Bible League International is gearing up for a series of regional events this September. Conferences are planned in both Michigan and Iowa, as well as an Iowa retreat. Conferences start in Byron Center Michigan on September 11, with another conference in Sioux Center September 14-15.
In a recent interview on The Daily Grind show Sherri Ten Napel, a regional volunteer, and Marilyn Feekes, Chairwoman of Fall Conference Planning, shared insights into the organization’s 88-year history and its ongoing worldwide ministry. Founded in 1938 by William Chapman, Bible League International currently serves under-resourced churches and communities in more than 50 countries.
The organization partners with Wycliffe Ministries and has its own simplified translation tailored for new readers. Ten Napel describes the version.
“It’s called easy to read version. And, um, they base out of Texas or, uh, Dallas Fort Worth. Sure. And each verse goes through a seventeen step process to make sure that it is biblically sound, but is also, uh, adaptive to the culture.”
Ten Napel noted the organization works directly with local leaders in Central and South America to assist home churches.
“So there’s little house churches in little villages. And so they find these places and help these pastors, and they give them Bibles, they give them study materials in their language. And so we were able to go into these little villages and you see a kitchen that’s just. And then in Columbia, we saw what they were doing with the mostly children’s ministries.”
Sioux Center Conference Details
The Northwest Iowa Fall Conference in Sioux Center kicks off Monday, September 14th, at 5:30 PM with a social hour followed by dinner at 6:00 PM. Bible League International President Jos Snoep and featured speaker Gayle Haas will address attendees during the evening program.
On September 15th doors open at 9:00 AM for registration, coffee and food, followed by a worship service led by Jennifer Friends at 9:30 AM. Haas will deliver the keynote presentation, portraying Holocaust survivor and Christian author Corrie Ten Boom.
Tuesday’s agenda also introduces a local artisan vendor fair featuring handmade crafts, pottery, journals, clothing, and food items.
“This year, we decided to just ask a few local people who have different arts and crafts and produce. Um, so and they are planning to come in and have their things on display so that people can browse and shop during the noon break and after the conference. Um, and they are all putting part of their, um, income in back to the Bible league.”
Registration Information
Tickets for the September 14th dinner are $25. For Tuesday, September 15th, registration costs $40 with lunch included, or $30 for conference sessions only. You can register for the events online by visiting the website and selecting your preferred regional event.
