The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has developed a creative way to engage financial supporters and encourage greater investment in Bible ministry. Through the *Write and Build for Our God* (WABFOG) project, BSN has successfully produced unique handwritten Bibles, which are being used to raise funds for the construction of their *Bible House* (Bible Centre).
The WABFOG initiative calls on Christians across Nigeria to preserve and celebrate the Word of God by hand-copying Bible verses—a modern reflection of the ancient tradition of copying sacred texts prior to the invention of the printing press.
Although hand-copying the Scriptures is a common activity undertaken by many Bible Societies, the BSN has created a system whereby donors can make a financial contribution to this project whilst also being invited to personally write out one or more Bible verses. Many of the donors choose passages that hold special significance in their faith journey, thereby creating a deeply personal connection with the completed Bible.
The passages written by participants vary depending on their sponsorship level, ranging from a few verses to an entire chapter of the Bible. To encourage wider participation, the sponsorship categories are divided into four tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
For authors in the Platinum Category, BSN promises that sponsors in this category will receive one copy of the Handwritten Bible free of charge upon its completion.
One significant contribution comes from The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, whose members collectively hand-copied the entire Book of Ephesians, making it the only denomination to complete an entire book of the Bible in this project.
This project was first conceived in 2019 to raise funds for the new *Bible House*, whilst also raising public awareness of BSN’s ministry and encouraging greater congregational involvement in the translation, production and distribution of the Bible.
Once the manuscript was complete, BSN fulfilled its commitment by producing and distributing special copies (commemorative editions) of the handwritten Bible to eligible participants. Although production costs were high, BSN’s Secretary-General, Samuel Sanusi, explained that fulfilling this promise was vital to demonstrate loyalty to those who had supported the vision.
With its distinctive black cover, this handwritten Bible comprises 3,083 pages and weighs approximately two kilograms, immortalising the handwriting of hundreds of believers in a single historic publication.
Recipients have expressed their gratitude and admiration for this initiative. Prof. Ibiyemi Mojola, a Professor of Literature from Nigeria, described the Bible as “a priceless gift” and evidence of God’s faithfulness. Another Nigerian figure, Rev. Bolarinwa Johnson, known as a cross-denominational leader and a driving force behind Bible distribution in Nigeria, praised BSN for realising a vision that had been set in motion several years earlier.
Through the WABFOG project, BSN has created a successful fundraising initiative and a lasting reminder that every church member has a role to play in ensuring that the Word of God continues to be present and reaches the world.
Translated from:
ubscommunity.org
