January 2012 Newsletter Recapping and Looking Forward The year 2011 saw many new and exciting things happening at bible.org. Jot us a note and let us know what you consider as “the” key blessing you received as a result of using the bible.org website.

Many of you took the challenge to join us in reading through the Bible for an entire year. You are to be commended for your participation and effort! If you are one who chose to do that, please send us a note so we can honor your efforts. In December of 2011, we started posting a summary of the Chronological Reading portion on Facebook.com/bible.org. Don’t miss what we find each day as we read and digest the passages. Add your comments to our Facebook post! Sign up to do the daily Bible reading program by clicking here. OR, perhaps this year you will decide to do more Bible memorization. See Greg Herrick’s article to help you with that desire. Share with us your choices on this webform.

In 2011 these are the marvelous items God has given to bible.org

1. New and improved English Bible Study Environment
   1. New Ministry Partners who are using our Co-Branded Online Study Environment
2.  Completion of the Chinese NET Bible and the beginning of a Chinese study environment. Check out and pray for this new ministry to the 1.1 billion Chinese speakers in the world  see project page
   
3. Web Site Visitors up 40% from 2010 to 2011 and up 50% for the last 6 months compared to last year
4. During 2011 we have peaked past 3 million pages views in a month
5. Many new relationships and ministry opportunities that were made at the conferences we attended
6. Many new writers and bloggers on the users site and in the Children's ministry e.g.Jodi Hooper’s curriculum and Susan Greenwood/Ed Gossein ministry in their Heartprints Blog
7. New Seminaries who are using our Greek/NET Diaglot and Study Environment as part of their daily study life

Looking ahead to 2012:

It would take too much space to discuss our plans for 2012 here. Soon we will send out additional detail on our proposed 2012 ministry plans for your input and feedback but for this newsletter let us just say:

1. We would like to hire a drupal and php programmer (if interested email jobs)
2. We would like to do a Spanish translation of the NET Bible and start a Spanish version of bible.org site . (if you would like to help email us)
3. Be thinking and praying about what opportunities you would like us to pursue. For example, ministries where we can use our content and tools and help the local church worldwide. One that we are thinking about doing is a focused discipleship effort to help the local church produce disciples as commanded in the great commission.

 GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS/FINANCIAL UPDATE:

Your faithfulness to pray and assist with finances has seen the vision for 2011 come to fruition. We are so blessed to have you join us in this journey. Please know that bible.org is faithful to provide each month an update of where your sacrifices are being used. We consider it a privilege to share this information with you and we look forward to using next year's donations to bring about His Work, His vision, His ministry in His way. Thank you from bible.org.
( ps. editors note: it looks like we will finish 2011 in the black and have monies to do some major projects in 2012.)

Note-** All income (Donations and Bible sales/revenues) are accounted for. The store has outstanding NET Bible debt and sales are being used to meet debt and store expenses. When there is a future profit those profits will be reported as a donation to the foundation. As you have noticed we have turned on limited Google ads to help in the revenue side (no ads on the bible study tool) and we appreciate you telling us the links to inappropriate ads which we immediately block!

SOCIAL NETWORKING
Thank you Facebook visitors. Our numbers are growing! In January of 2011 we had 13,648 Facebook fans who "Liked" us : and at the end of 2011 14,928 Facebook fans "Liked" us.  Help us reach the 20,000 mark in 2012.

Blogs: Our readership continues to grow on both our main blog site and the users.bible.org site. (Any user can start their own blog on the users site). We thank you for being faithful to read and comment on our new users blog posts.
Are you learning about the many insights from Hal Warren and Lance Ponder on the men’s blog site? You can join the children's ministry blog site and read the newest installment on what True Worship is by Susan Greenwood. Also  Dr. Bock just posted his newest article. Don’t miss a single read!

Read the many new authors that have found and are using the users.bible.org page such as Dr. Steve and Pastor Nate. Pastor Gary has begun a new group for his church: “Bethany Lutheran Bible Study” .Pastors/Teachers, you also can do this for your church or class. Pastor Gary's group will be Reading Through the NET Bible for 2012. Join all of these men as they challenge us to read, think and desire to grow closer to the Lord. On the ladies side, Rebecca Graf is challenging us to join her as she studies the book of James and Christina Wilson is calling us all to reflect on the Psalms.

Authors of the Month: Each month we will be selecting new authors or authors that have new material for us to read and digest. In December of 2011 bible.org added a new series on Ecclesiastes by Pastor Aaron Sturgill; a new audio series on Nehemiah by Pastor Jeff Miller, and his current audio series in Acts. There is a new series by Bob Utley titled: Jesus’ Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude. Also a new Thanksgiving/Christmas series by Jodi Hooper. To learn more about each of these authors you can go to the articles and click author profile.