American Bible Society Fact Sheet

For 196 years, the American Bible Society has made the Bible available in a language and format people can understand and afford, so that everyone may have access to its life-changing message. The American Bible Society also equips churches and mission organizations with Bibles, Bible study resources and educational materials to teach others about the Bible's life-changing message.

 

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American Bible Society Quick Facts

• AmericanBible.org
• Founded in 1816
• Location: New York, New York
• Nonprofit focused on providing Bibles and Bible resources
• Published the Good News Translation of the Bible
• Has distributed more than 6 billion Bibles
• 300 employees

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The American Bible Society works closely with other organizations to reach people in the United States and around the world who might otherwise not have access to Bibles.  Through these partnerships, Bibles are distributed to:

• The U.S. military (domestically and abroad)
• U.S. veterans
• Students struggling with literacy
• Victims of natural disasters
• Inmates
• At-risk youth

To increase daily Bible reading, The American Bible Society expanded its distribution channels via the Internet.  Following its original mission, to make the Bible available in a variety of formats, the American Bible Society created Engage.AmericanBible.org which provides Bible verses via e-mail, mobile phones, podcast and RSS feed.  In 2008, The American Bible Society launched ShareYourStoryNow.org where people can post personal stories and see how others are exploring, engaging and experiencing the Bible.

A charter member of the United Bible Societies - an organization composed of 147 Bible societies on six continents - the American Bible Society's influence extends beyond U.S. borders.  Through its grant-making efforts, the American Bible Society demonstrates the practical love of the Bible by partnering with organizations and ministries such as Samaritan's Purse, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Feed the Children to meet the needs of suffering people worldwide.

"Always on the cutting edge of spiritual need (VirtueOnline, 2008)," the American Bible Society has been a pioneer in making the Bible accessible to all Americans-when, where and how it serves them best.

A History of Firsts

The American Bible Association was the first to:

• Distribute Bibles by placing them in hotels, serving the needs of weary travelers
• Provide pocket Bibles to combat soldiers (Civil War)
• Release a Bible for the blind (1835)
• Offer a Gift Annuities program (1843)
  
• Produce audio recordings of the Bible-by vinyl record (1957)-in 44 languages
• Translate the Bible into "today's English"-producing the Good News Translation (1966), which sold more than 7.7 million copies in its first year of release

A History of Notable Leadership

The American Bible Society has been influenced by esteemed American presidents, politicians and lawmakers, including:

• John Quincy Adams, 6th president of the United States
• Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president of the United States 
• Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president of the United States
• Elias Boudinot, 10th president of the Continental Congress
• John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

 

*For full history of the American Bible Society click here.

 

*For Bible stats click here.

 

 

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