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Bible Study Fellowship (also known as BSF) is an international Christian interdenominational or parachurch fellowship of lay people offering a system of structured bible study. It was founded in 1959 by Audrey Wetherell Johnson, a British evangelist to China.BSF grew out of a program of structured Bible study that A. Wetherell Johnson, a missionary with China Inland Mission, agreed to run for a group of friends in California in 1952. “In 1958, Ms. Johnson accepted an invitation to go to San Francisco to conduct Bible classes for the revival converts of Billy Graham’s neo-evangelical crusades.” BSF began in 1959.

According to the organization’s Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2006, BSF has offices in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Singapore, and has a financial interest in the following 35 countries:Upon Johnson’s retirement, Rosemary Jensen became Executive Director (ED) and served for nearly twenty years. In 2000, she began serving as the head of the Rafiki Foundation International which has since moved from San Antonio, TX to Eustis, FL and Mrs. Jean Nystrand assumed the position of ED. In 2009, Susie Rowan took over as executive director. In 2021, Susie Rowan retired and Hollie Roberts was appointed by the board to be the new Executive Director.

Any BSF participant who agrees to the BSF Statement of Faith, when that statement is not in conflict with the church they are a member of, can be called into leadership positions in BSF. BSF is careful not to call someone into leadership where the profession of their faith as a member of their church would be conflict with the BSF Statement of Faith.

The sixty year old international organization was forced by the COVID19 pandemic to shift its thousands of Bible study meetings online which had just begun to shift towards technology in its marketing and study materials distribution.

Later in 2005, a third satellite campus was added, Fellowship Church Alliance (which met at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas). In October 2007 the campus relocated to in a new facility west of downtown Fort Worth, near the museum district, was renamed Fellowship Church Fort Worth.

Thus, it moved across the parking lot to the nearby Irving Arts Center. During this time, FC tried the concept of “simultaneous services”—one group would meet at FC’s facility while another would meet at the Arts Center. The FC music team would play at one site while Young preached at the other, then midway through the services the teams would switch places. The concept proved unsuccessful and was shortly dropped.

Meanwhile, FC began to look for a suitable site for its permanent facility. FC discovered a 160-acre (0.65 km) site on heavily traveled State Highway 121 north of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which was being auctioned by the Resolution Trust Corporation. Though larger than FC wanted, FC did not have the option to bid on only a portion of the site—it had to bid on the entire site or not bid at all. FC agreed to bid on the site, and was the successful bidder; however, it had to borrow $1.675 million to make the payment. Approximately two years later, the announcement was made that Grapevine Mills would be built across the street from FC. Unsolicited offers came in for portions of the FC property, and eventually FC sold a 22-acre (89,000 m) parcel on the north side of the property for the exact amount it had borrowed earlier, thus allowing it to begin construction debt-free.In 2006 FC opened a fourth campus and its first outside the DFW area, Fellowship Church Miami in South Miami. South Miami Campus has been closed as of March 2021. Property taken over by Vous Church.

Fellowship Church is the location for Ed Young’s annual leadership conference, the C3 Conference, also known as the Creative Church Culture Conference.

FC started in 1989 as a mission church of the First Baptist Church of Irving, Texas, and was initially known as “Fellowship of Las Colinas”. Approximately 150 members of First Baptist Irving relocated to the new church. FC initially met in a rented facility next to the Irving Arts Center and across from MacArthur High School.

In 2017, South Biscayne Church in North Port, Florida became part of the FC family. In January of 2022, the satellite location in FL was sold to another church, Foundation Church of Englewood. The next two weeks after the notice were the final weeks as Fellowship Church South Biscayne.

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.Recently I preached a sermon on the bonds of our heavenly citizenship from Philippians 3:20-4:3. As a part of that sermon, I shared the text of a note found in the desk of a pastor who was martyred in Zimbabwe more than 100 years ago.I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudity, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor by power.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give ’til I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear!Hi, I’m Clay. I created ReasonableTheology.org to explain sound doctrine in plain language and help make theology more accessible for the everyday Christian. Thanks for stopping by!My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.You may have come across this before, but even if you have it is worth reading again for the powerful reminder that our citizenship is in heaven and that we are called to give our all for our King.Lucado has stated that he believes in “the traditional biblical understanding of marriage” (a male & female) and argues that same-sex marriage sinfully goes against God’s original design. This said, he has strongly expressed disapproval of gay bashing, stating that, “LGBTQ individuals and LGBTQ families must [still] be respected and treated with love. They are beloved children of God because, they are made in the image and likeness of God.” He adds: Faithful people may disagree about what the Bible says about homosexuality, but we agree that God’s holy Word must never be used as a weapon to wound others.” Lucado was born in San Angelo, Texas, the youngest of four children to Jack and Thelma Lucado. He grew up in Andrews, Texas. His father, of Italian ancestry, was an oil field worker, while his mother served as a nurse. Max Lucado (born January 11, 1955) is an American author and minister at Oak Hills Church (formerly the Oak Hills Church of Christ) in San Antonio, Texas.After graduation, Lucado became an associate minister at Central Church of Christ in Miami, Florida. His responsibilities initially included overseeing a singles’ group and writing a column for the church’s newsletter. After two years in Miami, the now newlywed Lucado and his wife, Denalyn Lucado, moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become full-time missionaries. In 1987, Lucado’s father died from Lou Gehrig’s disease. After five years in Brazil, he brought his family back to the United States to be closer to his mother.

