Reaching The Soul Of America by Dr. Eugene Habecker (NAPSA)—Newsof terror and rumors of war naturally make us uneasy. Still, it is in the difficult times—like those we are currently experiencing—when people begin asking the tough questions. It is almost as if we are at a kind of spiritual Ground Zero. I am reminded regularly of the words of Frederick Cropp, a leader of times. We are particularly concerned about the young, who are inheriting a world that is troubled by violence, terror and ongoing strife. To meet this challenge, we are embarking on a national effort titled Reaching the Soul of America, a program by the American Bible Society that will Society during the @ dark days of World WarII. “There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid,” Dr. Cropp proclaimed to a country facing colossal challenges. Today we are facing similar difficulties. For example: Our country has been blessed with great docu- a tidal wave of hope. the American Bible ments, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address, all statements that profoundly proclaim our commitment to freedom and humandignity. Still, those of us who embrace biblical faith can turn to something even deeper. Though we revere those documents, we want to go back to their source, to the roots of our her- itage. Today’s national crisis reveals again a public yearning to connect with something deeper, to fill the emptiness left by routines, distractions, and friends abruptly severed from us by evil. It illustrates again the renewed openness of people to consider the promises of God’s Word. At the American Bible Society, we are interested in promoting the kind of engagement with the Scriptures prompted by those seeking solace in these difficult In responseto a “spiritual Ground Zero,’ a nationaleffort is expected to generate @ include televised public service airings illustrating how the Scriptures can have an effect on the lives of troubled youth. On those programs, television viewers can see documentation of how the Scriptures can offer an alternative to young people beset with drug addiction, alcoholism, and suicidal tendencies, among other concerns. Through Reaching the Soul of America, we will also be encouraging churches and individuals to join usin a literacy education project that will promote the vital skill of reading. We believe that encouraging literacy can promote a means to escape poverty and ignorance for many Americans but also offers the opportunity to use God’s Word as an educationaltool, offering spiritual as well as intellectual support. Together, we can generate a tidal wave of hope, offering a vehicle that will reflect an outpouring of God’s hope, peace and a reconciling redemptive presence. Dr. Eugene Habeckeris president of the American Bible Society. His syndicated radio broadcast, the Open Book, is carried on radio sta- tions across the United States. Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the American Bible Society is a non-profit, interdenominational organization that works to transform lives, particularly among the young, by promoting personal engagement with the Holy Scriptures. Its mission is to provide the Scriptures to every person in a language and format each can readily understand and afford. The American Bible Society Web site is www.americanbible.org.
