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Who are we and what are we up to?
The NH Bible Society is heading in an exciting new direction. The times have changed and we are rising to meet the challenge. Consider joining with us as we carry out Christ’s mission right outside your own doorstep. Together we can see Christ’s kingdom advance in our home state.
Now, we know you have a full life. You aren’t looking merely for something to do. You are looking to invest your time in something worthwhile. You want to make a contribution in a way that will make a difference for eternity. Something that serves a purpose beyond this life.
Consider joining us at the New Hampshire Bible Society.
We need energetic Christians with a vision for reaching your neighbors.
We need volunteers at all levels, and right now we especially need capable leaders to serve on the Board of Directors .
You will be working with Rev. David Denis, the Executive Director, shaping a powerful vision for the future of the Bible Society and helping bring that vision into concrete reality. It’s a worthwhile cause and you will derive great satisfaction from taking part.
Of course, serving on any kind of Board of Directors is also a great responsibility, therefore it is good to “count the cost” before taking on the task.
The New Hampshire Bible Society serves the Granite State
Building Christ’s Church in NH.
The NH Bible Society partners with local church congregations and Christian ministries to aid and support them as they foster encounters with Jesus through engagement with the Bible.
There are many Christian men and women in NH in whom God has placed a powerful desire to see churches thriving as they make disciples, but God is not calling them into “vocational ministry.”
If that sounds like you, the NH Bible Society may be the opportunity to which God is calling you.
We invite you to consider if the Holy Spirit might be calling you to serve Jesus on mission through the NH Bible Society.
Boards don’t have to be Boring
Imagine an organization devoted to an exciting mission that makes a huge difference not only in the present but also for all eternity.
Not a big organization, but one that knows how to punch above its weight class when it comes to making an impact on our state.
Then imagine this organization fearlessly tackling big challenges in pursuit of that mission, finding creative solutions and implementing effective strategies that yield measurable results.
An organization with big dreams, and the will to lean into them.
That’s the kind of organization we are building in the NH Bible Society.
Our goal is to become a vital resource that supports and strengthens Christian congregations right here in our home state of New Hampshire.
To that end, we are looking for men and women of any Christian denomination who are keen on building disciples and forming faith with a focus on the Granite State. We don’t need to go across the sea to find a mission – we have a mission right outside our own doorstep.
We especially desire people with experience and skills in
- accounting, finance and administration
- marketing and promotion
- fundraising and community building
- writing, teaching and public speaking
You could serve as a member of the Board of Directors, or you may collaborate with our Executive Director on a volunteer basis as we build our capacity to serve the Body of Christ in our state.
If you are someone with a missionary vision for our home state but you aren’t sure where to go to make the vision a reality, The NH Bible Society may be the opportunity you have been looking for.
But hold on…
Let’s back up just a little and tell you who we are…
What is the Bible Society?
We are a Christian nonprofit organization (501(c)3) serving churches, ministries, and individuals in the Granite State.
We are trans-denominational, working with all streams of orthodox Christian belief and practice.
We are a missionary organization, promoting and supporting the cultivation of disciples for Jesus.
We have a deep history and a powerful legacy going back to 1812.
We have traditionally published and distributed Bibles throughout NH, so that Bibles may be available to anyone regardless of cost.
Why the Bible?
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, communicating God’s message of salvation for all humanity.
The Bible also offers deep wisdom that can lead to a better and more just society.
We believe, therefore, that when more people read the Bible, everyone benefits.
We are undertaking a process of restructuring and renewal with the goal of making our ministry more relevant to the needs of the church today.
We seek to build a community of like-minded volunteers with a common vision for spiritual renewal and revival of the church in the Granite State.
That’s intriguing, isn’t it?
So there’s a mission. There is new energy. There is a great sense of purpose.
But what are we actually on about?
Historically, its always been about putting Bibles into the hands of anyone who wants one. But now its more about something called “Bible Engagement.”
Why the Bible?
Here are a few things we know…
The Bible is God’s Grand Story, the tale of how God is rescuing our lost and broken world.
The Bible is also his invitation to us to join him in his work of redemption in Jesus. It describes what happens when we give our allegiance to Jesus and follow his way — he makes us right and continues the work of new creation in us.
The Bible also contains wisdom for the blessing of all the world — so the more people
All of this is why reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible is the number one factor in spiritual growth and maturity.
And yet…
Is the Bible easy to Access?
The role of all kinds of print media in our society has changed dramatically in the last 40 years. The bible is no exception. Bibles are both MORE ACCESSIBLE and yet LESS USED than ever before. Here are some other things we know.
