MBS Newsletter
Dear MassBible:
I am so grateful to God for your great support and love! We have received the 20 copies of Chinese-English Bibles.
There are many new Chinese immigrants, visiting students, and scholars in Boston. The mission of our Lincoln Park Baptist Church is to spread Jesus' gospel to them.
We will use the Bibles for a Bible study on Friday evenings. We will bring God's words and love to the people who are in need and who have never heard of God. May our lord constantly bless Massachusetts Bible Society!
Thank you again for your generosity and love!
Love in Christ,
Jie Jiao
p.s. I would like to give you a small gift to express our thanks. It is a paper-cut which my sister made. Jesus is the true vine. We are the branches. I hope you like it.
(cutout image above)
22 February 2012
Dear Sir,
I would like to acknowledge receipt of the full grant. We have received in full the French Bibles - Louis Segond Version - via UPS according to your mail. Once again on behalf of African Revival Radio and its staff, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to bless French speaking immigrants with the word of God. Many are in need to read the Bible in their own languages and dialects while living here in the USA. Throughout this ministry we have come across that many immigrants are struggling in their faith because they don't have easy access to the word of God due to the English language barrier. We will strive to put these Bibles in the hands of those who truly need them and keep you updated on their distribution. I would like to remind you that these resources will not just serve one community but will serve across the United States, because our radio programming connects people together from all over the country. We pray that God will multiply your resources and bless your ministry.
Once again thank you for your generous gift - It will help us to expand the outreach ministry of African Revival Radio
Sincerely,
Komlan Koudifo, Director
January 5, 2012
Dear Rev. Robertson:
One important piece of our ministry here at the Shattuck Hospital has only been possible through the support of the Bible Society. To see the joy and appreciation on the faces of those we try to serve, when they receive a Bible, Tanakh or Koran of their own, is immeasurable.
We have seen a dramatic increase in need of spiritual support offered here at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. Together with our 225 in-patient population and the other programs located at the hospital including, hopeFound Shelter your grants of Bibles and other religious literature have been extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.
On a number of occasions, individuals have returned to visit the chapel after their discharge to share their stories and appreciation of our program and thank us for the gift of a Bible which you have provided. Often they will comment on how this helped them put their lives back together. The recent grant from the Massachusetts Bible Society of Life Recovery Bibles has been especially appreciated and is in hight demand in the substance abuse programs on campus and on our in-patient medical and mental health units.
Thank you again for you ongoing generosity and support.
Sincerely,
Reverend James Gannon
Director of Pastoral Services
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