Senior Youth Leaders Complete Handwritten New Testament

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, regional church leaders reported. The presentation took place during the recent SYL Summit, themed “These We Commit,” August 27 to 31 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. Heshbon Buscato, SSD Youth Ministries director, formally endorsed the manuscript before it was presented to Busi Khumalo, General Conference (GC) Youth Ministries director.

This initiative builds on an earlier milestone achieved in February at the SSD camporee, themed “Rebuild the Altar,” where attendees also completed a manuscript copy of the Old Testament. 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, regional church leaders reported.

A Legacy of Faith Preserved

Ron Genebago, outgoing SSD Youth Ministries director and recently elected GC associate Youth Ministries director, reflected on this feat as a powerful witness to the dedication to youths. “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,” regional church leaders said. “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 offer 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,” he said. “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.”

According to Genebago, the practice also cultivates greater respect for the Bible 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,” he said.

Young People Grounded in Scripture

For the hundreds of Adventist youth who took part in the initiative, 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, leaders shared. “As the completed manuscript finds its permanent place in the SSD Adventist Heritage archives, we 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.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.