Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving  -  Kuwait
(Report from Hrayr Jebejian, BSG Executive Secretary)

As a part of the Year of the Bible 2004 programs for the Gulf, a service of prayer and thanksgiving for Bible ministry around the world was held on May 10, 2004 at 07:30pm, at the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Kuwait. Representatives of different churches took part in the service. His Grace Archbishop Guiseppe De Andrea, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Yemen was present. Mr. Peter Wigglesworth, the Acting Associate General Secretary of UBS- Europe Middle East, visiting Kuwait that day, was also present.

Word of welcome were given by Mr. Yousef Sabri, the Arabic program coordinator of the Bible Society in the Gulf, Kuwait center. This was followed by Hymns and an opening Liturgy from Psalms 103. The Opening prayer was offered by Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, the Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf. The work of the United Bible Societies Global fellowship was presented by Mr. Peter Wigglesworth, followed by prayer for the UBS offered by Rev. Amanuel Ghareeb, Pastor of the National Evangelical Church, Arabic language congregation, Kuwait.  Mr. Hrayr Jebejian then presented a glimpse of  Bible translation work around the world, which was followed by a prayer offered by Father Ardag Kehyayan, of the Armenian Church. Then Dr. Wasfi Aziz of St. Mark Coptic church  prayed for Bible distribution which was preceded by a short description of the ministry.  Finally Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, outlined the  Bible Society activities in the Gulf  and Archmandrite Afram Al Tumy of Greek Orthodox Church prayed for the same. Power point slides and pictures were presented during each and every prayer offered.  The latter was prepared by Mr. Babu Ganta, the information officer of the Bible Society in the Gulf.

Father Yousef Fakhry, of the Maronite church in Kuwait, made an inspiration in Arabic on the importance of Prayer in Christian life. This was followed by an introduction to various subjects on prayer for the Bible ministry by Rev. Dr. John Somaiah, of  the Telugu Congregation. His Grace, Archbishop Guiseppe De Andréa, Apostolic Nuncio, gave a reflection on the Message of the Bible. The closing prayer was offered by Bishop Francis Micallef, of the Catholic Church.

It was indeed an Ecumenical prayer service for  the Bible Ministry  around the world.