AP and Class Staff Bulletin
April – May 2024
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From John to Revelation
By Suzanne Wells | Regional Director
A lot of life happened for the apostle John between the ascension of Jesus and the vision he received that became the book of Revelation. Historians tell us that John, a pillar of the first-century Church, left Jerusalem near the time of the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.
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John then traveled to modern-day Turkey and served as an apostle/elder to the church in Ephesus as well as to the churches listed in Revelation chapters 2–3. During this time of pastoral ministry, John finished his gospel account and wrote the letters 1, 2, and 3 John. Revelation 1:9 tells us that the disciple Jesus loved was persecuted by the Roman government, exiled, and placed in prison-like conditions on the deserted island of Patmos. From Patmos, a place of desolation, God gave to John the consolation of the Revelation vision.
Likewise, there has been a lot of life happening this year between the John study year and the Revelation study year in BSF. Here’s a look at the exciting preparations many BSF classes and groups around the world are making to take BSF from John to Revelation:
- HQ Staff and AP/OAP joined together in January and March to pray together for the needs of the classes globally prior to Revelation and for those God will bring to the Revelation study next year.
- Classes are adding additional leaders to prepare for new members. TLs, DOTs, and OTs are doing a lot of interviewing! (We are praying for you!)
- AP are developing new satellite classes or DOLMs to accommodate growing numbers of BSF communities through SDG growth.
- Larger OLMs are seeding new OLMs to prepare for growth in BSF Online.
- In-person classes are seeking space in strategic locations in their area to plant a BSF SDG. Many are praying for new host churches with additional space.
- Additional STLs are joining Class Staffs to serve a growing leadership. BSF Kids and BSF Students programs are adding ACSs to accommodate more classrooms of children.
- One class is learning how to live stream lectures to their SDG locations.
- Eighteen pilot in-person classes are launching to support growth of nearby capacity classes.
- HQ Staff are working to teach and train TLs and AP in a Global Summit and STLs in an Online Global Summit in June to equip these leaders for faithful, expository teaching.
We are praying for you as God leads you to prepare for growth from John to Revelation!
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Orientations:
- 21-25 April: In-person TL Orientation (San Antonio area)
- 12-15 May: Online TL, OT, DOT Orientation (deadline 17 April)
- 11-14 August: Online TL, OT, DOT Orientation (deadline 17 July)
10-14 June: Global Summit (TL & AP)
12 June: 65th Anniversary Livestream Event
- Livestreamed from Global Summit, more information to come
25-27 June: Online Global Summit (STLs)
Prayer Requests
Pray for:
- Connection leading to longevity in BSF service for every TL, DOT, and OT candidate coming to April/May orientations
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- The Lord of the harvest to provide leaders for every class around the world so that all who want to study Revelation can be placed
- Continued unity of the Church in India and perseverance through persecution
- BSF members in Myanmar who are praying to start their discussion group soon—pray for their protection amid challenging circumstances, hope through the study of God’s Word, and ability to receive the second half of the John study printed materials.
Praise
Praise for:
- Many new pilot classes starting next study year
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- Seven women’s and three men’s Mandarin satellite classes (DOLMs) starting for the next study year to meet the needs of Mandarin-speaking leaders in North America
- A Korean satellite class (DOLM) ready to start for Revelation
- A new Area Team for Cantonese classes to support the rapid growth in Hong Kong
Need to Know
Important information for all BSF roles
All BSF
Class Based
BSF Online
The Next Three Studies in BSF
2024-2025 Revelation
2025-2026 People of the Promise: Exile & Return
2026-2027 Romans
New Foundations Courses
New Foundations courses for ALs, GLs, and OGLs, and PS CLs will become available in the Resource Library throughout June. These courses, along with the existing SP CL Foundations course, provide the foundational information and training that new leaders need to begin serving in BSF. Each new leader must complete their respective course before starting their role.
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Returning leaders are strongly encouraged to complete their respective course as a refresher for their role. Class Staff need to ensure new leaders are aware of these courses during the onboarding process. Thank you for supporting your new and existing leaders in this way!
