The Bible Matters. A Word from Wood

Transcription

1 The Bible Matters Newsletter for August/September 2011 A Word from Wood I cannot emphasize enough how vital you are to all that is happening through Back to the Bible. Thank you for the many ways that you continue to faithfully support this ministry. In preparation for the August radio broadcasts, I had an opportunity to focus on the Apostle Paul s letter to the Ephesians. In the fourth chapter there is a wonderful image of the Body of Christ growth happens as each part works together. So, it is with this ministry. Your financial support, words of encouragement, and prayers are essential to building up efforts to reach people with God s Word. During our Third Annual Bible Literacy Lectures in June, we were blessed to hear Dr. Donald Whitney talk about how God s Word is essential for spiritual growth. This holds true for everyone: our staff, myself and friends of the ministry like you. Whether you have read the Bible 48 times as one radio listener recently shared or you are familiar with only a few verses, it is essential to consistently be in the Word. As I have so often said in our broadcasts, God only wrote one book, I think He d be pleased to have us read it. Engaging the Bible four or more times a week has a tremendously positive impact. I know that many of you already have an established routine for reading the Bible. However, if this is not the case, you may want to consider Powered by 4. To sign up, simply go to our website where you will a find a link on our homepage. Through extensive research, our Center for Bible Engagement has discovered that reading the Bible four or more times a week has a tremendously positive impact. Powered by 4 is already helping thousands make this discipline an established part of their lives. Whether it is Powered by 4 or a method that you have developed, the key is to consistently be engaged with God s Word. It is nourishment for members of the Body of Christ. As you read the following updates, I hope you will be encouraged by how the faithful support of each one of you works together to make an eternal difference. r Memorize with us! Cut out this verse and post it on your mirror or fridge. See the reverse side for the radio schedule. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21 ESV). If you ever miss a BttB broadcast, you ll find them all online, anytime, for free. Go to

2 Dr. Arnie Cole: Back to the Bible CEO In addition to his role as CEO, Dr. Arnie Cole is also Director of Research and Development for the Center for Bible Engagement, a segment of the Back to the Bible ministry dedicated to demonstrating the real-world impact of God s Word. We discovered something very exciting in our research. It showed a significant [positive] difference in the lives of those who engage the Bible four or more times a week as compared with those who don t. We immediately began thinking: How can we use these facts to impact lives? The answer: Develop a product that will get people to engage God s Word. Before we began development, we did more research. We researched how the Bible actually changes people s lives; we also examined the things that people say keep them from engaging God through His Word. While there were nuances in how the question was answered, the overwhelming response we received was that people feel they don t have enough time. So, the question became, How do we get people regularly engaged with the Bible if they feel they don t have time? The answer was Tandem. Tandem is an effective means of growing closer to Christ With Tandem, we re really striving to do something that s never been done before. We re taking God s Word and delivering it to people in smaller doses throughout their day all with the goal of helping people engage more than four times per week, while overcoming the primary obstacle: lack of time. It s a strategy that enables people to engage the Bible no matter what level they may be at spiritually. For believers, Tandem is an effective means of growing closer to Christ. Tandem enables them to consider Him through the day. For those who are still spiritually seeking or less mature in their faith, it allows them to move closer to Christ a step at a time. We re obviously very excited about the future here at Back to the Bible, as we see Tandem working effectively as both a discipleship experience and as a tool for evangelism. Those who are testing Tandem are already telling us that they can see themselves growing spiritually, which tells us we re moving in the right direction. r The Bible Literacy Lectures Reached People Around the World On June 10, our Center for Bible Engagement hosted the Third Annual Bible Literacy Lectures. Themed Diagnosing Your Spiritual Health, this lecture series featured keynote speaker, Dr. Donald Whitney, as well as staff members, Dr. Woodrow Kroll, Dr. Arnie Cole, Dr. Pamela Ovwigho and Tami Weissert as MC. In the opening session Dr. Kroll stated, No Christfollower can make any progress on the road to spiritual maturity without a meaningful engagement of God s Word on a consistent daily basis. The thing we ve discovered most often, and again and again and again in all the research done by the Center for Bible Engagement, is that it is your contact with God through His Word that makes a difference in your spiritual growth. He went on to say, If we marginalize the Bible in our pursuit of spiritual formation, we marginalize the only diet and exercise book God ever gave to us. It is your contact with God through His Word that makes a difference in your spiritual growth. For the first time this year, Back to the Bible offered our Literacy Lectures online. And more than 1,000 people from 30 different countries and territories viewed this event live. Throughout the lecture series these online cont d on next page On the Radio Themes for Aug/Sep Broadcasts Ephesians: Being a Christian Is Like Buying a Car Aug Getting Guidance from God s Word Aug Philippians: Discovering the Joy of the Journey Aug. 22-Sep. 2 Joseph: Making Life Out of Lemons Sep Jude s Guide to Religious Phoneys Sep Schedule may be subject to change. Listen anytime by going to backtothebible.org Please call for information on ordering CDs or supplemental resources of programs.

