First Arabic Booklet Produced

June 8, 2010

The United Church of God has finished producing its first booklet in the Arabic language. “The Middle East in Bible Prophecy,” has been translated, proofread and uploaded to an Arabic page on our main Web site at www.ucg.org/booklets/AME. In addition, a limited number of printed booklets are being produced for those Arabic readers who would prefer a hard copy. The Web site offers both a PDF version, just like the printed copy, and a HTML version.

This has been an ongoing project for some time. It all began almost two years ago when we received a letter from an Iraqi radio broadcaster living in Bonn, Germany, who was offering to translate our booklet into Arabic. We determined that the offer was genuine and our friend (who wishes to remain anonymous in connection with the booklet) completed the translation in several months.

That was only half the work, though. The completed Arabic translation had to be typeset. After acquiring the necessary software with Arabic fonts, we began the process of importing the text from the Microsoft Word files to the booklet layout.

We had asked our translator to supply us a chapter at a time, with any sidebar articles highlighted, so we could determine where the text was supposed to go. We soon acquired the necessary skill to typeset the booklet in a language we could not even read.

However, the final task was an arduous proofreading session that took many, many days. We used the dedicated services of a long-time friend we worked with in Pasadena, a Lebanese member of the Church of God, Habib Akl, to complete the proofreading and finalize the typeset layout.

The final version includes all of the graphics, sidebars, timelines, charts and maps you’ll see in the English version. Download it for yourself and see. Keep in mind that you have to read it from right to left, and the booklet is bound on the right side, not the left side. Take a look.

Now, the United Church of God has its first publication in one of the world’s major languages: Arabic. We believe this is the very first time the Church of God has produced a full booklet in the Arabic language. It’s a very important step in preaching the gospel in the Middle East—in a language much of that population can understand. This particular booklet contains a number of biblical truths about what is to transpire in this pivotal region. After all, Jesus Christ will return to the Middle East to establish God’s Kingdom at Jerusalem.

Please pray for the success of this aspect of preaching the gospel, as well as all of our efforts wherever, whenever, and however that may be.

Peter Eddington

Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services