Start a Habit, Share a Habit!

Hello to the entire TTW family, including those whose flights were delayed or canceled when traveling home from your celebrations! (Our flight was delayed three times!)

Start a Habit!

Let’s be honest. We have all made New Year’s resolutions, but many of us have also failed at them. The number one reason given for dropping a New Year’s resolution: the lack of a plan. Life change succeeds when you set clear goals with a clear plan.

Ephesians 5 instructs us to “redeem the time” – that is – to “make the most of every opportunity.” We get exactly one shot at 2022, so make the most of it.

New Year’s is a great time to start a new Bible habit – and Through the Word has 19 journeys to help you with setting a clear goal. Pick a plan, and set a daily reminder to help you create a habit of being in the Word!

Share a Habit!

Another way to help your resolution succeed is to do it with others. Partnering with someone will help you succeed – whether losing weight, exercising more, or getting into the Bible – and will help your partner succeed as well!

So share your plans. Don’t make it a sales pitch – we get enough ads already. But share with your friends and family what you are reading and learning with Through the Word. 

Also, share the updated podcast! People may not be interested in trying out a new app – but try recommending the podcast! The Through the Word podcast relaunches January 1 with Journey 1, Day 1. Each day a new episode will walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, journey by journey. It’s the exact same content you find on the app, as a podcast! The podcast follows a preset daily plan for the whole year. So for people who really like a clear, set plan, that can really help them keep that habit.

Just search for Through the Word on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Stitcher…wherever. Journey 1, on January 1. 

Happy New Year’s From Our Families to Yours,

Jonathan and the TTW Team

Start a New Bible Habit in 2022!

 Hello TTW Family (including those of you whose football teams are still barely hanging on for a wildcard spot)!

Invite a Friend to Start a New Bible Habit in 2022!

Want to invite a friend to join you on a journey through the Bible? Have a friend that loves podcasts but hasn’t checked out the TTW app yet? Check out our podcast! We are relaunching our podcast with every audio guide on Through the Word – beginning January 1, 2022, with Journey 1, day 1! Each day a new episode will launch, allowing all of our podcast listeners to be on the same page daily. 

We don’t know what 2022 has in store for us – but we do know that we all need to spend more time in the Word! so invite a friend to join you on a journey through the Bible! 

Every audio guide is currently available as a previous episode on the podcast, but starting January 1, we will start over with Start, our first Journey!

Find the Through the Word Podcast wherever you listen!

Apple Podcast

Spotify

Google Podcast

Stitcher

Amazon/Audible Podcast

Coffee Mugs Mailed – Still Time to Order Yours!

TTW coffee mugs are free for every donor this year! The deadline for orders is New Year’s day, and the next batch will be mailed mid-January.

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving (if you donated already, step 1 is done!)
• Step 2: Order your mug athttps://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

We have received a few reports of broken handles and mugs that didn’t quite survive shipping. If that happened to you, we’re so sorry! And we want to set it right. We have some extras set aside just for this. Please fill out this form and we’ll get a replacement out to you asap!

Final Day for 2021 Tax Deductions is December 31

Friday is the last day to get donations in before the tax-year ends!

• Online: throughtheword.org/giving or 
• Mail a check: Through the Word, PO Box 303, Westminster CA 92684. Must be postmarked by 12/31 for 2021 taxes.

God Bless You All, and Happy New Year!

Pastor Jonathan

Christmas Audio and Coffee Mug Update

Merry Christmas TTW family!

Pastor Jonathan here, with a few updates as we move into Christmas. We just sent out lots of our new coffee mugs, and we're still taking orders through New Year's Day. Details on that are below. 

