JESUS in Schools
From SPARK
Brief Summary
The First JESUS Film Shellbook Workshop
In spite of the increasing difficulty of sharing Christ with the world, a combined effort between the government, churches, Shellbook Publishing Systems and Campus Crusade, is making progress in schools in Papua New Guinea. Many language groups are now able to use “Luke Books” in school during Religious Instruction and these children will be able to share what they have learned about Jesus in their own languages at home.
Introduction
During an 11-day workshop pastors, teachers, translators, and Christian educators printed thousands of Bible Story books in 17 Papua New Guinea (PNG) languages.
In February 2005, Shellbook Publishing Systems (SPS) founder, Mike Trainum, and Vice President, Robert Barnes, went to Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea to do the first multi-language JESUS Film Shellbook Workshop. The workshop started Phase 1 of the Luke Book Project in PNG that is meant to introduce Jesus to every child in PNG’s Elementary and Primary schools, nationwide, in a language that the child understands. SPS is giving Luke Book training and implementation under contract with the JESUS Film Project.
These “Luke Books” have drawings with scenes from the film JESUS, based on the Gospel of Luke. The PNG Department of Education will let Luke Books be used during Religious Instruction period in classrooms in the nation’s school system. Phase 2 of the PNG Luke Book Project will use local Shellbook training workshops around the country. Phase 3 will make and hand out over 1 million Luke Books for use in schools and churches nationwide.
“I believe this is a great opportunity for more people in our country, especially the younger children, to be able to learn of the story of Jesus in their own language… and share it in their homes,” said George Puipui, National Director of Campus Crusade for Christ and Coordinator for the JESUS Film Project in PNG. “It’s a great way of spreading the Gospel.”
What was done
During the workshop, 30 people speaking 17 languages made 146 specific versions of the 10 Luke Books. Of these, 137 were typed into Shellbook Publisher. 5000 copies of 96 Luke Book titles (50 copies each) were printed and given out. Papua New Guineans trained by SPS staff are continuing the production. At the end of Phase 1 in April, 10,000 books will have been made in 20 languages.
Languages included: Adzera, Balawaia, Barai, Domara, Enga, Guhu-Samane, Haku, Kalo-Karona, Keapara, Kiwai, Mekeo, Motu Petats, Sinaugoro, Tok Pisin, Urat-Yehre, and Wanigela
One workshop person told of reading one of the Luke Books to his father. The father, in his eighties, practices the traditional beliefs and “had never set foot in church.” As his son read the book in the local language, the father listened, looked at the pictures, and began to cry. “Why have you never told me this before?” he asked. The pastor shared with others that he had tried to share the Gospel with his father many times over the years.
“The Shellbook process– and technology– is a miracle and the beginning of a revolution in local language literature production,” said PNG Supreme Court Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi at the workshop’s closing ceremony. Sir Mari’s wife, Lady Tegana, was at every session of the workshop and loved the Shellbook system. Sir Mari also learned to use Shellbook Publisher software in an evening session. As PNG National Chairman for “40 Days of Purpose” Sir Mari is keen to see the “40 Days” concept in Shellbook format so it can impact the people “beyond the cities”.
“Shellbooks help us to simplify what many find hard to read and comprehend,” said Uve Rovo, PNG National Director for Prison Fellowship. Rovo added, “With these small books, we can help so many people.” Rovo finished all 10 Luke Books in his Keapara language in the course. He also plans to use Shellbooks for literacy programs in the prisons.
Results
The language problem in PNG shows how hard it is to share the Gospel around the world. Also, a United Nations report says: “About 1.3 billion people – 20% of the world’s population – use one of 6000 local languages as their mother tongue.”
“We work closely with the churches,” said Campus Crusade’s Puipui. “This Shellbook approach gives us the opportunity to equip pastors for follow-up, both inside the schools, and in their churches. This will help our ministry and the churches to spread the Gospel.”
SPS will also be using the Luke Book Project in Africa under contract with The JESUS Film Project and Contexture Ministries of Southern California. The Africa Project will focus on making the Luke Books in 100 of the Bantu languages, the biggest group of languages in Africa, and the one with the least access to the Scriptures. This project will be done with Wycliffe Bible Translators, national Bible translation organizations, and churches across Southern Africa.
- By Patty High of Shellbook Publishing Systems (SPS)
