In da Bginnin God cre8d da heavens & da earth. Da earth waz barren, wit no 4m of life; it waz unda a roaring ocean cuvred wit dRkness. Gen 1:1-2 (CEV SMS)

It's the Bible as you've never seen or heard it before. Translated into more languages than any other book in the world, the Bible is now available in modern man's newest language - SMS or text.

In what's believed to be a world first, the Bible Society in Australia has translated the entire text of the Bible into TXT language, so people can download inspirational messages or verses to their mobile phones or text them to friends, family, team-mates, colleagues or other contacts.

"The old days when the Bible was only available within a sombre black cover with a cross on it are long gone," says The Bible Society SA executive director Michael Chant. "We want to open it up for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests, and the SMS version is a logical extension of that."

There has been growing access via the Internet and other sources to Biblical verses in SMS or text language around the world. But The Bible Society has taken it a big step forward, translating the entire Bible, from Genesis to the Book of Revelation. "This is an Australian creation - developed and designed here," Chant said.

While purists may not want to add the SMS Bible to their shelves, (even though only the spelling of the Biblical text has been changed, not any of the words), it's expected to appeal to people of all ages, though with a special attraction for young people.

"The Bible is used to encourage, motivate and reassure people in all sorts of situations," Chant said. "People might want to send a verse to a friend in need, instructors might want to add verses to SMS bulletins to youth club members, or other people might just want to send a daily Bible recording to themselves to meditate on while they're on the bus or having lunch."

The new SMS Bible is one of many features of the Jesus. All about Life campaign, a special initiative to promote Christian awareness that has attracted strong public interest since it was launched in South Australia last month.

As part of the five week campaign which is expected to be rolled out nationally, local churches are distributing more than 10,000 special information packs through their communities, with another 35,000 brochures being sent out in the wider community, and more than 1200 direct responses via the Internet, SMS or phone hotlines.

Groups from New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT and New Zealand - which are also planning to run the campaign in their territories in the coming two years - visited Adelaide this week to monitor the way that local churches have come together to get their message across television, radio and billboards.

"We didn't know what sort of interest to expect from Jesus. All About Life because a campaign like this has never been done before in Australia, but we're very pleased with the response we've had," Chant said of the campaign's momentum to date.

People wanting to know more can visit the campaign website (www.allaboutlife.com.au), call 1300 512 312, or SMS 0411 512 312 to receive a 120 page book that explores Christianity and contains the Gospel of Luke.

The SMS Bible can be downloaded for free from www.bible.com.au (standard TXT charges apply).