mybsf.org

AP/CLASS STAFF BULLETIN

December 2020/January 2021

Greetings from Susie

Dear Friends,

As you all know, last month I announced my intentions to retire as your Executive Director, effective August 31, 2021. As a result, we at BSF are now in a season of succession planning. Succession planning must be preceded by succession praying. It is never too early to begin praying for your own succession and successor. I recall, I began praying for my successor when I first stepped into this role in June 2009.

And, now, I would be honored for you to join me in prayer, as I know you already are! Please pray with me:

  • May God, in His time, make His chosen servant clearly known to the board of directors.
  • May God go before us all – as we know He will – to prepare His chosen servant and their family for His call to this role.
  • May the BSF board and succession committee put best practices and processes in place in order to seek God, seek His chosen servant and communicate well to staff and field.
  • May we actively trust God for His perfect timing to identify His chosen servant.
  • For me and for all who are by my side for help and support – may we all prepare well for this transition.

For the fame of Jesus Christ in the nations,
Susie

Need to Know

To stay updated, please read all headings relevant to your class.

BSF Giving 

While God continues to sustain the ministry of BSF, there has been a substantial decrease in contributions this year since there is minimal opportunity for in-class giving.

You may share this information with your leaders and members and direct them to the following giving options for a one time or recurring gift:

  • Online: by clicking on “Give” at mybsf.org, bsfonline.org or bsfinternational.org. You can give to BSF operations, your class or specific ministry initiatives. 
  • By check to: Bible Study Fellowship, 19001 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258 
  • Through various gift options on the websites such as:  Stock, IRA’s, Donor Advised Funds, Legacy or Planned Gifts. Clicking on the category will explain the process for each. 

All donations made or postmarked before Jan. 1, 2021 will be tax-deductible for 2020, regardless of when the donation is included on the monthly financial report. 

A Study of Christian Faith Doctrines

Merry Christmas!  An email containing The BSF Doctrine Study was recently emailed to class staff and AP. The study is located HERE. 

ALL BSFers (leaders and class members) will soon receive an email with a Songs to Celebrate the Savior study. This email will also include a giving opportunity. The study is located HERE.

We pray God will use these studies to draw you closer to Himself for strength, encouragement, and personal growth.

Dropbox Showcase Resources

Dropbox has decided to discontinue its Dropbox Showcase platform. Therefore, all BSF Dropbox Showcase products (including the GENESIS Dropbox Showcase in class staff downloads and Class Staff Training Pre-Assignments in AP downloads and ALL other Dropbox Showcase resources) will be discontinued at the end of January. HQ will migrate these resources to another platform in January. Access is available through December and January. Information on the migration of Showcase resources will be provided soon.

Outreach Campaign 

BSF HQ is running a U.S. social media outreach campaign from November 27 through December 31. Posts are targeting people who are unfamiliar with BSF. (It is possible members may see the posts in their feeds.) Pray that God draws new members to join groups in the new year and watch for requests to JOIN.  Please extend a warm welcome to those joining your class for in-depth Bible study of Genesis in 2021. 

WANTED: Online Members and Leaders 

Do you:  

Simplified and Traditional Chinese Subtitled Summit Videos 

The SC and TC subtitles for the extended Summit sessions are now available on the Summit website (Password: summit2020). Please communicate this information to class leaders. 

April 2021 TL Orientations

Due to COVID-19, TL Orientations will be online. 

First April TL Orientation:

  • March 12, 2021: TL Application Deadline
  • April 11-15, 2021: TL Orientation 

Second April TL Orientation:

  • March 26, 2021: TL Application Deadline 
  • April 25-29, 2021: TL Orientation  

 

April 2021 TL Orientations

Due to COVID-19, TL Orientations will be online. 

First April TL Orientation:

  • March 12, 2021: TL Application Deadline
  • April 11-15, 2021: TL Orientation 

Second April TL Orientation:

  • March 26, 2021: TL Application Deadline 
  • April 25-29, 2021: TL Orientation  

Attendance & Finance Reports

Reminder: SUBMIT a monthly attendance and financial report each month, even if there is no class bank account activity. 

