mybsf.org

AP and Class Staff Bulletin

June-July 2023

Tomb with stone rolled away

Rememberance and Respect

Bruce Smith, Chairman of the BSF Board of Directors, passed from this life into his heavenly home on May 9 after serving as the Board’s respected leader for 11 years. Hollie Roberts, Executive Director, recently shared thoughts about Bruce:

One of the questions I often heard Bruce asked was how he came to serve on the Board. He would always respond, “You know, I’ve asked myself that many times. I’m just a country lawyer from a little place called Aberdeen. I can only conclude that it is by the grace of God.”
The BSF Board includes premier Bible scholars, businessmen, and pastoral leaders. But when Bruce Smith taught God’s Word, the top biblical scholars leaned in. When Bruce proposed a strategic direction, the top businessmen leaned in. And when Bruce counseled through challenging issues, the top pastoral leaders leaned in. No one could craft words together like Bruce—clear, encouraging, affirming, witty, and yet always making the point. And he deeply loved and valued every interaction with the people of BSF.
Indeed, it is by the grace of God that our Board and BSF were led by Bruce. His numerous achievements never led to a prideful spirit. He never lost his love for God and others. He never ceased to serve this ministry. He will be forever remembered for his deep love for BSF leaders around the world. We have all benefitted from his biblical mind, strategic vision, and pastoral heart.

Here are some of Bruce’s words for you:

Thinking Biblically: When Leadership Fails filmed at Launch 2022
Rally Cry recorded by Bruce and shared at the AP Conference 2023

Upcoming Events

13-16 August 2023: Online Orientation for TLs, OTs, and DOTs
  • TL application deadline: Wednesday, 12 July 2023
  • OT/DOT application deadline: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
10-14 September 2023: In-person Orientation for TLs
  • TL application deadline: Wednesday, 9 August 2023

Prayer Requests

Praise for:
  • Recent deployments that included new security enhancements and for upcoming measures to help protect our systems and data.
  • Successful events to refill BSF AP, OAP, TLs, OTs, and DOTs.
  • God’s continued provision for BSF materials and resources with online and print accessibility.
Pray for:
  • Guidance and wisdom as we work to make our systems more user-friendly and resolve existing issues.
  • Local Leader Event materials to result in an excellent experience for every BSF leader as they begin the John study.
  • Timeliness for all resources and for our translators as they work to translate the John resources. 

Technology Updates

BSF Students: EM and EW Shared Location

To move children between men’s and women’s co-located in-person classes (meeting same day, time, and location) use the steps in the MyBSF Reference Guide in the section “Transferring Children Between Co-Locating Classes” (Keyword Search: reference).
Please do not:

  • Add children to the CS of the class.
  • Create duplicate classrooms in both classes because this reflects class data inaccurately.

Account Security

We are implementing higher levels of security for your BSF experience. We care about the security of our members’ data. Because many users re-use passwords across multiple online accounts, which can lead to data breaches, having only a username and password is no longer considered secure. Please help your members and leaders navigate these new security measures.

To secure your account we are doing three things in 2023:

Password Reset: We already required all users to reset their password according to our secure password rules.
WHY: A simple audit of BSF users revealed compromised passwords.
WHEN: This change was deployed in April.
HOW: You were prompted to reset your password the next time you logged in.

Security questions and answers: These are questions and answers associated with your account that only you know the answers to, for example, “What is the name of your first pet?” or, “What is the name of the city you were born in?”
WHY: This allows Member Support personnel to verify your identity when you request their help to reset passwords or fix account issues.
WHEN: These changes were activated in June and all users will need to enter this information by the end of September
HOW: You will be prompted when you log in to answer the questions until you have completed them. You need to do this only one time.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA): To successfully access their account, the user must enter login credentials and a one-time code provided to their phone (through text or phone call) OR verify by using an authenticator app.
WHY: MFA blends two separate factors—something you know (your credentials) with something you are sent (a verification code). This makes it more difficult for those who have harmful intentions to access your account.
WHEN: Beginning mid-August for AP and Class Staff. Class leaders and members will be required to use MFA later in the John Study year.
HOW: Download an authenticator app and register to receive a verification code OR provide a phone number to receive a text or phone call that has a verification code. Information about authenticator apps is coming soon.

Need to Know

Be sure to read for all positions related to your class.

