International (MNN/IBS) ― Much has changed since 1809 when the International Bible Society was born.
With a recent name change to Biblica, it has grown with the times, all the while sharing an unchanging Gospel.
This month, the ministry marks 200 years of Bible outreach. In that time, they've distributed more than 650 million Scriptures to people in need of its life-transforming message.
Biblica's Steve Johnson says their vision remains true. "I think back over those two centuries of history, and I'm reminded of how Biblica was the first organization to produce Bibles in audio format for blinded civil war veterans."
Ministry to the military began during the War of 1812 and continued through every major conflict since, expanding to cover as many people as possible.
In its beginning, a handful of Christian visionaries met in lower Manhattan, NY, on Dec. 4, 1809, to form the New York Bible Society (later International Bible Society and now Biblica). This group included Revolutionary War hero Col. Henry Rutgers (for whom Rutgers University was named), and Samuel Miller, a founder and director of Princeton Theological Seminary.
Their passion was to see the fledgling nation rooted in Christian faith by providing Bibles to people who lacked access to them.
Over the next 200 years, new technologies emerged, as did the challenges of an industrial society. Johnson says the key to survival lies not only in holding true to God's Word, but also in being willing to work with new technology tools of the era.
He explains, "Part of our strategy in a third century of ministry is figuring out how to adapt to each of those unique circumstances to make the Word of God available to those who don't have it, to get it into restricted parts of the world, and certainly to remind the Western world that the Word of God is still relevant."
Biblica also translates the Bible for major language groups lacking contemporary translations, currently working on translations in 27 languages. Biblica is the translation sponsor of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, the most widely-read contemporary English version.
Today, partnering with donors and other ministries, Biblica provides the Bible for audiences worldwide through print, the Internet, audio, video, and digital Scripture media.
Biblica Global President/CEO Keith Danby notes: "With God's grace, we will continue this great heritage of transforming lives through God's Word as we begin a third century of service to God and others."
Biblica operates in 50 countries and is the sponsor and copyright holder of the New International Version® family of contemporary-English Bible translations. For more information, visit www.Biblica.com.
