Society for the
Cure of Souls Founder Dr. Robert O'Block Assists in Mission
to Broadcast WatchWORD BIBLE Series to Arabic Nations
Some time ago, Dr.
Robert O'Block, founder of the Society for the Cure of Souls,
discovered the WatchWORD BIBLE video series produced by WatchWORD
Worldwide. After viewing the series, Dr. O'Block was inspired
by the program's innovative and effective method of broadcasting
the word of God to viewers. Enthusiastic
about the program and its mission, he contacted Jim Fitzgerald,
developer of the series. Through their interactions, he learned
that Fitzgerald's mission was to provide the series to Muslims
living in Arabic nations and all over the world. To do this,
Fitzgerald would need the assistance of Arabic translators to
interpret the WatchWORD BIBLE series and express the Biblical
teachings of the series in the Arabic language. He would also
require financial support to get his project underway.
While driving on
a road he didn't normally travel, Dr. O'Block noticed a church
set on a beautiful hill. It was called Immanuel Lutheran Church.
The church, small, white, and simple, was perched in an idyllic
setting surrounded by mature trees and green lawns. He felt
drawn to the church, and diverted his route in order to drive
into its parking lot.
After parking his
car behind the small building, He entered the church and found
the doors open. He called out, and got a response from a small
office inside the building.
There he found Vincent
Will, pastor of the church, studying in his tiny office filled
to near bursting with books that were stacked from floor to
ceiling.*
Dr. O'Block felt
compelled to discuss the WatchWORD BIBLE series he had discovered
earlier with him.
During their discussions, Dr. O'Block mentioned the important
mission that Fitzgerald, the developer of the series, had embarked
on, to provide the New Testament via satellite broadcast to
Muslim nations.
Pastor Will was intrigued
by Fitzgerald's mission and decided he wanted to help. He drove
from Springfield, Missouri to Oklahoma to meet with an elderly
retired oilman he knew to discuss the project. He believed this
Christian man would be happy to provide financial support for
Fitzgerald's project, and he was correct. This
gentleman, who was in declining health, took action and agreed
to support Fitzgerald's mission in any way he could. He happily
pledged substantial financial support to help Fitzgerald get
his project underway.
Fitzgerald now had
the means necessary to embark on what would become one of the
most important missions of his life. He contracted the work
of Arabic translators, and the project was officially in operation.
Dr. O'Block is proud
to see the great progress the WatchWORD BIBLE series is making
in Arabic nations across the globe. Please read on to share
in this groundbreaking project and the amazing impact it is
having on people all over the world.
The Importance
of Providing Bible Broadcasts to the Arab World
Until satellite television
was made available, all television broadcasts in Arabic nations
were government controlled. With the availability of satellite
television, information from all corners of the world may be
broadcast into Arabic households without being censored or limited
by government or religious controls. Although most people living
in Arabic nations are bound by poverty, a large majority of
them own televisions, video cassette recorders, and satellite
dishes.Nearly
100 million households have access to satellite television,
and in these areas satellite broadcasts are known as the best
available source of international news and entertainment.
Christianity is a
growing movement in the Arab world; although the religion is
hindered by political and religious controls, there are now
between 15 and 20 million Arab Christians. Most of these Arab
Christians live in areas where they are restricted by laws limiting
freedom of religion and human rights.In
some Arabic nations it is illegal to participate in Christian
activities, and Bibles and other types of Christian literature
are outlawed.
Twenty-one Arabic
nations are located in North Africa, the Central Middle East,
and the Gulf areas. Together these nations have a population
of over 270 million people, a number that expands by half a
million every month. Between 15 and 20 million Christians live
in this area today.
It is no secret
that Christianity has been restricted and persecuted over the
ages. Even
today most Christians in the region are not free to practice
their faith without concern of persecution or even death. It
is illegal to hold Christian meetings in any area, including
oneÕs own home. Even so, many determined Arab Christians hold
clandestine meetings with fellow Christians and pursue the Christian
faith in secrecy.
