O-21 funding of around US$116,000 has been allocated to the Improving Scripture Production and Distribution project. This aims to supply Scriptures to seminary students, young people and children, to hold workshops at which people can be trained in Scripture distribution, to expand distribution to rural areas beyond Yangon, the capital, and to make better-quality biblical material available in larger quantities.

It has already been possible to purchase a second-hand van for use as a distribution vehicle, and Bible Society staff can now travel to rural areas when weather conditions allow. A visit has already been made by the Bible Society’s Distribution Secretary, the Rev James Min Dein, and some other Bible Society employees to Paletwa Township, in Chin State in southwestern Myanmar. This area is home to around 50,000 people from the Khumi ethnic group, of whom around 30,000 are Christian (the first Christian missionaries came to Chin State in the late 19th century – see World Report 344/22).

The Rev James Min Dein, Distribution Secretary of the Bible Society of Myanmar (right), hands a New Testament, produced with Opportunity 21 funds, to a man from the Asho ethnic group. The man promised to share the Word with both the Christians and non-Christians in his village. Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: BS Myanmar (MYA03DJ-1)

During a visit to Chin State in southwestern Myanmar, Bible Society of Myanmar staff members were able to share God’s Word with an elderly Christian woman and some children. Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: BS Myanmar (MYA03DJ-2)

Among the people the Bible Society staff came across in the villages they visited was an elderly Christian woman who had never had the opportunity to learn to read. They shared God’s Word with her through Bible comics produced as part of the O-21 project and she told them that her heart was “full of joy and peace” and that her faith had become “stronger and steadfast.” Although she could not make a financial contribution to the Bible Society’s work, she promised to pray “constantly and faithfully.”

Another encounter during the trip to Paletwa Township was with a man from the Asho ethnic group. Although already a Christian, this man admitted that he had not been reading the Bible and that his faith had not been part of his everyday life. The distribution team was able to give him a New Testament produced with O-21 funds and to share some verses from it with him. He said, “The word of God gave me light and transformed my life. Now I will share it with both the Christians and the non-Christians in my village when I return.” (WR 374/5 - 2.03) [PHOTOS]