English Ministry

As Frank Walton prepared for his churches’ upcoming service, he came upon one of Walk the Way’s videos, “The Play.” As he watched the video, he knew it would fit for the pastor’s sermon about the role of the church. The pastor agreed, and shared the video with his congregation in northern Texas. “The video fit so well into what we talked about that week,” Walton said. “To have another pastor in another part of the country have the same message in a new way was just icing on the cake for the congregation.” Walton, who has been a fan of Walk the Way for several years, says the video received a lot of positive feedback from the congregation. He also said that shortly after that Sunday, the church started a community outreach program for those who attend the school where the congregation meets and those who live in the…[Read More]

A cross laid buried in a swamp of weeds. This cross, located at the edge of Conference Point Center campground, was symbolic of the camp’s reputation after years of neglect. But today, the camp’s new management, Lake Geneva Youth Camps and Conferences, is on a mission to restore the reputation and rededicate the grounds to the Lord. To take part in this mission, Under the Radar will partner with the Lake Geneva leaders to co-host the July 4-7, 2013 Escape to the Lake. The event will take place at the restored Conference Point Center on the shores of Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wis. When the Lake Geneva staff originally contacted Under the Radar, they wanted to discuss hosting a single concert. While visiting the site, however, Dave Trout, Under the Radar producer, said he saw an even bigger way to bring people closer to the Lord: a three-day event.…[Read More]

Kids Corner recently connected with children at the annual Illiana Calvinist Cadet Corps Super Saturday in Lansing, Ill. The event included many of its usual sights: families cheering on the Pinewood derby car races and voting for their favorite car designs, cadets from different clubs working and playing together. This year, however, there was a new attraction:  a Kids Corner booth with children playing games and winning prizes. Kids Corner, Back to God Ministries International’s 30-minute audio program for children, had the opportunity to share its ministry with children and their parents, while entertaining them at the same time. This is the first year the Cadet Corps invited outside organizations to the event, which took place on Saturday, April 13, with approximately 400 people in attendance. “For the last couple of years we’ve added a few things to make this more of a family event and not just a place…[Read More]

Every night, two-year-old Cody Stenquist holds his own copy of Today as his family in Boise, Idaho gathers to read the daily devotional together. Cody is now the fourth generation in his family to use the Today readings. The tradition of reading the devotion began almost at the start of its publication with Cody’s great-grandparents, Bob and Kathlyn Niemeyer (pictured below) of Muskegon, Mich. The couple, which celebrates their 64th anniversary this year, has been reading Today for nearly 60 years. “When families carry a tradition together, it keeps them closer,” Kathlyn said. “I am so grateful for all my children and grandchildren that use Today.” The Niemeyers have three children who all continue to read the devotional, including Anne Van Grouw, their daughter and Cody’s grandmother. “We were raised reading the Today devotionals” Anne said. “They have always provided a wonderful devotion with scripture that we enjoy reading and…[Read More]

All over the world, more than 75,000 people are now connected by an online community to learn and practice English. The community is one of the major goals of Spotlight’s Facebook page, which grows by hundreds of new followers every month. Spotlight serves as a radio program for those who speak English as a second language, using a limited vocabulary and a slow rate of speech to talk about life from the Christian perspective.  ReFrame Media, our English ministry, produces the program in partnership with HCJB Global and Words of Hope. The Facebook page, which began in October 2008, allows users to practice their English as well as recap the most recent episodes. “One reason for the page’s success is simply the number of people learning and speaking English around the world,” said Robin Basselin, Spotlight senior producer. “It is estimated that 1 billion people are currently learning English globally and many are…[Read More]

Thirty couples gathered at Alger Park CRC in Grand Rapids, MI in February to “stoke the flames” of their relationship as part of a Family Fire marriage retreat. One woman commented, “My husband didn’t want to come, but he said he really had fun!” Rev. Steven and Deb Koster, leaders of the Family Fire ministry, inserted humorous stories from their own relationship into the Bible-based presentation. “We are both broken, flawed people in need of God’s love,” Deb admitted. “But when we grow in grace and love for each other, that grace flows out to others.” The Kosters addressed topics like healthy communication, 10 rules for fair fighting, and intimacy—emotional, physical and spiritual. “Shared spiritual practice is the #1 predictor of a healthy marriage,” says Steven, who is also the director of ReFrame Media, the English outreach of Back to God Ministries International. The couples attending the seminar participated in exercises that helped define…[Read More]

Do you or your church use Facebook as a ministry tool? Managing your church's Facebook page can be frustrating. Just when you think you have it figured out, something changes. “It's getting increasingly difficult to reach your followers if you're not in tune with how Facebook works,” says Jerod Clark, senior producer of Church Juice, a ministry to help churches energize their communications and learn how to use media more effectively as an outreach tool.  “Most people who work or volunteer in church communications have a lot to do in a little amount of time.” So, along with CRC Communications, Jerod has developed a live Facebook webinar, called “Facebook Changes and Your Church.” The webinar will be presented at noon EST on February 27, 2013 and will include about 20 minutes of teaching time to review the recent changes and how they affect communication. “We'll take a look at recent…[Read More]

When the world comes to your doorstep, God opens the doors for an interesting ministry! Jason Zuidema, chaplain with the Ministry to Seafarers Centre in Montreal, meets seafarers from the Philippines, India, Russia, Greece, China and many other parts of the world—and they all share common experiences. Their lives are often lonely, their work physically demanding, and they face dangers at sea. “Our ministry serves as a first line of support to seafarers,” says Jason. “We provide a safe, relaxing place that seafarers can call their home-away-from-home. We lend a sympathetic ear and a helping hand.” The Montreal Centre and their partner ministry in Vancouver care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of seafarers visiting the ports. Jason provides daily chapel services, but he wanted to do more for the seafarers as they return to their ships for another long journey. So Jason partnered with ReFrame Media, the English outreach of Back…[Read More]

Most stores have been playing holiday music since the beginning of November. If you’ve grown tired of the holiday schmaltz, come discover a richer, more artistic celebration of Christmas on the December episodes of Under the Radar. One of our listeners, Sierra, felt that disillusionment. But Sara Groves' Christmas album, featured on Under the Radar, changed her perspective on the true focus of Christmas (and Christmas music). “Now that is the first album I play to get myself in a mindset of Jesus, faith and truth around Christmas time,” says Sierra.  “We have researched and discovered some truly artistic music that celebrates the birth of our Savior,” says Dave Trout, producer and host of Under the Radar (UTR), a music program produced by ReFrame Media, the English outreach of Back to God Ministries International. “We're offering some new Christmas music and unique takes on traditional songs.” The first episode, available on podcast, featured new and traditional songs, plus…[Read More]

Liz and Lucille and their friends in the reptile village Terrene have enjoyed 199 adventures—and they recorded their 200th on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Liz and Lucille are the main characters on Kids Corner weekly radio adventures, produced by ReFrame Media, the English outreach of Back to God Ministries International. “For the past 9 years we’ve been blessed with a creative group of writers and voice actors who have not only entertained children and youth, but also taught them important spiritual and life lessons along the way,” says Rev. Steven Koster, director of ReFrame Media. “Our goal is to use the music and stories to get kids excited about the Bible and disciple them as life-long followers of Jesus,” says Kids Corner producer Barb Brouwer. “Most people who give their lives to Christ do so between the ages of 6-12 years. It’s important that we provide resources that help point…[Read More]