BSF Students
Bible Study Fellowship believes that God’s Word provides the answers for the big life questions students have. Questions like “Who am I?” “What is real?” and “Where do I go for answers?” BSF Students is a weekly, in-depth study of the Bible where young people ages 5-18 gather around God’s Word to build community, discover truth, and live differently.
A History of Reaching the Next Generation
by Barbara Reaoch
As the former BSF Children’s Program Director, Barbara Reaoch longs for the next generation of students to grow deep roots in God’s Word. She understands the struggle of keeping kids engaged in Bible study. She can relate to blank stares and wiggly children during BSF lessons. But she also knows the joy of watching a child understand the beauty of God’s grace. She has seen young faces light up when God’s Word becomes much more than a simple story book. Barbara shares her own experience as the BSF Children’s Program Director and also her thoughts on the redesigned Student Program (formerly called the School Program).
Called to the Impossible
When I was asked to lead the Children’s Division at Bible Study Fellowship in 2007, I knew it was a great privilege. But I readily admit that I felt ill-equipped and unqualified for this role. There was so much I did not know! Facing the redesigned Student Program, perhaps you can relate.
So I began with a simple question, “What do I know?”
I knew that God had saved me by His grace. In fact, He had prepared this work for me! As His child, I could now step into it, assured that He would lead me in a way that pleased Him had also prepared this assignment for me.
Scripture Lit My Way
In my 11 years as the Children’s Division Director, I returned again and again to read Psalm 78:5-7 as if I had never read it before.
…he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Lord willing, I saw that the BSF School Program was to become a gospel-centered discipleship program, producing passionate commitment to Christ, His Word, and His Church in the next generation. Children’s Supervisors, Assistant Children’s Supervisors, and Children’s Leaders would experience the transforming power of God’s Word. They would see students discovering the joy of loving God.
Then it hit me – this was not new! It was God’s path all along (Jeremiah 6:16). From the beginning of the School Program, BSF aimed to disciple students with the truth of God’s Word. But we had to ask, “How can we better reach the next generation of students and leaders?”
A Renewed Path Forward
Once again, with this School Program Redesign, God has opened a new path forward for a new generation of students and leaders! He’s given BSF a new opportunity to ask, “How can we help the next generation know Your truth and walk in Your path?”
Our faithful God called together a team to redesign the BSF School Program. The team made time to think, read, study, listen, ask questions, pray, and reflect. They learned from the past, assessed the present need, and realized how redesigning would better reach a new generation of students and leaders worldwide. This is an excellent new curriculum for BSF students.
We will continue walking the path of producing a passionate commitment to Christ, His Word, and His Church and also move forward with God – taking what we know to be eternally true to the next generation.
To change is to stretch! Every time we move forward with God, we leave something behind. Whether this truth excites you or challenges you, hang on to these two truths:
- Remember God
God, who saved you by His grace, has prepared good works for you personally to walk in. He promises to equip you for the work He’s given you (Ephesians 2:8-10). He is with you and will take you through every change by the power of His Spirit. God calls every Christian to disciple the next generation. But for CLs, God especially calls us to lead the next generation in His path so they in turn will guide the generation after them in His way (Psalm 78:4-5; Matthew 28:19-20).
- Childhood is a God-designed time to discover God’s wonder and love
The BSF Student Program directs students toward knowing and loving God. A CL teaching God’s Word lays kindling for the Holy Spirit to ignite. As a leader in the Student Program, you have the privilege of nurturing those flames so that students’ lives shine for God’s glory. Every time we welcome a student into the classroom, God gives us the joy of His presence (Matthew 18:5)!
God’s Work Through His People
God guided me through all the years of leading the Children’s Division at Bible Study Fellowship. Did I make mistakes? Sure! And so will you. I discovered that God uses my weakness for His glory. And He will use your brokenness too in the same way. He will also help you better lead students in His path. The truth of the gospel is for us as well as our students. As He did with me, you will receive more than you give because of God’s goodness.
