Biblica Africa

Reach 4 Life, Eastern Africa

Reaching Out With Life in Christ to Youth at Risk of HIV/AIDS

Biblica-Africa seeks to break the HIV/AIDS cycle of death and disease in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda. In Kenya, twice as many young women (ages 15-24) as men are infected with HIV/AIDS. In Tanzania, mother-to-child HIV infection is on the rise. In Malawi, the HIV/AIDS infection rate is 14.2 percent (twice the sub-Saharan overall rate), but in the 15-49 age group one in eight people is infected. In Uganda, although a government campaign in the '90s caused a substantial decline in HIV/AIDS, the disease is increasing among the younger generation. This year, Biblica will conduct R4L programs with high school students in these four key countries.

• More Info on R4L

Children for Christ, DRC, Senegal, Burundi

Out of Poverty and Struggle Children Encounter God's Love

Children of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, and Burundi are at extreme physical and spiritual risk. These countries rank in the 15 percent most-impoverished countries; 6-8 percent of children die in infancy; and the risk of infectious disease including HIV/AIDS is exceptionally high. Burundi and the DRC have suffered decades-long political and economic chaos, and the children of all three countries know only struggle and poverty. They desperately need God's promise of "hope and a future." This year, Biblica-Africa will bring that hope by providing children with Scripture materials for a weeklong Bible school, bringing them good news of a Savior who wants to know them personally.

My Monthly Bible Reader, Kenya and Tanzania

Imparting Solid Faith to the Next Generation

Nearly half the populations of Kenya and Tanzania are age 14 or under. Introducing these youngsters, who are typically open to the gospel, to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grounding them in God's Word is crucial to their countries' future. This year, Biblica will enroll 2,000 youngsters in the four-year My Monthly Bible Reader (MMBR) program. The program uses an interactive, Scripture-based magazine to progressively teach key biblical truths and principles. Each month, Biblica will provide church and school leaders copies of the colorful MMBRs. Natural evangelists, children will share their MMBRs with an estimated three additional children (siblings and friends of students).

Children of Africa, Zimbabwe

For Children Who've Lost Everything— Hope and a Future From God

Zimbabwe was once the beautiful breadbasket of Africa. But political, economic, and social chaos have turned it into a wasteland of poverty and despair. The health system and infrastructure have collapsed, worsening the nationwide cholera epidemic. Human trafficking has enslaved children and adults as farm and sex workers at home and abroad. Children in Zimbabwe's orphanages cling to life, but have little hope for today or tomorrow. This year, Biblica will give these children the assurance of a God who loves them and the hope of His Word, providing copies of The Greatest Story Ever Told, activity workbooks, and teacher's manuals to orphanages.

Reach 4 Life, Ethiopia

Reaching Out With Life in Christ to Youth at Risk of HIV/AIDS

In Ethiopia, 3 million people live with HIV/AIDS, and 1.2 million children have been orphaned by the disease. The economic toll of HIV/AIDS is a devastating drain on this impoverished country. When one family member cannot work, an entire family is at risk of starvation. This year, Biblica will conduct the Reach 4 Life program with Ethiopian teens and preteens in schools, churches, and sports clubs. Students will hear the gospel message as they learn the only true meaning of "safe sex," abstinence before marriage and marital faithfulness that will save them from disease and death. Biblica partners are Scripture Union and Youth With a Mission.

• More Info on R4L

Reach 4 Life, South Africa

Reaching Out With Life in Christ to Youth at Risk of HIV/AIDS

With 5.3 million—more than one in five people—infected with HIV/AIDS, South Africa has been hardest-hit by the disease. AIDS has decimated much of the adult population and threatens the entire younger generation. The impact on families, workforce, health-care system, and communities is catastrophic. AIDS orphans lack adult supervision, schooling, health care, or social services. South Africa was the launchpad for Reach 4 Life in 2004, and it has gained tremendous acceptance. This year, Biblica will conduct the program with secondary school and upper primary students (ages 10 to 16) in South Africa.

• More Info on R4L

Equipping the Church, Ethiopia

Equipping the African Church for the Work of the Gospel

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church predominates in Ethiopia, and Islam is on the rise. But the evangelical Church has grown immensely since the end of the oppressive communist regime in 1991. As it grows, it must be characterized by faithfulness to the Word of God as the source of faith, teaching, and action. This year, Biblica-Africa will provide untrained yet dedicated Ethiopian pastors with seminars to teach them to use the Bible as the sole foundation for their preaching and teaching. The seminars will also teach them to train and mentor other leaders to do the same. Pastors will receive Amharic-language study Bibles and B2B training manuals.

Equipping the Church, Uganda

Equipping the African Church for the Work of the Gospel

Uganda endured political strife and violence in the 1960s through 1980s. Although the situation has improved, northern Uganda still suffers from terrorist activity. The country also suffers the consequences of a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic. Uganda is 89 percent Christian, but many pastors have never had biblical training and cannot afford a Bible of their own. To support the Church, Biblica will conduct seminars for Ugandan pastors to teach them how to use the Bible as the basis for their preaching and teaching. Pastors will receive NIV study Bibles or Bibles in local languages, plus training manuals, and will learn to train other leaders in their churches and communities.

Kiswahili Bible

God's Word Speaks to the Heart and Soul

Kiswahili, a language with Arabic roots, is the native language of 5-10 million people and the primary trade language of approximately 90 million people throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This year, Biblica will publish the Neno Kiswahili Bible. This accurate, contemporary translation will allow millions to clearly understand God's message of love and redemption and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because the Kiswahili language crosses many borders, this translation will be an especially effective evangelism tool.

Oromo New Testament

God's Word Speaks to the Heart and Soul

The 27 million Oromo people comprise 35 percent of Ethiopia's population and are its largest ethnic group. Other Oromo speakers live in Kenya and Somalia. This year, Biblica will publish the Oromo New Testament (Kitaaba Oulgulla—Kakuu Haaraya) and present it to the Oromo-speaking people and Church. This translation is critical to reaching people in Ethiopia. Oromo is becoming an increasingly important trade language in the region, which will increase the New Testament's effectiveness in evangelism.

Kikuyu Bible

God's Word Speaks to the Heart and Soul

Kikuyu is spoken by 6.5 million Africans who comprise Kenya's largest ethnic group. In 2009, Biblica will publish the Kiugo Githeru (Kikuyu Bible) and present it to the Kikuyu-speaking people. This translation is critical to reaching people in Kenya and Ethiopia—especially the more than 2 million young people who have embraced the violent Mungiki sect—with the Word of God. While Africans speak English or another major trade language, there is no substitute for reaching people in the "language of their heart." As one African man said, holding a recently published Biblica Bible, "Now I know God speaks my language, too."