American Bible Society and Scripture Union Sign Three-Year Alliance to Develop Bible Resources

Contact: Autumn Black, American Bible Society, 212-408-1250, ABlack@AmericanBible.org; Dan Sheldon, Scripture Union, 610-935-2807 ext 405, DanS@ScriptureUnion.org

NEW YORK, June 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- Leaders from American Bible Society and Scripture Union/USA gathered in New York City to charter a three-year alliance agreement, joining resources in the fight against ever-declining Bible comprehension and engagement.

This joint project will bring together the strengths of both organizations to help foster a National Scripture Campaign, equipping local churches and denominations to connect the Bible to today's challenges and struggles.

"The importance of the Bible in America is really too big to fail.  We are thrilled to join together with Scripture Union to develop and deploy resources churches in America need to help people explore and experience the best-selling, most-translated book of all time," said R. Lamar Vest, president and CEO of American Bible Society.

In February 2007, Scripture Union and American Bible Society began an 18‐month pilot project to test a new Bible readership program called "The Essential 100 Challenge" (E100).  To date, more than 110,000 individuals and churches have engaged in this program.  Based on the success of this program, new E100 resources have been deployed to help take this resource to America's military and veterans.

"Scripture Union is pleased to deepen our mission partnership with American Bible Society.  This agreement marks an important commitment for our two organizations to jointly pursue the critical vision of Bible reading revival--one person, one church and one community at a time", said Whitney T. Kuniholm, president of Scripture Union/USA.

This American Bible Society and Scripture Union alliance builds on decades of fruitful collaboration.  In the fall of 2004, the two organizations conducted a research initiative under the title Fan the Flame, which delivered significant findings in the areas of habit‐formation research and market research of non‐Bible readers in the U.S. 

About American Bible Society:
Headquartered in Manhattan, the 194-year-old American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message.  One of the nation's oldest nonprofit organizations, today's American Bible Society provides interactive, high- and low-tech resources enabling first-time readers and seasoned theologians alike to engage with the best-selling book of all time.

About Scripture Union/USA:
Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., the mission of the 50-year-old Scripture Union/USA is to "encourage people of all ages to meet God daily in the Bible and prayer, and to make God's Good News known to children, young people and their families."  Scripture Union conducts evangelism and discipleship programs across the country and has a variety of Bible reading publications and programs for all ages.

CONTACT: Autumn Black (ABlack@AmericanBible.org) at (212) 408-1250 or Dan Sheldon (DanS@ScriptureUnion.org) at (610) 935-2807 ext 405