By Verna Francis\Gilbert Weeh
The excitement was mounting, as the 12 by 18 inches multi-lingual Bible, which began its global journey in the Philippines (2008) in response to the GC initiative "Follow the bible", was expected to arrive on the African continent for the first time. The plane carrying this treasure would touch down at the INTERNATIONAL airport in the Ivory Coast, on January 20, 2010, and be delivered to the president of the West-Central Africa Division, Dr. Gilbert Wari.
By God's grace the time arrived, and though late in the evening there was a small but impressive reception at the airport which included the local press, workers of the Division office, the local Mission and an honor guard of Pathfinders in Uniform.
At the press conference, elder Ferreira and his accompanying colleagues from the IAD expressed gratitude to God for the safe arrival of the Bible on African soil. He then officially presented the Bible to pastor Wari, the WAD president, who received it with delight on behalf of all Africa and in particular the West-Central Africa region.
The Follow the Bible caravan would travel throughout the division territory in this order: Abidjan, the headquarters of the Division office; then to Ghana Union Conference, in Ghana, followed by West Africa Union Mission, in Liberia; to Sahel Union Mission in Togo, to the North Western Nigeria Union Mission in Nigeria; then to the East Nigeria Union Mission in Aba, and finally to Central Africa Union Mission in Douala, Cameroon.
The 1st activity to highlight this awesome event took place on January 21 at the "Cultural centre in Abidjan, where over 2000 participants including a representative of the head of state, other government officials; Religious leaders from several Christian denominations, Muslims, Bible society representatives, and many of the general public received the Bible amid scenes of pageantry and joyful singing and dancing.
Speaker after speaker, in a program that was designed to highlight the importance of the bible, stressed that God in His mercy and wisdom saw it fit to bring the Bible to Ivory Coast before the forthcoming elections, as a sign of good will and reconciliation. President Wari emphasized the point that for most African countries who are celebrating 50 years of Independence, this was a fitting commencement of the Jubilee year; also a poignant message that we should all begin anew with God.
A remarkable feature of this program was the repeating of Psalms 34 by a 4 year old girl and her 7 year old brother and Psalms 91 by a uniformed Pathfinder.
The Multilingual Bible was proudly read by the head of state representative who also made some positive comments about the church and its work. To climax this proud moment in the life of the SDA church in the Ivory Coast, special Bibles were presented to all government officials, and religious leaders in attendance, and over 2000 other Bibles to members of the general public with a Reading Guide to encourage them to follow the daily Bible-reading plan.
After the meetings in the Lome Cultural Centre; Cotonou, and Benin, Pastor Guy Roger the Union President handed the Bible to Dr. Joseph Ola, President of North-West Nigeria Union Mission at Badagri border, between Nigeria and Benin. This handover rein acted the entrance of the first bible into Nigeria, several years ago through the Seme border. The king of Badagri had the privilege of receiving this world wide traveling Bible, amidst much jubilation from his people and the Adventists alike. Many were encouraged to read the Bible daily and gain victories in their lives.
Successive programs were held at the Babcock University, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano and especially in Akure where the Adventists were dressed in T- Shirts specially designed for the occasion.
Ghana Union Conference
The following day the Follow the Bible Caravan rolled on to Ghana, and was met at the airport by the leadership of the Ghana Union Conference. The Bible was transported in a specially painted vehicle with the Follow the Bible Logo. The Bible traveled to the seven fields, and the Valley View University during its seven-day stay in Ghana. Significantly it was presented to the SDA church in Ghana at the Labonee Church and school compound, where the main feature was the beginning and continuation of a Bible-Reading Marathon. Genesis Chapter 1 was read by the WAD representative and was followed by Union officials and others who were specially assigned. Among the readers were the mayor of Accra, the Clerk of the Parliament of Ghana, and a traditional ruler of the community.
The reading was broadcasted to the community by a powerful public address system which alerted all passersby that the Word of God was being read. Individuals walked off the street and read portions of this Good Book. This was done in a systematic fashion, and by the following Wednesday all 66 books and 1,189 chapters of this powerful book was read by a great number of the Ghanain population.
The multi-lingual bible was also presented to the President of the Republic of Ghana, President Atta Mills at the Castle who in an act of reverence kissed the holy book and was quick to declare his commitment to God and his leading. He said: "The Bible has come to the seat of Government and I am sure it will leave its Holy presence here". He further stated that we should indeed follow the teachings of the Bible, while at same time he chided some churches for preaching the "prosperity gospel" which is not found in the bible.
Before the end of its sojourn in Ghana, the bible was presented to the Assemblies of God church as a symbol to all Christians who worship on Sunday; and to the King of Ashanti, Asantehene Otumfumo Osei Tutu 11. Over 5,000 copies of the life changing book with the bible reading plan were given to members of parliament and the general public. The parliamentarians also received a copy each of this quarter's Bible study guide which is a treatise of the Fruit of the Spirit.
WAUM
The Multilingual Bible Caravan rolled on to Monrovia Liberia on Sunday the 31st of January. While in Liberia it not only visited the capital but three of its counties. On Monday the formal hand over from GUC to WAUM was made before National TV cameras, and screened the same night. This triggered a resident BBC correspondent to join the Bible parade along its 4 km route from the Liberia Mission officers' residence to the Paynesville SDA church where members of the public, religious leaders and Seventh-day Adventists had gathered to celebrate the importance of the bible in their lives. During the ceremony a UN Army Officer was elated when given the opportunity to read the Bible in his own language in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home.
