Tag Archives | Learning

Comparison of Free Bible Study Software

By on July 27, 2010 in Faith, Learning, Technologies

Brian Ward (MAF LT staff, based in Nampa Idaho) reviewed some of the free Bible study software available online.  The results of his review are below:

Top Choices:

  1. xulSword code.google.com/p/xulsword www.ibt.org.ru/english/bible/info_bible_en.htm
    Top choice for reading and general study
  2. TheWord www.theword.gr
    Top choice for advanced study and for creating custom modules
  3. BPBible bpbible.com
    Top choice for distribution on USB due to Portable Apps installer

Key Features compared to DigiStudy:

    xulSword BP Bible The Word DigiStudy
    1. Ability to Import Bibles and books from common formats The Sword Project
    crosswire.org/sword

    Perl scripts for converting from SFM to OSIS and from OSIS to SWORD

    		 The Sword Project crosswire.org/sword E-Sword www.e-sword.net
    Unbound unicode Bibles unbound.biola.edu (click downloads) &
    Zefania XML sourceforge.net/projects/zefania-sharp/files with importer tool    		 No
    2. Ability to create own books from RTF formating No No Yes with importer tool
    www.theword.gr/index.php?article.tools    		 No
    3. Use common formats as Go Bible Mobile Phone software gobible.blogspot.com Converters to thml Sword Yes (Zefania, Sword) Yes (Zefania) No
    4. Ability to install and run on desktop and USB drive Yes Yes (already a Portable App installer) Yes No
    5. Bibles in many languages and can add more Yes Yes Yes Difficult
    6. Interface in many languages and can add more Yes Yes Yes Yes
    7. Ability to package application with certain modules (especially nice if can set interface language and layout also) Yes ? need to ask ? need to ask Yes
    8. Flexible Interface Yes Yes Yes No
    9. Simple Interface Very Simple Yes No (not without work) Yes
    10. Easily Readable Text Yes, Very Readable
    especially in two-pane mode    		 Not as good as others Yes Yes
    11. Double-click or Right-click to define word ?? Right-click Both (actually single-click), also auto-syncs the commentary Both
    12. Double-click or Right-click to search word Double or Right-click Right-click Right-clck Right-click
    13. Ability to View Bible and Commentary/Dictionary/Other Book concurrently Yes, however three at once is not very satisfactory Yes Yes Yes
    14. Ability to Compare 2 or more Bible Versions Yes Yes Yes Yes
    15. Ability to index and search Bibles and other books Yes Yes Yes Yes
    16. Ability to add own notes and cross references Yes Yes Yes Not cross references
    17. Ability to publish user-created commentaries/dictionaries Not very easily, can export to “bookmarks”, but not really satisfactory No Yes, can build commentaries/dictionaries on the fly and then publish them when ready. No

Other software reviewed:

Mac OS Bible Study Software

Other Reviews of Free Bible Study Software:

Concordance Building Software

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MAF Learning Technologies – Papua New Guinea

By on June 22, 2010 in Faith, MAF, Technologies

Last month I spent two weeks in Papua New Guinea. My time was split with MAF IT tasks, MAF LT tasks and three days as acting Program Manager for MAF.

While in PNG I met with:

  • PNG Bible Society
  • Leaders from the Baptist Union of PNG
  • Staff from the Christian Leaders Training Centre (CLTC)
  • Staff from New Tribes Mission
  • Staff and management committee of CRMF (Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship)
  • MAF Papua New Guinea Board
  • John Kupp, Senior Pastor PNG Christian Centres
  • Staff from MAF Papua New Guinea

The MAF LT component of my visit was to share with various groups of people the ministry of MAF Learning Technologies.   Continue Reading →

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Audio Bibles – Hand-cranked in Costa Rica

By on June 17, 2010 in Asia Pacific, Faith, Learning, Technologies

At one of the evening board meetings with MAFLT partner ProMETA, Judy Musselman gave Mauricio a box of Spanish versions of the Bible in cassette format, some cassette players and some cranks to power the players in places with no electricity nor available batteries.bible cassette thm Audio Bibles – Hand cranked in Costa Rica

Mauricio and his wife Rosalia were invited to the small rural village of Abangaritos, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, to attend a short weekend mission trip with their local church youth group. Mauricio had to preach that Sunday in San Jose, but decided to be in Abangaritos from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. Very short trip.

