Publishers Promote Bible Reading

Publishers in two European countries each with a rich Bible heritage are
involved in campaigns to encourage more reading of the Scriptures.

In Germany, a new magazine aims to address what it considers
a growing lack of knowledge of the Bible, while in England two, year-long
efforts have been launched to spur Christians to get to know God’s Word
better.

Faszination Bibel (Fascination Bible) was debuted
in October by leading Christian magazine publisher Bundes-Verlag, part of SCM
(Stiffung Christliche Medien), a nonprofit Christian foundation based in Witten,
Germany—home to the groundbreaking 1454 Gutenberg Bible, the first to be printed
using movable type.

More than 230,000 copies of the free, 100-page issue—with
the tag line “Learn to love the Bible”—were distributed to churches and
Christian organizations in Germany and neighboring Switzerland. It featured
articles on archaeology and the Bible in church history, personal Bible reading
experiences and study advice.

The company found a high stated love of the Bible, but “low
love and real hunger for reading and living by it,” said CEO Ulrich Eggers.
“There was a growing lack of knowledge within large parts of the church.
Somebody had to do something—so we started Faszination Bibel to try to
make it interesting.”

In England, more than a dozen publishers are among 100
Christian organizations backing Biblefresh, launched to mark the 400th
anniversary of the country’s famous King James Bible.

The initiative follows research by the Evangelical Alliance
in the U.K. that found “worrying” low levels of biblical knowledge and
understanding. Congregations signing up for Biblefresh are being asked to raise
their level of involvement with the Bible in reading, training, translation and
resulting action.

As part of the campaign, Authentic Media published
Biblefresh, a 144-page, magazine-style book with the tag line, “It
could change your world.” 

Charisma magazine is also challenging its readers with its 2011 “Year of
the Bible” focus, featuring articles, Bible studies and more to help believers
engage more than ever before in God’s
Word.