Written by Paul J Bucknell on May, 07, 2025
Prayer Letter #405

Thrust 1: Foreign Missions

Dear Prayer Partners,

My old school, Moody Bible Institute, called yesterday to get information for a book about the school, asking students for significant memories. It stirred up my calling to missions from late 1973 when I was a happy engineering student. While I was looking out of my second-floor dorm window, the Lord held a brief but serious conversation with me. He pointed out the need of those walking across the campus; He was waiting for me to say, “I’ll go.” I resolved it quickly, thinking, “I guess there is nothing stopping me.”

I transferred within a year, and after, strangely, happened upon a brochure from Moody Bible Institute on the ground. I majored in Foreign Missions and minored in Biblical Languages. Shortly after graduation, I got married, earned a degree in Asian Studies at university, and went to Taiwan after joining OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) for church planting. We had a wonderful decade of ministry and joy in starting a church in our home with a fantastic team of locals and missionaries.

I should mention that when God called me, I had little knowledge about foreign missions. I was focused on personal evangelism. Coming from a liberal church background, I didn’t understand much what God was doing in the world. Nor did I ever believe I would be doing what I am now! Who would have thought of the significant changes in the world that would assist me in this global task?

I’ve been learning more about processing my video series for different language groups. I’m gradually increasing the number of volunteers. I’ve had to learn various new technical skills, such as creating and using SRT files. I had never heard of them before. I collaborated with my Burmese translator to find a font we could use. This has been a 15-year problem that is finally resolved! I started a Spanish YouTube channel and will soon launch Bengali and Burmese channels. More are coming.

The notion of foreign missions has truly evolved. Needs have changed. God has raised BFF so that we can help train thousands of new pastors and Christian leaders around the world. Please keep us in your prayers. If you feel a burden for any country, consider volunteering to review AI-translated slides for a BFF teaching video series!

Praise

Praise the Lord! I have retaught and recorded 25 twenty-minute teaching videos on The Life Core, The Heart of Great Training. I plan to launch translations of this series after finishing Overcoming Anxiety, as God provides grace. I am also starting to add them to my new website under Courses (free).
Praise the Lord, I was able to add the last three videos of The Making of a Godly Leader for the Easter season.
Preaching at the local Chinese church and teaching at the National Day of Prayer both went well. Thanks so much for your prayers!
My brother is out of the hospital.
Wisdom for conversations with the many international leaders I contact regularly.

Pray

Pray for those receiving the book, An Examination of Our Theological Conclusions. May God use this and all BFF resources.
Pray for the Filipino pastor and his church, who took a loan to hold VBS. He has such compassion.
Pray for us as we travel to Sweden next week for our son, Isaac’s, wedding to a Swedish girl. He’s looking for a remote job. Pray for him and us!
Pray for Linda’s irregular but troublesome leg pains.
I’m seeking an international team, each member overseeing new language resources.