3 Bible Literacy Lectures... continued participants had an opportunity to interact with our staff in our virtual chat room. This included an opportunity to submit questions, some of which were answered during the Q & A sessions of the event. Here are just a few of the comments from online participants: I live in Scotland, UK. This is cool, watching this and chatting, too, when you are so far away. Excellent talk. I have much to think about. Is my focus on God in the activity or the activity itself? I hope you will do these webinars in the future. Today has been enriching. We are planning to offer interactive video for future events, including the Fourth Annual Bible Literacy Lectures scheduled for June 8, Dr. Barry Jones has accepted our invitation to join us on that day. He is the Department Chair and Assistant Professor for Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. As we draw closer to this event, details about how you can participate will be made available. r What Listeners Are Saying Long-time listeners, as well as many who have only recently tuned in, are sharing how Back to the Bible either on the radio or online is an important part of their lives. These are just a few of the latest notes to arrive: just started Powered by 4. I love it!! The comments on your blog and from listeners help me feel the Presence of God in a new and very real way. I want to thank you and all those who contribute to this very worthwhile endeavor. Keep on!!! I begin my day every day here in Wichita, Kansas, at 5 AM with Back to the Bible on radio... I really think you two [Dr. Kroll and Tami Weissert] (and your entire staff) are definitely allowing yourselves to be used as Instruments of God to tremendously assist those of us who are sincerely trying to learn as much as we can about the Bible (topics, sections, anything relating to ) and become better subjects of God s Kingdom by learning how to do according to How God s Word says it should be done. This is where and how Back to the Bible does what it sets out to accomplish. I think I can confidently and assuredly speak for the Back to the Bible radio audience in saying that your program (and Powered by 4 on computer) is TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU! I started listening to Back to the Bible in the early 50s. I had been brought up in the church but had no assurance of my salvation... I began to grow from Dr. Epp's messages. I wrote for counseling for my troubled marriage. I heeded their advice and started reading through the Bible and have read completely through it for 48 times. I am thankful for all the help I have received. Even though I have listened to the program since Theodore Epp and almost never miss a day, I have Thank you for spreading the Word of God all over the world. Love [to] listen to you on my drive home from work... at 11:00PM. Just wonderful. Thanks. It is medicine to my heart. Things become vivid and my imagination gets taken away. Thank you for spreading the Word of God all over the world. I am a truck driver that works at night and I listen to BttB at 1:30 am. This program blesses me. Thanks so much. "I am from Northern Minnesota. I started listening to BttB a few months ago on my way home from work. I love your teaching and look forward [to] it every evening. BttB has been helping me through some tough times in my life and thank you very much. You brighten my days and give me something to look forward to on the way home from work. Money is very tight for me in this time of my life. I pray someday I'll be able to give a lot more, to all of God's blessings for me!! Bless you ALL and thank you! And I pray you stay on the air for YOU ALL HELP MANY OF US CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD Thank you!! Your support to keep us on the air indeed helps reach people around the world, both Christians and those who do not yet know Christ. r

4 Broadcasting Truth in Indonesia Radio SAN FM (The Voice of Truth) was established in 2005 to preach the Gospel to a target audience of 900,000 in Indonesia. The emphasis of this broadcast is both teaching and helping listeners practically apply God s Word to the circumstances of their lives. In 2010, Radio SAN FM received 17,401 responses from listeners. This year is well on pace to surpass this number. Through May, 14,887 responses have been sent in. Here s some of what listeners are saying. Thank you for the Word of God that you just sent me today. The Word that you sent me is really exact with my experience today. Thank you so much for your prayer ministry from SAN FM. Through your prayer I receive healing from the Lord. Please pray that the Lord will restore my family. r Thank You for Meeting the Challenge! This past fiscal year was a difficult one financially and as we entered into the month of June, there was a very real possibility that we would begin this month by making tough decisions to cut ministry. But because of your generosity, we are happy to report that ministry is instead moving full speed ahead! By June 30, your gifts to meet this need totaled $805,766. Surpassing the $750,000 goal means that Back to the Bible will receive the very kind challenge grant of $250,000 offered by a friend of the ministry. With the $1 million gap closed, we were able to finish our fiscal yearend strong. Knowing that many of you are facing significant financial challenges of your own, we are especially grateful for your response. r Ashley Bordovsky, Director of Interpersonal Communications Ashley Bordovsky has faithfully served at Back to the Bible for a year and a half. She shares, The people I get to work with each day are like family. I am grateful to be able to call this my job and am extremely passionate about our mission to help all people grow spiritually by means of Bible engagement. I feel blessed to play a small part in this mission. As Director of Interpersonal Communications, Ashley has numerous opportunities to directly impact people s lives. I m privileged with opportunities to interact with people and help them experience the transforming power of God s Word. With Tandem, we desire to meet people where they re at in life and then move them closer to Jesus Christ each day. As we take steps forward with Tandem, we continue to pray for wisdom and direction acknowledging that this is the Lord s, and we are here to bring Him glory. r You Have Blessed Many! P.O. Box Lincoln, NE (800) Through your generosity and prayers so much has been accomplished. These endeavors to help people engage God s Word simply would not be possible without you. We are grateful for how you have faithfully supported this ministry, particularly amidst challenging times. It is a privilege to be in prayer with you, and we look forward to your continued partnership. By His Grace, Woodrow Kroll

