Dubai, November 2008: The United Arab Emirates is a multi-language and multi-ethnic community, where
more than 120 different nationalities are present. The Christian community, too,
is highly diversified, with people from many different countries, languages and
denominations worshiping and fellowshipping together in churches and congregations
all over the Emirate.
The Bible Day celebration on November 1, 2008, in Jebel Ali, Dubai, was an occasion
for the different cultures and language groups to gather together to celebrate
God’s Word and to share with one another the challenge of the Bible ministry in
the country. The event was organized by the Bible Society in the Gulf on the occasion
of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Bible Society Center in Dubai.
The theme for the evening was "Peace Amidst Violence".
The celebration began with a reception, where international food from different
countries and cultures was served. The service opened with the Filipino choir
of Jesus - Stream of Blessing congregation leading the singing. Then, Randhir Reynolds, staff member of the
BSG, offered the opening prayer. Mrs. Ranjini Ganta, the BSG representative in
the UAE, welcomed the gathering, and Jameson Samuel, another staff member, did
the Scripture reading from Romans 5:1-11 and Corinthians 13:4-8.
Rev. Steve Wright, the Vicar of Christ Church, Chaplaincy of Dubai, prayed for
people and countries suffering from natural disasters, violence, war, economic
hardships, persecution, injustice, poverty and bitterness. He concluded his prayer
saying, "Dear God, help us to look well on your world to see the good work being
done and not get depressed by the views of sensationalist media. You are at work
in this world. Your church is working in all these countries. Please, help all
thosewho work to spread the good news, tonight remembering especially the work
of the Bible Society."
Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, the General Secretary of the BSG, stressed the need to have
the peace that Christ offers us, our communities and today’s troubled world. Mr.
Jebejian focused on the nature of the Bible Society fellowship saying, “It is
not a bookshop. The aim of the Bible Society is to help the Christian community
interact with the Word of God. Only the Word
of God provides hope when everything around us is in despair.” The General Secretary
challenged everyone who has tasted the peace of Christ to be a peacemaker as we
live in the midst of different cultures and ethnic groups.
Mr. John Mathews, the USA West Coast Director of the American Bible Society brought
greetings. Mr. Babu Ganta, the BSG communication officer, made a presentation
on the various Scripture programs in progress in the UAE. The presentation showed
the impact of the various programs among the different ethnic and language groups
and drew attention to the scripture needs in these ethnic groups. The BSG programs
among the Nepalese, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Ethiopian, Arabic, Sinhalese and
Filipino congregations illustrated the impact of the Bible on each community.
Then, dressed in the traditional costumes, choirs from different congregations
sang songs in their languages.
Malcolm Montgomery from Faith Comes by Hearing, Paul White from Care network and Ed Small from Perspectives, spoke briefly about their various ministries in the Gulf and shared their joy
as they work in partnership with the Bible Society.
Mrs. Sonia Bezuidenhout, from the South African Church in Dubai, sang the Lord’s
Prayer in Afrikaans. Pastor John Folmar, senior pastor of the United Christian
Church of Dubai, preached on "The Peace the Bible speaks of", based on Colossians
1: 19-22. He said enmity and hostility are prevalent
among peoples and nations as a result ofsin, and the message which the world
needs
to hear is the good news that Jesus through his death on the cross reconciled
man with God so that we may have peace with God and with one another.
The multi-national Bible Day celebrations demonstrated the living experiences
of the great impact the Bible has on peoples’ lives.Undoubtedly, the event echoed
the spirit of “oneness” among the different churches, all aiming for more scripture
impact. |