Barb Ysteboe Retires

Barb Ysteboe, Senior Executive Assistant and Regional Director, concluded 23 years of service at BSF on June 1. Barb served in many roles in BSF over the years as a volunteer and Area Personnel. In 2000, she was invited to join the BSF Headquarters staff as Jean Nystrand’s Executive Assistant. She answered God’s call and moved across the country to San Antonio, Texas.
Throughout her tenure, Barb excellently served as Executive Assistant to three Executive Directors. God uniquely blessed Barb through her role as Regional Director to Africa. She also served as liaison to the BSF Board of Directors whom she supported with dedicated care, serving as Recording Secretary. Barb shared, “I didn’t know what the outcome would be when I accepted this job. But I knew I would have the assurance that I said yes to God when He called and that He would do His sanctifying work in me.”
Indeed, God has honored Barb’s commitment to in-depth study of His Word, which has sustained her through the changes and challenges of life. Those who are privileged to know Barb are grateful beneficiaries of the deep wisdom, gentle grace, and wise counsel of our dear friend. We pray God’s richest blessings on Barb, her husband Mike, and their family in this new season of life. We will miss you and we love you, Barb!

Update for Class Staff on 2023 AP/OAP Conference

Recently, AP and OAP attended the BSF AP/OAP Conference with many HQ staff and several board members. God was glorified as AP and OAP from around the world worshipped together, shared meals and fellowship, and received training and guidance.
The focus of this year’s AP/OAP Conference was on the three pillars of the AP/OAP role: AP/OAP as shepherd, AP/OAP as coach, and AP/OAP as trainer. Hollie spoke to AP/OAP of their purpose and reminded them that BSF AP/OAP:

  • Magnify God through preserving alignment with the BSF Statement of Faith; foundational doctrines; and our ministry Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Aims.
  • Mature God’s people through preserving BSF’s approach to teaching, training, and leading.

Your AP/OAP come alongside you to guard the BSF Mission, lead with vision, uphold BSF’s Core Values, champion BSF’s Aims, cultivate BSF culture, and protect BSF ministry essentials. Many aspects of the AP/OAP role are described in your manuals and the Class Staff Resource. Your AP/OAP are an important part of your class staff team. As you read your updated manuals, take note of those places where AP are mentioned to help guide you.

Please note that your AP/OAP received additional layers of information and direction from HQ at the AP/OAP Conference regarding their role as trainer. Our desire is that every leader in BSF, would receive shepherding, coaching, and training. Your foundational training comes directly from BSF HQ’s Training Team. Ongoing and next-layer training will come from HQ’s Training Team and from your AP/OAP. Expect to hear from your AP/OAP about your opportunities for ongoing training.

We believe that shepherding, coaching, and training provide accountability, protection, and sustainability in service. Join us in prayer that God will maximize the equipping you receive from your AP so that you are able to persevere in the calling God has given you!

BSF Is Hiring!

BSF has several openings throughout the organization. Please visit the Career page on the BSF website for more details, and please share with those you know in your area or classes who might be qualified and interested.

Recordings of Refill: 2023 Conference for TLs, OTs, DOTs Available Soon

General sessions from Refill: 2023 Conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs, will be made available in the Resource Library on MyBSF soon. Each session will be available in our four supported languages (English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish) as they become available. Look for them to be released before the John study. TLs, OTs, and DOTs are reminded to watch the Conference videos if they were unable to participate at the June Conference. We encourage AP/OAP, STL/DAOT/AOT, CA, and CSs to watch them as well.

Updated Foundations Courses Now Available

Updated versions of the CA, SP CS, SP ACS, and STL Foundations courses are now available in MyBSF Learning. TLs, OTs, and DOTs who have not previously had access to the TL or OT Orientation course will receive access in July. An updated version of the SP CL Foundations course is now available in the Resource Library for SP CLs.

Leader Event Resources Available in July

Materials for this year’s Leader Event will be available in the Resource Library on MyBSF in July. The Leader Event is a single-class (base class, DOLM, or OLM) experience (similar to your Leaders Meeting) with the ability to play video, if possible.

NEW Leadership Development Tool Kit

The new Leadership Development Tool Kit will soon be available! This tool kit is for training all BSF leaders, including those who lead in BSF Online. Watch for an alert to find it in the Resource Library on MyBSF and in Helps and Resources on BSF Online (Keyword Search: tool kit). Translations of the 2022 tool kits remain in the Resource Library on MyBSF and in Helps and Resources on BSF Online until translated versions become available.

