Sharjah- UAE: "People sense the presence of Godwhen they enter the Bible Society
Resource Center"said Juliet, who has been working in the new BibleSociety Resource
Center in Sharjah, UAE, for justover a month now.
Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. More than 100,000
Christians live in Sharjah. All the main denominations have regular church services
and activities in this emirate. The Bible Society in the Gulf- UAE, in partnership
with St.Martin’s Anglican Church initiated a Bible Resource Center in Sharjah
about a month ago, but the dedication service and the inauguration was held on
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at 8:15pm.
Mrs. Ranjini Ganta, the Bible Society in the Gulf- UAE Representative welcomed
the gathering and Mr. Sanjeev Bhonsle a Council member of St Martin's lead the
responsive Bible reading from Nehemiah 8: 1-12. Ranjini gave an overview of the
Bible Society work in the UAE, focusing on the importance of working with people.
She also said that God's Word needs to be made available to people of different
languages and ethnic groups. "There are more than 120 different nationalities
and language groups present in the UAE," Mrs. Ganta stated. She further added,
that although the BSGUAE stocked Bibles in more than 60 languages in its centers,
the challenge it faced was to make the Scriptures available in the rest of the
120 languages to meet the needs of all the different groupsliving in the country.
Mr. Babu Ganta, the Bible Society communication officer made a presentation on
the various Scripture programs in the UAE in particular and also those in the
Gulf in general. He talked about the challenges of ministering among the migrant
workers who live and work in the numerous labor camps scattered around the Emirates.
Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, the General Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf, thanked
St. Martin's andthe community for their cooperation and partnership. He focused
on the Bible Societies’worldwidefellowship, present in more than 200 countries.
Mr Jebejian stressed the fact that the Bible Societywas not a bookshop, and the
sale of Bibles was only one of the activities in its ministry. "We workwith all
the churches and support their ministry in helping the community to interact with
the Wordof God" said Mr Jebejian added. In conclusion he urged "Let us make this
Resource Center ourhome where each and every one will own and nurture it - a home
where every body can interact withthe Hope-giver for a better life."
Rev. Ernest Victor, the vicar of St. Martin's reminded everyone that the Centre
in its present state was the result of many years of praying and hard work by
those who were keen in distributing God's Word. He said the power of God's Word
was evident in the transformed lives of the people who read it and lived by it.
"The Gospel goes where you and I cannot go" said Rev. Victor. "What the Bible
Society can do, we cannot do alone. People come to the Bible Society centers without
being intimidated and we all need to support this work" He concluded.
Prayers of dedication were offered by Father Aram Deyirmenjian of the Armenian
Orthodox Church, Mr. John Nalloor of the Mar Thoma Church, Rev. Ernest Victor
and Father Xavier of St.Michael's Catholic Church.
The dedication service was concluded by Ranjini Ganta thanking everyone involved
in the project. She mentioned each and everyone by name who had played an active
role in making it all happen.
The Bible Society Center was inaugurated by Rev Ernest Victor by cutting the
ribbon and officially announcing the opening of the new Center. |