Today, God has uniquely positioned and equipped the BSF Student Program to disciple the next generation to reach the world for Christ. Jesus gives us the scope of this vision when He says, “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Will you ask God for His grace and truth to guide, convict, and strengthen you as you follow Him? I am asking God to help you trust Him on the path ahead (Proverbs 4:18).
What are we to do? This is an impossible assignment. But let me assure you – instead of this change bringing loss – you will experience gain. As you continue in the gospel-centered discipleship of equipping the next generation to lead in the cause of Christ, you will welcome Jesus in your classroom and experience Jesus doing immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine!
Barbara Reaoch
Guest Contributor
Barbara Reaoch and her husband lived in Michigan before moving to Cape Town, South Africa, to teach Bible Study Fellowship classes and train young women in job and life skills. With her grandchildren far away, Barbara began to write Bible studies for them to bridge the distance. After returning to the U.S., Barbara directed the BSF Children’s Division from 2007-18. Barbara now lives in Minneapolis, MN, where she is learning to love snow again! Her book Making Room for Her encourages the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She has also written family devotional material celebrating the life-changing events of Easter and Christmas.
Student Program Prayer Wall
Join us in prayer for BSF Students. Check back to read comments, responses, and encouragement from your fellow leaders!
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”
Matthew 19:14
What are you most excited about in the coming study?
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I am most excited to see the children learn how to love the Lord by studying His Word. I can’t wait to see them apply it personally to their lives. I know that I will be learning from my students too, and that brings more anticipation for this study!
Grateful to God for ordering the steps in revamping the school programme to student programme. Looking forward to more meaningful and fruitful engagement with the children
We are too, Samson! We can’t wait to see what God will do this next year!
Looking forward to the new curriculum.
I know it’s going to be exciting.
We will together with the children discover God’s truth and live differently by His grace to the glory of God Almighty
Excited about the new and fresh way of engaging with the children. Praying that this will yield manifold in God’s kingdom.
Im excited that Jesus has refreshed the curriculum approach! He knows how children’s experiences are different nowadays and it makes such sense to me that the program got changed; Master Teacher Jesus yay! I can’t wait to see how it grows the children’s spiritual development.
I am most excited about learning WITH the children, how to apply God’s Word in my daily walk with our Savior!
I am excited to see students becoming more engaged during class with their discovering God’s truth and learning how to apply it to their lives. The redesign seems like a much more interactive teaching approach.
Hope that more children to know Christ and have a personal relationship with Jesus. They have the eagerness to discover who Jesus is.
I’m hoping our students can grow in the Word. The Matthew study really reached our level 1 children. I witnessed so much growth with these children. I pray this happens with the new curriculum.
Meeting in person with the children. Starting a new children’s program for the next generation.
I am most excited about the increased student active role in class. No more sitting and zoning out in lesson time which I witnessed in our EW class where students arrived after a day of school, homework, and other activities. Students will be actively involved thus experiencing more of God and His word for themselves. I can’t wait.
I am most excitedly expecting to see students’ involvement in this redesigned program. Initially I struggled with having the Bible Lesson taking alongside discussion questions but as time went by I have experienced students’ participation in a conversational class, and I have also seen how they do more of practical activities at home to sharing their experiences in class. I look forward to more of a community based study in the coming year. I have personally seen how God used my weaknesses to perfect strengths in Him I also look forward to see Him increase as I decrease in my walk with Him.
Every part of Gods Word is given as a gift to grow in His grace and love. Then put it into practice to share with all those He will send us too. I am excited to share these truths with the students the Lord will send next year!!
As Barbara said ‘Jesus will be in the classrooms’ as the students engage with leaders and the Word and each other. HE WILL BE THERE, PRESENT WITH THEM! Jesus will engage through the hands and hearts of CLs by the power of the Holy Spirit. Glory!
Pray that we will have enough CL’s to accommodate our hybrid program. If not, that we can find an online SP to send them to.
That the classes would be a safe place the students can bring their real questions and problems to.
Seeing children discover Jesus in personal ways that help them apply His Word to their daily lives, for His Glory.