66-Language Bible arrives in Ghana

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - 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 an= d 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 h= ad shown that though many including Seven-Day Adventists

professed to be Christians, reading of the Bible or following its princip= les were a difficult thing for them. "The neglect of the Bible and its principles even among Christians i= s evident in the moral decline of our society," he said and added

that these omissions contributed to why there was upsurge in crime such a= s 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 obeye= d 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 an= d 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 i= n 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 Revelat= ion within a period of five days from today Saturday

January 23 to Wednesday January 27, 2010.