In a project meant to sharpen the Bible's message, Scottish Seventh-day Adventists are following in the footsteps -- more accurately, the pen strokes -- of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The country's church members submitted handwritten passages of Scripture to their national church office last week, where they were compiled into what's being called the Scottish Adventist Bible.

"In the same way students write out [class] notes, handwriting the Bible makes passages stand out for you," says Carole Peacock, who works at the local church office.

Organizers say the project is a response to the world church's "Follow the Bible" initiative, in which a 66-language Bible is "traveling" to each of the church's 13 world regions, leading up to next year's world church session in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Keeping with the initiative's global theme, some contributors submitted Bible passages written in the Scottish vernacular.

"'When Jesus saw his mither an' the disciple 'at he loved staundin' aside her, he said tae her, 'This is yir son,'" wrote Arthur Gall, who put John 19 in his own words for the project.

Writing out New Testament passages "really brought it home to me," said Gall, who joined the Adventist Church in January.

Local church president Llew Edwards says he hopes the project helps church members appreciate the Bible for its personal and practical value, not just historical significance.