Because of MAFLT’s involvement in Orality, Mauricio had learned that almost 70% of the worldwide population are oral learners. Mauricio decided to bring some of those Bible cassettes and devices with him, as maybe the Lord had people in that area needing access to the Word but without the possibility of reading the Bible.

His van was already full with his kids and their luggage, plus one more invitee; 6 people total. However, they made room for some of those kits.

They had a great opportunity to share the Gospel, pray, and spend time with some of the families in the area, as well as share some groceries with them. Mauricio preached on Friday night even though electricity was gone for most of the message (fortunately, his flashlight worked well).

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Papua New Guinea – Proclaiming the Gospel

By on June 1, 2010 in Faith, Technologies

Since 2008, the Bible Society of Papua New Guinea has distributed over 800 “Proclaimers” featuring audio versions of the New Testament in both English and Tok Pisin.

In this joint project with the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry, staff from the PNG Bible Society distribute the Proclaimers to isolated churches through the four ministers fraternals operating in Papua New Guinea.

proclaimer Papua New Guinea Proclaiming the Gospel

What is a Proclaimer?
The Proclaimer is a digital player dedicated to playing God’s Word in the local heart language.

  • An installed microchip contains Scriptures in the heart language; the chip will not erase or wear out from frequent playing.
  • The battery will play for 15 hours and can be recharged enough times to play the entire New Testament more than 1,000 times.
  • The Proclaimer has a built-in generator and solar panel to charge the battery.
  • The solar panel, in addition to charging the battery, will run the Proclaimer even without battery power as long as there is sunlight.
  • The sound is digital quality and loud enough to be heard clearly by groups as large as 300.

The Proclaimer was developed primarily as a playback device for poor and illiterate people who may not have any other source to hear God’s Word.

PNG Bible Society Vision

The PNG Bible Society has a vision and a passion to see more young people involved in reading and hearing the Scriptures – especially in their own language or ‘Tok Ples”.  They have plans to build a studio in their existing warehouse in order to make audio recordings of the New Testament.  There are over 800 different languages in Papua New Guinea and they have determined that the best place to start is with the Enga region tok ples, which amazingly is spoken by the one people group.

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Bible Training in Remote Areas – Papua New Guinea

By on May 28, 2010 in Asia Pacific, Faith, Learning, MAF

CLTC TEE1 Bible Training in Remote Areas – Papua New Guinea

On Friday I visited the Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) in Banz, Papua New Guinea.

I met with Mr Philip Bungo who is the co-ordinator for the TEE (Theological Education by Extension) program being run by CLTC.
CLTC has designed this program to cater for lay workers, elders, pastors, local Bible school teachers, and church leaders to study towards their “Certificate of Christian Foundations”.

“The need for sound Biblical teaching and training of Christian leadership is one of the most urgent issues in our country and the South Pacific Islands today” says Mr Bungo.  Mr Bungo came to Christ through studying a TEE course when in prison many years ago.

The Certificate of Christian Foundations is a course which is designed to integrate Biblical knowledge to equip and enable a student to become a true disciple of Christ.  The courses also equip a student to minister to their churches and families.  Students are able to learn in their home community and not leave home or travel across PNG to study.  This also allows students to remain active in ministry while they study.

There are three main components of TEE study:

  1. Home Study – a goal set of one unit per week (approx. 4 hours) with students studying at home using learning material provided by CLTC. Workbooks contain learning notes, questions and revision tasks
  2. Practical Assignments – Each unit of study has a project or practical assignment to be done i order to put their learning into practice.
  3. Regular Small Group Seminars – these provide opportunity for students to share together what they have been learning.  Led by a tutor, these groups are occasions of mutual encouragement, fellowship and spiritual growth.

He currently has over 1000 students across the country studying various courses on topics including:

  • Discipleship
  • Worship
  • Marriage and Family Life
  • Life of Christ
  • Childrens Ministry
  • and 11 other topics

cltc students Bible Training in Remote Areas – Papua New GuineaEach of these courses costs less than PGK40 (40 Kina is about AUD$17) and yet despite the low costs many Papua New Guineans in remote areas simply cant afford to take the courses.  If you are prompted to help support the training of isolated PNG church leaders by covering their costs for some or all of their TEE courses contact me.  The courses are made available in both English and Tok Pisin and can be studied in a group of 7 – 12 led by a tutor or in isolated student mode.

As these students grow spiritually, the Church in Papua New Guinea becomes more spiritually mature and better equipped to be used by God to reveal Himself to others.

Pray that all those wanting to study, learn and grow will be able to with the removal of whatever barriers they face.

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