Live Online Catch-up Event Rounds Off First Month of International Bible Challenge
SALVATIONISTS and friends around the world are invited to take part in a special live web chat to mark the first month of Boundless - The Whole World Reading. The daily Bible-reading challenge, which is running throughout The Salvation Army's 150th anniversary year, is proving to be a great success in uniting people from each of the 126 countries in which the Army is at work.
A live webchat from 6.30pm to 8.30pm (GMT) on Thursday 5 February will consolidate the readings from the Gospel of Matthew and look ahead to the rest of the New Testament. The event will offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences, as well as to discuss some of the more challenging Scriptures again.
It should prove particularly useful to people who started late or even for those who are yet to join in. The message from the team behind the challenge is simple: 'It's not too late!'. The first 24 chapters of Matthew – the point that should have been reached on 5 February – can be caught up with easily, allowing latecomers to work through the rest of the New Testament alongside what is effectively a worldwide Bible study group!
International Headquarters (IHQ) Chaplain Major Rosslyn Casey, who is project managing The Whole World Reading, will be taking questions about the initiative, alongside Words of Life writer Major Beverly Ivany, whose daily devotional thoughts are proving helpful to so many people. Also taking part are IHQ Web Manager David Giles – who will field questions about the growing and innovative website, social media and mobile app content – and Gary Rose, from IHQ Communications, whose video and audio contributions have added another dimension to the initiative.
'With such an incredible mix of people of different nationalities, cultures and Bible experience, the first few weeks of Boundless - The Whole World Reading have been tremendously exciting,' says Major Casey. 'We are keen for anyone who has been following the New Testament readings with us to get involved in this event - to share their own stories about how reading the Scriptures together has been of encouragement and benefit.'
The live event will take place on the Bible Challenge website at www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge/live.
The website is also the place to head for further information and to download a PDF version of the Bible challenge booklet, which can be printed out and distributed to anyone who wants to join in but doesn't have access to the online material.
For anyone who prefers to share face-to-face, SAVN.tv – the Salvation Army Vision Network from the USA Western Territory – is holding online Bible challenge video chats. Each chat has a host who will lead participants from around the world in sharing and discussing the day's reading. It is hoped that this opportunity to share with other members of the international fellowship will bring together Salvationists from around the world in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.
For more information and to see the chat schedule, go to savn.tv/savn-chat (please note, the SAVN.tv video chat facility requires participants to use Chrome or Firefox browsers).
Report by IHQ Communications
International Headquarters