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AP and Class Staff Bulletin

March 2023

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Tomb with stone rolled away

Remember His Words

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-12

We remember His words, too! He is risen!

Happening Soon

Prayer Requests

Praise for:

  • God’s provision of space for children in Nairobi classes

Pray for:

  • The gospel to go out through BSF members during this Easter season
  • God to provide Class Staff, leaders, and host churches for new classes starting with the John study
  • God to continue to use local classes to reach those who want to study His Word in person and online

    MyBSF

    John Registration

    John Registration is available in MyBSF for adults and children.

    • All active adult class members (placed, waitlisted, or unassigned) will be automatically registered for the John study.
    • For active children to be fully registered, the Parental Permission on MyBSF must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. For instructions about how to complete Parental Permission, see the New Study Year Registration guide in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: registration).
    • Active adults can add new children by using Add a Child in their profile.
    • Class Staff, ALs, and ACSs can see John registration information for their class on the Registration page in MyBSF.
    • Find a Group now gives users the option to register for John or PPKD.

    John Calendars are now available for entering meeting days and times for next class year.

    Every in-person class can assign the Auditor role (role = AUD). The Auditor completes and submits the Internal Control Questionnaire according to the Instructions for Class Year-End Financial Audit (YE 105) form in MyBSF.

    Please see the New Study Year Registration Guide in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: registration).

    Password Resets Coming Soon

    BSF HQ is working to ensure and enhance the security of our user accounts. As part of our plan, we will require all account holders in MyBSF, BSF Online, and the BSF App to reset their password. No action is needed right now. You will be prompted after you log in sometime in the next month to reset your password following the secure password rules.

    • Your password must be unique to our site and not re-used from any other website. 
    • Your password must not have been used on MyBSF previously.

    Thank you for your cooperation in keeping BSF secure.

    Class Flip to New Study Year (NSY)

    From the New Study Year Registration guide located in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: registration):

    Class Flip NSY

    For classes that have meetings that are no longer used:

    For the class to flip, you must delete the calendars for those meetings that are not being used. If you are not able to delete the calendar, it is because attendance has been taken for that meeting sometime this year. If that is the case, your class will flip on 13 July with the study flip. You do not have to wait until 13 July to set up groups and update leaders for the next study year; you just have to wait until your class year is over. 

      John Lesson Materials

      John lesson materials on MyBSF, the BSF Online Lesson pages, and in the BSF App will be updated after all classes have completed the PPKD study (before classes begin in August). 

      BSF Students Materials Designation

      Please review and update materials used in your BSF Students class. Levels used prior to PPKD (Levels 1, 3, and 5) are no longer valid and no longer apply.

      To edit your Materials Used for each SP classroom in MyBSF:

      1. On the left menu, select Class, Management, and then Groups.
      2. On the Group Management page, select the Clasrooms tab.
      3. For the classroom you want to edit, select Edit, and then Edit again.
      4. Under Materials Used, select the level you want: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, or High School. This selection should correlate to the Leader Guide being used in the classroom.

      Recommendations:

      Update to Child Registration (I 104)

      MyBSF Child Registration (parental permission) online and the Child Registration (I 104) form (paper and Foxit eSign) have been updated to include the following statements when a parent/legal guardian selects My child will be accompanied to BSF by a class member(s) other than myself. BSF Adult 1 and BSF Adult 2 (optional) now include:

      By checking this box, I authorize the BSF member attending with my child to seek medical care for my child if necessary, including but not limited to transportation to an appropriate medical facility. I also acknowledge that the BSF member attending with my child is my Designee under the Epipen Notice and Acknowledgement, if applicable.

      Please discontinue the use of Child Registration (I 104) forms printed from the Resource Library prior to 30 March 2023 and begin immediate use of the revised Child Registration (I 104) that is now available in the Resource Library.

