EASIER READS: Rotorua Gideon David Brackfield with some of the English Standard Versions. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 250414BF18
EASIER READS: Rotorua Gideon David Brackfield with some of the English Standard Versions. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 250414BF18
Rotorua's accommodation providers will receive their new Gideon's Bibles in a three-day operation to distribute them across the city.
Around 6500 Bibles have been labelled at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in readiness for the blitz next month. The Bibles will be taken to every accommodation provider in the city, withRotorua the first place in New Zealand to get the new version.
Currently Bibles found in motels and hotels are the King James version, but the Gideons have decided the English Standard Version (ESV) should be available for travellers to read.
"Rotorua will be the first in New Zealand and it might be a while before the rest of New Zealand gets changed," said Gideons Rotorua Camp president David Brackfield.
"It's because we have got a lot of motels and hotels. The Gideons themselves donate the Bibles and 20 will be coming to Rotorua to distribute them. They have chosen this version as it's friendlier for people to read and still a very good scriptural version."
On Sunday, May 11 the Gideons will attend as many church services in the city as they can, then the distribution will start the next day. Old Bibles will be donated to prisons or given to accommodation staff to take home.
Mr Brackfield said this was the first time in about 20 years the Bibles had been replaced. A new Bible has been given to Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and one will be presented to Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Year 9 students in seven Rotorua district schools will also receive a copy.
The Gideons is an international organisation which uses all donations for printing and distribution costs.
