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“This book has to be something very special”
“I once had the opportunity to speak to students at a university in Uzbekistan,” Shana said. ”After the lecture all those who were interested came forward and collected a copy of the Uzbek New Testament. The next morning a young Uzbek man found me and asked for a New Testament. I asked why he had not taken one the previous day. He replied, `I experienced something very remarkable yesterday. During your lecture I was furious at first – how can you not only compare the Koran, the Muslims’ holy book, with the Bible, but also claim that the whole Koran is based on the Bible! The Bible is a Russian book, not something for the Uzbeks, and Christianity is a religion that we have nothing to do with! I wanted to stand up and contradict you – but suddenly I couldn’t move. When I tried to open my mouth I couldn’t move my lower jaw, and then my whole body began to shake. When I got home I enjoyed the first good night’s sleep I’ve had in eight years. I am sure that this is connected with what you were saying yesterday, and that this book has to be something very special. So that is why I really want one.’”
Project of the Month There are 20 million Uzbeks, the largest ethnic group in Central Asia. They received their first New Testament in 1993 straight after perestroika. This has greatly contributed to the fact that today there are several thousand Uzbek Christians. The Old Testament is now being translated in cooperation with other Bible translation organisations. Support the Uzbek translation of the Bible with your donation to this month’s project! |
What use is made of the New Testaments and Gospel portions that IBT has translated and published over the years? We recently heard the following story from Shana*, a Christian woman from Central Asia.