The Shepherd of Bethlehem (Audio Drama)

Just in time for Christmas, we have a very powerful audio drama that's perfect for the season. The Shepherd of Bethlehem is a dramatic retelling of the Christmas story from an eyewitness perspective. The story is told by a shepherd named Josiah, who happened to be watching his sheep on the hills outside Bethlehem on that fateful night when a host of angels appeared with some very big news. This one-man audio drama in two acts was written and performed by Bill Welsh (TTW Acts audio guides), and it's one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Audio drama in two acts

You can find the Shepherd of Bethlehem plan on the TTW Browse page in the New and Updated section. It's a two-day plan, and the audio is about 30 minutes each day. Perfect for listening with family, for your drive time to grandma's house, or wherever this busy season gives you a little time to stop and listen. And in other holiday news...

Coffee Mugs Mailed - Still Time to Order Yours!

TTW coffee mugs are free for every donor this year! We've mailed the first big batch of mugs (over 2000!). If you ordered by the December 13 deadline, you should have them in time for Christmas (shipping outside the US is slow - so expect delays). The deadline for orders is New Year's day, and the next batch will be mailed mid-January.

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving (if you donated already, step 1 is done!)
• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

TTW Mug Re-Order Form (for damaged mugs, etc)

We have received a few reports of broken handles and mugs that didn't quite survive shipping. If that happened to you, we're so sorry! And we want to set it right. We have some extras set aside just for this. Please fill out this form and we'll get a replacement out to you asap!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Jonathan Ferguson

Top TTW Stories of 2021!

Hello TTW Family (including all the guys just realizing that they haven't bought anything for their wives or girlfriends)!

Top Stories of 2021

Over the last year, we have heard some amazing stories from our TTW family.  And we want to share them with you! Visit throughtheword.org/stories for our favorite stories from you all! If you have a story to tell, send it to story@throughtheword.org.

TTW Coffee Mugs Are on the Way!

Our team has packed up and shipped out almost 1850 coffee mugs this week! For all domestic orders placed by last Monday, your mugs should arrive in time for Christmas.  All orders placed after Monday will ship in January.  

Simply donate between today and the end of the year and fill out the form below, and we will get you a mug next month as a thank you! 

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving
• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jonathan 

Donor Match is Back! 2X Bible Engagement!

 Hello and Merry Christmas to all of our TTW Family, especially those of you still trying to figure out how to get out of a couple of those Christmas parties you already committed to!

Donor Match Continues This Week!

Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to extend donor matching this week, so that your gift can help reach more listeners. Every $25 donated now provides 21,000 minutes of bible engagement around the world. Help us reach the world for the gospel today at www.throughtheword.org/giving!

TTW Coffee Mugs!

While Monday was the last day we could guarantee mug shipments before Christmas, we will continue to accept mug orders through January 1. We will do our best to get orders placed before Thursday, Dec 16th shipped this week, but we cannot guarantee pre-Christmas delivery. Orders placed after Thursday will be shipped the first week of January. 

Simply donate between today and the end of the year and fill out the form below to get your mug. 

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving
• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

God Bless!

Jonathan 

Invite a Friend For a New Journey & Coffee Mug Update

Hello TTW Family! Hope you are experiencing the Peace of Christ this Christmas season (especially those of you battling the checkout lines at Costco)! 

Ready to Start a New Journey? 

The New Year is a great time to start a new Bible habit. And it's a great time to invite your friends to join you in studying God's word! Invite them now to check out some of the Audio Guides you are listening to, right from the app. 

On the playlist for your plan, swipe right on the Audio Guide you want to share, and the share icon will pop up.  Every Guide is fully sharable, so feel free to send them on any messaging platform you use. 

 

Then invite them to join you on January 1st for a journey through the entire Bible!

TTW Coffee Mugs Have Arrived! 

Exciting news - we have our cool coffee mugs and are busy packing and shipping mugs this week. 

Every donor from Thanksgiving to New Year's gets a free TTW coffee mug!

Simply donate between today and the end of the year and fill out the form below to get your mug. We will begin shipping mugs on December 10th, so be sure to get your orders in by December 13th for arrival before Christmas.

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving
• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

TTW is 100% listener-supported, and this year every $100 donated is directly linked to 42,000 minutes of Bible engagement around the world. (That's 7 hours for every dollar!)

