Thursday, January 30, 2014
Toronto, Ontario—The Canadian Bible Society announces this year’s Bike for Bibles (B4B) rides will take place throughout spring and summer 2014 in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Each year, B4B events bring together hundreds of Canadian cycling enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life for fellowship on the road with one purpose, to raise funds for Bible distribution and translation projects of the Canadian Bible Society. This year, cyclists will pedal toward a goal of raising $150,000—to support the Good Samaritan program in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Tanzania.
Good Samaritan is a Bible Society program that addresses the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 20 countries in Africa. The program offers a series of Bible-based workshops arranged by local Bible Societies in partnership with churches and Christian organizations. Workshops are designed to educate and equip people with knowledge and skills to live responsibly, dialogue openly and overcome discrimination. The program not only shares important information about HIV/AIDS—such as how it spreads, how it can be treated, etc.—but also provides hope and new meaning in life for those who are infected and often treated as outcasts in their community. Communities—especially church people—are encouraged to be Good Samaritans to their neighbours who are HIV positive.
“This epidemic is at the core of what tears apart Africa,” says Amie Wiebe, Special Events and Partnership Manager for the Canadian Bible Society. “This is a scary topic for many, but it’s important to be addressed. Even people here in Canada do not fully understand the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa; that’s why education is necessary. Monies raised will definitely assure a brighter future for the next generation.”
Good Samaritan contributes to the UNAIDS “Getting to Zero” strategy, which aims for “zero new infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015.” UNAIDS is a joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.
Last year, B4B raised over $110,000 towards She’s My Sister, a trauma-healing program for women and children in Rwanda impacted by the 1994 genocide. Trauma healing is implemented through Bible-based workshops, which highlight the importance of forgiveness in the healing process. The program is assured of continuity for many years to come because of the support raised through Bike for Bibles.
About the Canadian Bible Society
For more than 100 years the Canadian Bible Society has promoted the translation, publication, distribution and use of the Bible, convinced that lives are transformed when people engage with its text. We distribute Scripture resources in more than 100 languages at home and, together with 146 national Bible Societies worldwide, we distributed 380 million Scriptures last year.
For more information:
Contact: Amie Wiebe, Special Events and Partnership Manager
Email: awiebe@biblesociety.ca
Website: www.biblesociety.ca / www.bike4bibles.ca
Ph: (604) 644-5063
BLOG RELATED TO SHE’S MY SISTER PROGRAM:
Journey to Rwanda
LINK: http://www.biblesociety.ca/blog/journey-rwanda
BLOG RELATED TO GOOD SAMARITAN PROGRAM:
Her revenge against HIV: a widow’s story
LINK: http://bit.ly/CBS-HIV-PR
CLICK HERE for contributed Photo (Cyclists in CBS, B4B event)