Bear Grylls and Mary Berry to read Bible stories to children in film
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has enlisted the help of his celebrity “friends” Bear Grylls and Dame Mary Berry in an attempt to make the Bible accessible for children.
They will read The Jesus Storybook Bible, written and illustrated by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago, which has sold over six million copies, helping children across the world discover the good news of Jesus Christ and God’s love for them.
It has adapted the book for a new onscreen format; six Bible stories – from the Feeding of the 5,000 to David and Goliath – are read aloud, following an introduction from the Cheeky Pandas, an animated children’s series.
Survival expert Grylls reads the story of David and Goliath while Mary Berry, chef and former judge on The Great British Bake Off, tells of Jesus feeding the 5,000.
The film version of the book aims to “help ensure it is enjoyed by people of all ages, many of whom might be discovering the Bible for the first time”.
Welcoming the six-part online series, the Archbishop said: “We all love stories. They remind us who we are, what we are here for and how best to live. Jesus loved telling stories.
“They tell us who God is, how much he loves us and what his plans are for us. The stories of God are told in the Bible. To open the Bible is to open up to God’s voice. We are never too old or too young to hear about God’s story. I am beyond delighted about this project.
“Sally Lloyd Jones wrote the peerless Jesus Story Book Bible to engage children in these stories of God which make us.
“Six of them have been recorded by friends of mine. From Bear Grylls reading the story of David and Goliath, to Mary Berry telling of Jesus feeding the 5,000, my prayer is that they are watched and listened to far and wide.
“These stories are for children to listen to and watch with their parents at home, their teachers at school, their friends in after school clubs and on their own, anywhere and everywhere.
“And what I know will happen is that, as we listen to these stories, we will find ourselves invited to be an essential part of God’s story. And there is nowhere better to be than part of His story.”
The collaboration comes after a survey by the charity, Care for the Family, found that despite 95 per cent of Christian parents recognising the importance of teaching children about their faith, fewer than three-quarters shared Bible stories with them, and only 27 per cent engaged in faith-based conversations.
Gemma Hunt, a TV presenter and author, who tells the story of Jesus calming the storm in the series, added: “It has been such a delight to be a part of this wonderful project. Reading the stunning scripture in the Jesus Storybook Bible has really brought the stories to life again in a new way.
“It is such an honour to have read them aloud, which is how they were intended to be heard; I hope our versions inspire families to read them together and share in the precious Word of God.”