Share WordGo With Group Leaders
We are once again inviting members to connect by using the WordGo app with their family and friends during the BSF break. As our John study comes to an end, we encourage you to find three opportunities to share the WordGo app with your leaders and members. Click here to download the WordGo media kit for sharing resources and videos!
A few ways to share:
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- Make an announcement in Leader’s Meeting.
- Make an in-class announcement.
- Ask Group Leaders to show the app in their discussion groups.
- Ask Group Leaders to share WordGo in their weekly member contacts.
WordGo offers 58 courses using BSF study material! Look ahead to Revelation: The Hope with Revelation 1–3, lead a group through John’s Gospel, or try our newest course, Colossians.
Learn more here: bsfinternational.org/wordgo/
BSF Support Is Looking for Volunteers
BSF Support is recruiting volunteers for next year’s study. For more information, please read this Support Agent Information document.
Managing End–of–Year Change Requests
When submitting a Change Request (G110) in MyBSF for an incoming DAOT, CS, or CA (for the next study year), enter an effective date of 1 June (or for two weeks after class ends) so that the leader can finish their current role.
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Note: Please allow 2 weeks for change requests to process in MyBSF.
Children’s Programs in All Satellite Locations
Effective with the start of the Revelation study year, a Children’s Supervisor (CS) in a DOLM may no longer also serve as an Assistant Children’s Supervisor (ACS) or Children’s Leader (CL).
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This practical and manual update aligns DOLMs with the Children’s Program Essential Policies. Additionally, each distance satellite and satellite location must have an ACS on-site each week for the class meeting
The BSF Kids and BSF Students ACS Foundation courses equip the ACS for all roles and responsibilities associated with leading a Children’s Program, including classroom observation and CL debriefs. ALs should serve in all satellite locations to secure the Children’s Program area when an ACS is observing in a classroom. Regular ACS observations build and strengthen the CS/ACS leadership teams for BSF Kids (PS) and BSF Students (SP). This teamwork will improve the identification of training needs and future leaders.
In the CP Checklist, the Recert Date field is blank at the start of the new BSF study year and must be updated for all leaders and Regular Volunteers to be considered eligible. Class Staff should update the CP Checklist so that ALL members are marked Eligible. In MyBSF, select Hide from CP Checklist for all leaders and Regular Volunteers who will not be serving in the children’s program.
Note: Australia and New Zealand are excluded from the yearly recertification requirement.
Guidance for Growth in BSF Online
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In 2019, 600 groups were active and now we have over 2,600 groups! We praise God for the numerical growth. We know that each number represents a life with the opportunity to magnify God and mature from studying His Word in community with other members or leaders.
Looking forward to the Revelation study, consider the growth opportunities for online leaders meetings and online discussion groups. Look at the numbers and the people to assess health and readiness before proceeding to divide to multiply. In some cases, God has prepared hearts to venture out to start something new. In other cases, God may lead you to keep the group or OLM as it is to continue to mature and connect members and leaders. In this case, pray and discern about adding an AOT to accommodate growth instead of starting a new class.
In all cases, we pray and follow God’s lead. This is His work, and He will do it!
For the recommended Process for Growing Online Discussion Groups, Classes, and Areas, OAP can review and share page 19 in the OAP Manual while keeping the above principles in mind.
Managing Online Discussion Groups: Replace or Release
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Important things to know:
- During this process, the group is made “Private” so no new members join until a decision is made to replace the leader or release the group members.
- There must be a leader for the group to remain active in the database. Do not remove the OGL until you have a replacement, or you have released the members.
- Best practice is the OGL communicates their plans and introduces their replacement to the group before the end of the study year.
For more important information on how to replace or release within the BSF Online website, please read this article: Leader – End of Study Year-Registration : Support (bsfonline.org)
Looking Forward to Revelation
Revelation Preparation Reminders
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- Submit your projected growth calculations: Utilize the growth and logistics worksheet in your AP/Class Staff Packet for Revelation Planning in the Resource Library to submit your projections. Understanding the anticipated growth will not only help you understand and prepare for your class needs, it helps us better prepare resources and logistics for the study. Whether or not your projected growth calculations are met, your input is invaluable and appreciated.