5 Prayer Matters August/September 2011 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16). The entire Back to the Bible team is humbled and encouraged by your prayer partnership because we know that your prayers do matter! The Lord answered them as we met the Challenge Gift goal in June, as so many in Japan were blessed through your generosity and prayer support in the wake of the terrible earthquake, and as millions each month find daily encouragement through the radio programs because you, and others like you, are involved. Thank you, thank you and please keep praying! WEEK 1 Aug 7 - Aug 13 Prayer Focus: International On the Air ~ Ephesians: Being a Christian Is Like Buying a Car (cont d) Pray that the Indonesian government will renew the radio license for our station in North Sumatra. Pray the Sri Lankan government will waive or reduce the very high tax for a vital piece of recording equipment. WEEK 2 Aug 14 - Aug 20 Prayer Focus: Tandem On the Air ~ Getting Guidance from God s Word Please pray for clarity and wisdom in the ongoing design and development of Tandem. Please pray for God s continued provision of funding for Tandem. Please pray for wisdom and inspiration as the team Please pray for grace and patience from the churches produces and organizes content that is meaningful and organizations eagerly waiting to use Tandem. to people. WEEK 3 Aug 21 - Aug 27 Prayer Focus: Back to the Bible Staff On the Air ~ Philippians: Discovering the Joy of the Journey There are five babies to be born to staff families over the next 90 days. Pray for safe deliveries and for the moms and dads to adjust quickly to caring for these little ones. Please pray that all of the ways in which we re striving to make God s Word available daily would have an impact on the lives of individuals across the world. WEEK 4 Aug 28 - Sep 3 Prayer Focus: Special Projects On the Air ~ Philippians: Discovering the Joy of the Journey (cont d) Pray for our finance team as the annual audit is conducted this week. This is an important part of serving the Lord and our donor family as stewards of what is entrusted to the ministry each year. Please pray for Arnie Cole and Mike Ross as they put the finishing touches on their new book, Unstuck, which will be published in early 2012.

6 WEEK 5 Sep 4 - Sep 10 Prayer Focus: Footnote On the Air ~ Joseph: Making Life Out of Lemons Viewership for Footnote, our monthly television program designed to reach the spiritually thirsty continues to climb in the United States with each new episode. Please pray that this would continue to impact the lives of viewers and place them on the path to growing spiritually in Christ. Thank the Lord for the opportunity to broadcast Footnote at no cost on UCB TV, a television station broadcasting in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. WEEK 6 Sep 11 - Sep 17 Prayer Focus: Online Outreach On the Air ~ Joseph: Making Life Out of Lemons (cont d) A redesign for the Back to the Bible International Each day, we re able to interact with thousands of website is in progress. Please pray that this update Back to the Bible listeners via Facebook. Please pray will effectively showcase the many ways in which for wisdom as we continue to strive to utilize social Back to the Bible is helping spread the message of the media to share Christ with others. Gospel across the globe. WEEK 7 Sep 18 - Sep 24 Prayer Focus: Faithful Donors On the Air ~ Joseph: Making Life Out of Lemons (cont d) For each Back to the Bible listener who becomes a donor, there are 38 who listen without giving. Ask God to prompt more listeners to become financial partners in helping people grow closer to God. August and early September can be slow giving months because of the distractions of the end of summer and getting back to school. Pray that God will prompt hearts to give during these weeks. WEEK 8 Sep 25 - Oct 1 Prayer Focus: Encouragement On the Air ~ Jude s Guide to Religious Phoneys Every month we receive hundreds of notes from listeners facing great distress financially, in their marriages, and more. Please pray for provision and encouragement for those who are struggling. Please pray for a positive impact for those making calls of encouragement, and those receiving them. Your faithful, specific prayers for each radio teaching series are so appreciated. May the Lord bless you!