The Word. For Life.

translation / publication / distribution / EnGaGEMEnt

national Ministry rEport 2015

“Heaven and earth will pass away,but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24.35 (eSV)

www.biblesociety.ca

What we do:The Canadian Bible Society exists to connect people with

the life-changing power of God’s Word through translation, publication, distribution, and engagement.

For more information visit, www.biblesociety.ca

Widening of scope, impact, and partnerships s I begin my new role as National Director of the Canadian Bible Society (CBS), and look back over what this great organization has accomplished with the help of our friends and donors – even just in the last year! – I see a theme of widening scope, deeper impact, and even stronger partnerships.

CBS wants to see God’s transforming word impact all of Canadian society, groups, and individuals, indeed, the whole world. this is a wonderful ministry that has an amazing history, and I believe an amazing future seeing God’s word impact Canada and the world.

the “On the Road” Scripture resource made available in response to the increasing reality of refugees in Canada, shows our ability to be “nimble” in response to current events and real identified needs in our own country. Our support of work in countries like Kenya, tanzania, India and Peru demonstrates the power of a “heart language,” which is a term we love.and we use it frequently. It means the language in which we are most comfortable, the language we dream and think and speak to our children in. those are the languages in which Bibles are translated, printed, and distributed all over the world. Our mission may seem – on paper – like it is about printing and paper and words and ever-new digital technology. But of course, it really is all about the heart. thank you for how you partner with us to make it all happen.

Please join me in prayer as we strategically address many needs across the world and in Canada, and ask God for wisdom from above, as the Scriptures encourage us to do together.

Rev. Dr. Jonathan DentNational Director

A“Please join me in prayer as we

strategically address many

needs across the world and in

Canada, and ask God for wisdom

from above, as the Scriptures

encourage us to do together.”

Table of ConTenTs:Introduction

translation

Publication & Distribution

engagement

2015 Support

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“Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God

endures forever.”ISaIah 40.8 (GNt)

View and download this report at

biblesociety.ca/reports

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translation the canadian bible society helps make the bible understandable.

God’s truth is translatable ible translation has long been important to Christians. From Pentecost, when God provided a way for countless individuals to hear his message proclaimed in their own language, believers have recognized God’s truth is translatable.

For people to receive and understand God’s word, they need to be able to read it and hear it in words they comprehend. the message of the Bible is received most fully when it is communicated in a person’s first language, the language of their heart.

that’s why Bible translators continue their vital work, allowing Scripture to come alive for all who want to read it.

“We all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done.” acts 2.1 1b (CeV)

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“When people can engage with God’s Word in their first language,

it reaches the deepest needs of the human heart.”

For one week in the spring of 2015, the Canadian Bible Society hosted a workshop for First Nations translators to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Building on years of partnership and expertisein First Nations translation, the workshop equipped First Nations speakers who were interested in continuing this essential work. It was all part of a capacity building initiative, intended to help lay the foundation for a new generation of Bible translators to meet ongoing demand for Scriptures in the languages of Canada’s First Nations peoples.

Mother Tongue Translator Workshop – sharpening knowledge, honing skills

there are over 1,220Scripture translations now stored in the Digital Bible library database.

n Institute for Computer Assisted Publishing (ICAP): CBS carries on a vital link of support with the United Bible Societies ICaP team who maintain an important hub in Ontario. Key technology initiatives like Paratext (software for Bible translators) and the Digital Bible library (DBl), continue to define and shape the future of Bible engagement globally. there is an inter-connected digital ecosystem of Bible transla-tion software connecting directly to archiving in DBl. From DBl there is a further interface to both print technologies and digital display media like youVersion. CBS is proud to be a supportive sponsor of this critical global work.

n The ripple effect: In 2015, CBS and otherBible Societies in partnership with United Bible Societies (UBS) assisted in the completion of translations in 50 languages spoken by nearly 160 million people. eleven communities now have their first full Bible, 6 have a New testa-ment, and 11 more have portions of Scripture. and languages are constantly changing, so UBS revises existing translations and provides new ones. In 2015 this resulted in a further20 new translations and revisions plus 2 study editions, to reach over 127 million people.