One expatriate from the Philippines stopped the parade to see the Bible which had his language in it. He was happy to see, touch, and read it. Not only were the happenings reported live by the BBC, and rebroadcasted in their newscast, but the correspondent's reports were carried on the BBC 'Focus on Africa' program.
Over 2,500 bibles and 6,000 tracts were distributed while the unique bible was in Liberia.
From WAUM the Bible went to Lome, Togo in the Sahel Union Mission. Finally the Special Bible arrived at the Seme border on February 14, it was a unique celebration as the President of the Sahel Union, Guy Roger, accompanied by his wife in a solemn but heart moving ceremony, handed over the Bible to Pastor Joseph Ola, President of North-Western Nigeria Union Mission, who told the audience that the arrival of the Bible on Nigeria soil was a sign of lasting peace, unity and progress.
From the Seme border, the Bible travelled to Oba at Badagry's palace, where the band boys made up of Adventist Youths, performed; and the women's choir rendered soul lifting songs. It was a historic event because the first Bible entered Nigeria years ago through Badagry; now the king of Badagry had the special privilege of receiving this world wide traveling Bible, in 2010. Successive programs were held at Kaduna, Babcock University, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano and especially in Akure where the Adventist dressed in 'T' Shirt that were specially designed for the occasion. This act encouraged the people to read the Bible daily and gain victory in their lives. Members at the North Western Nigeria Union observed that the Follow the Bible program has not only served as a gate opener to public and personal evangelism, but would go a long way in popularizing the church in Nigeria.
ENUM
The reception of the 66 language Bible entered and traversed the territory of the East Nigeria Union Mission in a procession with much fanfare, colorful pageantry and all protocol observed, despite the initial concerns about its security.
Bibles and Bible-reading plans were given out, before it was taken by motorcade to the union Headquarters at Aba.
Beginning with the Union headquarters in Aba, it moved to five fields with similar processions and programs, filled with much color, and dancing. Church and government officials plus the general population were on hand at each stop.
In Akwa-Ibom State, the president of CAN - the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Bassey, was elated to have the Bible visit his office. He commended the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its good work in reaching the world with the Word of God in many languages - the first of its kind. He read the Bible in Pidgin English from John 14:1-6. In his remarks, the Bishop beckoned the SDA Church to join hands with CAN (being a Christian body), in the work of promulgating the gospel. He regretted some wrong views many other Christians have about the SDA Church because of Saturday worship. He said the SDA Church is correct biblically in choosing Saturday as a day of worship; however, he still supported Sunday to be equally right, he said, if Christians agreed to choose that day for worship as well.
As a regular viewer of the Hope Channel TV Station, Bishop Bassey expressed a delight in the way the SDA Church is helping the world to follow correct hermeneutics, and at the same time advised the delegation on the importance of the SDA Church coming close to other Christian bodies so as to appreciate some of their views, as well.
The Bishop promised to donate a token of one thousand dollars to the Conference as an expression of his appreciation for the Follow the Bible initiative.
At a rally in the Rivers conference one Bishop Arthur Nwafor, the Director of Missions in the Transatlantic Group of churches said that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has always been number one; the foundation of what he is today, having gone through the church and her educational institutions. He further acknowledged that as a Chaplain in the Government House he makes good use of the Sabbath-School Study Guides. He also thanked the church for this remarkable program.
CAUM
The Bible was received in CAUM with much rejoicing as in the other 5 Unions. After a grand reception at Douala, It was welcomed in East Cameroon Mission and in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad. It had its last stop in the Central Africa Union Mission in Yaoundé where the church members and the public paraded from the stadium to the main SDA church in Yaoundé where Government officials and Religious leaders welcomed it. The program coincided with the Women's International Day of Prayer and was broadcasted on several Radio stations,.
The over 2000 persons in attendance, heard the importance of reading the Bible through a dramatic sketch, which was directly transmitted by the "It is Written" program of Yaoundé; and covered by 5 television stations, 10 Radio stations; and 6 Local News papers.
A Grand Youth parade with fanfare preceded the special carrying of the Bible which was followed by Church officials wearing T-shirts specially designed for the occasion. This parade attracted many bystanders, who could read the message clearly encouraging them to "Follow the Bible".
More than 1000 Bible were distributed, and thousands of magazines given to the public. Pastor Wari closed the program on a solemn note sharing his conversion experience, and pointing out the relevance of the Bible today.
Across the division territory the SDA church in West Central Africa is not sufficiently known, however as a result of this Follow the Bible initiative, the church has been made more visible, and its respect has risen in the eyes of many governments and their leadership. In addition many more favors are being granted. A case in point is the reaction of the leadership at the Cocody University in Abidjan where over 2000 Bibles were given to students and faculty. After that event the authorities signed a document so that the church could be leased a parcel of land to build a church for the almost 50 SDA members at the campus.
Most important is the massive return of our members and people to the reading of the bible, the primary aim of the program. Sabbath School lesson study has increased; and we praise God for this inspired initiative.
In all, about 25,000 Bibles were distributed and we believe that the reading of those Bibles will bring about the revival and reformation that are badly needed for the close of the harvest and the soon return of Jesus to take us home.
The WAD President, Pastor Gilbert Wari, with a delegation accompanied the Bible on its way to the East Central Africa Division.