MBS Newsletter
July 22, 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
On behalf of the elders and the congregation at Living Hope Family Church in Hyannis, I want to thank you for extending such generosity in your recent grant of Bibles to us. Your expediency in attending to our request has left us speechless. We made our request on a Monday, and by Thursday of the same week Bibles began to arrive. You should have heard the rejoicing on Sunday morning!
Our lively little church is located on the west end of Hyannis, and services a neighborhood of people who struggle financially, spiritually and morally. Your gift allows us to extend generosity, truth and the love of Christ to our neighbors, and you can rest assured that the Bibles you have given will be distributed with great joy. I will be certain to take pictures during our outreach and send them to your office.
Thank you for giving to our community. I am certain that you will reap a bountiful reward for your kindness.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Erik Eskelund
July 14, 2011
Dear Michael:
On behalf of the thousands of seafarers who visit the port of Boston, especially those who wish to have the comfort of scripture during their long days at sea, thank you for the gift of Bibles. We have received the Good News and Tagalog Bibles; they will be well used. Seldom does a week go by when our chaplains are not asked for a Bible by a crew member during a ship visit. At times we have the opportunity to share a reading with crew or spend some time explaining a passage. Once in a while crew have said they use the Bibles given to have a small Bible study time together while at sea.
Your mission of providing Scripture to visiting seafarers is a valued partnership with our mission, originally The Boston Seaman's Friend Society, formed over 180 years ago.
Sincerely,
Rev. J. Loring Carpenter, Executive Director
Seafarer's Friend - Chelsea, MA
July 15, 2011
Dear Mr. Colyott,
On behalf of The Salvation Army and the thousands of people affected by the recent tornado devastation in the Western Massachusetts area, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the generous donation of 100 Spanish Bibles.
These Bibles have been distributed to individuals and families that come to our citadel for tornado relief assistance with basic needs and spiritual support.
The Salvation Army has served over 1000 families by distributing emergency needs including food, clothing, toiletries, baby items, and Bibles as needed.
Through your kindness and generosity, The Salvation Army is able and continues to provide extensive assistance to the affected victims. We pray God's blessing on you and your families as you have cared so much for others.
Sincerely,
Major Thomas Perks - Commanding Officer - The Salvation Army, Springfield Citadel Corps
Dear Rev. Robertson,
I would like to thank the Mass. Bible Society for the precious gift of Bibles that was given to our church. The congregation was stunned! They could not believe that these Bibles had been given to them. The treasurer kept asking about an invoice. I had to explain a few times that these Bibles were a gift.
The Bibles have been put to good use, placed around the sanctuary so that people can readily use them during worship. I have encouraged anyone who had need of a Bible to please take one to keep. One of our older members was thrilled to be able to have a large print version for his personal use.
The great joy has been in seeing the congregation grow in their understanding of the Bible and applying its teachings to their lives.
God bless you all for this splendid gift.
Sincerely,
Rev. Diane L. Badger
Pastor, Community Baptist Church of Marion
Dear Mr. Colyott,
I am writing to you on behalf of Sheriff Michael Bellotti and the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. We house a large number of men at this facility, many of whom are engaged in various religious service offerings. The men who participate in these services find them fulfilling and a source of comfort during this period of hardship. [MassBible's] donation of Bibles to the facility through your grant program was very generous, and is greatly appreciated. Especially in these times of fiscal hardship, your donation will be welcomed by the inmates and program leaders, and will offer many men the materials to address their spiritual needs.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness.
Sincerely,
Patricia Spataro - Assistant Superintendent
Dear Michael,
I am writing to express my thanks for the Bibles which you sent me at Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center in the South End of Boston. Our center services court referred mentally ill persons who are being assessed for their competency to stand trial here in the state of Massachusetts.
Our clients are often homeless and need to be restored to their medication as well as are in a transition from serious mental illness to recovery. Many have very little and are most grateful to hear the Word of God as a source of hope for them. Many times, Scripture is a bridge for them to pass from insanity to sanity.
I am unable to provide any pictures of our clients as their situation does not provide the opportunity to obtain pictures. They are using the Bibles for their own personal use and in our Interfaith Service which is held on each unit each week. However, our clients are most grateful for the opportunity to have a Bible of their own and value them.
Your organization is doing a wonderful thing by supplying us with Bibles for our clients. They treasure these books and often they are their pathway to health along with the care our staff provides them during their stay here at Fuller.
Please convey my gratitude to the staff of your organization and be assured that the Bibles you sent to me will be used and will provide me the opportunity to pray, discuss and ponder God's word with our clients.
Again, I am most grateful to you for providing us with this resource.
Sincerely,
Sister Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ
Interfaith Chaplain
Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center
Dear Rev. Robertson:
Please extend our appreciation to the Massachusetts Bible Society for sending 24 Life Recovery Bibles for our incarcerated Mentees in the Bridge to Hope mentoring program. Each Mentor will now write a special encouraging note in the Mentee's Bible before delivering them to the jail. Right now we have more Mentees in jail than we have ever had in the past 5 years! Praise God for His precious Word that can set them free in spirit.
Thank you for your prompt response to our heart-felt request.
May God richly bless you.
Sincerely,
Linda Bradstreet, LCSW
Director
Dear MassBible Staff:
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for the ministry of the Massachusetts Bible Society in approving our Bible grant and providing us with 130 Spanish NVI Bibles to distribute among our Hispanic congregations.
We will be announcing your generous gift in an upcoming TABCOM Notes e-newsletter that goes out to all of our congregations and regional family. Your Bibles are already in the hands of those who need them!
Thank you again and know that the Bible Grant ministry is a blessing for churches.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Anthony Pappas
Executive Minister
The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts
Dear Massachusetts Bible Society:
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to Ecclesia Ministries common cathedral. Your support of our ministries provides a "place", a spiritual home, for the poorest people of Boston, those who live on its streets and in its shelters, and fosters relationships between housed and unhoused people, from which both reap great benefits.
Ecclesia Ministries has been actively engaged in street ministry in Boston since 1994 and has provided outdoor Sunday worship as common cathedral since 1996. Ecclesia Ministries common cathedral provides companionship and community to people on the street, a sustaining fellowship that serves to lessen the isolation that people face when they have no place to call home. We appreciate your contribution to our community and hope you continue to partner with us in this important journey of relationship, healing, wholeness and justice.
In God's Peace,
The Rev. Kathy McAdams, Executive Director
December 22, 2009
Dear Sir:
On behalf of the staff here at Baystate Children's Hospital, I would like to thank you for your generous donation of children's and young adult Bibles. Each child who received one was delighted with their gift. You were instrumental in fostering the spiritual comfort we as chaplains try to impart to all the children here.
Enclosed find some photos of a young man and his mother sharing a peaceful moment on the playdeck. Please feel free to use the photos to promote your wonderful services.
Thank you again for your generosity.
We wish you a very happy and holy Christmas.
Sincerely,
Ute Schmidt - Manager, Spiritual Services
Linda Kelly - Chaplain, Spiritual Services