Bible Study Fellowship

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.[2]

Bible Study Fellowship
AbbreviationBSF
Formation1959 in Oakland, California
TypeParachurch organization
Purpose"Bible education of people in the United States and throughout the world."[1]
HeadquartersSan Antonio, Texas, USA
Region served
Worldwide
Executive Director
Susie Rowan (since June 1st 2009)
Budget
$13.9 million (fiscal year
ending August 31, 2006)[1]
Websitehttp://www.bsfinternational.org/

History

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."[3] BSF began in 1959.

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.

Countries

According to the organization's Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2006,[1] BSF has offices in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Singapore, and has a financial interest in the following 35 countries:

Doctrinal positions and practices

BSF has a statement of faith to which all leaders must agree.[4][5] It emphasizes salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) while encouraging a holy (sanctified) lifestyle.

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.

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References
  1. Form 990 for the tax year ending August 31, 2006 from the Foundation Center
  2. "Our history". Bible Study Fellowship. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  3. BSF International from withchrist.org
  4. BSF Statement of Faith from the BSF website
  5. BSF Statement of Faith from ministrywatch.com
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