Evangelical Christians in Portuguesa state marked Bible Day with a public gathering of about 650 people in front of the First Baptist Church of Turén, commemorating the Sept. 26, 1569 completion of the first full Spanish translation of the Scriptures.
The celebration, organized by the Fraternity of Evangelical Ministers of Turén (FRAMIE Turén), combined music, dramatizations and messages affirming the central role of the Bible in Christian faith. The date recalls the work of Casiodoro de Reina, a Spanish monk who embraced the Protestant Reformation and produced the landmark translation in Basel, Switzerland.
Pastor César Mermejo, president of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela (CEV), delivered the central message, titled “The Authority of the Scriptures.” His remarks stressed the Bible as the foundation of belief and practice, framed within the “Understanding the Times Movement,” whose second goal promotes study, practice and dissemination of the Scriptures.
Families, youth and elderly participants joined in songs and prayers, while dances, stage performances and audiovisual presentations illustrated biblical passages. Organizers said the variety of activities aimed to make the Bible “accessible to all the senses.”
The event carried the motto, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet.” Pastor Josmel Riera gave the official welcome, with FRAMIE Turén led by Pastor Edward Morles overseeing logistics.
At the close, a plaque of recognition was presented to Mermejo “for his work and valuable contribution to the church of Christ in Venezuela in his role as President of the CEV,” according to organizers.
For attendees, the gathering was more than a cultural commemoration. In a country facing political and economic turmoil, participants described it as a reaffirmation of faith and a moment of unity.
The Evangelical Council of Venezuela said in a statement, “We praise the Lord for His blessed Word and for the opportunity He gives us to continue preaching and spreading it in every corner of our nation.”
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
