Special guests hear the Bible
message at Christmas
Since it opened in November
2002, the Bible Society
in Lebanon’s Bible World attraction has proved extremely popular
with both visiting children and the adults who accompany them. One
reason for the success of this interactive, multimedia Scripture
experience is that it appeals to visitors of many different
backgrounds and levels of understanding. This was clearly
demonstrated when a group of mentally and physically handicapped
children visited
Bible World just before Christmas.
Bible World Coordinator Paula Ziadeh was initially rather
concerned about receiving visitors from the ‘Foi et Lumière’ (Faith
and Light) movement, an interconfessional volunteer organisation
that serves the spiritual needs of mentally and physically
handicapped individuals. “I was a bit worried about how we would
handle our special guests, and whether they would understand the
purpose of Bible World and the Bible message,” she recalls. Her
concerns
proved unfounded, however.
“They toured Bible World, engaged in all its activities and
understood most of its components,” she says. “Some even cried when
they watched the Bible World film.”
This special visit on December 21 was designed to give the guests an
opportunity to encounter the Bible message at Christmas.
Accompanied by Bible Society volunteers and staff members, each
visitor was guided through Bible World; information was provided
along the way as they participated in the various Bible activities.
The visit ended after Santa handed out Christmas gifts to the
guests. “Our vision statement is to present all generations with the
opportunity to encounter the Bible and its life-changing message,”
says Ms Ziadeh. “All generations and people, including special
people.”