NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Barry Busby is just beginning his seminary education, but already he can count on one thing: He won’t be taking a lot of books with him after he graduates. A 10-year Army veteran, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student is studying to return to his branch of service as a chaplain. Thanks to brand-new Bible study software, he’ll have the resources he needs as close as his laptop.
Bible Navigator is a new Bible software tool designed by WORDsearch Corp for LifeWay Christian Resources’ technology division in conjunction with Broadman & Holman Publishers. In September, LifeWay surprised Southern Baptist seminary students with a complimentary special academic edition of the PC-based study software, a $249 value.
“I can take my entire theological library with me to Iraq or wherever I’m deployed, and answer someone’s question quickly and easily, without searching through a book,” Busby said.
The academic edition of the software offers seven different Bible translations and eight Bible commentaries.
Included in the package are the Holman Christian Standard Bible and New American Standard, Matthew Henry’s Unabridged Commentary, and Scofield’s Study Notes. The CD also includes various devotionals, dictionaries and inspirational books such as “Fox’s Book of Martyrs” and Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained.” The Lockman Foundation’s participation in this gift allowed for the inclusion of the NAS Greek/Hebrew Concordance and Greek/Hebrew Dictionary. Current photos of biblical sites and maps of biblical locations also are featured.
Busby, who has used other Bible study software in the past, likes the new Bible Navigator program.
“It loads a lot faster than anything else I’ve used,” he said. “The quality of the books that came with it is outstanding. It’s nice to have a lot of things open, which isn’t real easy to do with some of the other programs.”
Bruce Grubbs, associate to LifeWay’s vice president of corporate affairs, coordinated the gift of the software, a total value of more than $ 3 million, to the seminaries. They included the six SBC-sponsored seminaries, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary.
“We want to help equip seminary students in their preparation for the ministry,” Grubbs said. “We want to join them early on in their ministry experience and partner with them as they serve the Lord.”
Only students currently enrolled at Southern Baptist seminaries are eligible to receive the software and should receive directions from their seminary for picking up the gift. For a limited time, those who do not qualify for the free CD-ROM may purchase a special non-boxed CD-only copy of the product for $99.95 by visiting www.wordsearchbible.com/seminary or calling 1-800-888-9898. The offer expires Dec. 31.
The Bible Navigator Holman Christian Standard Edition will be sold in stores beginning in November and retail for $19.97, offering two Bible translations and a limited number of the features found in the academic edition. For additional information, visit http://www.broadmanholman.com/navigator.
WORDsearch Corp, based in Austin, Texas, has been producing software and electronic books for the Christian market since 1987. It operated as NavPress Software for more than 10 years before becoming WORDsearch Corp in July 2002. WORDsearch offers more than 700 volumes of electronic books for Christian pastors, teachers and laypeople through its WORDsearch, Bible Explorer and LESSONmaker software products.
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LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is one of the world’s largest providers of Christian products and services, including Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies and Internet services through lifeway.com. Established in Nashville, Tenn., in 1891, the company owns and operates 119 LifeWay Christian Stores throughout the United States, as well as two of the largest Christian conference centers in the country. Through its Broadman & Holman division, LifeWay is producing the most accurate and readable translation of the Bible ever – the Holman Christian Standard Bible – available for viewing online at lifeway.com and in stores in the spring of 2004. LifeWay is a religious nonprofit organization that receives no funding from the denomination, and reinvests income above operating expenses in mission work and other ministries around the world.
(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: NEW BIBLE STUDY SOFTWARE.
