Affordable Bibles for our neighbouring countries

Over the past number of years, the Bible Society of South Africa (BSSA) has helped to provide Bibles to our neighbouring countries, namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.

A strong bond exists between the BSSA and these Bible Societies as these organisations all work hard to promote the Bible cause in their respective countries. This bond has further been strengthened through the fact that some of our languages are also spoken in these countries: Afrikaans in Namibia, Sesotho in Lesotho, Setswana in Botswana and Siswati in Eswatini.

The Bible Societies in our neighbouring countries are struggling at present. Bibles in these cross-border languages are made available to Bible Societies in our neighbouring countries as reasonably priced as possible. In this way, we are able to help them to provide Bibles to their people at affordable prices and ensure that the Bible is accessible to them.

With the support of Bible-a-Month Club members, the BSSA had been able to provide 6 844 complete Bibles in six different languages and 11 translations to our neighbouring countries in 2021. In this manner, we have been able to help them with our shared vision of providing Bibles for everyone.

Pray for:

• the Bible Societies in neighbouring countries
• sufficient Bibles to provide for their needs
• every person who receives a Bible in these countries.

The Bible brings hope behind bars

Zenzo Matokazi is a prisoner at Leeuwkop maximum security prison and got to know God through ministry work done among the prisoners.

Zenzo said, “Without the Word of God, I would be lost. It constantly reminds me of what I should be doing and it comforts and encourages me. Formerly, my life was empty and I did not know what my purpose in life was, but now I know. I did not believe in anything, just in myself. After becoming a child of God, I became content thanks to the good news of Jesus Christ. I know the truth and strive to live according to the Word of God in whichever way possible so that I do not stumble.”

Through its project, Bibles for prisoners, the Bible Society has helped to provide Bibles to people like Zenzo for many years already. The Department of Correctional Services’ Spiritual Care directorate and other organisations that focus on prison ministry follow a rehabilitation programme that focuses on the specific needs of the prisoners and the Bible is an integral part of the programme.

A prisoner receives a Bible, among other things, for use in individual pastoral or group sessions as well as for church services.

The Bibles that are made available to the prisoners annually, is just a drop in the ocean, but it is still necessary, because the message of the Bible can help to change lives. The Bible contributes to the rehabilitation process and encourages prisoners to live a crime-free life once they have served their sentences. 

Pray for:

• every prisoner that will receive a Bible of his/her own thanks to Bible-a-Month contributions
• sufficient funds so that Bibles can be made available to prisoners
• all the spiritual workers that help with the rehabilitation of prisoners.