(Warning: A lengthy post.)
I love bread as much as I love rice as long as it does not have raisins. I hope we don't get to have a discussion whether viands are good with raisins or not i.e. menudo. When I Googled the word "bread", it gave me a lot of results such as tortilla, the Filipino pandesal, rye bread, baguette, croissant, roti, and a lot more! But all these can rot in a few days. So, what am I getting at?
BRead (notice that the letter "R" is capitalized) means Bible Readers' Society International. Sounds boring? I don't think so. Let me tell you the reasons why.
This non-profit, non-sectarian organization aims to introduce the Bible to students in different schools and campuses here in the Philippines and abroad. But we just don't end there. We also conduct various public services to imprint good deeds to its members. Activities in line with sharing Biblical Scriptures are also held regularly, which will be mentioned later on this post. BRead Society is not formed out of nowhere. What we try to do with God's help is written in the Bible. So, if you think the Bible is tedious, you might want to think again.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:3 (King James Version)
I have been a member of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chapter since 2014. Despite our busy scholastic schedules and personal affairs, we make it a point to meet every week to discuss our plans and activities. In fact, even if we do not have a scheduled meeting, we try to organize what we call "BRead lunch" or "BRead dinner" because nothing feels better after a tiring day than spend some time with precious people. Some of our members are from faraway provinces so being with this family feels like home.
What do we really do? Here are some.
1. LiBRead
(Libre, in Filipino, means free + bread = LiBread or free bread)
College is exponentially tiring. Many of us dread 7 AM classes as these do not allow us the pleasure of eating breakfast and getting more sleep. To cope with this kind of situation, we devised an activity that will (somehow) eradicate hungry tummies.
BRead members give free sandwiches as early as 6:30 in the morning to students who are on their way to class. This way we can promote the organization (kind of a pun, but in a good way) and add smiles to their still sleepy faces. These sandwiches are prepared the night before which means members do not get enough sleep but, if you ask them (Go on, it's alright!), everything is worth it. Things that touches the heart are always worth it.
2. Libreng Sakay (Free Ride)
It is very difficult to be in such a large campus where it requires you to ride a jeepney if you will be late for your next class, or the next office where you will transact with is on the other side. The organization has offered free ride for this. A jeepney which bears the sign "Free Ride" is made available so that students get to their next destination fast and without fee. Sometimes, if we get to too many jeepney rides and compute the amount of money we have spent, it makes you want to faint.
3. Symposiums
Once per semester, a symposium is conducted. We have had topics such as Activism, Brotherood, and Depression to name a few. The reason for this is we want to align the current happenings with what is written in the Bible because the Bible has answers to everything. Since our target audiences are students, we make sure the topics are interesting as well as beneficial in the long run both in the intellectual and spiritual aspects.
4. Campus Expositions
It is a fact that we find it hard to invite friends and family members to listen to the words of God. Some see this as weird or extraordinary. So to remove people's a priori perception, we conduct these Bible Expositions in restaurants/cafes and call it "Campus Expositions", because, again, we want the youth to know more about it. The photo, as seen below, is taken in McDonald's. There is no need to pay for entrance, and the food is free!
5. Bible Exhibit
In celebration of the Bible Month, our chapter has initiated to conduct a week-long activity which will still share what is in the Bible. We decided to share five Bible stories. An example is shown below. The painting is done by one of our members while the article is written by yours truly. It includes a summary of the story and scientific evidence that actually support the Biblical event. We have also prepared 50 Bibles as giveaways to those who will come to the exhibit. And guess what, we come in short! We have to request more Bibles as more visitors keep coming every day.
Those are only some of the many many activities that we have had.
You see, this is the kind of BRead that never leaves your side. The membership does not end after graduating because it goes on, and we still get to meet a lot of good people along the way. To cope for the loss of words, here are MORE photos showing our weirdness and quirkiness.
That's all for now, Steemians! I hope by sharing this with you, you will also find the Bible truly enjoyable and interesting to read. May God bless you all!