Bible Society of Kenya held her 50th National Annual General Meeting on March 27th virtually on zoom.

This was a special meeting as the society marked its 50th AGM. We thank God for his goodness as we celebrate our heritage throughout all these years and for the lives that have been

transformed formed through the work of BSK. Looking back, we have a lot to thank God for.

The event was graced by members from different branches including; Machakos, Bungoma, Kericho, Nairobi, Kakamega, Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru, Kiambu and Nyeri who turned up to attend the event.

- 1 - AGM Screen shot General Secretary Mrs. Muriuki cuts a cake to commemorate the 50th AGM celebrations.

NewsLetter March 2021

Celebrating 50th AGM

» Equipped future church leaders in theological colleges / universities with Scholarly Scriptures.» Served the visually impaired through Braille Bible distribution

In March 2021, various branches held their AGMs before the main AGM. Members interacted and reviewed activities of the previous years and discussed plans for 2021. They were optimistic that despite the challenges occasioned by COVID-19, the branches would continue to support the BSK mission through carrying out activities that will enhance the Society’s awareness, implement programmes and mobi-lize resources for Bible work.

The General Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth Muriuki appreciated all members, Board, Partners and Staff for their contribution to the growth of the Society and bringing a positive impact to people’s lives through the spreading of God’s Word. She also honoured all the staff who had served Bible Society of Kenya for five years and above thanking them for their contribution to the Society.

A cake was cut in celebration of this great milestone. To God be the glory.

Kisau welcomed the new Council members noting that they will steer the ministry of BSK to greater heights. He added that as more Christians join the lively team of members, they will collectively impact the community positively through God’s word.

The outgoing caretaker Board Chairman Dr. Timothy Kiruhi lauded all the members for their immense contribution to the success of the Bible Society of Kenya work. He noted that each member is a representative of BSK wherever they are hence they are highly valued. He encouraged them to continue participating in BSK activities and to recruit more members so that the family of BSK can continue to grow and influence the generations to come. Dr. Kiruhi highlighted some of the key achievements of the Society in the last 50 years as follows

» Translated and launched the Bible in 17 languages and revised 3 translations.» Distributed over 10 million Bibles in 20 languages» Reached 100s of thousands through audio Bibles

The National Annual General Meeting is an annual forum for BSK registered members where they come to interact, receive reports of performance for the previous year, elect new Board members and get projections on the upcoming plans for the year.

The Guest speaker for the day was Mrs. Jemima Chiruyi from International Christian Center. She spoke on this year’s theme “Be still and know that I am God” from Psalm 46:10. She noted that God reminds us to be still and know that He is in charge. She reiterated that God is sovereign over every situation and the entire universe. He wants us to surrender everything to Him and to trust in him fully. The gathering was encouraged to take all their cares and worries to the Lord in prayer even in these unprecedented times that we are living in.

New Council members were elected to join the dynamic team that steers the mission of the Bible Society of Kenya to greater heights. The Chairman Prof. Mumo

- 2 -Kakamega branch AGM

When a dark cloud is lifted and a glimmer of hope blinks in childrens' lives, they cannot hide it.

It was a joyous one week of distributing Bibles to some of the most impoverished children in Trans Nzoia and Kitui Counties. From 15th to19th March 2021, the Bible Society of Kenya distributed Bibles to 20 marginalized schools in the two Counties and the joy exhibited by the children was immense.

Some of these schools host children from poor families while others reside in slum areas and scheme settlement areas.

For some, their parents do not recognize the importance of education. As such, they will only allow their children to go to school on some days of the week and the rest? Stay home and take care of the younger ones.

In the process, some girls end up pregnant as early as 12 years and they must pause their studies and wait for a later date to get back to school. Worse still, the children may drop out of school for some time to hunt for jobs. They do this to support their parents and get food on the table because they have a hand-to-mouth kind of existence.

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How does such a parent think about a Bible for her child? The church is barely talked about! The BSK team took time to share words of life, hope, and purpose with these children and crowned the distribution with prayers.

It is such a privilege to be a blessing to such children at such a time as this! We are so grateful for our partners in this mission!

Here are some testimonies as shared

I am happy to receive a Bible today. I will read it when going to Church. This Bible will also help me in my CRE lessons. Thank you, Bible Society of Kenya, for this precious gift. Stella Baraza, Naisambu Secondary School.

Hope for children through Gods Word

Bible distribution in TransNzioa and Kitui Counties.

I am glad to receive this Bible. My parents could not afford to buy me one. I promise to read it so that I may follow the ways of God. I will read this Bible with my friends as we study CRE. Thank you very much BSK. Hilda Nelima, Kibagenge Primary School.

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13 (ESV)

- 4 -To help a child get a Bible, donate through Pay bill 7141769, Account: Marginalized

Can you imagine what it feels like to get a Bible in your language?

