Magyar Egyház, 1998 (77. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1998 / 1. szám
8. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ TRIBUTE TO BOB BONE’ When people plan for their retirement years, they attempt to look into the future and plan the things they will do for the rest of their life. Some people choose to retire in a warm climate, and some people seek to play more golf or do more fishing. Bob Bone’ was none of the above. Instead, in his retirement years he was dedicated to serving God through his work at his church. Bob never wavered from the task that was before Jiim, his goal was always to^serve his church. He did this by cooking and servingHnod, singing in the choir and conducting the business meetings of the church. He was present when trucks needed to be unloaded at our back door and during the long process of making Hungarian delicacies in our kitchen. Bob had a great concern for our Sunday School and in seeing that our children have an opportunity to study God’s word. Little did I know that New Years Eve of last year would be the last time I would see him in his life. I remember shaking his hand and encouraging him to have a good time as he traveled in Israel. I encouraged him to make his t.ip a pilgrimage to the great land where our Savior walked years before. Little did any of us know that Bob would never return to help us cook another meal, have another meeting, or discuss the opportunities of our Sunday School. May God give us all the desire to serve our church with such devotion and energy. Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Burbridge Senior Pastor American Hungarian Reformed Church Allen Park, Michigan THE BIBLE LEAGUE A LEADER IN PLACING CHINESE SCRIPTURES SOUTH HOLLAND, IL - “The Bible League’s contacts have by no means abandoned their work of delivering Scriptures since the Hong Kong change over last year,” asserts Rev. Andrew Harbert, The Bible League’s Director of China/ Indochina Ministries. “In fact, we intend to place an increased number of Bibles with Chinese believers during 1998.” Although some ministries have suffered - including a dramatic drop in Bible couriers willing to work from Hong Kong - since the transition became effective July 1, 1997, The Bible League continues its Scripture placement and training ministry without any negative repercussions following the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule. Much of the advance negative publicity has so far proven unfounded. The Bible League provides an average of 3,000 Bibles per day in China. Bibles are legally printed within mainland China, but are available primarily to Christians in churches officially registered with the government. The supply does not even begin to provide enough Scriptures for China’s booming “underground” house church movement. Known to be the largest provider of Bibles and study materials for house church members (who possibly number up to 50 million), The Bible League partners with Chinese nationals and visitors to personally carry Bibles into China each day. It is not illegal to do this, but government officials act upon their own regulations with great inconsistency. Bibles discovered without a customs declaration are often held at entry until the courier returns for departure, but they are not confiscated. Randomly enforced regulations often peg Bible couriers and recipients as common criminals, however. One Chinese Christian recently arranged to pick up a quantity of Bibles at a hotel designated as the meeting place. Hotel video cameras recorded the activity and Public Security Bureau officials followed up with an arrest. This man reported, “They took all Bibles found in my residence. They landed fierce blows on my chest, slapped my face, kicked me, and choked my throat while forcing me to reply during the interrogation.” Although Hong Kong is the most cost-effective distribution center, The Bible League is researching and developing additional routes of entry to better supply the enormous demand for Scriptures.
