CBS - A Truly Non Demoninational Outreach in Chicago

Since our founding, over 170 years ago, the Chicago Bible Society has worked with many Christian Denominations, Churches, and ministries  in the Chicagoland area.

Our website proclaims, "The Chicago Bible Society is a non-denominational outreach that works will all Christians, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestants to increase the reading and understanding of the Bible."

A Good Example of this is our Recent Lenten Bible Study Series held at Two Downtown Chicago Churches.  The Speaker's included Chicago's Cardinal Francis George, United Methodist Chicago Temple Pastor Phil Blackwell, pictured to the right of Cardinal George (CBS Executive Director Ken Oliver is on the left) Rev. Donald Senior, President of Catholic Theological University in Hyde Park, and Rev. Christine Chakoian, Pastor First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest.

The Series entitled "Journey to the Cross" was a special 4-part Bible Study series on meaningful events in Christ's life leading up to Good Friday and the Cross as portrayed in the four Gospels.

The well attended sessions were held at St. Peter's Church in the Loop (the first two sessions) and Chicago Temple United Methodist church on West Washington Street across from Daley Plaza. You can view all four presentations by clicking on this link http://vimeo.com/channels/globalbibletv

Bringing The Bible to an Online World

The new generation is online and connected in a way that amazes those over forty. While the older crowd is using smart phones and connecting through facebook, those in the twenties and thirties generation see the internet as their primary communication tool.  They use the internet to read and to find our about spiritual issues. To reach this new internet generation with God's Word you must be online.

     This year, Chicago Bible Society launched the New Media project to reach those who are unlikely to pick up a printed Bible but who are seeking to know about God's Word.  We have added a "Bible Online" page to our website that provides links to "YouVersion" and electronic edition of the Bible available in more than 40 versions and languages.  We also have links to other audio and electronic Bibles.  You can go to our website to download the Bible on to your computer,smart phone or iPad for free. We are planning in the near future to have the Bible Available online directly from our website.

     Chicago Bible Society is also working through internet-based social networking to reach and engage people.   Our Facebook page is updated weekly with new information, events and videos.  We recently started the Bible Chicago blog and we will be adding more online content with the Global Bible TV online TV network we started  in partnership with Sunlite Broadcasting of Chicago.  You can also access all of our services on smart phones and iPhones with our new free Bible Society app downloadable from our website.

     The remarkable thing about the New Media Project is the relatively low cost of production and the high impact across a broad spectrum.  Although the list of new media products sounds impressive, we are able to do this for about 5% of our total program budget.  With less than 12 months of operation, we have seen the number of visitors (especially first time visitors) increase dramtically to thousands each month.

     As successful as this project has been on a small budget, we would like to expand this operation in 2012.  Your prayers and financial support are greatly appreciated.  You can make your donation safely and securely using a credit card or e-check using the PayPal donate button on our website,Chicago Bible Society  

You can also contact Executive Director, Ken Oliver by phone (312)573-8809 or by e-mail Donate to Chicago Bible Society

 

Honoring Emma Dryer of The Chicago Bible Society

Most Christians in Chicago are familiar with Evangelist DL Moody who founded the famous Moody Bible Institute.

What most people do not know is that Miss Emiline Dryer was the driving force behind the founding of that school in the late 1800's.  Fewer still know that Emma Dryer founded a ministry that reached poor people on the West Side of Chicago including substance abusers and prostitutes. I'd say that nobody knows she was on the Board of Directors of The Chicago Bible Society, which eventually took over that work upon Dryer's retirement. The following is an interesting insight about her committment to Bible work found online:

Dryer quickly rose to a place of high position in Chicago. She became superintendent of the YWCA in November, 1871. She worked with the Chicago Evangelization society, which eventually became Moody Bible Institute. Emma was also on the board of the Chicago Bible Society, as the only woman among twenty-eight other men. She worked very closely with Moody, R.A. Torrey, Dr. Moorehead, and the other bosses who were doing evangelistic work in Chicago during the late 1800s.

Dryer also “corresponded with groups and individuals all over the country.” She was very involved in fundraising, and often wrote personal thank you notes to her supporters. Many of these letters were long and contained a clear outline of the Gospel. Emma wanted to take every chance she had to share the Gospel with everyone she encountered. Even writing thank you notes was an opportunity for ministry for her. At the top of her stationary were both a Bible verse and a short quote. The verse was from Philippians, “Holding forth the Word of Life.” The quote was “Unlike all other books, the Bible is it’s own interpreter.” Dryer wanted everything in her life to flow out of the Bible. Her goal was to share the Bible with as many as she could.

