Lebanon’s Bible World Welcomes 10,000^th child

 

 

Beirut – LEBANON: BS-Lebanon’s Bible World welcomed it 10,000^th child on January 14, 2005. Following its public opening on November 12, 2002, participants at Bible World have been steadily growing, reaching the five digit figure in slightly over two years.

Pierre Khoury, 11 years old, was the 10,000^th child to enter Bible World. Pierre, who is a student in grade six (6eme) at Saint Coeur (Sacred Heart) School in Kfarhbab, north of Beirut, was caught by surprise. “It was an interesting moment to see who the 10,000^th child would be”, said Mike Bassous, Acting General Secretary of BS-Lebanon. “Bible World Coordinator, Paula Ziade, informed me that we are about to reach the five digit participant figure this week, so we confidentially set to work to find out who it would be”.

 The seventh child to enter Bible World on Friday, January 14^th, would be number 10,000. As the children walked into Bible World, the seventh child, Pierre Khoury, was picked up by Mr. Bassous and granted a plaque of honor. Shocked by the surprise, and still unaware of what was ahead of him at Bible World, Pierre gladly accepted the honor. It was after the two-hour Bible World tour that he realized, along with his classmates and teachers, the importance of the moment. The Bible World volunteers and the school administration were unaware of this surprise: Ten thousand Lebanese children have set foot in this interactive experience and encountered the Bible and its message.

The celebration of the moment was shared with the entire 39-student class, with cake, juice and gifts that included a full illustrated Bible for each student and teacher. Pierre, who seemed shy and timid upon his arrival, was now the focus of attention of all staff, volunteers, teachers and classmates. Neither he nor his classmates will easily forget that day when they marked 10,000 on Bible World’s counter!