Ministry Update: The best of 2021 stats & stories

It's been a crazy year, so it's time for some great news. Kris recorded the video below to tell you about it…

Pastor Jonathan

*Mugs have no resale value and are given freely as a thank you gift for your support of TTW this year.

**Note for donors outside the USA: Due to dramatic increases in shipping costs in 2021, it now costs TTW an extra $15 to $25 to mail mugs outside the US. Please consider this cost when donating – thanks!

Ministry Update & Coffee Mugs!

 Hello TTW Family (even those who prefer canned cranberry sauce over homemade)! We have a cool update for you about the ministry, and a reminder about our donation match and thank you gift!

Ministry Update: The best of 2021 stats & stories

It's been a crazy year, so it's time for some great news. Kris recorded the video below to tell you about it…

Get your TTW Coffee Mug! 

Every donor from Thanksgiving to New Year’s gets a free TTW coffee mug! Whether you prefer coffee, tea, or cocoa, this 16 oz. mug is a perfect pairing for your morning devos!

Simply donate between today and the end of the year and fill out the form below to get your mug. We will begin shipping mugs on December 10th, so be sure to get your orders in now for the best chance for arrival before Christmas.

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving
• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

TTW is 100% listener-supported, and this year every $100 donated is directly linked to 42,000 minutes of Bible engagement around the world. (that’s 7 hours for every dollar!) 

GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

The charity rating site GuideStar.org awarded TTW their highest honor for financial transparency for the fourth year in a row! 

Questions? Email help@throughtheword.org

Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish brothers!

Pastor Jonathan

*Mugs have no resale value and are given freely as a thank you gift for your support of TTW this year.

**Note for donors outside the USA: Due to dramatic increases in shipping costs in 2021, it now costs TTW an extra $15 to $25 to mail mugs outside the US. Please consider this cost when donating – thanks!

TTW Coffee Mugs and Donation Match!

 Hello TTW Family - Pastor Jonathan here with a whole bunch of good news for the holiday season! We have a special thank you gift that will go perfectly with your morning devotions, plus a chance to double your donation's impact this month!

Get your TTW Coffee Mug! 

Every donor from Thanksgiving to New Year’s gets a free TTW coffee mug! Perfect for having your favorite hot breakfast beverage while listening to TTW for your morning devos!

Simply donate between today and the end of the year and fill out the form below to get your mug. If you would like your mug to arrive before Christmas, be sure to donate and fill out the form early! 

• Step 1: Donate at throughtheword.org/giving

• Step 2: Order your mug at https://ttw.churchcenter.com/people/forms/321732

Donation Match!

Giving season is upon us, and several generous donors have come together to encourage generosity from all our donors by offering a fantastic opportunity. For a limited time, every donation will be matched, dollar for dollar. All you have to do is donate, and it gets matched! TTW is 100% listener-supported, and this year every $100 donated is directly linked to 42,000 minutes of Bible engagement around the world (that's 7 hours for every dollar!), and now you can double that impact. 

GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

The charity rating site GuideStar.org awarded TTW their highest honor for financial transparency for the fourth year in a row! 

 

Questions? Email help@throughtheword.org

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas,

Pastor Jonathan

  

*Mugs have no resale value and are given freely as a thank you gift for your support of TTW this year.

 

**Note for donors outside the USA: Due to dramatic increases in shipping costs in 2021, it now costs TTW an extra $15 to $25 to mail mugs outside the US. Please consider this cost when donating - thanks!

Thanksgiving, Sharing TTW, and Leviticus

Welcome back TTW Family (including those still trying to figure out why the Rams ran a fake field goal Monday night)!

Next week is Thanksgiving in the US, and we wanted to let you know that we are thankful for each and every one of you. We are so thankful to God that we get to be a part of your lives as we journey through the bible each day.  The TTW Family is growing every month, and we are excited to have you along for the ride.  We have a lot of great features and content coming your way in the next year, so stay tuned! 