      Need to Know

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

      New Chief Ministry Development Officer

      BSF is excited to announce Brooke Sims as our Chief Ministry Development Officer. Brooke came to BSF in 1999, and God used BSF to draw Brooke to saving faith, which gives BSF an extra special place in her heart. She has been part of several classes, and over the last 18 years has served in the roles of SP CL, GL, STL, TL, and AP. Brooke has her Masters in Accounting as well as holding a Masters in Biblical and Theological Studies and has worked as a Certified Public Accountant. She is married and has two adult children. In her free time, Brooke enjoys taking walks and seeing movies.

      BSF Support Is Looking for Volunteers

      BSF Support is recruiting volunteers for the Next Year’s Study. For more information, please read this Support Agent Information document. 

      Refill: Leader Event 2023 to Prepare for the
      John Study!       

      Don’t forget to plan this 3-hour event for all class leaders prior to and separate from your first Leaders Meeting. The venue for this event should be similar to your Leaders Meeting venue. There will be video content provided to watch ahead or view at the venue as part of the event (if venue technology permits). Please set your date and communicate the date, time, and location to your Area Personnel and leadership.

      Tool Kit Update for Next Study Year

      What if you had one tool kit that made it possible to plan unified training for your entire leadership team while also providing training for specific roles? What if you had one tool kit that was easily adaptable for leading an in-person or an online Leaders Meeting? What if every Class Staff member had an Onboarding Plan for new leaders in their section of the tool kit? And what if you had to search for only one tool kit in the Resource Library?

      Great news! A new tool kit is in production that will accomplish all of this and more. This resource will provide you with updated trainings that more closely align with manuals. Watch for more information. 

      Recommending a GL to BSF Online

      BSF Online is looking for leaders who want to meet online for their Discussion Group. Currently, there are more than 30,000 members representing 156 different countries in BSF Online. Please prayerfully recommend men and women for Online Group Leaders using the process below.

      BSF class leaders recommending leaders:
      1. Click this link: BSF Online (knack.com)
      2. Use our guest login information:
        Email:  ogl4bsfonline@gmail.com
        Password: ogl4bsfonline
      3. Complete the recommendation form and submit.
      BSF Online leaders recommending leaders:
      1. Log into the BSF Online website. Select the menu on the right, and then select Apply & Recommend.
      2. Complete the recommendation form and submit.

      Training for New Class Staff

      Updates are in process for Foundations courses and training sessions for all new Class Staff. New Class Staff who have been invited to MyBSF Learning and are enrolled in Foundations training are encouraged to wait to access their training courses until May. This will ensure that each new Class Staff receives the most up-to-date course content to prepare for serving in their new role. Be on the lookout in May for an Alert in MyBSF informing Class Staff when to begin accessing their courses.

      Name Change for Preschool and Student Programs

      You might have noticed “BSF Kids” and “BSF Students” mentioned in various communications as the new names for the Preschool Program and Student Program. We have been implementing the name change over the last year across all BSF materials (such as training, manuals, and resources). Please note that all children’s leadership names (for example, Preschool Children’s Leader or Student Program Children’s Supervisor) will remain the same because BSF Kids and BSF Students are part of the Children’s Program at BSF. 

      We have provided a PDF called Children’s Program Visual to help Class Staff share this information with leaders and members. It can be found in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: visual).

      Thank you for partnering with us in ministry as we transition to BSF Kids and BSF Students. We prayerfully look forward to seeing how God will move as we strive to reach the next generation with the gospel! 

      Preschool CS and ACS Foundations Course

      To train Preschool ACSs serving in BSF Kids a new Foundations course is now available. All existing PS ACSs will be enrolled in the course in early April and will receive an enrollment email from MyBSF Learning. PS ACSs are encouraged to complete the course as soon as possible and review with their CS after completion. New PS ACSs will be enrolled in MyBSF Learning and the Foundations course after the role is added to their MyBSF profile.

      All Preschool CSs that have not yet received access to the PS CS Foundations course will be enrolled in the course in early April for personal review as you continue in your role.