These reports are due to HQ within two days of the last class day of the month. 

Class Database Update 

After the holidays, develop a strategy with your ALs to update your class member database. Work with GLs, to add or estimate age, as it is a required field on the Adult Registration. Pray for us as we work toward a solution where class members can enter their age into their member record.

You are up to date and doing great work!

You are up to date and doing great work!

Fellowships: Building A Community of Grace, Growth and Praise 

In the November Monthly Leader Confab, we identified words to describe what we wanted our leaders and members to experience in a BSF Fellowship.  Words like:  God-honoring, life-giving, authentic, encouraging, looking forward to the next one…were annotated onto the Fellowship slide.   

You have an opportunity to message and model the vision for fellowship in an online setting.  Fellowships are regularly scheduled events. Fellowship also happens throughout the week when you connect before/after the OLM, on WhatsApp, or during the OLM as you get to know your leaders and find out how God is at work in their lives.  Be intentional about making fellowship (whether ongoing or scheduled) full of grace, growth and praise to God. 

Leader Groups: A BSF Online Shepherding Tool 

In BSF Online, OTs and AOTs use technology to lead, shepherd and train OGLs.  One feature on our website is Leader Groups.  OTs and AOTs work together to divide the OGLs into an OT Leader Group and an AOT Leader Group.  Accomplish this by clicking Leader Group Management.  During the OLM, AOTs can click Start Leader Group Meeting to open an additional Zoom meeting that OGLs can join directly from the My Training page.  This is helpful for Lesson Discussion, Leadership Development and prayer time as it allows both the OT and the AOT to use breakout rooms with their OGLs.  For more information about this feature, read this Need Help article on Leader Group Management. 

April 2021 OT Orientation 

  • March 5, 2021: OT Application Deadline 
  • March 11 and 13, 2021 (1.5 hours): Introduction for OT Orientation 
  • April 12-15, 2021:  OT Orientation  

 

Fellowships: Building A Community of Grace, Growth and Praise 

In the November Monthly Leader Confab, we identified words to describe what we wanted our leaders and members to experience in a BSF Fellowship.  Words like:  God-honoring, life-giving, authentic, encouraging, looking forward to the next one…were annotated onto the Fellowship slide.   

You have an opportunity to message and model the vision for fellowship in an online setting.  Fellowships are regularly scheduled events. Fellowship also happens throughout the week when you connect before/after the OLM, on WhatsApp, or during the OLM as you get to know your leaders and find out how God is at work in their lives.  Be intentional about making fellowship (whether ongoing or scheduled) full of grace, growth and praise to God. 

Leader Groups: A BSF Online Shepherding Tool 

In BSF Online, OTs and AOTs use technology to lead, shepherd and train OGLs.  One feature on our website is Leader Groups.  OTs and AOTs work together to divide the OGLs into an OT Leader Group and an AOT Leader Group.  Accomplish this by clicking Leader Group Management.  During the OLM, AOTs can click Start Leader Group Meeting to open an additional Zoom meeting that OGLs can join directly from the My Training page.  This is helpful for Lesson Discussion, Leadership Development and prayer time as it allows both the OT and the AOT to use breakout rooms with their OGLs.  For more information about this feature, read this Need Help article on Leader Group Management. 

April 2021 OT Orientation 

OT Orientations will be online. 

  • March 5, 2021: OT Application Deadline 
  • March 11 and 13, 2021 (1.5 hours): Introduction for OT Orientation 
  • April 12-15, 2021:  OT Orientation  

Tips

A Wait List Strategy

Many classes care for class members who have chosen not to attend discussion groups until they regather physically by keeping them on a wait list. Placing class members on a wait list maintains connection with the class through ongoing support and access to questions, notes and lectures.

Another way to stay connected and potentially increase engagement with these class members is to place them into existing discussion groups. As GLs send words of encouragement, information and prayer requests each week, these group members can be included as valued members of the community. Once regathering occurs, the group members (including those who have not been attending their group online) have a strong connection.