Bible Translation in Canada

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Bible Translation Around the World

n Celebrating a 60-year-long effort: travel north to the Southwestern arctic and you will arrive at the home of the indigenous yup’ik-speaking people. It is a rugged and beautiful land, but a harsh one, and the people who reside in western and south central alaska know the meaning of endurance.

So when they finally received the complete Bible in their aboriginal Inuit language – a translation project 60 years in the making – therewas great celebration. For three days, locals gathered in Bethel, alaska to sing and share and read aloud from their newly dedicated Scriptures.

translation of the New testament was completed in the mid-1950s. work on the Old testament began more than a decade and a half later. translators worked alone in their homes, or gathered in Bethel to work as a team.

From the mid-1990s, the Canadian Bible Society played a critical role in this effort, providing computer support to a partnership that involved dozens of individuals and organizations.

we praise God that the yup’ik people can now read the Bible in their heart language.

1,020 PORTIONS

1,324 NEW TESTAMENTS

542 FULLBIBLES

4,015 NO SCRIPTURE

460 MILLION

SPEAKERS

673 MILLION

SPEAKERS

231 MILLION

SPEAKERS

There are 6,901 languages in theworld spoken by 7.2 billion people

6,901 7.2 Billion

4.904BILLION

SPEAKERS

The figures for the number of language speakers is based on the best available data which currently totals 6.2 billion, less than the actual world population.

FIGUReS aS OF DeCeMBeR 31, 2014

ScripTure AcceSS TodAy

atikamekw New testament

n in canada, cBS has worked with variouspartners to publish, among others, the Bible in inuktitut, a New Testament with parts of the old Testament in ojibwe, and New Testaments in Algonquin, Atikamekw, James Bay cree, dogrib, Mi’kmaq, and Naskapi.

Cree Bible

Publication &Distribution

Projects in Canada Moving in with Move-In: In communities around the world, Christians are intentionally and prayerfully moving in among the unreached urban poor. It’s happening in Ottawa too and in 2015 they had a festive block party where 300+ neighbours gathered. On that day, 80 Bibles and Scripture portions in various languages were distributed.

Supporting the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games: CBS partnered with More than Gold – representing 10 denominations and more than 50 Christian organizations – to provide 6,000 special edition Sports New testaments to the Pan am/Parapan am Games, touching the lives of athletes from 16 countries who poured into Canada in 2015.

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802,600Scripture resources were distributed in

Canada in 2015.

publication & distribution the canadian bible society helps make the bible accessible and available.

Like a hand in a glove

But if those Bibles, no matter how beautifully designed and printed, just sat on a shelf, we would not be doing our job.

Publication always goes hand-in-hand with Distribution – the essential work of placing those Bibles and Scripture

portions directly into the hands of those who need them most. Increasingly, it is our privilege to work

with Canadian ministries, churches, and organizations to create a custom range of biblical tools.

Publication, the work of printing entire Bibles and portions of Scripture,

is at the heart of the mission of the Canadian Bible Society.

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24 countries partnered with the Canadian Bible Society in 2015.

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Bringing the Bible to Montreal: Did you know the Bible has more than 2,000 verses that highlight God’s concern for justice? that is just one fact about God’s word that can impact our understanding. In 2015, CBS launched Bible expo: an educational exhibition offered to churches and schools interested in knowing about the Bible, its story and its impact. last year, the Bible expo made its debut throughout Quebec.

Embracing technology to meet our mission: you can listen to the Bible in Swahili, hindi, Persian and other languages – including english and French of course – through CBS’s mission to make the Scriptures as available and accessible as possible in audio. large-print Bibles and Braille Bibles are also available and distributed widely each year. the Canadian Bible Society app, along with others available on our website, mean the Bible is always just a tap away.

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Freeing prisoners in Peru:“I was a worthless prisoner who thought everything was over. I felt no one would ever love me again until I read about Jesus in the Bible I received.” those are the words of alejandro, one of the hundreds of prisoners in Peru’s notorious jails who received Scriptures because of Canadian support for the Do Not Fear program in Peru.

