Annual Bible Society workshop underway

WINDHOEK, 16 MAY  – A three-day All Africa Bible Societies’ Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Board Chair’s Consultation Workshop, hosted by the Namibia Bible Society is underway in the capital.

The annual event, which commenced on Tuesday, aims at getting together all African Bible Societies in order to plan, strategise and unite in similar goals to enhance Bible Society work in Africa and across the world.

In an interview with Nampa on the first day of the workshop, CEO of the Namibia Bible Society, Barnie van der Walt said the workshop is also discussing how the bible can change the lives of people in Africa and the world at large.

“We, as part of the society, have the ability to change the lives of the Namibian people, but how can we help change the lives of people in Africa at large, and this is what we are strategising on during these workshops, among other factors,” said Van der Walt.

He mentioned literacy and the cost of bibles as some of the challenges the societies face in getting and distributing the bibles as they would like to.

“We would also like to discuss schemes on how we can get the bible to everyone, including marginalised people who are not able to read,” he said.

Van der Walt added that the societies use their different specialty initiatives to teach and exchange with one another.

“Namibia, for example, is a mentor in the trauma healing programme, gender-based violence reduction, while South Africa is well versed in technology, so information is exchanged this way.”

Thirty-nine out of 41 bible societies with about 100 delegates, including the Chairperson of the United Bible Society (UBS) Global Council, Efua Ghartey from Ghana, as well as UBS Director General Michael Perreau from Malaysia based in the United Kingdom, are attending the consultative workshop.

The gathering is taking place under the theme: Building Solid Foundations.
NAMPA