      New Procedure for Notification of Stairs for Infants, Toddlers, and 2-Year-Olds 

      Our priority is that every child who attends BSF is kept safe. Beginning with the John study, all infant, toddler, and 2-year-old classrooms must be located on the ground floor to allow safe emergency evacuation unless otherwise permitted by local regulations and acceptable to the host church. If a class is considering asking for an exception, AP and Class Staff work together to determine if the following criteria can be met: 

      • Practice is permissible by local regulations 
      • Practice is permissible by the host church 
      • Class Staff have a written plan to safely evacuate 

      If all of these criteria are met, AP will provide the Notification of Stairs/Alternate Location for Infants/Toddlers/2 Year Olds (P 113) form to the Class Staff. After completion, Class Staff will submit the form to AP and keep a copy with Class Staff records. Notification must be rewritten annually. 

      AP and OAP Have Access to Orientation Course

      AP and OAP who have TL, DOT, or OT candidates in the March or April Orientations were enrolled in the new Teaching Leader Orientation and Online Trainer Orientation courses in MyBSF Learning. In April, these courses will be available to all AP and OAP for your information and awareness of Orientation course content. You will receive an enrollment email from MyBSF Learning when you have access to the course. Completion of the course is optional.

      TL, OT, and DOT Orientees Need to Sign Up for the Online Conference 13-15 June

      AP, please ensure that your TLs and DOTs who attended Orientation in March and April know to register for the online conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs serving during the John study year. The online event is designed to prepare them for the upcoming study of John’s Gospel. The conference includes two 4-hour sessions (sessions 1 and 2). Each session is offered twice. TLs and DOTs sign up for the sessions that work best for them.    

      Session 1: Offered on Tuesday, 13 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Wednesday, 14 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. 

      Session 2: Offered on Wednesday, 14 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Thursday, 15 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT.  

      Sign Up for the TL, OT, and DOT Conference
      13-15 June

      Register now to participate in the online conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs serving during the John study year. The online event is designed to prepare you for the upcoming study of John’s Gospel. The conference includes two 4-hour sessions (sessions 1 and 2). Each session is offered twice. Sign up for the session dates and times that work best for your schedule.    

      Session 1: Offered on Tuesday, 13 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Wednesday, 14 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. 

      Session 2: Offered on Wednesday, 14 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Thursday, 15 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT.  

      Do You Need HQ Assistance with SDG, DSDG, or Host Church Remunerations?

      If you need assistance remunerating your SDG or DSDG for the PPKD study year, please follow this link to complete the form by 25 April so that HQ can remunerate the host church or facility for the entire BSF study year. 

       The information requested in the link: 

      1. Base Class Name 
      2. Base Class Number 
      3. Remuneration amount for satellite location: 
        – SDGs and DSDGs: Amount is based on the number of groups and classrooms meeting each month (which may differ monthly based on enrollment). Refer to the instructions on the submission form for clarification. (Classes that are not in United States use form F 111.)
        – Include all months of the class year up through your last meeting at the facility. If the facility was used for one week of the month, pay for the entire month (no proration). 
      4. Church or facility name
      5. Payable to
      6. Church or facility mailing address 

      Important: If you need assistance remunerating a SDG or DSDG facility for only 1 month due to insufficient in-class contributions, go to Leader Support to inform HQ.

      Certificate of Liability Insurance (COLI)

      BSF does not initiate COLIs. If a host church requests a COLI, email the information identified in the Class Staff Resource under Certificates of Liability Insurance to finance@bsfinternational.org.

      • If changing location, include information about the current host church (“moving from” location).
      • For current locations, email finance only if there are updates to contact name or email address. Otherwise, no action is required.
      • Submit information before 1 July to be included in the 1 August release of certificates for class year 2023-24. 

      Facility Use Agreements

      BSF is blessed to partner with many churches that host our BSF classes. Sometimes churches request a facility use agreement. Please note that BSF classes do not initiate offers to provide facility use agreements. However, if you receive a request, use the facility use agreement BSF HQ provides in the Resource Library (Keyword Search: facility).