The Christians in the Teso community expressed their joy by dancing and singing at the launch of their New Testa-ment after 10 years of hard work and dedication, at Ama-goro Primary School on March 13th, 2021.

The Ateso Bible project in Kenya was officially launched at a public ceremony held at Amagoro, Teso, on July 7, 2011. This was done after research that confirmed the need for this project and a request by Church leaders of the Kenya Ateso community.

This Bible is interconfessional and done in partnership with all the Churches in the Teso-speaking area. The translation team consists of Fr. Gregory Ejakait from Catholic Church, Pr. Fred. Etyang representing the Pentecostal / Charismatic Churches and Rev. Eliud Omunyokit from Anglican Church. This team of translators is backed by a competent team of reviewers, who are versed with the language.

In 2014 six New Reader Portions and the Gospel of Luke were published. The translation of the New Testament (Psalms and Proverbs) work was finalized by end of 2019 and published in 2020.

Church leaders holding the Teso New Testament Bible

Teso New Testament Bible launched

Speaking at the event Bishop John Okude, ACK Bishop Katakwa Diocese noted that the launch of this Bible is a great milestone for the Teso community, and it will be instrumental in helping the speakers of the language to understand the word of God. He added that the Teso New Testament Bible will also be of great help to the elderly who cannot read English or Kiswahili.

The Guest Speaker Pst. Fredrick Orikodi noted that Christianity will now grow in Teso land as people will be able to understand God’s word better and the Church will disciple the community effectively.

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I thank the Bible Society of Kenya for translating the Bible into the Teso language. It will help me in preaching the gospel in the community I serve. It will also make the word of God easy to understand. Major Robert Okeiga, Salvation Army Church.

We thank God for this great milestone! We know that this Bible will bring a great transformation in the lives of the Ateso community and there will be spiritual growth which will bring a positive transformation in the society at large.

I am very happy to receive the Bible in my local language - Ateso. This Bible will help me to grow my relationship with God. It will also be used in Church to interpret the word of God for the elderly who cannot understand English or Kiswahili. Pst. Maxmilla Alumasi, PCEA Church.

I am happy to see the fruit of my labour today as we launch this Bible. It has taken a lot of time and commitment and today I celebrate this great achievement. Fr. Gregory Ejakait, Teso Bible Translator.

Head of Business development Mr. Thomas Tharao thanked the guests for attending the event adding that the Bible Society of Kenya avails God’s word so that everyone can hear the good news. He added that the Society has recorded the Teso Bible in audio format and the Jesus film as tools for evangelism that will enhance spiritual growth in the community.

Currently, intensive work is going on to finalize the Translation Consultant Checking of the Old Testament and deuterocanonical books so that translation work is finalized by end of 2022 – so that by end of 2024 this Bible can be launched.

All smiles by John Ikapes a reviewer on receiving his copies of the New Testament

A lady holding her copies of the Teso New Testament Official dedication of the Teso New Testament

- 6 -To support Bible translation work, donate through Pay bill 7141769, Account: Translation

The lesson on forgiveness has helped me to forgive the school and the doctors. I thank God and the facilitators for this healing session”, Anne Munyao, Nanyuki.

Trauma Healing continues to be one of the avenues to bring healing and restore hope in people’s lives. We will continue to reach out to more people in our communities so that they may regain hope for life through God's word.

“I would say this is a miracle to me and a unique way of God to heal me. This has come when I am mourning the loss of my daughter, who died mysteriously in February while at school. It has been very hard for me and I have been asking God if he cares. I have almost doubted God until this week. I feel so helped in my grieving journey, strengthened in my faith that God still loves me despite what has happened. I now feel I have the knowledge I needed to go through this season in my life.

To order a Bible visit www.shop.biblesociety-kenya.org

Participants following the trauma healing training session

We are living in unprecedented times occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic and other life’s challenges that we are sometimes not in control of. However, there is a ray of hope, we can put our trust in God who is a present help in time of our need.

We have continued to reach out to people who have undergone traumatizing experiences in life through our Bible-based trauma healing programme. We have conducted trauma healing sessions in Churches, schools, and other groups within the Community. We have done both virtual and physical Classic Initial training and Healing sessions where we reached 372 people since the year began.

Testimonies “I am so excited that my team of pastors and I have had a chance to go through this training. The week has been full of healing sessions, most of us did not know we had heart wounds from the post-election violence experience in 2008. We have started the healing journey. For me, the climax of the session was Taking the pain to the cross. It was so real for me and a new experience altogether. We are so grateful to Bible Society and we will organize more healing sessions for our teams.” Bishop John Mugo, Director, GOBIT Pastors Fellowship.

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Thriving After Trauma

To participate in the trauma healing programme call: 0719250559 or email: info@biblesociety-kenya.org