Share Any Audio Guide

As we approach the New Year, ( less than 6 weeks of 2021 left!) we want to remind you that every Audio Guide in our App is now fully sharable with your friends! Now is a great time to share your favorite audio guides with your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you chat with. Let's reach out to as many people as we can, and encourage them to start a new journey with Through the Word in the coming year. 

On the playlist for your plan, swipe right on the Guide you want to share, and boom! the share icon will pop up. The Guides are fully sharable, so feel free to send them on any messaging platform you use. 

Text it to your sister! 

WhatsApp it to your friend!

Tweet it to the world!

Ok, I know I'm a little biased, but I get excited about the possibilities.  Share a message with your Life Group at church.  Encourage the kids in your youth group. Send a message to a friend who is taking their first steps in checking out the Bible.  

Even Leviticus is Great!

Here is another great testimony, left as a review on the App Store. JLAndrew writes:

These guys are AMAZING! My husband and I try to complete four readings every day, and we’ve gotten through the New Testament TWICE in a year and much of the Old Testament. 

We listen to the commentaries by Kris, Sandy, and the others after the Bible readings, and they’re always enjoyable, inspiring, and make you think about what it is to be a genuine Christian. They inspire us to spread the word to others more and more with each audio guide we hear. 

We use this app most to grow in our faith together as a married couple and with our children. They use humor at the appropriate times to engage their listeners - young and old alike. Sandy with his bad dad jokes and Kris with his 80’s movies quotes and music references are great! His interactions with his children are heartwarming. How Peyton can take the gross rules and regulations about skin conditions and bodily fluids in Leviticus and put an amusing yet very insightful spin on them is beyond me! It was tempting to skip over this book simply because of the topics, but we’re really glad we didn’t. 

We enjoy their personal stories of struggle, their road to finding their faith, and their constant perseverance in keeping the faith no matter what. We have grown sooooo much in our faith over the past few years because of this amazing group of people. We truly feel blessed to have come across this amazing app! Thank you!

God bless you all! May your Thanksgiving be a day of peace, love, and no politics. :)

Pastor Jonathan 

 

Congrats to YouVersion - 500 million downloads!

Hello TTW Family! (Including those who still aren't playing Christmas music. We still love you.)

Did you see the big news? The Bible App from YouVersion has now surpassed 500,000,000 installs! That is over half a billion devices with the bible installed! It's hard to picture that many people at once. Think about this: that is about the population of the entirety of North America! 

We want to congratulate everyone at YouVersion on this momentous milestone. Your hard work, sacrifice, and dedication have helped the Church in our goal of fulfilling the Great Commission. People from 1600 different languages now have free access to scripture in their languages. People are finding salvation. Discipleship is happening around the world. So thank you, and here's to 500 million more downloads!

Almost every day, we hear from listeners who tell us they found us after listening to one of our plans on the Bible App from YouVersion. Many found us by searching for plans on Revelation during the early days of the pandemic. We have seen over 2.5 million plans completed on the Bible App! 

We love being partnered with YouVersion. So would you join me in thanking them? If you found us through the Bible App, would you drop us a line at story@throughtheword.org? We would love to hear your story, and share it with the team at YouVersion!

God Bless You All!

Jonathan Ferguson

A Prayer Request for TTW

Hello TTW family! I hope you are doing well this final week of October, and have stashed enough Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to last you until Christmas. 

This week, the team from Through the Word will be gathering in the San Bernandino Mountains in California for a few days--planning the future of Through the Word. Our goals include planning future audio guides, features, and a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff as well. Last year's planning meeting resulted in amazing growth for the team and saw the beginning of our podcast and Through the Word Together, coming soon. 

So would you join us in prayer for the coming week? 

Vanity and Glory

Hannah from Australia writes:

Three years ago, just after I was married, I became sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I used to find joy and meaning in doing things for God and others, including serving at church and in small Bible study groups. But my illness had taken all that from me - both church and Bible study became too hard for me to attend. 

