christian leadership in their home countries, and the fact that 44% of them have written the first ever book in their national language and context for Bible Study, pastoring, theology or ethics, we also know that 22% of them have had a role in advising their governments or are on national Boards and committees. In a development that is little short of miraculous, we recently learned that the husband of one of our Scholars has been appointed Vice President in a country that has systematically persecuted Christians since the arrival of Christianity just over 200 years ago. (See story above. We would rather not publish names due to the sensitivity of the region). Praise God that He is still placing His people into critical positions of leadership and influence, even in a hostile culture. Note: our much loved Pakistani scholar has been supporting the Christians of Lahore after the recent tragic attack on Christians celebrating Easter in a park. He and his family are shaken but unharmed.
Also, as Mother’s Day is almost on us, please consider blessing the mothers of Indonesia and/or Madagascar, by giving a Gift Card to your loved one that will help place an Africa Bible Commentary in the hands of a Madagascan pastor, or will sponsor the training of an Indonesian pastor to preach clearly, faithfully and relevantly from God’s Word. Orders can be placed online at Langham.org.
Gillean
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