Prayerfully consider this wait list strategy to enhance class community culture. Prior to placing the wait listed class members into groups:

  1. Communicate and affirm that they are being included for the blessing of prayer and connection to other class members, and that their GL is eager to support and encourage them.
  2. Please clarify that there is no obligation to attend their group before the members are meeting physically.

NOTE: Placing class members with a previous GL may be provide the comfort and stability of familiarity.

Lessen Burden, Maintain Excellence

Keep the BSF main things as the main things to ease the burden of class leaders and provide an excellent BSF experience for class members. The main things include: 

  • The four-fold approach to Bible Study (Questions, Discussion, Lecture, Notes)  
  • The four components of leaders meeting (Prayer, Doctrine, Discussion, Training)  

Both are extensively supported by BSF materials. Maintaining focus of time and energy on the four-fold approach and four LM components allows BSF classes to be strong and agile, like a 4X4 off-road vehicle when the terrain changes. A variety of circumstances require adaptations and adjustments to Leader’s Meeting and Class Meeting, but the BSF 4X4 is up to the challenge. 

Three Ways to Connect

You and your leaders have been together for a few months and are beginning to know each other. In the new year, how can you encourage greater connection? 

  • Use chat (sometimes to everyone, sometimes to one person) to send encouraging messages.  Remember: If the person is breathing, they need encouragement!
  • Invite people by name (pronouncing and/or spelling names correctly) into the conversation, chat or activity. Brain science shows that when people hear their own name this triggers greater activity in the social part of the brain.
  • Identify common connections, life circumstances or leadership experience and intentionally assign those leaders to the same break out rooms.    

Connection in community happens when leaders model and create opportunity for it. By taking a few intentional steps, you can foster community between leaders, who can then bring it into their discussion groups.   

HAPPENING

SOON

HQ Closed for Christmas

  • Dec 17 – Jan 3 

D-OT Orientation 

  • January 22, 2021: D-OT Orientation Application Deadline 
  • February 22-23, 2021: D-OT Orientation (online)

AP/OAP Training Sessions 

  • February 4, 2021 at 7:00 am CST and 7:00 pm CST  
  • March 11, 2021 at 7:00 am CST and 7:00 pm CST

PRAISES

Praise God for

  • Growth in classes and school programs in India
  • Online groups that include members from all over the world and establish a safe and welcoming community 

PRAYER

REQUESTS

Pray for

  • God’s continued provision for BSF through year end giving.
  • God to provide leaders to meet growing demands for satellite groups  
  • Opportunities to establish prison satellites in as many places as possible 
  • Leaders & classes, especially YA classes, in Asia (home to more young adults than any other region globally) to have urgency to reach YAs for Christ 
  • Energy & bandwidth of International AP to continue to strategize for growth, focusing on God-given opportunities 
  • God to use online options to help BSFers in Africa study God’s Word amid social unrest, and for provision of devices to enable BSFers to use the BSF App 
  • God’s Word to reach remote areas in Canada through Distance SDGs 
  • Continued growth in BSF Online groups 
  • God to call leaders who will have a global vision to lead in BSF Online 
  • New resources to be a blessing to online class staff 

Inspiration

Yielding to God’s Schedule

N ewly trained Assistant Online Trainer, Shandra, shares her journey to her role.  “I was contracted to teach clients during the day and did not believe it was possible to lead an online Leaders Meeting in the middle of the day. After prayerfully searching for a substitute with no success, I felt like maybe God wanted me to wait. However, the Holy Spirit lead me to ask for a flexible schedule.   My company said they wanted to yield to my schedule.  What they didn’t know was that they were yielding to God’s schedule!”  

W e are grateful for Shandra and all of our online class staff who trust God as He calls them into their new roles  in the middle of their circumstances. 

Online Men’s Cantonese Group

T homas Tse has been leading a BSF Online Chinese/Cantonese men’s group for two years. Praise the Lord for a full group of 20 men from Canada, Hong Kong and the United States. “I heard only sisters are talkative and love to share, but brothers are quiet and contained,” says Thomas. “Well not in this group!  We love to talk and share!” 

P ray with us that God brings more leaders so many more brothers and sisters can enjoy sharing like this group.