PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS: March-June
Date Posted: 3/14/2006

April
1-2 Eric Minoura is completing the remaining 10 illustrations for “Forever Changed by the Book.”
3-4 Praise! All funds are in hand to print “Forever Changed by the Book” this spring.
5-6 Budget cutbacks have created a negative impact on True Colors: progress nearly halted.
7-8 BVI staff continue with the 20% cut (working only 32 hours a week).
9-10 Pray for immediate funding to reverse the cutbacks and resume colorization and printing.
11-12 BVI will approach Foundations throughout the year for funds for operations, True Colors.
13-14 Staff members are working to increase their personal support levels. Praise for new support.
15-16 A 50% Discount Inventory Reduction flyer mailed early February. Pray for numerous orders.
17-18 Pray for Karen, Don Yeskoo and the Board as they develop BVI’s business plan.
19-20 Praise for BVI’s volunteers, and for those who recruit others to join our VIP program.
21-22 Pray for health/medical/financial needs for BVI staff (and their families) and volunteers.
23-24 Pray Linda will find appropriate sources to draw the last illustration for “I Sing the Mighty Power.”
25-26 Praise that Bryan Heisey got rid of the “bug” in the VB interface so now we can release VB CDs.
27-28 Pray for time to format out-of-stock items and clipart for on-demand printing.
29-30 Recent postal increase taxes shipping dept in locating correct charts for new international rates.
Extra Pray for strength for Clint as he packs orders and keeps shelves stocked.


May
1-2 Melody handles a heavy load (invoicing/receipting); desires to provide good customer service.
3-4 Melody travels the farthest to work (over 1/2 hr one way); pray for safety, especially in winter.
5-6 Yuko is assuming some Ministry Dept responsibilities by planning children’s meetings.
7-8 Pray for wisdom to know which children’s meetings to accept; creativity in planning programs.
9-10 Yuko will try her hand at developing the teacher’s text for “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.”
11-12 Colby is trying to manage operational and maintenance needs on a shoestring budget.
13-14 Colby is researching contacts to translate publications into Vietnamese; a new language for us.
15-16 Edie is coordinating a national initiative called “Make a Good Thing Happen.”
17-18 The initiative encourages teaching “Be The One” this September among many children’s groups.
19-20 Pray for efforts to contact mission organizations working among children overseas.
21-22 Pray that BVI will be able to connect with key “movers and shakers” in USA children’s ministry.
23-24 Translation and printing efforts in Russian continue; Arabic Life of Christ requires further funding.
25-26 Pray for Patti as she coordinates the production schedule and typesets all texts for printing.
27-28 Patti also juggles a number of responsibilities as Office Manager.
29-30 Mark continues to keep our computer network functioning. Pray for funds for a larger server.
Extra $1500 needed to purchase a CD duplicator/printer to keep BVI’s new VB & story CDs available.


June
1-2 Pray for those writing/editing the Steve Saint, Native American and “Dr Creepy Crawley” stories.
3-4 Pray that Karen can set aside time to edit the Muslim Give-a-Vision program this winter.
5-6 Jon’s wife, Leigh, and Ian’s wife, Stacy, are pursuing their education: strength, finances.
7-8 Pray for wisdom in writing grant proposals to Foundations; success in receiving funding.
9-10 Pray for Jon as he finishes coloring “John and Betty Stam” and transfers publications to CD.
11-12 Pray for progress in digitalizing Visualized Bible artwork in preparation for colorization.
13-14 Pray for progress in typesetting student activities for the Visualized Bible.
15-16 A new Print-on-Demand and CD feature will allow all BVI publications always to be available.
17-18 Pray for new translations: Farsi (Iran), Armenian and Hungarian.
19-20 Philippines DVBS programs in Mar/Apr will use Vis Bible NT 7–“Lordship of Christ” & “Nathan.”
21-22 Continue to remember BVI’s financial needs: operations, True Colors, translation projects.
23-24 Josh Day is colorizing NT 2–“Satan, Enemy of God”–needed to complete first Life of Christ set.
25-26 We can proceed with the projected True Colors timetable as soon as money is available.
27-28 BVI is pursuing a partnership with CEF of Germany to help colorize specific stories.
29-30 Colby continues studies at Biblical Theological Seminary; pray: time management, assignments.
Extra Remember Bonnie and Peter as they care for Peter’s mother and aunt in England.

URGENT REQUEST
Date Posted: 3/1/2006

Expenses incurred with True Colors, coupled with insufficient staff support and not enough donations for general operations, have contributed to a budget shortfall for 2005; weekly expenses must be cut by $5,000 per week until known revenues can be increased.


The following actions have been taken with the intention of avoiding layoffs:


All printing and freelance work on the True Colors project has been halted. The work week has been reduced from 40 to 32 hours; Monday-Thursday. BVI has discontinued contributions to the staff’s 401k retirement accounts. Staff has agreed to begin paying their own dental and vision coverage. All capable staff members are seeking new opportunities to increase their support levels and making themselves available to increase their support through outside freelance work.


If you are able to give, or know someone who can, please prayerfully consider sending a gift to Bible Visuals International and spread the word of our need to others.


If you have desktop publishing, graphic design, web development, video production, or file conversion needs; please contact BVI for more information. BVI also offers teacher education workshops and family dramas for your church.


We believe that God has allowed this financial testing for a period, that He will provide in His time, and that He will continue to guide this ministry so that True Colors will be completed. In the meantime, we are seeking funding while working on product development as time permits.


One recent, exciting development is bringing back all out of stock items on CD-Rom as soon as possible for teachers who can use projectable media. A new “Print-on-Demand” option will be available for teachers who must have printed copy.


We know that BVI publications are meeting a need from the comments we receive from teachers and missionaries: “We are enjoying teaching from your materials tremendously. We are finishing up teaching in AWANA’s ‘Fanny Crosby.’ The children can’t wait to hear about her. Thank you for your wonderful work in the Lord.”


Sales for our 2004/2005 fiscal year increased, but expenses incurred with True Colors were greater (due to requests from teachers, we are trying to update our product as quickly as possible).


Right now, though, will you pray, and get everyone else you know to do the same? We know that God will provide the finances necessary for us to continue to evangelize children around the world just as He has done for the 46 years of BVI history.