Bible Society seeks public support to enhance obligation
The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has appealed for public support to enhance its obligation to the Nigerian society.
BSN’s General Secretary, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, made the appeal when he led the BSN management team on a courtesy visit to the Newsmen office in Lagos on Tuesday.
It was reported that BSN has the obligation to produce, translate and distribute the Holy Bible to the public to support spiritual life.
Sanusi said that the society for years has been on a rented apartment and needed a befitting Bible House in order to enhance its work.
He listed some of the challenges of the body to include logistics, financial constrain, dearth of translators and high exchange rate.
According to him, not less than N80 million has been expended to translate the bible into a particular local language in five years.
“We have the obligation to make the bible available to those that cannot afford it, such as those in prisons, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and even students.
“Any bible you see us give out free, somebody paid for it by way of grants and contributions. However, such grants and contributions are getting low daily, making our services to the public reduce.
“So, N2.5 billion can go a long way to build the bible house; if churches and the multitude of worshipers can contribute N1, 000 per person, the building project will be a reality.
“Our bible projects and translations are helping to preserve local languages by translating the Holy Book into core dialects and help people to know more of their culture.
“We produce bible compact disc (CDs) that persons with visual and hearing impairment use and they get uplifted socially and spiritually,’’ he told Newsmen.
Sanusi who frowned that the body was getting enough support from faith-based organisations, said that reading of the Holy Book helps to reform people.
He added that it was the philosophy of the organisation to ensure that Bible was made available to all at subsidised rate.
He, therefore, said that support was needed to encourage it.
In his remarks, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, Head of NAN Lagos office, said that the work of the BSN was mostly needed in the society, especially at this moment the Federal Government was fighting corruption.
Sheyin said that BSN programmes should be tailored toward helping people internalise the teachings of the scripture and aid them to be good persons.
He also pledged NAN’s support to the organisation.
