Biblica Finishes Kurdish Bible Translation
“After 28 years, Biblica’s team in Kurdistan is finished, and the Kurds have ‘an accurate, contemporary translation’ of the entire Bible,” Mission Network News reports. “Hans Combrink of Biblica said it wasn’t an easy road. ‘There have been starts and stops, there have been wars, there have been disruptions of all kinds, but the team persevered and they finally saw the work brought to completion.’ Since the region is made up of pieces of several countries, he thinks this new translation will help the Kurds feel a sense of identity and camaraderie.”
American Bible Society Reveals ‘Most Bible-Minded City’ in U.S.
“For the second year in a row, Chattanooga, Tennessee has been named the ‘most Bible-minded city’ in the United States,” according to The Gospel Herald. The annual report of ‘Bible Minded Cities’ was published by the Barna Group and explores the faith profile of 131 cities, identifying the top 10 most Bible-minded cities and the least Bible-minded cities. “Individuals considered to be Bible-minded are those who report reading the Bible in the past week and who strongly assert the Bible is accurate in the principles it teaches. Albany / Schenectady / Troy, NY is the least Bible-minded city in America-for the second year in a row.”
Nashville Megachurch Cross Point Names New Pastor
“Cross Point Church announced Sunday it had selected Kevin Queen to serve as its new lead pastor after a nine-month search,” reports the Tennessean. “Queen replaces Cross Point’s founding pastor, the Rev. Pete Wilson, who unexpectedly resigned last year. After Wilson’s departure, attendance and giving at Cross Point dipped substantially, a common trend when churches change leadership. Queen currently serves as a campus pastor at the multi-site 12Stone Church in Atlanta. He will move to Nashville in July and begin his new role in August.”
Catholic Charities Board Announces Hire of New CEO
“Christopher Ice, a Kansas City area native with extensive corporate executive and non-profit fundraising experience has been hired as the new Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph,” according to the Catholic Key. Ice’s placement follows the resignation of Deacon Dan Powers last fall. “Ice, who is currently Director of Major Gifts at Franciscan University of Steubenville, previously served as Chief Operating Officer of two hospice organizations in Kentucky following a successful career as a top-producing insurance executive.”
World Vision Ghana Launches ‘End Child Marriage Now’ Campaign
“World Vision International Ghana has launched a national campaign in Tamale codenamed, ‘End child marriage now! It Takes Us All,’” Citi 97.3 FM reports. “The organization is alarmed by the nation’s statistics of child marriage recorded in deprived communities, hence the campaign launch. A representative of UNICEF, Gloria Nyam Gyang implied that Ghana has a record of one out of five girls engaging in informal marriage. Dr. Adelaide Kastner called for amendment of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act 1960 to tie consensual sex age of 16 to the required legal marriage age of 18. The campaign aims at contributing 50 percent to the reduction of child marriage in Ghana by 2021.”
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) Receives Serious Internet Threats, Police Are Now Involved
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has recently been targeted by potential threats through the internet, causing the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to step in and provide assistance and protection, according to the Gospel Herald. “These threats have been allegedly sent by the same person or organization to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) since April 11, totalling 8 in number.”
Biblica Appoints New Area Executive Director for North America
“Biblica, The International Bible Society, a worldwide ministry that has been helping people read and understand God’s Word for over 200 years, announced the appointment of Laura Fisher as Area Executive Director, North America, effective June 19,” reports Books News Desk. “Ms. Fisher has over 28 years of combined corporate and non-profit management leadership experience with an emphasis of integrating international program implementation priorities with financial resource management. Before coming to Biblica, she was Vice President of International Operations and Donor Relations for Children’s HopeChest.”
