The First Bible Society Resource Center opening in Doha, Qatar

Doha, October 2007: : “This is a historical day for me and for the Bible Society in the Gulf to see a dream come true,” said Hrayr Jebejian, General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf, during the dedication of the first Bible Society Resource Center in the capital of Qatar, Doha. “I first visited Doha ten years ago, and I had the dream then to see a Bible center in this city. God taught me to be patient, and today we are gathered to inaugurate the first Bible Resource Center in Doha,” Mr. Jebejian continued.

The Bible Society in the Gulf initiated and developed the Bible Resource Center in cooperation and partnership of Grace Fellowship in Doha, Qatar. Grace Fellowship is an inter-confessional church that has graciously allocated a place in its Church compound for the Scripture ministry.

The inauguration and the dedication of the Resource Center took place on Friday, October 26, 2007, at 10:00 am. Hrayr Jebejian shared with the attendees the historical developments of the Scripture ministry in the country over the years. He emphasized the importance of the Resource Center being “a Society for the Bible” which is owned by all. “I encourage you to nurture and develop this Center as it belongs to you all,” he concluded. Hrayr Jebejian thanked the Grace Fellowship for the ongoing cooperation and partnership with the Bible Society. The dedication prayer was offered by Neil Kendrick, Chairman of the Leadership Team of the Grace Fellowship.

Mr. James Christopher is the Bible Society Representative in Doha, Qatar. It has been two years now that he has been based in Doha and has been actively involved since then in developing the Scripture ministry within the differentchurches and denominations in the country.

“This is fantastic. It is a great reality to see that we have a Bible Resource Center in Qatar now,” said one of the members of the Church. “We love the Bible Society for it is so keen to provide Bibles and Christian resource materials to the community,” said another member.

The first Bible Resource Center is a step forward in assisting the churches in having access to the Scriptures. The Bible Society imports Bibles and Christian literature into Qatar through a special legal and government license that wasobtained in December 2004.