Two organizations partner together to reach Africa and Asia.

USA (MNN) — Acknowledging a common calling in Scripture ministry, International Bible Society (IBS) and Bible League joined forces to more effectively take the Word of God to the world. Dean Merrill, IBS Vice President, International Publishing, and Rev. Joseph Owens, Bible League Executive Director for Africa, recently signed a distribution agreement that allows Bible League to use IBS Scripture translations in its ministries in Africa and South Asia.

According to the terms of the agreement, Bible League will have use of 24 different IBS African language translations and 15 translations for South Asia. The agreement is the first of its kind for Bible League and will primarily impact its ministries in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“The agreement with IBS means more Bible-less people in Africa and India will receive Bibles and New Testaments,” Bible League’s Owens said. “It will also increase Bible League’s efficiency by reducing the cost of printing Scriptures.

For IBS, the alliance will aid efforts to “get IBS translations into more hands more quickly,” Merrill said. “We are pleased when ministries such as Bible League commit to use our Scriptures in meaningful, effective outreach,” Merrill added.

The Bible League’s first order from IBS is for the recently translated Luo New Testament for Kenya, which IBS will launch in early 2004. “This new Luo translation comes at an opportune time for us,” Owens said. “The Luo-speaking people, to whom we have an ongoing Scripture distribution program, are very receptive to the gospel. But our previous source of Bibles is no longer available.” Owens continued, “We thank God for providing us a new Scripture source at just the right time.”

The Bible League, located in suburban Chicago and founded in 1938, is one of the world’s largest evangelical, non-denominational Scripture placement agencies. It partners with local churches worldwide to train and equip Christians to use the Bible to make disciples and establish new churches. For further information, you may visit Bible League at www.bibleleague.org.

International Bible Society, founded in 1809, faithfully translates, publishes and reaches out with God’s Word so that people around the world may become disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Body. You can learn more about IBS at www.ibs.org.