Annual Report Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. —Deuteronomy 8:6
Letter from the Director I n this past year, we’ve done a lot of walking together—but likely a different kind of walking than you’re thinking. You see, in the Bible, the Hebrew word for “walk” (halak) also refers to following God and living for him in his world. So while much of our ministry took place on the internet, over the radio, and through printed devotionals, your partnership has allowed many people to walk with Christ over the past year from their own homes or wherever they are. We’ve also taken many steps in faith as a team of ministry partners. Your partners around the world have been developing new apps for smartphones, and launched new video programs. Each of these programs began with partners like you who stepped out in their own faith and trusted ReFrame with your gifts. Thank you! As you read this annual report, I hope you’ll see ways that God has worked through your faithful giving to guide us as we continue to share the good news of the gospel around the world. I also hope you’ll continue with us on the journey of fulfilling Christ’s mission to the world. Rev. Kurt Selles, Director In June 2023’s Today devotional series, “Walking Through the Bible,” Rev. Selles shared meditations about his journey on the Appalachian Trail. Because of our partners across North America, these devotionals reached hundreds of thousands of online subscribers and print devotional readers. Many of them, like Ponchita, found the devotions to be a helpful reminder of the goodness we find in God’s creation. “Being among God’s beautiful nature, the ‘green’ gives me a calm, a canvas to paint a vivid portrait of trust and peace to keep in focus as I start my day’s journey,” Ponchita shared. You can find Rev. Selles’ devotionals at TodayDevotional.com/blog/walking-through-the-bible
Arabic STEPS FORWARD: We appointed Rev. Youseff Adel Hanna as the Arabic ministry leader. Rev. Youseff’s experience in the Egyptian church will prove valuable in this new role as he makes ministry connections and builds the Arabic media ministry presence. Youseff, along with the rest of your partners in Egypt, are also developing children’s programs as well as other faithbased programs in a part of the world where being a Christian can be especially dangerous and isolating. Chinese STEPS FORWARD: Your Chinese-language ministry partners have published several new books for church leaders in China and other Chinese speakers. They are also developing an e-reader app for availability inside China. An Android version is already available, with an Apple version still in the works. Pray for wisdom in the continued development process, for a successful launch of an Apple version, and for opportunities to share this resource widely. English STEPS FORWARD: After many requests from listeners, our Groundwork audio program hosts recently recorded a new series on the book of Revelation that will air in the fall of 2023. Your partners in English ministry are also developing a new app for children to use on smartphones or tablets that will help our Kids Corner ministry’s Bible stories, audiodramas, videos, and other resources reach more young families and children.
202REACHING COUNTRIES THROUGH RADIO, TV, AND PRINT SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AUDIO PROGRAMS DEVOTIONAL EMAILS SENT DAILY 10 Your Impact 55 48 PRAYER WARRIORS MINISTRY WEBSITES 315,974 7,314 DONORS 28 69 7,500
23VOLUNTEERS VIDEO PROGRAMS Be the first to know with media ministry news and stories from around the world! God is doing amazing things around the world with your support. You can receive prayer requests for brothers and sisters living in tough places, updates and stories of God’s work through media ministry, and resources for your own spiritual growth— all directly from your partners around the world—by visiting ReFrameMinistries.org/subscribe. Direct Connect GIVE MORE BY GIVING SMARTER Donating non-cash assets can be a great tax-wise alternative to donating cash. You may be able to increase your potential impact—and experience significant tax savings—by giving stock, real estate or other non-cash assets to ReFrame Ministries. Benefits of Giving Non-Cash Assets • Tax-wise. Receive a fair market value deduction for your gift and avoid tax liability on the sale of appreciated assets. • Eliminate hassles. Give assets you no longer need or want to manage (such as rental properties or vacation homes) for the benefit of ReFrame Ministries. • Capacity to give. Give from your excess resources without restricting cash flow. • Estate planning. Eliminate potential taxes or complications for your heirs by giving complex or burdensome assets. By considering all the resources God has entrusted to you, you can multiply the impact of your generosity AND eliminate unwanted costs and stress. You have complimentary access to trusted planning support through our partnership with Barnabas Foundation (United States) and Christian Stewardship Services (Canada). For more information visit: BarnabasFoundation.com (US) CSServices.ca (Canada). Audited Financial Statements Available Online We believe that everything—all of creation—belongs to the Lord. That includes our time, talents, and treasures. Because of this conviction, we strive to steward every donation in a way that honors and glorifies God. You can trust that we’ll use your gift effectively and efficiently to reframe lives with God’s story. To this end, you will be able to find copies of our most recent audited financial statements at ReFrameMinistries.org/about/ stewardship. MAJOR LANGUAGES 45 304