One of my friends mentioned her church was listening to Through The Word, so I gave it a go. I found, in God’s kindness, that listening to the Bible was much easier for my energy than reading it. I could also listen to the app in bed, when I found it too hard to get up. It also gave structure and meaning to my day - when I couldn’t work, or do much at all, I could always listen to the Bible and pray. And over time, God changed my heart - spending time in His Word became the highlight of my day, and an absolute joy to do. 

I am so thankful that, in the past year especially, God has answered my prayers for healing.  I am now back at work part-time, and was able to join a Bible study group again last year. My life’s schedule is slowly filling up again, but spending meaningful, personal time with God (including reflection and application), remains my priority. I still listen to Through The Word, and it continues to be a highlight of my day. I just finished Kris’ series on Ecclesiastes, which was especially helpful for me - I used to find it a confusing and confronting book, but Kris’ teaching, and my newfound maturity, made it speak to me in new ways: I used to count many earthly things as “gain”, like my success in the workplace, academic achievements, and so on. But, through my illness, God has humbled me and reminded me of what is vanity, versus what is glorious - what has substance; what lasts. I try to no longer place my value on what I do, but rather on what Jesus has done for me. This will be a lifelong struggle, but God’s word encourages me to keep running the race, and to “finish well”!

God Bless You!

Jonathan Ferguson

TTW Stickers Are on the Way!

Hello TTW Family! We are finally in the season where everyone is decorating for TTW! That's what all the orange pumpkins are for, right? I mean, they're the same color. I just haven't figured out why pumpkins...

Anyway, fun update today - TTW stickers are in the mail! If you submitted your address after listening to, subscribing, and reviewing our Teach Through the Word podcast, your stickers are in the mail! Well, unless you already received it, in that case, I hope your sticker is on your car or water bottle or somewhere else cool! We sent out over 900 stickers last week - with the help of a few of my favorite kids for stuffing and licking envelopes!

If you don't receive your sticker soon, please be patient. The USPS just announced mail will be taking a bit longer over the next few months.

Let us know where you put your sticker! Send us a picture of your car, school notebook, or wherever you are sharing TTW with others!

Another Great Testimony

JD Hornbacher from City Life Church in Leduc, Alberta, writes: 

Yesterday I hit 500 days in a row for reading my Bible. And that whole streak has been done by using Through The Word.

My name is JD and I’m on the pastoral team at our church in Leduc, Alberta. When Covid shut down our church and small groups, I made the decision to start a daily Bible study for men using the YouVersion app. I found TTW in the “plans” section and asked a bunch of guys to commit to daily devotions for a period of time. That period of time has never ended. Once we crushed every TTW plan available on YouVersion, we switched to the app to listen/read and started a WhatsApp chat where we share our thoughts every day. It’s become so much more than personal insights. Over the last 500 days we have prayed for and seen miracles, had huge lightbulb moments regarding faith and doctrine, and so much more. 

Thank you, team, for all you do. One of the guys in my devotional group said “I have never read my Bible this faithfully in my whole life”. I actually have no plans to stop this group. 500 days strong, and we show no signs of slowing down. My ultimate goal would be to polish off every book of the Bible using TTW. I have grown in wisdom of the Bible and and faith in tough seasons, and you guys have played a formative part in that. 

You’ve also helped reshape my preaching and passion for the Word. This past week I preached on Psalm 103 (using some of Ps Sandy’s insights from the app) and apparently it was one of the strongest messages I’ve preached. I was inspired listening to your “Bible Teacher’s Podcast” to really let the Word of God do the preaching more than my own thoughts/insights. Wow it made a difference.

Thank you Pastors Kris, Peyton, Jonathan, and everyone else who has contributed to this ministry. TTW has been an anchor in this stormy season. Praise God for what you do and the way it is helping others. 

God Bless You All!

Jonathan Ferguson

A Big Thank You to One of Our Partners - YouVersion!

Hello TTW Family! Hope you are enjoying the season now that no one can give you grief for drinking a pumpkin spice latte - as it is officially autumn!