Tanzania is reading the Scriptures in itsown language: have you heard of Kiembu-Kimbeere? It’s one of the languages of tanzania. today there is a Bible in Kiembu-Kimbeere, because of the generosity of Canadians who gave to that translation effort. Nearly 2.5 million people speak one of three traditional languages in tanzania. In 2015, translation work continued in Kiha because of your support.

Women have hope in India:In 2015, your gifts helped two groups of India’s most vulnerable citizens: victims of leprosy and women in the sex trade. they were able to turn to Jesus for solace, because they had access to God’s word. Often, victims of leprosy and women trapped in the sex trade are shunned and scorned. they need God’s love. you helped provide it.

Ending a Bible famine in China:China’s Bible famine is a challenge that the worldwide Bible-supporting community continues to solve with your help. In 2015, your gifts helped pay for thepaper the Bibles are printed on in China. Printing presses can produce almost a Bible a second, but only when paper is available. the result? Bibles that Chinese Christians can afford, thanks to you.

Publication & Distribution Projects Around the World

“The Bible I received changed my life. Now I know that Jesus will never leave me because he is myfriend.”

MoveIn Ministries

Pan am Games

Over 2,929 digital Scripture resources were downloaded in Canada in 2015.

this is an increase of 30% over the previous year.

Engagement Projects in Canada

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“God opened my eyes to let me know He’s been there for

me the whole time.”

Engagement the canadian bible society helps make the bible applicable.

encouraging Bible engagement

the Canadian Bible Society encourages the use of the Bible. It does no good to translate, publish, and distribute God’s word, if people do not read it.

we are committed to helping all those who want to engage with the Bible – here in Canada and around the world. that’s becausewe know that the Bible changes hearts and minds. It shapes destinies, for it is through the Scriptures that we come to know Godand his will for our lives.

Opening eyes of children and teens: the Canadian Bible Society provided Bibles to 2,000 teens and children at seven Intervarsity Christian Fellowship summer camps. Said one camper after receiving hers, “God opened my eyes to let me know he’s been there for me the whole time.”

Cross Lake, Manitoba: the remote First Nations com-munity of Cross lake, Manitoba declared a state of emergency after a spate of suicides. with your help, the Canadian Bible Society sent 400 youth Bibles, which were distributed during an emergency church service. we pray God’s word brings hope where hope has been lost.

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Bringing healing through the Word:During the Rwandan genocide, one million people were brutally murdered. those who survived were left withphysical, emotional and spiritual wounds deeper than any human being should ever bear. But the word of God brings healing, and this year, 33,000 Bibles and Scripture resources were provided to Rwandans of all ethnic backgrounds.

Engagement Projects Around the World

Refugee Scripture resources: as Syrian refugees poured into Canada, the Canadian Bible Society provided a resource to offer spiritual help to newcomers who have lived through unbelievable hardship. your help en-abled us to source the “On the Road” booklet in arabic, Farsi, French, Chinese, and english for Canadian ministries working directly with refugees.

Empowering international students: International StudentMinistries (ISM) ministers to foreign students who come from abroad tostudy in Canada. their vision is to empower international students to positively impact the world through Jesus Christ. the Canadian Bible Society partnered with ISM by providing needed Bibles (in english and Chinese), and customized New testaments.

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Growing and learning through God’s Word: Uruguay’s children are vulnerable to many dangers: violence, abuse, human trafficking, addiction and early sexual activity. through the Bible Society’s Grow and Learn project, some 21,000 children are being touched with the word of God. they are learning important principles: that God loves them, how to live a life that pleases God, and how to share their faith in Christ with families and friends.

Taking aim at corruption:the small, Central american country of honduras has the highest murder rate in the world. It is known as the most violent place – outside of a war zone – on earth. But there is hope. the Change Your Weapons program in honduras is teaching biblical justice, compassion and mercy to police officers, military personnel, gang members and prisoners. Change Your Weapons takes aim at corruption, by providing needed biblical tools to teach about justice, mercy and forgiveness.

