2021
YEAR IN REVIEW
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WHAT I'M THINKING
MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In 2021, we produced 478 episodes of Square One media, plus another 89 episodes for local ministries.
That’s a lot of media – more than one episode per day – going out into the world to share the Gospel!
Part of the big increase in production included several new initiatives. Two video programs – one in Low German and one in Arabic – began filming early in the year. And two new English projects were also in development in 2021.
I thank God for the opportunity to produce a record amount of media in 2021. I appreciate the whole Square One team for making it happen. And I recognize that our donors are essential to everything we do.
Together, we advance the Kingdom of God.
Shoaib Ebadi
President and Executive Director
REFLECTIONS ON 2021
A YEAR OF GROWTH
WHAT WE'VE DONE
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF 2021
3.7 MILLION
VIEWS REACHED
on the Ella's Backyard YouTube channel.
192
EPISODES
of Realidad produced by Dr. Jorge Oscar Sanchez from 2017 - 2021
10,000+
AVERAGE VIEWS
achieved for each episode of Ekj Ran on YouTube
23,400
FOLLOWERS
on The Bible Today Instagram page
90,000+
VIEWS
in a year for some of the songs in Song of the Week
26
EPISODES
of School of Leadership completed by year's end.
478
EPISODES
produced in 2021 by our Winnipeg studio and partner studios in Ukraine, Bolivia and Paraguay
NEW PROJECT 2021
A GOOD LIFE
LOW GERMAN (EEN SCHEENET LÄWEN)
A Good Life (Een scheenet Läwen) with host Gladys Rempel launched in June, 2021. Using Scripture, teaching, interviews and personal stories, Gladys inspires her audience with a message of Good News. Before partnering with Square One, Gladys produced her own video series. Now she can focus on the content and on her audience, and leave the technical and production details to others. “If we want to reach the next generation, we have to be professional, excellent, and relevant,” she says. “That is what I can do as I partner with Square One.”
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Your podcasts are encouraging to my faith. They give me an idea of how adventurous and exciting following Jesus can be.
— An 18-year-old man, commenting on A Skoop of Life.
NEW PROJECT 2021
SCHOOL OF
LEADERSHIP
ARABIC (MADRASAT AL-QEYADEH)
A new initiative in 2021, School of Leadership (Madrasat Al-qeyadeh), is a great resource for Christians in Arabic countries, especially those who don’t have access to Bible Schools. Partnering with Square One, and based on the School of Leadership lessons produced by World Outreach in Australia, Pastor Ibrahim of Winnipeg produces Christian training material for an Arabic culture and audience. Said one TV station manager, “This is the type of Christian teaching material we need for our viewers in the Middle East and North Africa.”
A LOOK AT 2021
YEAR IN REVIEW TIMELINE
JAN
FEB
Marina and Heriberto take a 2-month online course in radio production.
Talks begin about a new children’s project, Tales from Cottonwood Trails.
Production begins on the new Arabic program, School of Leadership.
The Ella’s Backyard (Russian) YouTube channel surpasses 3 million views.
After the American election in 2020, The Sign Post (Low German) releases an episode about voting and godly leadership.
MAR
Micah’s Super Vlog becomes a production of Minno.
Production begins on A Good Life, a new Low German video program.
Eduard records Run the Race (Low German) while on a ministry trip to Mexico. Adding filming locations helps grow the audience.
APR
MAY
Eli starts as a full-time production assistant.
The Square One AGM is held virtually on Zoom.
Money is raised to complete Phase One of our studio upgrades initiatives.
JUN
JUL
First episodes release of A Good Life (Low German).
The Bible Today (Ukrainian) posts short videos on TikTok, accumulating thousands of views in a short time.
The Ella’s Backyard (Russian) YouTube channel reaches 10,000 subscribers.
AUG
Emily starts as Manager of Development.
Ernesto and Marina travel for the first time since March, 2020. They speak at a family retreat and record interviews for Encuentro and Encuentro Familiar (Spanish).
Song of the Week (Low German) releases its 200th song.
SEP
OCT
In Ukraine, Nikolai baptizes a young woman after she gives her life to Jesus because of The Bible Today’s social media posts.
Website of Low German resources is launched.
First interviews are filmed for the 75th documentary.
NOV
Contracted with DonorPerfect, an enhanced donor management software.
Irene’s book, Broken and Unnoticed (Low German), is released.
Ella’s Backyard Vlog (Russian) introduces the new character, Milana.
Heriberto speaks on several radio stations in Paraguay about his work on Encuentro (Spanish).
Shoaib speaks on public forums as the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan.
DEC
Final episodes are released of Realidad (Spanish), The Sign Post (Low German), and A Skoop of Life (English).
After watching Secret of Life (Dari/Persian), a young Afghan man phones Shoaib and prays to accept Jesus.
Ernesto, Marina, and Paul Boge are in Guatemala for the launch of the Spanish translation of the book about Ernesto.
The first episode of Square One Talks is filmed.
It’s exciting to look back and see all that we accomplished in 2021. But we can’t stop now! Psalm 96:2 says, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” Join us as we continue sharing the Gospel, day after day, with people everywhere.