One of the world's
regions that is being targeted for the Christianity movement
is an area that spans from West Africa to East Asia, widely
known as the 10/40 Window. It
contains the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.This
area, which is made up of approximately one-third of earthÕs
total land, includes 61 countries and has a total population
nearing four billion. Nearly two-thirds of the people on earth
live in the 10/40 Window. Most of the people living in the 10/40
Window are extremely poor; most survive on less than $500 per
person per year.
The WatchWORD
BIBLE Series is Launched to Arabic Nations Across the Globe
WatchWORD Worldwide
is currently working with WatchWORD Productions to broadcast
the New Testament of the Bible in Arabic via satellite to millions
of people in Middle Eastern and North African nations. This
project began in May of 2000 with the translation of the New
Testament into the Arabic language by translators working for
WatchWORD Worldwide.The
first WatchWORD program presenting the Book of Philippians was
aired on April 22, 2004; 19 of the 27 New Testament books have
now been translated into Arabic in the WatchWORD BIBLE series.
WatchWORD programs are now broadcast four times each week on
SAT-7 satellite television.
The WatchWORD BIBLE
programs combine spoken dialect and images to clearly and innovatively
express the word of God in an interesting and easy-to-understand
format appropriate for all ages and reading/comprehension levels.
The WatchWORD BIBLE series was created using the American Bible
Society's Bible translation, the Contemporary English Bible.
This translation was selected for the WatchWORD series due to
its clear, easy to read and understand language that is appropriate
for a wide range of ages and reading skill levels. The version
is also most appropriate for those learning to speak English
as a second language. The Contemporary English Bible is widely
used by Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox churches.
The WatchWORD BIBLE
New Testament series can be seen or heard on VHS, DVD, television,
radio, the Internet, and other outlets in locations spanning
the globe.
WatchWORD Productions
also hopes to produce the Old Testament of the Bible, beginning
with Psalms, as an additional WatchWORD BIBLE series in the
future.
WatchWORD Productions'
website, www.thebiblechannel.com,
makes the WatchWORD Bible New Testament series available all
over the world through orders placed by credit card over the
internet. Visitors to this site can also view sample video clips
from the series.
The WatchWORD
BIBLE Series Touches People of All Cultures Around the World
The Bible Channel
currently broadcasts WatchWORD BIBLE programs on Eutelsat Hot
Bird satellite on CTV Channel, a Khurdish and Arabic television
channel. Each program features two men sitting together in a
home-like setting discussing passages from the Bible in Arabic.
Arabic worship songs are also included in the programs.
The WatchWORD BIBLE
series is already having a serious impact on people all around
the world. To date, the Bible Channel has received letters and
other forms of positive feedback from viewers in Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Yemen,
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Israel, Greece, Sudan, Palestine,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Moscow, Romania, Poland, Albania, Hungary,
Germany, Italy, France, Gibraltar, Spain, Switzerland, Austria,
Holland, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden,
and other European nations.
Future Goals
of the WatchWORD BIBLE Series Mission
The WatchWORD Worldwide
organization also has new projects underway, including the translation
of the New Testament into the Hindi language for broadcasting
to the 300 million Hindi speakers living in India and worldwide.
Another project currently underway is the production of the
New Testament in Japanese for a series that will be provided
to the Japanese nation, which encompasses 120 million people.
* Pastor Vincent
Will, former pastor for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Springfield,
Missouri, has passed away. However, his wife Eunice Will still
volunteers much of her time at Immanuel Lutheran.
Readers interested
in Biblical-based counseling or spiritual direction and those
who are already engaged in Biblical counseling are encouraged
to join The Society for the Cure of Souls, a professional organization
of Christian Spiritual Directors and Biblical Counselors. It
is also recommended that you refer to the book The 7 Steps to
the Cure of Souls, written by Robert L. OBlock. For more information,
to join The Society for the Cure of Souls, or to purchase a
copy of The 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls, visit The Society
for the Cure of Souls website at www.cureofsouls.com.
