MTBO reaches all 86 Dioceses before 6th Anniversary

As the May They Be One (MTBO) Bible Campaign celebrates its sixth anniversary, it also marks yet another milestone with the introduction of MTBO to the people of Batanes, the last of the 86 dioceses that was reached by the Bible campaign.
Last September 2 to 4, 2014, the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) team composed of Translation Consultant Dr. Anicia del Corro, Resource Development Supervisor Pearl Grace Cabrera, and Communications OIC Raymond Francisco travelled to Batanes to promote MTBO and conduct a Handwritten Unity Bible (HUB) writing event and a mini Bible seminar. The group was joined by the Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, D. D., Bishop of Laoag, Sr. Bea Dumangeng, and Fely Gines of the North Luzon Biblical Apostolate.
The visitors were welcomed into the remote island province by no less than the Most Rev. Camilo Gregorio, D. D., Bishop of Batanes, who also hosted the group during their three-day stay.
PBS Resource Development Supervisor Pearl Grace Cabrera shared that they were very pleased at how the schedules of the people involved, even the weather, cleared as they planned to conduct the HUB in the northernmost province of the country.
“We praise God for His favor that we were able to bring the MTBO Bibles and have the Ivatans participate in HUB. For the longest time, it has been our heart’s desire to have them experience writing God’s Word in their heart language,” Cabrera said.
As of September 2014, a total of 1,330,168 copies of the Bibles have been distributed to poor Filipino families since the start of the campaign. Of that figure, 274,456 were distributed from January to September 2014.
In her message for the 6th MTBO Anniversary, PBS General Secretary Dr. Nora Lucero reiterated the Bible Society’s commitment to the goals of having every Filipino family own a copy of God’s Word.
“When they read the Bible and live their lives according to what Scripture teaches us, the person, the family, and the community is transformed. Imagine what it would be like when all Filipinos, our families, and our communities are touched by the power the Bible. It would be a truly awesome sight to see a transformed Philippines through God’s Word, a nation whose God is the Lord,” Dr. Lucero said.
She also thanked the churches, organizations, and individuals who partnered with them to sustain the Bible campaign. Dr.Lucero also posed the challenge to Filipinos all over the country and around the world to take part in the Bible campaign. “For the price equivalent to about half of your favorite ice blended coffee drink or a decent meal at your neighborhood carinderia, you can give a poor family an opportunity to know God’s Word and be transformed,” she said.