Connect

Newsletter

February 5, 2025

Hello BIC family – Happy February!

This month we are excited to share Connect’s new layout, designed to focus on 3-4 key stories and streamline the reading experience.

We want to know what you think: respond to the poll at the end of the email or hit reply to share your thoughts.

📰 In this month's issue:

• 68 original songs written about BIC Core Values
• John Burns announces retirement from the BIC Foundation
• $3,635 Sent for Malawi Hunger Relief

Quick Links

💼 We’re hiring a Thriving Congregations Assistant – apply now!

🗓️ Regional Conference Meetings are soon; contact your Bishop for details.

🕊️ READ: “Are We Still a Peace Church?” the latest issue of Shalom!

🌎 Photo recap of the January 2025 Commission for World Missions Meeting.

Scripture Meditation - Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-35 (selected)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear ... Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

MEDITATE

• What worries or anxieties are you carrying?
• Our heavenly Father sees our needs and provides for them; what would it look like to release your worries to him?

68 Original Songs Submitted to the 2024 Songwriting Initiative

Last year's Songwriting Initiative set out to spark creativity throughout the BIC family and create worship resources about the 10 Core Values.

And the results are in!

• 68 original songs written by
• 49 songwriters from
• 22 congregations + several international submissions!

Each songwriter’s prior experience varied, but all participants contributed to strong creative expression, shared identity, and holy collaboration.

With God’s blessing, this initiative will spark further creativity and collaboration within the denomination and beyond.

Listen to "Peace You Bought" by Diana Trout and Hannah Niesley of Harrisburg BIC, the featured submission selected by the Songwriting Initiative's review pannel.

John Burns to Retire, Jonathan Owen Hired

After 15 years of service to the BIC Foundation, John Burns is announcing his retirement, effective September 2025.

“We are exceedingly grateful for John’s leadership and the ways in which he has developed rich relationships with BIC congregations across the U.S.,” says Jim Reynolds, the Foundation’s executive director.

To fill the role – and ensure a smooth transition – the Foundation has already hired Jonathan Owen to serve as Loan and Operations Officer.

Over the next year, John and Jonathan will work together closely and plan to attend regional conference meetings this spring to connect with pastors and ministry leaders across the denomination.

“We trust Jonathan will continue vital ministry connections and find new, exciting ways for the Foundation to partner with the BIC community,” says Jim.

$3,635 Sent for Malawi Hunger Relief

In southern Malawi, many Yawo communities are acutely feeling the impact of the ongoing drought and famine in southern Africa (see previous updates on the Global Compassion Fund).

A historically marginalized group, the Yawo have fewer physical resources and job opportunities to help them through this difficult season.

Thanks to generous donors, we distributed $3,635 from the Global Compassion Fund to help Yawo families.

Through this distribution, our team in the region gave bags of utandi (fine corn meal) to Bible study groups in 35 communities. This utandi supply will help families as they await the harvest in April and May.

One last thing...

As we plan for the coming year, we want to ensure the topics we cover in articles, videos, and webinars are helpful to you, our audience. To make that possible, we are sending out an audience survey later this month.

Your response will directly impact the kinds of content we produce in 2025.

Keep an eye on your inbox!

Blessings,

The BIC U.S. Communications Team

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