Chicago Bible Society New Media Director Allan Winters plans to produce a video (DVD and online) documenting the long term (she lived to be nearly 90 years old) Ministry of Emma Dryer in Chicago.

Chicago Bible Society hosts forum on Church life in China

Rev Yuan Shiguo, delegate from the Protestant Church in
China addresses the audience at our forum on Church
Life In China

October was a very busy month here at the Chicago Bible Society.

First, we had a very successful Gutenberg Award Dinner held at the Union League Club in Downtown Chicago Oct 10th.Our newest Video, "Chicago Bible Society, Reaching our City, touching the World" was shown for the first time.

Later on Oct. 13, we hosted a forum on Church life in China. Delegates from the Protestant Church in China were in attendance and several participated in the Forum. They were in the city for "The Bible Exhibition" that was held at Chicago Temple (United Methodist) Church Downtown.  

Our New Media  Coordinator, Allan Winters, briefly addressed the delegates and the audience regarding the availability of free downloadable Bibles and Bible Apps from our website.

Chinese Church Exhibit On The Bible Comes to Chicago

Twenty-Three Chinese Protestant church officials are coming to Chicago  for a two-week visit.  The Chicago Bible Society is part of the host committee that will welcome them to the city.

As a part of the visit, the Chinese will present an exhibit about the history of the Chinese church and the history of the translation of the Bible Into Chinese.

The exhibition will be held at the First United Methodist Church/Chicago Temple (pictured above) at the corner of Clark Street and Washington in downtown Chicago.  It will be open to the public during the daytime From October 12 through October 16.

You can view a six minute video of the exhibition by
Clicking here

CBS Releases New Mobile Web App

When the Board of Directors of Chicago Bible Society
 approved New Media Development last year, it was with the intention of initially using New Media to increase awareness of the Vision and outreach of this 170 year old Chicago Institution.

Now, almost a year later, the New Media Project is expanding far beyond the initial goals of using FaceBook, Blogs and online videos to increase traffic to the CBS Website.

With the proliferation of iPhones and Smart Phones throughout the world, it became aware to New Media developer Allan Winters, that there was this large Potential Mobile Web audience that would appreciate an App that would provide vital information about the Society away from traditional Desktops.

This new App, released in August allows users to access the latest news and information about the Society, view CBS online Videos, interact with CBS via FaceBook and even read this blog from the App.  The App also invites users to share content to others using e-mail, texting and other features with just a tap of the finger.  This App will be available from the CBS Website Shortly when the Website is updated. 

The Power of A Gospel Tract

Over the years, The Chicago Bible Society has distributed multiple thousands of Gospel Tracts throughout the City of Chicago.

Never underestimate the power of a gospel tract. After George Whitefield,later to be a great evangelist read one called “The Life of God in the Soul of a Man,” he said, “God showed me I must be born again ” He went on to pray, “Lord, if I am not a Christian, or if I am not a real one, for Jesus Christ’s sake show me what Christianity is.Then his journal tells us “from that moment . . . did I know that I must become a new creature.”

A Christian book relates the true story of a diver who saw a piece of paper clutched in the shell of an oyster. The man grabbed it, found that it was a gospel tract and said, “I can’t hold out any longer. His mercy is so great that He has caused His Word to follow me even to the bottom of the ocean.” God used a tract to save the man. He also used a tract to inspire the great missionary Hudson Taylor, as well as innumerable others.

Why should Christians use tracts? Simply because God uses them. That fact alone should be enough incentive for a Christian to always use tracts to reach others, but there are even more reasons why we should use them. Here are a few:
Tracts can provide an opening for us to share our faith.We can watch people’s reaction as we give them a tract, and see if they are open to listening to spiritual things.

Tracts can do the witnessing for us. If we are too timid to speak to others about the things of God, we can at least give them a tract, or leave one lying around so that someone will pick it up.

Tracts speak to the individuals when they are ready; people don’t read it until they want to.
Tracts can find their way into people’s homes when we can’t.
Tracts don’t get into arguments; they just state their case.

The Chicago Bible Society has a large number of Gospel tracts at its office.  For more information, or to place an order call our office at (312) 573-8809