Making Bibles affordable, accessible: Sixty percent of all people in the Philippines do not own a Bible. May They Be One is a nationwide, ecumenical campaign aimed at making Bibles more affordable and accessible to all Filipinos,Catholic and Protestant alike. the campaign originated as a response to Jesus’ prayer for the unityof believers in John 17.21. to date, 1.3 million Bibles (in eight different Filipino languages) have been distributed.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeththem, I will liken himunto a wise man, which built his houseupon a rock.” Matt. 7.24 (KJV)

Cross lake, Manitoba

Summer Camp

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n Total Ministry contribution $6.3 Million

2015 SUPPORTthe canadian bible society saw tremendous support from donors and volunteers in 2015.

In 2015, Canadians generously gave $6.3 million to the mission of the Canadian Bible Society. Gifts came from individual Canadians from coast to coast who want to join in on changing lives through God’s word; from churches who consider it a priority to continue the good work of translating and distributing Scriptures; and from meaningful events that built community and fun while expanding the reach of God’s word.

Some gave through programs like Bible-a-Month – a steady, regular giving program that puts Bibles in the hands of those who need them the most. Our aDVISORS with Purpose program continued to grow, with Canadians expanding their legacy of giving to reach even more people with the living word.

n canadian Ministries $3.6 Million If you place our ministry partners on a map of Canada, the map is full, colourful, and bursting at the seams from coast to coast. From UReach toronto to Catholic Christian Outreach to the Pan am games, the Canadian Bible Society with your help, was able to offer more Bibles and Scripture resources to more people, because of the rich diversity of our partners. In 2015, CBS contributed $3.6 million to Canadian Ministries. Our Canadian districts buzzed with activities in 2015, all of which helped us reach our ministry goals of Bible translation, publication, distribution, and engagement.

n World Ministries $2.5 Million what a privilege and opportunity we have as members of the United Bible Societies (UBS) to reach the world together. In 2015, CBS contributed $2.5 million to UBS. that means we combined our influence and impact with 146 other Bible Societies operating in over 200 countries and territories. together, we are the largest agency in the world engaged in Bible translation, publication, and distribution, touching the lives of millions with the life-changing impact of the Bible.

Audited financial statements are available on our website at www.biblesociety.ca

worldMinistries

$2.5 Million

Canadian Ministries

$3.6 Million

total Ministry

Contribution $6.3 Million

rom the earliest days of Christian faith and community, believershave given their time, energy, and resources to the work of God’s Kingdom. they may not have called such efforts “volunteering” twothousand years ago, but there’s no doubt that we continue to benefit today from the legacy of their giving.

In the same way, the contributions of the more than 1,500 people whogenerously volunteered on behalf of the Canadian Bible Society in 2015, have not only strengthened the Biblecause for today, but they have helped to build an enduring foundation for the continued work of translation, publication, distribution and engagement with God’s word tomorrow.

how have they helped? through fundraising events, assisting with thedistribution of Bibles, being the “face” of CBS at local community functions, helping out in CBS offices and bookstores, serving on district teams and governing bodies, and participating in proclaiming God’s word through Proclamation events and in their local churches.

If you have done any of these things, if you have supported CBS through your giving, or brought CBS before God in your prayers, please take a moment to reflect on your contribution. Recognize that we could not have accomplished all that we did without you. and we are grateful.

Because you care – and because thousands of others care with you – the Bible cause goes on, changing hearts and lives today, strengthening andexpanding God’s Kingdom tomorrow.

If you’ve never volunteered with CBS or shown your support, it’s not too late to start. Consider joining with us in 2016. to explore what that might look like, please contact us today. thank you.

NatIONal MINIStRy RePORt 2015 1 1

Thank you to our dedicated

Volunteers F

For more information visitwww.biblesociety.ca

$72,472 was raised through volunteers in Bike for Bibles events across Canada in 2015.

Volunteers of the Canadian Bible

Society are driven by a passion to

see lives changed by God’s word.

Over 1,500 people volunteered

with CBS in 2015.

“What God has said isn’t only alive and active!

It is sharper than any double-edged sword.

His word can cut through our spirits and souls

and through our joints and marrow,

until it discovers the desires and thoughts

of our hearts.”

heBRewS 4.12 (CeV)

Twitter: @canadianbible

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View and download this report at biblesociety.ca/reports