86% of American households already have a Bible.
Most U.S. households have between 3 and 4 Bibles already.
So most homes have bibles easily available for those who wish to read them, but few people are actually reading their Bibles.
Even among homeless people, those thought to be at the bottom end of the social scale, around 94% own a smartphone. This means that with ubiquitous WIFI networks even the poorest people can access the bible online for free, using apps and websites like YouVersion and BibleGateway.
Access to the Bible is not the issue that it used to be.
The Lack of Bible Engagement
Of course, Christians, like anyone else, represent a spectrum of experience and involvement. In general, however, we might expect someone who publicly identifies as a Christian and backs that up by attending church often, that this population would be highly engaged.
You might think that, but it’s not as true as you might expect.
Even among practicing Christians who attend church regularly (a rough indicator of the most committed Christians), just over one third of U.S. adults read the Bible once a week or more.
Consider that in light of the fact that NH is the least religious state in the nation. That being the case, we can reasonably take national statistics like the one above and apply a rough rule of thumb that cuts that in half for NH.
If that’s true, only about 15% of christians in new hampshire read the Bible consistently and often.
If most anyone that wants to can get ahold of a bible (either paper or digital) but only 1 in 6 are reading it — that suggests access isn’t the problem. It’s a matter of interest and motivation.
In other words — “Bible Engagement”
Putting this together tells us that distributing Bibles isn’t where our efforts make the most difference.
We need to pivot our mission toward fostering Bible engagement — getting people, and especially Christians, excited about reading and experiencing the Word of God.
This is why, even though we will continue to offer Bible Grants, we have undertaken new initiatives to begin cultivating greater Bible engagement among Christians in NH.
What are these “New Initiatives?”
We’ve got lots of things going on. In our pivot from passively responding to requests for Bible grants, we are looking up, moving out, and meeting the deeper and more significant needs of the church today. Right now, this means offering Walk thru the Bible events, our Mobile App, and the Hello Bible Podcast — but that may be just the beginning.
Walk thru the Bible Events
Imagine an event that could actually inspire people to read the Bible — an event that made the Bible come alive in a fun, clear, and very memorable way?
In two and a half hours, a certified instructor leads a church or group in a fun and exciting event that teaches the big picture of the Bible. Attendees learn the major events and people of the Old Testament, and the New Testament and understand its storyline, maybe for the first time.
Many believers are confused about the Old Testament
— what it says, what it means, how to apply it to daily life. Some may wonder if it is even relevant today. Others are overwhelmed by it and don’t know how to read it. Would-be Bible readers often quit before they make it all the way through the Old Testament. Our Old Testament Live (otLIVE) event reveals the big picture of God’s grand story in a way lowers barriers and raises excitement and interest in the Bible.
Many Christians know about some of the events of early Christianity,
but do they know the full story of the origin of the church? Do they know what happened in the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments when the stage of the world, society, and technology was being set for the perfect moment to begin the next phase of God’s rescue plan? Through New Testament Live (ntLIVE) your congregation can experience this life-changing story in a whole new way.
Why Walk thru the Bible?
Walk thru the Bible has been teaching the big story of the Bible for more than 40 years. But it’s about so much more than a mere transfer of information; it’s about igniting passion for reading God’s Word so that participants experience an ongoing encounter with Jesus.
And it works! After attending otLIVE, a whopping 75% of participants commit to daily Bible reading!
The NH Bible Society is excited to be Walk Thru’s strategic partner in New Hampshire. We know that God’s Word changes everything.
When you volunteer with the NH Bible Society as a member of the Board of Directors you can help bring God’s word to more people right here in NH.
Our NHBS Mobile App
One of the greatest strengths of Walk thru the Bible events is the live in-person nature of these events. Real people, in real places, getting together in real time. In a world of flat screens, glowing pixels, and fleeting images the chance to experience a live event makes it stand out.
But how can the NH Bible Society leverage that experience to build followers who will become supporters, donors, and volunteers?
We are building a mobile app as a tool to build ongoing relationship with those we contact through live events and other channels like social media. By delivering compelling content in a convenient way, we can continue to serve our audience and help them continue the journey in learning to love Jesus more through the Bible.
We need bible teachers, writers, video producers, audio artists to create the content and deliver it through the app. That’s a great way for local talent to volunteer to serve Jesus right here in NH.
DOWNLOAD THE APPHello Bible! Podcast
The NH Bible Society has the first season of our podcast available on YouTube. We have plans to make more in the future.