AP/OAP Discussion Groups

We consider the personal spiritual growth of AP an essential part of the calling to servant leadership. Although AP discussion groups were started and are facilitated without HQ oversight, we have seen the amazing impact of these groups in the lives of AP. AP are fostering community and commitment to God as they study the same lessons as HQ and BSF classes. AP discussion groups are a place for encouragement, challenge, and prayer. Often there is not a single leader for an AP discussion group because AP share the responsibility for leading the discussion each week. Would you prayerfully consider participating in a group for the study of John? You will find a list of times and contacts here. If there is not a group listed that works in your schedule, we encourage you to start a new one. Please enter your group on the spreadsheet so others may join you.

Compliance to California AB506 (for California Children’s Programs Only)

California AP will soon be given direction to guide specific leadership roles in their classes to comply with the new law that protects children in California.

MyBSF Learning Courses for TLs and STLs

All TLs and STLs who are not already enrolled in the Teaching Leader Orientation or Substitute Teaching Leader Foundations courses, respectively, will be enrolled in early July. Look for an email notification from MyBSF Learning. This will enable all TLs and STLs to access the latest courses, which include significant updates to the lecture preparation, leadership development, and vision casting sections. Please review the course for your role to be sure you have the most current information. Also, returning STLs should not sign up for an instructor-led training. Those sessions are available only for STLs who are serving for their first time in the John study.

Video Lectures Supplied by HQ

For the John study, HQ is supplying video lectures for Lessons 0 (Hollie Roberts, Executive Director) and 29 (Simon Lennox, Chief Product Officer). This provides TLs the option to give their class the privilege of joining with BSF members across the world in hearing the same message from the Executive Director and the Chief Product Officer. These lectures also serve TLs by giving them breathing space amid additional beginning-of-year and end-of-year responsibilities. Work with your AP/OAP to decide whether to use the local lecture or the HQ lecture.
TLs using these lecture resources should introduce Hollie and Simon before the lecture and explain their roles at HQ. TLs have an opportunity before the lecture to open the study year by addressing the class to create familiarity and set the tone for a welcoming class culture and to close the year in a way that is appropriate for their class context. The first and final lectures are thematic lectures based on the book of John. Training is being developed about how to give thematic lectures in Revelation.

Important: Change in Certificate of Liability Insurance (COLI) Process

Watch for an alert that has new instructions for submitting a host church’s request for a COLI. The difference is that the CA’s name and email address will be used for the certificate instead of the host church’s contact person. The CA will receive the certificate and deliver a copy to the host church (print and hand-deliver or forward by email).

CA Foundations Course in MyBSF Learning

All CAs now have access to the Class Administrator Foundations course. Look for an email notification from MyBSF Learning. Please review the course to be sure you have the most current information. Also, returning CAs should not sign up for an instructor-led training. Those sessions are available only for CAs who are serving for their first time in the John study.

Ordering Guidelines for the BSF Store

Adult Lessons Books and Discovery Guides are available and may be purchased by CAs, CSs, or ALs for adults or students who have a NEED for BSF to provide lessons. These orders should be shipped directly to the recipient. Instructions are available in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: BSF Store).
Orders for resources for Children’s Leaders should be placed SEPARATELY in a bulk order to reduce shipping costs that will be shared by the leaders.
CAs and CSs should print and retain a small number of each week’s lesson to have available for guests and new members. See the CA/AL Manual for more information.

BSF Students Updates for John

A BSF Students Fact Sheet is available in the Resource Library for BSF Students CSs and ACSs to prepare for the John study year (Keyword Search: fact sheet).

Seminars Open to High School Level Students in BSF Students

Beginning with the John study year, high school level students enrolled in BSF Students may attend Seminars. Please extend the invitation and note that they must attend with their BSF Adult.

Ordering Guidelines for the BSF Store

Adult Lessons Books and Discovery Guides are available and may be purchased by CAs, DAOTs, CSs, or ALs for adults or students who have a NEED for BSF to provide lessons. These orders should be shipped directly to the recipient. Instructions are available in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: BSF Store).
Orders for resources for Children’s Leaders should be placed SEPARATELY in a bulk order to reduce shipping costs that will be shared by the leaders.
CAs and CSs should print and retain a small number of each week’s lesson to have available for guests and new members. See the DOT/DAOT Manual for more information.

Please be sure to read the BSF and BSF Online tab.

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