66-Language Bible arrives in Ghana

A brand of the Bible called "The Travelling Bible" written in 66 international languages is expected to arrive in Ghana on Friday evening. The Bible has only two African languages, Swahili mainly spoken in Eastern and Central Africa and Hausa, mostly found in Niger and Northern Nigeria and widely used as a lingua franca in West Africa. The 66-Language Bible, therefore, portrayed that it could be read and shared in any language under the sun. According to the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), which is to distribute the bible nationwide, The Travelling Bible had been travelling around the world since October 2008. The SDA church is carrying out this project to draw attention to the word of God and galvanize global support and interest in the reading of the Bible. The distribution is being organized under the theme: "Follow the Bible." Speaking at a press conference in Accra few hours before the arrival of the Bible on Friday, Pastor Dr Samuel Adama Lamie, President of the SDA Church, said research carried out across the world had shown that though many including Seven-Day Adventists professed to be Christians, reading of the Bible or following its principles were a difficult thing for them. "The neglect of the Bible and its principles even among Christians is evident in the moral decline of our society," he said and added that these omissions contributed to why there was upsurge in crime such as armed robbery, "Sakawa" (Internet Fraud), greed, and exploitation. Dr Lamie said all the crimes the media churned out daily could be reduced with the application of Biblical principles. "Read it every day, practice it, practice its principles, allow its message to reflect in your life and share its life transforming message," he said. He noted that one could imagine how the world would be, if all obeyed the commandments of God such as not to kill, steal, falsely accused people, respect the rights of others, show compassion, loving and tolerant. He called on all Christians to acknowledge the power of the Bible and encouraged others to read it as well as to join the SDA Church to follow the Bible. Pastor James Kweku Badu, Director Personal Ministry for the Church in Ghana, said the Bible was dependable in reducing the ills of the society and called on Ghanaians not to allow a day to pass without reading it. Activities lined for the programme include presentation of the Bible to President John Evans Atta Mills and a Bible Marathon at Labone SDA Church in Accra where it would be read from Genesis to Revelation within a period of five days from today Saturday January 23 to Wednesday January 27, 2010.