Crieff, Scotland -- Inspired by the 66-language Bible traveling the world in the lead-up to the General Conference Session in Atlanta next year, an initiative called "Follow the Bible", Scottish Seventh-day Adventists decided to have their own personalized, handwritten Bible.
Members from all the churches in Scotland submitted handwritten passages of Scripture to the Mission office where they were compiled into the "Scottish Adventist Bible."
Writing out the Bible by hand can bring new insights and meaning, participants said. "In the same way students write out revision notes, handwriting the Bible makes passages stand out for you," said Carole Peacock, secretary to the president.
Some members kept an international spirit by writing their selection out in their own language. Arthur Gall of the Dundee church submitted John 19 written in Scottish vernacular.
"Meanwhile Jesus' mither an her sister wis staundin aside the cross, an wi them, Mary, the wife o Clopas an Mary Magdala. When Jesus saw his mither an the disciple at he loved staundin aside her, he said tae her, "This is yir son." An syne tae the Disciple, "This is yir mither" and frae that day the Disciple tuick her intil his ain hame."
"It brought it home to me writing it out," said Gall, who was baptized in January and says he's enthusiastic to share the Bible with his fellow Scots.
The Scottish Adventist Bible attracted considerable attention at the Scottish Mission Day of Fellowship as members poured through the pages to see who had contributed and in which languages.
More importantly, as part of "Follow the Bible", Scottish Mission President Pastor Llew Edwards hopes that this initiative has helped Adventists in Scotland to appreciate their Bibles more, not just as a historical heritage but as a life-changing book to cherish and share. He has experienced that, "somehow actually writing the text of Scripture out yourself has its own way of 'speaking' to you as you write."
-- TED News Bulletin, July 1, 2009