      • Fill out the agreement except for signatures (signatures by the CA or TL are not valid).
      • Submit the agreement signed by the host church to finance@bsfinternational.org with your class number and the names of the TL and CA.
      • Submit requests as early as possible before the beginning of the study year to prevent delays in processing.
      • Changes to the form requested by the host church must be reviewed and processed through HQ before the agreement can be finalized.
      • Please send questions, proposed revisions, and signed agreements to finance@bsfinternational.org.

      For more information, see the Class Staff Resource.

      Monthly Finance Report Submission

      Wait until the end of the month to receive and reconcile your bank statement to complete and submit your Monthly Finance Report. This allows reporting of all activity for the month in the information you report to HQ. Submit the report no later than the 5th of the month.  

      End-of-Year Finance Information

      As you prepare to end the class year:

      • Increase your retained balance for any bank fees anticipated during the summer months (May through August). 
      • (US classes) Submit separate monthly reports for April and May. DO NOT combine the information into one report. 
      • Start looking for the auditor for the annual Internal Control Questionnaire process (the audit).  

      Online Giving

      If you have members who want their online donations to benefit their host church, the last day to give is:

      • 5 May 2023 for classes in the United States
      • 2 June 2023 for classes in all other countries 

      Please be sure to read the information in MyBSF, All BSF, and General: BSF Classes.

      Sign Up for the TL, OT, and DOT Conference
      13-15 June

      Register now to participate in the online conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs serving during the John study year. The online event is designed to prepare you for the upcoming study of John’s Gospel. The conference includes two 4-hour sessions (sessions 1 and 2). Each session is offered twice. Sign up for the session dates and times that work best for your schedule.    

      Session 1: Offered on Tuesday, 13 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Wednesday, 14 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. 

      Session 2: Offered on Wednesday, 14 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Thursday, 15 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT.

      DAOTs, please be sure to read the information on the CA tab. 

      Password Resets Coming Soon

      BSF HQ is working to ensure and enhance the security of our user accounts. As part of our plan, we will require all account holders in MyBSF, BSF Online, and the BSF App to reset their password. No action is needed right now. You will be prompted after you log in sometime in the next month to reset your password following the secure password rules.

      • Your password must be unique to our site and not re-used from any other website. 
      • Your password must not have been used on MyBSF or BSF Online previously.

      Thank you for your cooperation in keeping BSF secure.

      Please be sure to read the information in All BSF.

      AP and OAP Have Access to Orientation Course

      AP and OAP who have TL, DOT, or OT candidates in the March or April Orientations were enrolled in the new Teaching Leader Orientation and Online Trainer Orientation courses in MyBSF Learning. In April, these courses will be available to all AP and OAP for your information and awareness of Orientation course content. You will receive an enrollment email from MyBSF Learning when you have access to the course. Completion of the course is optional.

      TL, OT, and DOT Orientees Need to Sign Up for the Online Conference 13-15 June

      OAP, please ensure that your OTs who attended Orientation in March and April know to register for the online conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs serving during the John study year. The online event is designed to prepare them for the upcoming study of John’s Gospel. The conference includes two 4-hour sessions (sessions 1 and 2). Each session is offered twice. OTs sign up for the sessions that work best for them.    

      Session 1: Offered on Tuesday, 13 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Wednesday, 14 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. 

      Session 2: Offered on Wednesday, 14 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Thursday, 15 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT.  

      Sign Up for the TL, OT, and DOT Conference
      13-15 June

      Register now to participate in the online conference for TLs, OTs, and DOTs serving during the John study year. The online event is designed to prepare you for the upcoming study of John’s Gospel. The conference includes two 4-hour sessions (sessions 1 and 2). Each session is offered twice. Sign up for the session dates and times that work best for your schedule.    

      Session 1: Offered on Tuesday, 13 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Wednesday, 14 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. 

      Session 2: Offered on Wednesday, 14 June from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CDT and again on Thursday, 15 June from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT.  

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