French STEPS FORWARD: Your partners established their first partnership with a television station in Burkina Faso— allowing their online gospel video programs to also air on televisions. As communities in western Africa respond to new gospel programing, your partners are developing new partnerships with established churches and church plants to help disciple new believers. Hindi STEPS FORWARD: Despite new waves of violence against Christians in India, your partners there have been safe and have found new opportunities to share the Word of God online through Zoom, YouTube, and WhatsApp. A member of our online discipleship group says, “For a long time I longed to get inward peace. But ever since I have started watching your spiritual messages, I have felt a difference in my life. Your messages and meaningful sweet songs provide me inward peace. I want to listen to them again and again.” Japanese STEPS FORWARD: Your partners in Japan see God working in new people through new internet programs as well as radio programs that are also airing online. “Just listening to your conversation makes me feel better,” shared one listener to a program about biblical marriage and parenting. “For me, someone who had no experience hearing conversations like this, I think these conversations are very important.”
How You Helped One Student After School in Indonesia Every school morning in Central Java, Indonesia, Teresia rides behind her mother on the back of the family’s motorcycle. If she’s lucky, she’ll be able to catch a similar ride from a classmate’s parent on the way home, but she usually walks. Teresia’s parents don’t get home from work for several more hours, and like many teenagers, Teresia admits, she’s often used this time after school poorly. “I was always very easy for my classmates to influence,” Teresia said. Teresia found a new after-school activity As COVID-19 restrictions in Indonesia began to lift, ReFrame Ministries’ partners there launched several new discipleship groups. While some of these groups existed before the pandemic, many had disbanded or needed to be re-established. Most of these groups meet in homes, but a leader at Teresia’s school decided to start one for young people right at the school. About 25 students got together to watch YouTube videos produced by ReFrame. “The videos were really useful for my personal journey with Jesus,” said Teresia. With her small group, Teresia discusses the lessons with help from the group’s leader. They also discuss daily devotions for teenagers that are also produced by ReFrame. “Before I joined the group, I really just heard the gospel at church or during school lessons,” Teresia said. “But now I have learned how to do daily devotions, and I’ve learned how to live according to God’s will.” A Positive Influence Now, instead of being negatively influenced by her peers, Teresia hopes that some of her friends will accept her invitation to attend the group with her. “Please pray for Teresia so that she continues to grow in God and can be an example in giving good influence to her peers,” said Rev. Arliyanus Larosa, ReFrame’s Indonesian ministry leader. Indonesian STEPS FORWARD: Your partners in Indonesia are equipping church leaders with new video programs—offering Sunday school teachers, church leaders, and music directors resources for biblical worship. They continue to look for ways to engage young people in the gospel and address violence against Christians with messages of biblical peace. Watch a new video about the Indonesian ministry at ReFrameMinistries.org/Indonesian
1700 28th St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 616.942.9383 3475 Mainway PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1 Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8 800.263.4251 [email protected] ReFrameMinistries.org Portuguese STEPS FORWARD: Your partners in Brazil are looking forward to new opportunities to connect with churches online and deepen those relationships in person. They recently launched a new mentorship program for pastors that already has more than 200 participants. Russian Spanish STEPS FORWARD: Although they’ve had to pivot or transition many aspects of their ministry, your partners on the ground in Ukraine, Russia, and surrounding countries have continued to share the good news of hope—hope that is only found in the gospel—with those who are displaced or suffering during the war in this region. STEPS FORWARD: Your partners are developing strong relationships with churches and leaders in Tabasco, Mexico. They created a new video series for a public television station and equipped churches with new and relevant gospel programing.