For years, Through the Word has partnered with the team at YouVersion, providing audio guide reading plans for the Bible App. Many of you have found us through YouVersion, and we love being a part of what God is doing through YouVersion. We have 50 plans on the YouVersion App, and our Start plan has now been translated into 23 languages - including Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Afrikaans, Mongolian, and even Ukrainian! We want to thank YouVersion - they have helped us reach millions more than we could alone. TTW listeners have already completed 2.5 million reading plans on YouVersion!

Our team was recently in Oklahoma to visit with YouVersion, to discuss a new aspect of the partnership. While we can't share yet what is going to be happening, we can share that we are super excited for a new feature coming out in just a few months! Stay tuned - we'll keep you posted as soon as we can!

From L-R: Kris Langham and Ryan McCarter, TTW; Jeff Moore, Director of Global Impact, YouVersion; Brian Russell, Executive Director, YouVersion 

Another TTW Family Testimony

Jill from Cincinnati writes: 

My story may not be different from many. I've been in church my entire existence. From womb till now, 36 years. I've taught bible school classes for about 15 years, lead small groups, and rarely miss a Sunday. As I started into my 30s, I realized I've never been without God, but I've never really had Him either. So I started searching. I started to use the Bible app on my phone. I would occasionally run into one or two devotions that made me think, but when it got to the part about reading scripture on my own I read the passages out of obligation, never because I wanted to.  I didn't understand it but felt it was a duty.  

Fast forward a few years while still going through the motions of using my Bible App and using an ESV bible (because that's what a book I read on reading the bible told me to do), I stumbled upon a Bible Basics plan.  That seemed like a good place to start.  I listened to the sample and was like,  YES! This is what I'm looking for.  I downloaded it and finished the plan pretty quickly and then went looking for another one just like it. Then it dawned on me to look for the actual app - Through The Word. From there my love for reading the bible has grown tenfold.  I share pretty regularly with family members in our group text, and I've pointed several people to it on Facebook. I've finished many plans and am on my second Journey.  

This app has grown my faith, my ability to share, and has helped me point my kids in the right direction when they too have questions.  I finally enjoy reading the bible and I'm no longer going through the motions but living/ breathing The Word. 

God Bless You All! (And go enjoy a fall beverage!)

Jonathan Ferguson

Bible Teacher's Podcast - Season One Complete!

That's a wrap!

Well, we made it to the end of The Bible Teacher’s Podcast – Season One! Eight weeks, 40 episodes! If you missed it, all forty episodes in season one are there and waiting for you on Apple Podcast, or just search for Bible Teachers Podcast on your favorite podcast app. Whether you’re a pastor, small group leader, youth leader, or just a curious listener, join us as we equip you to do what you do better - and together with you - elevate the craft of Bible teaching. And you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how we make our audio guides Through the Word.

 

Thank you to all who listened in – we got some fantastic feedback and reviews from you all! We are sitting at a 5.0 rating on Apple Podcast!

 

For all of you who reviewed the podcast and ordered stickers, please be patient, just a bit longer. The vinyl is on backorder, but we should have the stickers by the end of the month.  

Testimony

We wanted to share some of the amazing testimonies we have received here at TTW. We absolutely love hearing from our listeners - your stories remind us why we do what we do! If you have a TTW testimony you'd like to share, drop us a note at story@throughtheword.org. So here's a testimony from Ana!

I'm Ana. I'm a Brazilian, 18-year-old girl. I first heard of TTW when I started studying the Bible.  

After reading it, I wanted to understand more. So I started searching for studies on some "less popular" books on the YouVersion app, & I found an audio guide of yours. 

I loved it from the beginning! 

Today, through the app, I'm studying the whole Bible. My faith has been made stronger by these studies. How many times, I've been "mind-blown" by how much God is teaching me in 10-min guides. Wow. 

As a Brazilian, these guides also help me with English. I'm glad to say that I'm starting to learn a church and Biblical vocabulary. 