- Spread the word: Use the Monthly Announcements, Revelation: Talking Points, and Teaching Revelation to BSF Kids/Students in your packet to encourage members, leaders, and participants to invite their friends, co-workers, and family to join the upcoming study. Sharing the transformative experience of studying God’s Word with others not only enriches our community but also fosters a culture of inclusivity and diversity.
- Ongoing leader training: Leaders play a pivotal role in the success of our studies. Make the most of the training resources provided in the AP/Class Staff Packet for Revelation Planning for continuous leader training. Equipping your leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge during the remainder of the John study year will empower them to lead confidently and effectively.
Follow these reminders to ensure that your class and area are prepared for the Revelation study. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our shared journey of preparing for Revelation.
Digital Resources Availability for the Revelation Study
Study and leader resources will be available soon in the MyBSF and BSF Online Resource Library. Go here for more information regarding the availability of digital resources for Revelation. Watch for additional information about the BSF Store and regional printing—posting soon in an alert on MyBSF!
Updates in MyBSF
Attendance for John in MyBSF
To move forward with taking attendance in MyBSF for the Revelation study, please consider utilizing AL teams to share the responsibility to enter attendance for the entire John study. We realize many classes and DOLMs moved back to paper records when attendance entry was so difficult in MyBSF. Since most issues with attendance have been resolved, it is vital to ensure accurate recordkeeping in MyBSF.
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This can be a great training experience for ALs that supports accurate class data for the John study now and future studies. We appreciate your efforts to get John attendance into MyBSF and to take attendance for the Revelation study in MyBSF next year.
Program Identifiers for Child Profiles
We will soon introduce a new program identifier within the child profiles on MyBSF, distinguishing between Preschool Program and Student Program (SP). This is designed to streamline the organization of classes that offer both programs, allowing for more efficient management of children.
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Please note that these identifiers will initially be assigned based on the child’s age—with those age 5 and under automatically placed in BSF Kids (PS), and children age 6 and above placed in BSF Students (SP). However, we recognize that these automatic assignments may not align with the Children’s Program(s) in your class.
It is crucial to review and, if necessary, adjust these identifiers to accurately reflect the program(s) your class offers. The adjustment capability is restricted to Class Staff, ALs, and ACSs to ensure the accuracy of any changes. Should you find a child’s identifier incorrectly assigned, make the update to match your class’s structure. (Instructions for how to do this will be made available when the functionality is deployed.)
Upon implementation, use the new filters on the Manage Members page to easily identify and correct any inaccuracies of the identifiers. Children’s reports will be updated to reflect their correct program identifier.
Updating Satellite Meetings in MyBSF
When a Satellite Meeting Shows Inaccurate Meeting Details
Maintaining up-to-date satellite meeting information is important because it:
- Ensures data is accurate.
- Assists members in finding active meetings through Find a Group.
- Helps in managing end-of-year financial processes. (Refer to the December 2023 bulletin.)
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When a Satellite Meeting Will No Longer Be Used for Revelation
When a new member submits a Join Request asking to join a satellite that is potentially closing for the next study, let the member know the satellite may be closing in your initial communication with them.
If a determination is made to close the satellite:
- Hide the satellite location in MyBSF so the location no longer appears in Find a Group as an option for people to join. (See instructions to “Hide a Satellite Meeting” in the MyBSF Reference Guide; keyword search: reference.)
- After the class flips, move all remaining members into another meeting or inactivate them.
- Inactivate the meeting in MyBSF. For guidance on how to inactivate unused satellite meetings, refer to the Reference Guide Update: Inactivate a Satellite in the Resource Library (keyword search: reference).
For Your Position
Be sure to read for all positions related to your class.
