Bible Festival 2011 press release

BIBLE FESTIVAL 2011

On August 6 of this year, Bible Festival will take place in Riga, in Dome Square. It is organized by the Latvian Evangelical Alliance in cooperation with the Christian denominations in Latvia.
The aim of the festival is to strengthen Christian unity among different denominations and churches, to invite all people of good will to common prayer for the capital city, and to encourage Bible reading in society.

"In the beginning was the Word... /John 1:1/
The Bible has been relevant in every age. It is relevant also today for every person, because it speaks about a person's past, present and future, a person's eternal life. On the foundations of the Bible stands the worldwide unity of Christians, for which Jesus Christ also prayed. Through the Bible God speaks to the human heart about Faith, Hope and Love.

It is symbolic that the first Bible Festival - a Bible reading marathon - took place in Israel in 1989. Christians from many countries and nations read the whole Bible aloud for four days and nights, from Genesis to Revelation. Then, on February 22, 1990, U.S. President George Bush proclaimed 1990 as the International Year of Bible Reading. That year the first Bible reading marathon was organized in Washington, the capital. I had the privilege in 2000 to organize a Bible reading marathon in West Coast, Oregon, which has already become a tradition, and Bible festivals take place every year. In 2005 the first Bible reading marathon in Latvia took place in Ogre, the first Bible Festival in Europe. The festivals have expanded and now take place in several Latvian cities - Ventspils, Valmiera and, beginning in 2010, Riga, Dome Square. Last year all leaders of Christian denominations, believers, musicians, politicians and tourists from several countries took part in Riga Bible Festival, about 2000 participants in all. Well-known people in Latvia gave testimony about the importance of the Bible in the state and in personal life. This year too, in the central event of the festival, we plan to hear well-known worship songs with the participation of united church choirs and soloists, testimonies and readings of God's Word. The festival will be opened by Riga deputy mayor Andris Ameriks. Spiritual leaders of all Christian denominations will take part in the festival, says Vadims Kovaļevs, president of the Latvian Evangelical Alliance."

More and more people in the world have the opportunity to read the Bible in their native language. According to the latest data from the United Bible Societies, the Bible in full or parts of it can be read in 2508 languages. The Old and New Testaments have been fully translated into 459 languages. The New Testament is available in 1213 languages. The largest number of translations is in Asia - 1052 languages. This is followed by Africa - 703 languages, and North and Latin America - 512. In Europe and the Middle East the Bible can be read fully or in part in 210 languages. Altogether there are about 6900 languages in the world. Latvia's roots as a state, in writing and in cultural history, are also closely connected with the Bible and its popularity at Latvia's beginnings.

This year, within Bible Festival 2011, a unique project will take place for the first time in Latvia, and we think also in Europe. On August 6, from 12:00 to 24:00, there will be continuous Bible reading live on Latvian Christian Radio. Seventy-two people representing all Christian denominations in Latvia will be involved in this project. We want God's Word to resound over all Latvia and for every listener in Latvia to have the opportunity to join from their own location and read specific books from Holy Scripture together. Also within the festival, Bible reading and intercessions will take place on 3.08 at 18:00 by the Freedom Monument, on 4.08 at 18:00 by Riga Town Hall, and on 5.08 at 18:00 by the President's Palace, with the presence of leaders and representatives of all Christian denominations.

Information prepared by:
Bible Festival leader,
Inga Ziņģe-Pupiņa
www.bibelessvetki.lv