GOD S WORD CHANGING WORLD

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1 GOD S WORD FOR A CHANGING WORLD The Huizenga Family & American Bible Society

2 THE WORLD IS CHANGING BEFORE OUR N ew technologies and shifting populations have forever altered our world. Geopolitical borders are increasingly irrelevant, heightening religious tensions in global communities. Online media holds more cultural power than ever, and technology has disrupted social structures and societal norms. While these changes have produced new challenges, they have also opened doors for God s Word to take root in some of the hardest places on earth and in culture. And we are excited about what God can do. At this pivotal moment, will you allow us to explore partnership with you? We believe your passion and goals align with the work to which God has called us. We d like to take a moment to share with you about how God has guided the mission and vision of our work. EYES

3 A LEGACY OF INNOVATION For 200 years, we ve seen innovation around Scripture pave the way for more people to engage God s Word in meaningful ways. From publishing the Good News Translation in 1976 to partnering with YouVersion in the age of smartphones, God has guided American Bible Society to use imagination and creativity to spur Bible engagement in the U.S. and around the world. Here are a few ways we ve seen that work: Digital Bible Library Alongside faithful financial partners, American Bible Society and partner Bible translation organizations worked together to launch the Digital Bible Library in The Digital Bible Library serves as a central repository for digital Bible translations that makes texts available and secure for use across any media platform. This protects Bible translations from being lost or destroyed, and it makes distribution both in print and digital formats faster and more cost effective than ever. As a result, more people experience hope, comfort and life transformation by meeting Jesus in the Bible. Online Scripture Engagement God s Word has spoken truth to generations of believers and seekers. Through online Scripture engagement tools, the love and wisdom found in Scripture is more accessible than ever. Apps such as Bible Minded (for Bible memorization) and Bible Reader (for simplified Bible reading) have brought people closer to Jesus through a format that is integrated into users daily lives. Blogs and Bible resources have brought research and insights to people in the pews as well as church leaders. As a result, people have the opportunity to be transformed by God s Word.

4 A SHARED MISSION We know you have a passion for using cutting-edge research and resources to share timeless, life-changing truth. So do we. New Century, New Goals While our mission to engage the whole world with God s Word hasn t changed for 200 years, American Bible Society is rallying around several third-century goals that will fuel American Bible Society ministry efforts over the next decade. These include: Transforming America We are working to see 100 million Americans actively engaging with the Bible by Translation We are collaborating with ministry partners to open 100% of languages to Scripture engagement in the next 10 years. Trauma Healing We are using Scripture to bring healing to people around the world who have wounds of the heart as a result of trauma such as war, violence and natural disasters. Bible-Based Innovation We ve seen God at work through technological innovation in Scripture ministry. Here are a few of the digital properties that American Bible Society s launched in the last five years: Social Media Community - has a combined audience around the topics of Scripture and prayer of more than 12 million people. Digital Bible Library - a central repository for 1,000 digital Bible translations that makes texts available for use across any media platform..bible top-level Internet Domain - Internet users can more easily identify and access trusted sources of Biblerelated content.

5 AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP Past innovation has transformed lives by bringing people closer to the God of the Bible. Today, we have a new opportunity to build on that innovation: the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center. Located next to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center will be more than an experience. It will be an opportunity for a life-changing encounter with God s Word, designed to reach people with the love and truth of Scripture. And we think you could be instrumental in advancing God s kingdom through it. The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center Every year, 2.5 million people visit Page of Inspiration: When visitors journey Augmented Reality/Blockbuster Experience: Imagine if Francis Scott Key or Martin Luther King, Jr. sat down to share with you how the Bible changed their lives. By using augmented reality technology, that interaction is a possibility for the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center. For skeptical, but curious visitors, these surprising interactions could spark a journey of faith that extends beyond the walls of a building. The Potential 400K Visitors expected annually at the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center 2.5M People visit Independence Mall each year Innovation Lab: God has called believers to share the good news to the very ends of the earth. It will take big ideas and big faith to make that happen. Through an Innovation Lab equipped with a white room and meeting space, we can prepare for God s work in the future, whether it s the next YouVersion Bible app or break through in Bible translation. The Need Total Cost of the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center: $70M Committed: $30M Still Needed: $40M Independence Mall, looking for their story in history. Through the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center, visitors will have the chance to ask deep questions and find transformative answers as they explore the Bible s footprint on America. Much of that discovery will be facilitated by innovative, state-of-the-art experiences. Here are a few of them: through the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center, they will be able to collect moments or features of the experience that inspire or challenge them onto a page, on a tablet or mobile device. When they go home, they ll take their virtual collections with them, so that the ideas and insights from Scripture continue to permeate their worldviews and behaviors.

6 LET S REACH THE WORLD WITH GOD S WORD We re so thankful for the work God has done in the last 200 years. And we re excited to see how God will use innovation around Scripture delivery and engagement to grow and enrich his kingdom in the years ahead. Would you consider a gift of $250,000 over the next three to five years to lead the way in this work of eternal importance? Thank you for prayerfully considering partnering with us. But the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord's glory as the seas are full of water. ~Habakkuk 2:14, GNT

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