A historic chapter in the Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific (SSD) Bible Reading Project reached completion as Senior Youth Leaders (SYL) officially presented a handwritten manuscript of the New Testament during the recent SYL Summit, themed “These We Commit,” on August 27 to 31, 2025 at the Mountain Provinces Mission, Baguio City, Philippines.
The project, spearheaded by Beulah Iday and her team, SYL delegates, brought together young leaders from across the division who dedicated themselves to carefully copying the words of Scripture by hand. Pastor Heshbon Buscato, SSD Youth Director, formally endorsed the manuscript before it was presented to Pastor Busi Mbulazi Khumalo, General Conference Youth Director.
This initiative builds on an earlier milestone achieved in February at the SSD Camporee, themed “Rebuild the Altar,” where the Old Testament was also written by hand. Together, these two efforts complete a full handwritten Bible — now being bound and prepared for placement in the SSD Adventist Heritage archives on September 15.
A Legacy of Faith Preserved
Dr. Ron Genebago, outgoing SSD youth director and now associate youth director at the General Conference, reflected on this feat as a powerful witness to the youth’s dedication. “We praise God for this inspiring journey and continue to pray fervently for a generation grounded in His Word,” he said.
The project marks not only an accomplishment for the participants but also a legacy for the church. Once preserved in the Adventist Heritage Center, the handwritten Bible will serve as a tangible reminder of this generation’s commitment to Scripture.
Engaging the Word in a Deeper Way
In an interview, Genebago also emphasized the unique value of writing the Bible by hand. “It’s one thing to read and it’s another to write,” he explained. “Writing helps youth engage more fully than reading alone. They pay closer attention to details, context, and meaning.”
He further reflected that handwriting the Scriptures offers profound blessings for young people. The slow and deliberate effort allows them to connect with God in deeper ways, turning the act of writing into a form of meditation that often leads to prayer. It also connects them to the past, reminding them that before the invention of the printing press, every Bible was carefully copied by hand. In doing so, the project creates a link to the ancient scribes who ensured the Word was preserved through generations. At the same time, the practice cultivates greater respect for the Word itself, highlighting the dedication and care that went into transmitting Scripture. Beyond that, it creates a healthy disconnection from the distractions of the digital world, providing space for young people to focus fully on God’s message. Summarizing this truth, Genebago quoted the words of Jesus: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Youth Grounded in Scripture
For the hundreds of Adventist youth who took part, the experience was more than an exercise in writing. It was a spiritual journey of slowing down, paying attention, and letting the Word of God take root in their lives.
As the completed manuscript finds its permanent place in the SSD Adventist Heritage archives, leaders pray that the handwritten Bible will not only preserve history but also inspire future generations to cherish Scripture — reading it, reflecting on it, writing it, and above all, living it.
