International Bible Society and Send the Light Ministries Merge

by Amy Tracy, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 1/17/2007

On March 1, the International Bible Society and Send the Light Ministries are combining forces to maximize Bible distribution around the world, particularly in the global south (Africa, South Asia, China, South America). The agreement was made on January 13, 2006, by the respective boards of both organizations.

Working out the details of staff mergers, relocations, and organizational structure may be less of an obstacle than producing a Bible in indigenous languages and that is also affordable to the emerging global church. Keith Danby, CEO of STL, and the new global president of IBS-STL, looks forward to the challenge. "Neither STL nor IBS have had the resources to do this on our own," said Danby.

The merger will create one of the largest not-for-profit literature organizations in the world. IBS has offices in more 40 countries. STL has offices in the U.K., U.S., Southeast Asia and India, with 1,500 employees and sales revenue from distribution and publishing of more than $150 million.

"It's a major step up the ladder for us," said Mike Richards Sr., acting CEO of IBS. "IBS's strength is in translation and product creation. STL's strength is in distribution. The goal of IBS-STL will be to get more Bibles into the hands of more people around the world so that more people can come to Christ. It's a highly complimentary situation."

IBS has a number of long-term licensing agreements for the New International Version of the Bible with Zondervan in the U.S. and Hodder in the U.K. These agreements will be honored after the merging of the two organizations. "For nearly 200 years, IBS has worked to reach people with Scripture," Richards said. "Now we're entering the next era in our history—an era filled with even greater opportunity to share God's Word with a world in need of its message."

The global headquarters of IBS-STL will be in Colorado Springs in the current IBS offices.