AP / OAP
TL / STL
CA
CS
DOT / DAOT
OT / AOT
AP Global Summit Survey Due
A short survey was sent on 12 March to all TLs and AP registered to attend the June 2024 Global Summit. Only attendees who are medical professionals, bringing an immobile infant, or those who require Mandarin translation need to complete this survey. The survey will close on 19 April. Please click here to submit your responses soon.
AP Global Summit Airline Tickets – Book Now
TLs and AP registered to attend the 10-14 June Global Summit in Dallas: Please book your airline tickets by 26 April. See the conference website lead.bsfinternational.org/tl-ap-conference-2024/ for arrival/departure parameters and instructions on how to book tickets.
TL Global Summit Survey Due
A short survey was sent on 12 March to all TLs and AP registered to attend the June 2024 Global Summit. Only attendees who are medical professionals, bringing an immobile infant, or those who require Mandarin translation need to complete this survey. The survey will close on 19 April. Please click here to submit your responses soon.
TL Global Summit Airline Tickets – Book Now
TLs and AP registered to attend the 10-14 June Global Summit in Dallas: Please book your airline tickets by 26 April. See the conference website lead.bsfinternational.org/tl-ap-conference-2024/ for arrival/departure parameters and instructions on how to book tickets.
STL Online Global Summit Registration
Please sign-up now for the 25-27 June Online Global Summit for STLs. Go to https://conta.cc/48zMeKP to read the email sent 18 March, which included dates, times, and links to sign up for the sessions that work for your schedule.
Please note the correct start time for Thursday’s morning Session B is 8:00 a.m.
Global Summit Contributions
To further assist with reporting funds for the Global Summit in MyBSF, we have added a new document to the Resource Library, How to Account for the Leader Event Fund Giving on the Monthly Finance Report.
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This resource, easily accessible through keyword search: account, includes screenshots and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the financial reporting of contributions towards the Leader Event Fund. This addition to our resources is designed to make the accounting process as straightforward as possible, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in financial reporting.
Class Administration/DAOT EOY Procedures
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- Share the final online giving information* with class members (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Finalize Share Day plans with Class Staff and discuss with AL team.
- Create meeting calendars for Revelation.
After the last class day:
- Enter attendance for each lesson of the John study in MyBSF.
- Confirm registration plans for class members and children for the next study are reflected in MyBSF.
- Designate the auditor role for your auditor in MyBSF and begin providing audit items outlined in the YE 105 (does not apply to DOLMs).
Share Day:
- No attendance taken
- Accept in-person donations (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Include any final donations on the final monthly finance report and submit the report after online donations have been uploaded. Consider the retained balance for the break* (does not apply to DOLMs).
After Share Day:
- Auditor completes and submits the Year-End Financial Audit (see the YE 105) within one week after Share Day (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Update the class file.
- Confirm admin volunteers for the following year (hosts, tech volunteers, etc.).
- Submit a Change Request (G110) for an incoming DAOT, CS, or CA. See the article “Managing End-of-Year Change Requests” in the BSF (class-based) section.
- Consider any changes needed to Certificate of Liability Insurance and Facility Use Agreements* for the Revelation study.
- Use the new Incident Report (G 105) to report any incidents that happened during the study year. The updated version in the Resource Library uses a new link for the upload. Discard and do not use any previous versions of the G 105.
After your class flips to the next study (see the NSY Registration Guide in the Resource Library for more details; keyword search: registration):
- Update Satellite Meeting details in MyBSF (see the article Updating Satellite Meetings in MyBSF in the MyBSF section).
- Update leader roles in MyBSF.
- Placement can begin for discussion groups and classrooms.
*Refer to the resource, End–of–Year Responsibilities for Facilities and Finance in the Resource Library (keyword search: finance) for more details.
Deceased Members
Children’s Program End–of–Year Procedures
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Reference Class Staff Resource Manual for “End of Study Year Checklist for CS/ACS.”