The pictures attached are of my Bible. I write a few words about every guide I hear, to have a sum of what I've learned and want to remember. 

Thanks, TTW team. The Holy Spirit often guides me by reminding me of what I've listened to in your guides. 

Ana's Bible - with notes from TTW

Relief Work Links

Afghan Refugee Relief

If you are in the Los Angeles/Orange/Riverside area, we recommend getting in touch with Voice of Refugees, who have been working in Little Arabia in Anaheim, CA, for many years.  

World Relief has offices in 11 states, and its website has volunteer and advocacy opportunities.

Church World Service has provided relief assistance for 75 years; with volunteer locations in 17 states, there are many opportunities to serve. 

If none of these services are in your area, visit the Refugee Council USA website for a map of other agencies across the country.

Hurricane Ida Relief

Salvation Army - The Salvation Army has refrigerated trucks and has set up mobile kitchens, feeding 15,000 people a day. They are also providing mobile units for showers and laundry. 

World Vision - based in Texas, World Vision is sending trucks of supplies into Louisiana and other hard-hit areas to assist with food and relief work. 

Be sure to check with your local church or denomination to see what they are doing as well.  Many larger denominations will be able to send resources to local churches in the affected areas, allowing the local churches to reach out to their neighborhoods, sharing the love of Jesus with a hot meal and a gospel message. 

Kris is a Grandad?? Links for Relief Support - Ida and Afghan Refugees

Hello Friends!

Jonathan here, with some important updates for our Through the Word Family!

Baby Ezra Is Here!

Noah and Daisy have welcomed home their first child - Ezra! Noah has been a part of the team for years, helping with audio editing and a hundred other jobs along the way - and Daisy has helped us introduce many of the books on the app. But this isn't just a first for them - it's also Kris and Andrea's first grandchild! Here's an update from Kris: 

Call me Grandad - because that is what I am! Our first grandchild was born last week. Ezra Matthew Short was born 7 lbs 11 oz, he is healthy and as cute as can be. Andrea and I are so excited. Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed for our family. Our daughter Daisy had a long labor and a real scare afterward - but the doctors have done their work and we thank God for a healthy family. 

Join us in welcoming the newest addition to our TTW family!

Hurricane Ida Relief 

The TTW Team would like to extend our hearts and prayers to all our TTW Family hit by Hurricane Ida - from the Caribbean to the Gulf and through to New York and New Jersey. Relief work is near and dear to the team - as the Langhams moved to Mississippi to help after Katrina. The church made a difference in the lives of many back then, and we can do it again today. 

Ways to Support the Relief Work

Salvation Army - The Salvation Army has refrigerated trucks and has set up mobile kitchens, feeding 15,000 people a day. They are also providing mobile units for showers and laundry. 

World Vision - based in Texas, World Vision is sending trucks of supplies into Louisiana and other hard-hit areas to assist with food and relief work. 

Be sure to check with your local church or denomination to see what they are doing as well.  Many larger denominations will be able to send resources to local churches in the affected areas, allowing the local churches to reach out to their neighborhoods, sharing the love of Jesus with a hot meal and a gospel message. 

Afghan Refugee Relief

In our last newsfeed, we shared links to organizations helping settle Afghan refugees across America.  Check out our previous post for more details on how to help. 

That's it for today!

God Bless You All!

Jonathan

How to Help Afghan Refugees

© European Union, 2020 (photographer: Mallika Panorat)

Hello TTW Family - there is a pressing need for believers to help with the rising number of Afghan refugees that are going to be coming to the US in the next few weeks, months, and years.  The US government financially helps refugees who are resettled, but it is not enough to survive on - and government bureaucracy can make it difficult for refugees to obtain all of the resources available to them.

Photo credit: EU/ECHO Pierre Prakash

There are a number of refugee resettlement agencies around the nation that are going to be in need of Christians to volunteer, donate, and pray. 

