I hope you have enjoyed my short videos I have sent over the past few weeks. These sure are crazy times. I just want to share a few quick things with you in this letter. I think of and prayer for you constantly for good health and for your financial support. With God – all things are possible, and He can make a way to use these difficult times to make the way of salvation known. Let’s take advantage of these uncertain times and watch how God works and blesses.

Last week I sent a video about plans we have at the Mission Office to assist missionaries with shortfalls in their support levels and in particular their personal support level. I also sent out a letter with the details on Monday this week. Please look these over and see what the plan is. Not many mission service agencies can assist like this. We are grateful to the churches who have faithfully given to the Missionary Care Offering.

With the May Fellowship Meeting being cancelled this year, we have had to cancel the Missionary Luncheon and also the approval of the new missionaries. We have pushed back the approval of the new missionaries to July 16-17, 2020 right before our Advanced Mission Training.

Just as a reminder, the annual Missionary Family Reunion has been cancelled this year. Initially it was because of the Global Meeting in Costa Rica but now with the COVID-19 situation, we would not have been able to have it. In addition, the Global Meeting in Costa Rica in July has been cancelled. The people in the churches there had put in so much work already and I feel sorry for them.

As of the writing of this letter, the September National Fellowship Meeting will be held at Antioch Baptist Church in Gladstone, MO (Kansas City area) and the dates are September 14-16. Keep up with any changes on this through our BBFI Missions App or at BBFI.org – the site the Tribune manages.

Advanced Mission Training is what we used to call Candidate School. It will still be held in July, if possible, for the week of July 20-24.

The annual Missionary Care Golf Tournament set for May 15 has been postponed until August 21. The golf course has told us they are closed to group events through May. Therefore, we have pushed it back to August 21, 2020. Many sponsors have already given but we will work on more and get as many players as possible in order to build up the Missionary Care Offering. If you are in the area come and join us!

Matthew 8:23-27:

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

And his disciples came tohim,and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

And he saith unto them,Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

As the threatening storm comes over the water. The disciples see it coming and begin to panic, realizing they might even die. While this is going on, Jesus is sleeping peacefully. Instead of paying attention to how Jesus is reacting to the storm, they allow their situation to impact their reactions.

So, they finally beg Jesus to do something and then He calms the storm. However, He first asks them, “Why are you afraid?” He speaks to them about their lack of faith. He said it wasn’t because they didn’t think He could save them but more like they didn’t think He would help. Just think about it for a minute — what it was like to see the entire sea calmed in a matter of seconds. From storm to calm and peace.

While we are in this storm called Coronavirus or COVID-19, we find that we cannot control this thing or many things. So how do we respond with faith? Well, we need to remember that God has power over everything – even this virus. This is not above Him. He can help you through and use you in this storm for His glory.

Instead of looking at the size of this storm (global shutdown), look to the One who can calm it and help you through. When you look at the map of the daily increase of cases it can be overwhelming. But when we focus on God who controls all things, then we can go through it with faith, peace, and wisdom on how to serve Him.

Right now, it is easy to focus on the spread of the virus, government shutdowns, lockdowns and deaths. These things we cannot control. But we know that God is still in control and He knows our future and He will always be with us. So, we can then live by faith and not by sight which will ultimately bring Him glory.

I encourage you to focus your eyes on Jesus and not on the Coronavirus. If you choose Jesus, you will look at this situation we find ourselves in worldwide differently and know that Jesus is walking right alongside us every step of the way. That makes us want to do all we can for Him in sharing the Gospel — using every means and opportunity God gives us. Remember, it is all for His glory. From storm to calm.

Let’s keep serving our King!

Your friend,

Jon Konnerup