'Blank Bible' Challenge Seeks to Revive U.S. Interest in Scripture
A new initiative this fall seeks to revive American interest in studying the Bible while connecting U.S. Christians to people who do not have the Scriptures in their native language.
The Seed Company, a division of Wycliffe Bible Translators, will launch the "Blank Bible Challenge" in October. Participating U.S. churches will receive daily devotions, including ones in video story-telling format, as well as detailed information about a specific people group that still needs the Bible translated into their heart language.
"Each year, 2.4 million people die without ever hearing the promises of God's Word; yet, here in America, many more seem to take having a Bible in their language for granted," remarked Roy Peterson, president of The Seed Company. "Our goal is to reinvigorate a love for the Bible nationally, so we can encourage churches to be connected with people groups internationally, which will enable us to translate the Scriptures into their heart language for the first time."
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As churches and individuals study more about the Bible and learn more about their chosen tribal group, The Seed Company hopes they will participate in its "One Verse" campaign. The campaign raises monthly sponsorships of $26 to provide resources needed for national translators to translate one verse of Scripture.
Small groups or families can expect to spend from 10 to 15 minutes a day studying the Bible through the Blank Bible Challenge.
Michael Currier, director of communications for The Seed Company, said a unique component of the initiative is the videos of biblical storytellers because most Christians are used to reading Scripture.
"[T]his is a different way to experience God's word because these biblical storytellers are going to tell – straight from Scripture – stories from Genesis through the birth of the early Church, every day in a really engaging way," Currier noted.
The videos are only about five minutes long each, and can be incorporated into the daily Bible study.
The challenge will officially begin on Oct. 3 and conclude on Oct. 31. The Seed Company says churches that are unable to participate in October are welcome to run the program at another time this year.
Already churches in 37 states and some in Canada have requested the free preview kit for the "Blank Bible Challenge."
On the Web: www.blankbible.org