During his tenure, Oak Hills began using musical instruments in worship services and held the belief that baptism isn’t required for salvation (things not in accord with two key doctrines of the Churches of Christ); ultimately Oak Hills dropped its affiliation with them in 2003, calling itself simply “Oak Hills Church”.After serving as the senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, TX for 20 years, Lucado announced in early 2007 that he was stepping down due to health concerns related to atrial fibrillation. Lucado has since resumed the more limited ministry role of writing and preaching at Oak Hills with co-minister Randy Frazee, formerly of Willow Creek Community Church of South Barrington, Illinois.Lucado attended Abilene Christian University where he received an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication. While a student at Abilene Christian, Lucado worked to pay his way through college by selling books door-to-door with the Southwestern Advantage entrepreneurial program. Initially he wished to become a lawyer, but has said that a required Bible course at the university and a mission trip made him change his mind, deciding instead to become a missionary. However, this required that Lucado get a graduate degree in Bible and Biblical Studies, and have at least two years experience ministering to a church. Lucado graduated from Abilene Christian University with a master’s degree in Bible and Biblical Studies.In 1988, he was hired as a minister to the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas. He stopped taking a salary from the congregation in 1990 because he was already an established successful author. Max and his wife appeared on Fixer Upper (S3 E9 which aired January 26, 2016) when his daughter Sara and her husband Jeff Jones purchased a home that was to be remodeled by Chip & Joanna Gaines. Max asked that a quote that he had written for his daughter’s wedding when he officiated be incorporated in some way into the new home without the couple knowing ahead of time. The quote was “Would you take these two of dust and bone, born of flesh, then would you make them one? Would you speak again the words you spoke when Adam slept and Eve Awoke? Would you let your wine replace our water and look with grace on this son, this daughter? Oh Lord of Eden in your majesty create again your tapestry. One heart where there were two. This is the prayer we lift to you.” Joanna asked Clayton Thompson to make the wall art and it was placed in the “moffice” (the mudroom and office combined). Lucado was named “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today magazine and in 2005 was named by Reader’s Digest as “The Best Preacher in America.” He has also been featured on The Fox News Channel, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, LLBN, and USA Today. He has been a featured speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Lucado has written almost 100 books with 145 million copies in print. He was recipient of the Charles “Kip” Jordon Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year award three times for his books Just Like Jesus, In the Grip of Grace and When God Whispers Your Name), and has also appeared regularly on several bestseller lists including the New York Times Best Seller List.You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death. When God calls, there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the Nations. I wasn’t called to a place. I was called to Him. To obey was my objective; to suffer was expected. His glory was my reward. His glory is my reward…

Several years ago, when I was just beginning to grasp what it meant to follow Jesus, I came across a poem simply titled, “Fellowship of the Unashamed.” The story of its authorship is not clear; however, Louise Robinson Chapman, a veteran missionary to Africa (1920–1940) writes that the poem was found among the papers of a young Pastor in Zimbabwe after he was martyred for his faith in Christ.

“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power. My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”Not everyone in your church will applaud your efforts to reach the lost. Not everyone in your family will fully understand your need to invest your life in others. Not every friend will comprehend the depth of your desire to please Jesus and make Him known among the nations. In some cases, those who oppose your efforts to make disciples may be the ones closest to you. Jesus understood this well. His own mother did not fully comprehend His ministry (Luke 2:51 ESV). His brothers openly mocked His devotion to the heavenly Father and opposed His efforts (Matthew 12:46; Luke 8:19; Mark3:31; John 7:1–10 ESV). However, those who choose this disciple-first lifestyle gladly pay such a price, knowing their reward is great. It is my prayer that you will be obedient to Jesus and follow Him regardless of the cost. Jesus called each of His disciples to a radical devotion to Him and commitment to His cause.

For several years, I kept this letter tucked away in my prayer journal. It reminded me of the kind of heart God is looking for, the kind of person I want to become. Karen’s words still echo in my heart “…to obey was my objective; to suffer was expected. His glory is my reward…I was not called to comfort or success but to obedience…There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him.”

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple,” (Luke 14:26–33 ESV).Recently my friend, Pastor Bob Moorehead, passed away. Bob pastored Overlake Christian Church in Kirkland, Washington where I sang 18 or 19 times. It was one of my favorite churches to sing at for a variety of reasons including the passionate and vibrant worship led by Dave Morgan and the equally passionate and inspired preaching of Bob Moorehead.

On one of my visits I remember Bob sharing a piece called “The Fellowship of the Unashamed.” Evidently the author of this work was a Rwandan man who in 1980 was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ and was killed on the spot. The night before his death, the man wrote “The Fellowship of the Unashamed,” (shared below). Bob Moorehead published this in his book “Words Aptly Spoken.”Sometimes, in fact, I’m embarrassed to call myself a Christian – for all the hate, anger, judgement, violence, arrogance, hypocrisy, and lack of transformation associated with being one.

The earliest followers were not called believers. It wasn’t that simple. It wasn’t dualistic. The world wasn’t separated into the “ins” and the “outs”. They were simply called followers of THE WAY. It was about following the way of the Master. It was their radical love, in the way of Jesus, that changed the world and turned it upside down.

I want independence and freedom from shallow religion and church in a box. What I call “churchianity” – a focus on beliefs, the next life, and worship just as a Sunday morning activity (and a host of other things) has made Christianity unrecognizable, in many ways, from the early Christian movement.

“I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.”

I am often ashamed of the watered down, shallow, untransformative, modern day gospel of modern believers. I am not ashamed of the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ that those first followers of the way knew and lived.