You can see it HERE.
We hold conversations with expert guests, asking what is the Bible, why should we read it, and how can we read it today in our current context.
There are many reasons we think that podcasting is a great way to increase our reach, improve our impact, and serve our core audience.
Podcasts engage audiences as listeners actively invest their time and attention in the content.
- Podcasts build trust and loyalty with listeners as they receive valuable and helpful content.
- Podcasts are an opportunity for targeted outreach as we appeal to the niche audience the finds the most value.
- Podcasts build awareness of the Bible Society brand as listeners return again and again to experience more of what we have to offer.
- Podcasts allow us to promote churches and ministries that resonate with our mission.
- Podcasts help listeners curate the wealth of bible-related resources available in today’s media-rich environment.
- Podcasts are often more accessible to users than text or video content.
- Podcasts are relatively inexpensive to produce and less time consuming to produce than video or articles.
- Podcasts can help us reach new audiences as listeners find us through search algorithms, giving us the chance to invite them to become supporters.
Ministry to Christian Organizations
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- Summer Camp
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- Christian Schools
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- NH State Prison
Summer Camps — Christian summer camps are important to the work of the NH Bible Society. Many denominations and ministries leverage the natural beauty of our state to create spaces where young people can experience the beauty of creation and receive the good news of Jesus. We provide Bibles to help them in their work and offer Walk thru the Bible events to their camp sessions and for staff training.
Christian Schools — Christian schools seek to help parents and churches in discipling young people in Christ and building Christian character. The NH Bible Society offers Bibles to support the Bible instruction happening in these schools as well as Walk thru the Bible events to give teachers a helpful framework to supplement their curriculum.
Prisons and Jails — The New Hampshire state prisons are inhabited by a strong and vibrant church within the walls of the prison. The NH Bible Society supports the church on the inside with Bibles when needed, and through Walk thru the Bible events to help residents move forward in their discipleship under trying circumstances.
Bible Grants
When a church or ministry contacts us, we work with them to determine the shape of their need. How many Bibles do they need? What format works best? What translation do they prefer? What will these Bible be used for?
To preserve our resources, we try to keep grants between $$400-$500. If the requesting group needs more we will work with them to share the cost or find some other workable solution. When it comes down to it, we don’t want anyone to not have a Bible because cost got in the way.
Bible grants have been the staple of our program for a long time. We still do them because they are worth it, but we are also moving resources into other channels what we believe will be more fruitful.
What does the Board of Directors Do?
Our greatest need right now is for committed and competent individuals to join our Board of Directors. That is why we built this page, and that is why you are reading it. If you have gotten this far, you must be at least a little bit intrigued. So now it’s time to tell you what we are ask of our directors in terms of commitment.
Here is the deal:
The Board of Directors is a team of at least 4, but no more than 12 individuals from all walks of life.
The purpose of the Board is to govern, direct, and promote the mission of the Bible Society.
What are we responsible for?
The Board of Directors is responsible for the affairs, business, and property of the corporation, including the following:
- Selection and hiring of the Executive Director.
- Long range planning
- Adoption of the annual budget
- Management and control of the physical and financial assets of the corporation.
- Election of new officers and Directors
- Evaluation of the corporation’s programs and services in the light of its stated purpose.
- Development and implementation of the policies of the corporation.
- Reception and approval of the annual report of the Auditor.
How often do we Meet?
The Board meets 4 times a year, although it may hold special meetings if necessary. Directors who fail to attend meetings may be excused from service.
Each director agrees to serve a term of 3 years, limited to no more than 3 consecutive terms.
What’s the Makeup of the Board?
To promote a diverse mix of experience and perspective, the Board is composed of a minimum of 25% clergy, and no more than 50% clergy.
We include both men and women, from a variety of denominations, incorporating a scope of professional expertise that is both broad and pertinent to the fulfillment of our mission.
What other Expectations are there?
As a matter of integrity, we ask Directors to make a financial contribution proportionate to their personal means.
In addition, we also ask Directors to volunteer some additional time (also in proportion to their availability), outside of Board meetings, to contribute to the mission of the Society.
Finally, we ask Directors to faithfully represent and promote the NH Bible Society as they conduct their public lives at work and at leisure.
Deep Cuts and Fine Print
If you are the kind of person that likes to get into the weeds, look below and you will find links to important documents related to the governance of the organization, as well as the ethical and conduct standards applied to the Board of Directors.
If you are serious about applying to volunteer with us, we recommend taking the time to review these documents.
2023 NHBS BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION – DRAFT 1
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