BEMA Messenger #59

The Story of BEMA — Realizing the Potential

This article is a part of a series we are running in 2024. You can read Marty’s introduction here, as well as Part 1 and Part 2 (if you missed them).

When we launched the podcast in 2016, we knew it was public. Many people could listen to it, but we never anticipated that such a crowd would be so substantial. We did not design it to those ends and weren’t trying to create a platform of any kind.

One day in 2017, a friend told me that a discussion group had formed in Montana and there was a group listening together. He knew the listeners and suggested we visit to meet them. The whole concept was weird to me, but I was thoroughly intrigued to meet a group of people I had not known before and bond over the content. Someone in their group even applied to come on staff with ICM!

This caused one of our board members to ask me at our All-Staff Conference in 2018, “How are you not keeping track of who is listening to this podcast?!” We began looking at data (something that wasn’t really on our radar before), and by the end of the year we seemed to have over a thousand people listening to the podcast.

What’s Happening Around the Globe?

Steve’s Story

This is Steve.

A friend introduced him to the BEMA Podcast some time ago and he found it to be an encouraging resource. As a geologist who became a pastor, Steve had long wrestled with the creation story and the way many Christians navigated the relationship between theology and science. The first episode resonated with him right off the bat.

As Steve pursued further training and education for the ministry, he found that the Jewishness of Scripture was always mentioned, but rarely explored in depth. When he found BEMA, the ability to dive deeper had him hooked. His wife became instrumental in starting a local BEMA group and the journey continued to deepen.

Steve had learned early in his spiritual journey that asking questions of the Text is the way to learn and grow, but having some of the rabbinic insight and a knowledge of Eastern perspectives was quite beneficial. It has helped Steve to help others have a more comfortable relationship with asking those questions. He even feels like sometimes his ministry spaces become overwhelmed with questions—and he loves it.

Job Opening in Fort Myers, Florida

Impact is looking for a full-time Associate Campus Minister to join our team in Fort Myers ministering at Florida Gulf Coast University. We’re looking for someone who is committed to being a team player and willing to raise financial support, although this position does not require startup fundraising. This person loves to pursue intimacy with Jesus (à la Episode 24 of the podcast!) and teach college students to do the same.

Find more details with the button below. If you’d like to join us in impacting the world by impacting the university, we look forward to hearing from you.

Learn More

DATES OF INTEREST

Marty, Brent, or Brian may be coming to your neck of the woods. If more information is available, we will include some of that below. Full details on the BEMA website.

APRIL 2–3: Marty visiting Trine University in Angola, IN

APRIL 12–14: “BEMA on the Bayou” weekend event in Shreveport (details)

APRIL 21: Marty preaching at University Christian Church in Cincinnati

APRIL 21: Live Q&A at 1 pm PT / 4 pm ET (details)

APRIL 28: Marty preaching at University Christian Church in Cincinnati

MAY 1–8: Marty visiting the Seattle/Tacoma area

MAY 2: Marty in Monroe, WA (details)

MAY 3: Marty in Portland (details)

MAY 5: Marty preaching at Venture Church in Mill Creek, WA (details)

MAY 5: Marty in Fircrest, WA (details)

MAY 6: Marty in Seattle (details)

MAY 7: Marty in Port Angeles, WA (details)

MAY 16: Live Q&A at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET (details)

MAY 19: Group Facilitator call 1 pm PT / 4 pm ET

MAY 22: Brent in Eugene, OR (details TBD)

JUNE 2–14: BEMA Turkey 2024!

JUNE 18–27: Marty in Eugene and Portland, OR (ICM conference, no public events)

Updates and additional details will be posted as they arrive at bemadiscipleship.com/news.