LIMA, Peru, Feb. 16 — The Peruvian Bible Society is preparing to follow a successful distribution of Bible Selections to the people of its crisis-weary country with a second distribution coinciding with the run-up to the general election due in April. Many Peruvians are hoping the election, which follows the resignation of President Alberto Fujimori in November, will mark a turn in the moral tide of government.
In August a secretly-shot video was released showing Vladimoro Montesinos, head of the National Intelligence Service (SIN) and principal adviser to President Fujimori, offering cash to an opposition congressman in return for his support of the government.
In response to the resulting shock around the nation, the Peruvian Bible Society produced 150,000 copies of a Selection called A Change of National Attitude, containing 14 texts from Scripture. Some 50 pastors of different denominations helped prepare the Selection and the opinions of many more were taken into account.
A nationwide distribution began in November when it became part of the supporting literature given out at showings of the Jesus film. By then Mr Montesinos had fled the country and, following this, nearly 2,500 more videos came to light, reportedly showing judges and other senior officials accepting bribes from him at his SIN offices.
The revelations in the videos had still wider repercussions: Mr Montesinos had been Mr Fujimori's main adviser for 10 years and, despite attempts to distance himself from his right hand man, in November the president felt obliged to resign.
Since then, demand for A Change of National Attitude has been so great that an edition has been prepared in the format of a tabloid newspaper. The Bible texts were also recorded on a CD which was broadcast by a secular radio station, Radio Miraflores, whose owner is a Roman Catholic.
Next month the Bible Society is also planning to hold workshops for pastors to help them preach on the texts of the Selection, or hold studies on them designed to help people apply the overall message in their lives.
It is seeking financial help from the UBS fellowship to enable this campaign to continue and hopes to publish a second Selection in advance of April's elections, entitled The President that Peru Needs. Two Portions, The Ten Commandments of Development: a Christian Approach, and National Reconciliation: a Task for All! are also in preparation.
"We appeal for the prayers and support of the Fellowship," said the Rev Pedro Arana, General Secretary of the Peruvian Bible Society, "that confidence, hope and love may return to Peru through Jesus Christ and his Gospel."
Source: United Bible Societies
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