Here are a few agencies we can recommend:

If you are in the Los Angeles/Orange/Riverside area, we recommend getting in touch with Voice of Refugees, who have been working in Little Arabia in Anaheim, CA for many years.  

World Relief has offices in 11 states, and its website has volunteer and advocacy opportunities.

Church World Service has been providing relief assistance for 75 years, with volunteer locations in 17 states, there are many opportunities to serve. 

If none of these services are in your area, visit the Refugee Council USA website for a map of other agencies across the country.

God Bless,

Jonathan Ferguson

Dark Mode - Now Available! Week 3 of the Bible Teacher's Podcast Also Available!

 Hello TTW Family!

Dark Mode is here!

We heard you - all of you - who asked for dark mode for the Through the Word App. And there were a lot of you who were asking!  Now you can use the app at night without being blinded by the white background!

To change to dark mode, open your app's Settings, then select "Appearance." There are three modes - System, Light Mode, and Dark Mode. 

Bible Teacher's Podcast - Week 3 Available!

Today we released another five episodes of our new podcast! Pastors Kris and Peyton discuss the book of Colossians. Find us here: 

• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• YouTube

And if you check us out, we want to thank you with a free TTW decal. Simply fill out the form linked below, and we will send you a TTW decal in one of three colors.  And a few of you will win a TTW Jacket! 

Listen, Subscribe, & Review Contest Entry Form

God Bless You All!

Jonathan Ferguson

Bible Teacher’s Podcast – Week 2 Is Now Available!

We are excited to announce that the second week of our new Bible Teacher’s Podcast is now available on all platforms! We have a new series today, our first in our Basic Training Series. This week, we jump into the heart of teaching. 

So please subscribe, download, listen, and then go back and review the podcast! The more you do, the more the app is featured, bringing this material to more Bible teachers!

• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• YouTube

And if you can help us, we want to thank you with a free TTW decal. Simply fill out the form linked below, and we will send you a TTW decal in one of three colors.  And you might even win a TTW jacket. How cool is that? 

Listen, Subscribe, & Review Contest Entry Form

Bible Teacher’s Podcast Launches Today! Help Us Launch and Get a Free TTW Decal!

Hello TTW! Pastor Jonathan here big news... Today’s the day! We are launching the all-new, never-before-released Bible Teacher’s Podcast!! 

We have been planning and praying for this - for years.  If you have listened to us for any length of time, you know that Kris, Peyton, and I love to teach the Bible.  But we also love to teach others to teach the Bible! All three of us have spent a considerable portion of our ministry training and discipling others to teach the Bible - just as 2 Timothy 2:2 commands us.  

Well, today, we are offering this training to you, our listeners.  The Bible Teacher's Podcast officially launches today! This podcast is for anyone who teaches or aspires to teach the Word of God. Whether you are teaching behind a pulpit, lead a small group, or just want to disciple others - this is for you.  

This is your chance to get equipped - and get trained. And for all of our listeners, it's also a chance for you to get a behind the scenes look here at Through the Word - as Kris, Peyton, and I talk together - about how we prepare the audio guides for every Bible book. 

AVAILABLE HERE:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Google Podcasts 
• Stitcher
• YouTube

The first five episodes launch today, and each Monday, another five episodes will be available. Each one is about 15 minutes - so you can listen to one each weekday.

This week, we dive into the Gospel of Mark. Where will we be next week? Tune in to find out!

We had a lot of fun recording these.  And If you like TTW, you’re gonna love it, too!

Now, we need your help to launch well. The first few weeks on a podcast launch are critical to getting featured in the podcasts apps. What we need from you, is listens, subscriptions, and reviews.  

So please subscribe, download, listen, and then go back and review the podcast! The more you do, the more the app is featured, bringing this material to more Bible teachers!

And if you can help us, we want to thank you with a free TTW decal. Simply fill out the form linked below, and we will send you a TTW decal in one of three colors.  And you might even win a TTW jacket. How cool is that? 

Listen, Subscribe, & Review Contest Entry Form

God Bless!

Jonathan Ferguson