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If an African pastor has a book to help him in his study of the Bible and sermon preparation, it will almost certainly be in an alien language (English or French), using thought forms very different from his own.

In most languages of East Africa, even the most widely used, there are few, if any, commentaries available for rural pastors.

Congo pastors with Swahili commentaries for the first time

APF is encouraging and sponsoring commentaries on New Testament books in :- Swahili for Tanzania, Kenya and DR Congo, Kirundi for Burundi, Kinyarwanda for Rwanda and Chichewa for Malawi more..

A complete set of New Testament commentaries is now available in Swahili. They are being made available free of charge to college libraries in Kenya and Tanzania and sold at, or below, cost price to pastors and others. Reprints are now being prepared in Tanzania.

Ten commentaries are now available in Kirundi and most of the remaining New Testament commentaries have been translated and are ready for the press. The commentary on Galatians is available in Kinyarwanda and that on the Letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus are ready for the press in June 2007.  Work is underway on the translation of the Swahili commentaries into Chichewa in Malawi.

Children’s literature

There is also very little printed material either for children in their own language or for those working with children. Safari books and posters are produced by APF  for children and Sunday school teachers.

The books have a full colour picture on the left hand page with the story line, simply told, in a local language and a ‘trade language’ such as English or French. 9 stories are available in Swahili and English. The story of the Lost Son has been produced in 19 different language combinations for different countries and people’s groups in the area. The Wedding has been produced in 10 language combinations.  Work is progressing on manuscripts for the story of Zacchaeus.

The pictures have been drawn by Ugandan artist, Peter Kasamba and are relevant and lively representations of the story.  They are also being produced as Sunday School teaching pictures, originally as A4 but later as A3 size.  Currently 4 sets are available in A4 size and 8 in A3.

Full details of literature available on request from APF.

Distribution

Producing literature, be it commentaries or children’s material, is only part of the situation.  Making it available to those who need it, especially in the rural areas of East Africa.  APF is working with many different agencies such as Scripture Union, SOMABIBLIA, CTP, ACTS and others to make sure the materials reach those who need them  Prayer for this is much neded.

Use

Rural Africa is not a literary situation.  Pastors and others are not in the habit of reading and attention has to be given to finding ways of encouraging and helping pastors use the available material. 

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