Gather and review documents needed for records retention. Required forms are:
- CP Enrollment (CP 106) – only attendance records that have not been entered in MyBSF
- CP Expense Record (CP 108)
- CP Volunteer Information (CP 109)
- CP Volunteer Tracker (CP 119)
- Infant Sign-in/Sign-out (P 109)
- Child Registration (I 104) – only if paper forms were used to register child
In MyBSF keep children in current classrooms to maintain attendance data. Upon class flip, move children/leaders/classrooms as needed to reflect the Revelation study year classroom set up.
If helpful, print relevant reports from MyBSF, which may include:
- Registration Status for Next Study Year – Child Report
- Placement Information for CS – Parent Guardian Report
- Child Permission Report
- Class at a Glance – Children
Additional help may be found on the Placement Information Report for TL, which will show all children of parent/guardians.
Wait until the beginning of the study year to complete Annual Recertification of all Children’s Leaders and Regular Volunteers (CP 111). Adding the dates of signatures to your CP Checklist needs to occur after study flip (beginning of study year). Best practice is to have everyone on your CP Checklist sign the CP 111 right before the start of the study year.
Class Administration/DAOT EOY Procedures
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- Share the final online giving information* with class members (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Finalize Share Day plans with Class Staff and discuss with AL team.
- Create meeting calendars for Revelation.
After the last class day:
- Enter attendance for each lesson of the John study in MyBSF.
- Confirm registration plans for class members and children for the next study are reflected in MyBSF.
- Designate the auditor role for your auditor in MyBSF and begin providing audit items outlined in the YE 105 (does not apply to DOLMs).
Share Day:
- No attendance taken
- Accept in-person donations (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Include any final donations on the final monthly finance report and submit the report after online donations have been uploaded. Consider the retained balance for the break* (does not apply to DOLMs).
After Share Day:
- Auditor completes and submits the Year-End Financial Audit (see the YE 105) within one week after Share Day (does not apply to DOLMs).
- Update the class file.
- Confirm admin volunteers for the following year (hosts, tech volunteers, etc.).
- Submit a Change Request (G110) for an incoming DAOT, CS, or CA. See the article “Managing End-of-Year Change Requests” in the BSF (class-based) section.
- Consider any changes needed to Certificate of Liability Insurance and Facility Use Agreements* for the Revelation study.
- Use the new Incident Report (G 105) to report any incidents that happened during the study year. The updated version in the Resource Library uses a new link for the upload. Discard and do not use any previous versions of the G 105.
After your class flips to the next study (see the NSY Registration Guide in the Resource Library for more details; keyword search: registration):
- Update Satellite Meeting details in MyBSF (see the article Updating Satellite Meetings in MyBSF in the MyBSF section).
- Update leader roles in MyBSF.
- Placement can begin for discussion groups and classrooms.
*Refer to the resource, End–of–Year Responsibilities for Facilities and Finance in the Resource Library (keyword search: finance) for more details.
Deceased Members
Deceased Members
If you become aware of a group member or leader who is deceased, the OGL should contact privacy@bsfinternational.org. We will remove the person’s information from the BSF databases.
Tips and Resources
Helpful information for BSF Class Staff
Contacting Leader Support
When reaching out to Leader Support with questions on MyBSF, allow one business day to receive an initial response. If an initial response is not received, please reach out again. Consider adding this email to your contacts for future use: tickets@bsf-ca-and-cs.p.tawk.email. Your patience and persistence allow us to track your ongoing needs and concerns in order to serve you better.
Printable Cards and Brochures for Revelation: The Hope
To help your class share Revelation: The Hope, click here to download and print invitation cards (for church bulletins) and brochures.
- My BSF Classes can add “/class/yourclassnumber” to the end of the link on the PDF to send people directly to your class page. Example: join.bsfinternational.org/class/492
- BSF Online can add your group name to send directly to those you wish to invite.
Check Your Bulletin Alerts During the BSF Break
PLEASE check your Alerts often in MyBSF! During the BSF Break, please check at least weekly for those desiring to JOIN your BSF Community and to stay informed!
Archive
Search past bulletins for archived news, resources, and information.