WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 1975 recognizes the printed Word of God in the language of the people as being fundamental to missionary work at home and around the world; and that the advance of the gospel is dependent upon a wider availability of Bibles, New Testaments, portions, and Scripture selections, and
WHEREAS, The American Bible Society provides an essential worldwide service for the church through the translation, publication, and distribution of the Scriptures without doctrinal note or comment at prices people can afford, or free where needed, and
WHEREAS, The Society performs many special services for Southern Baptists through the production of special Scripture editions designed for use by the churches and agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention, and
WHEREAS, The Society offers Scriptures without charge to chaplains for distribution to the men and women of the Armed Forces and to patients in Veterans Hospitals, and
WHEREAS, The Society furnishes Scripture for the blind, free of charge where needed: in Braille and in sound, and
WHEREAS, The American Bible Society, working with the members of the United Bible Societies, is expanding the Good News for New Readers program, having already prepared Scripture Literacy Selections at two or more reading levels in 100 languages, and whereas this worldwide program is helping millions of new readers around the world to read the Word of God for themselves for the first time.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we give thanks to God for the unique services rendered by the American Bible Society.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we encourage our churches to support the work of the American Bible Society liberally in order that the urgent task of Scripture distribution and our own worldwide missions program may be continued and expanded, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we urge our churches to give additional support for the advance of the Good News for New Readers program of the American Bible Society over and above their contributions in previous years, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That the messengers of this Convention encourage all state conventions, associations, and churches to emphasize the need for a wider reading and sharing of the gospel both in our own land and throughout the world.