2019
YEAR IN REVIEW
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WHAT I'M THINKING
MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We produced many programs in 2019, in different formats and languages, on different platforms, and for different age and interest groups. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people heard the Gospel. It’s exciting to review what we have done. But there is more work to do. We can’t stop!
As we look to next steps, one immediate focus is to create the new studio for Ella’s Backyard Vlog and start the actual production. Other goals: explore new ways to produce Christ-centred media, and attract younger donors through social media and online campaigns.
We are grateful to our Square One constituency: our faithful partners in prayer and finances. Without you, we could not achieve anything. Above all, we are grateful to God who makes all things possible.
Shoaib Ebadi
Executive Director
WHAT WE'VE DONE
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF 2019
2,000,000
VIEWS REACHED
on the Ella’s Backyard
YouTube channel.
350,000
VIEWS ACHIEVED
on the first 35 Low German Song of the Week YouTube videos produced in partnership with Square One.
1,200,000
VIEWS REACHED
on Micah's Super Vlog
videos on YouTube.
4,000+
RADIO PROGRAMS
produced by Jacob from 1995 to 2019 for Light of the Gospel (in High and Low German).
10
LIVE EVENTS
throughout the Spanish-speaking world where Ernesto & Marina taught, preached, counselled and recorded interviews.
18,000+
FOLLOWERS
gained on The Bible Today-Ukraine
Instagram page.
52
EPISODES
of the English-language radio program, A Skoop of Life, produced by Sherryl.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
ENCUENTRO CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
On October 19, Ernesto and Marina celebrated 25 years of Spanish radio ministry with supporters in Winnipeg. In 1994, God gave Ernesto the passion to preach the Gospel through radio. From one weekly program on one Winnipeg station, the demand grew as listeners taped the program and sent cassettes home to family in Latin America. Today, Encuentro is one of the most listened to Spanish radio programs, airing on almost 1,800 stations in 32 countries. Praise God for gently and persistently drawing each listener toward a relationship of life and hope.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
MICAH'S SUPER VLOG RELEASES FOUR BOOKS
FOR KIDS
The new Micah’s Super Vlog illustrated kids’ books (produced in partnership with MinnoKids, an imprint of Hachette) are filled with the same characters, humour and biblically sound teaching as the Micah’s Super Vlog cartoons. Even kids who don’t like to read are loving the books, while parents love that their kids are reading. Through the cartoons and the books, we love that kids are learning about Jesus!
A LOOK AT 2019
YEAR IN REVIEW TIMELINE
JAN
Siblings Andrei and Yulia of The Bible Today- Ukraine introduce Stories podcasts.
A Skoop of Life radio program is launched on 3 southern MB radio stations.
HIStory Endowment Project launches.
Reruns of the Beautiful Unique Girl TV show air on the Faith TV channel throughout 2019.
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
Shoaib and Jacob & Helen meet with David (Song of the Week) in Paraguay and Eduard (Ekj Ran) in Bolivia. Shoaib becomes the 1st former Muslim to preach in a Mennonite Church in Paraguay.
Ernesto and Grant record video interviews for 180 Grados in Ecuador.
Beautiful Unique Girl releases “Women of the Bible” series on YouTube
Eduard & Heidi of Bolivia record testimonies in Mexico for Ekj Ran
JUL
Paul Boge releases the book, “The Sound of Hope: The Ernesto Pinto Story”, produced in partnership with Square One.
Irene releases the Low German book, “God Gives Me the Privilege of Being a Woman”.
New leadership on the Board: J.C. Peters (Chair), Rodney Badgley (Vice-Chair),
Bev Dueck (Secretary).
180 Grados begins airing live on Facebook.
Russian children’s series, Land of the Golden Sun, completes 3rd and final season.
2 Micah’s Super Vlog chapter books are released in partnership with Hachette.
Alex marks 25 years of ministry at The Bible Today- Ukraine.
AUG
SEP
Kaylyn resigns from Beautiful Unique Girl to pursue a ministry opportunity elsewhere; Online resources continue to be actively used.
OCT
Beautiful Unique Girl TV show begins streaming on Castle in the fall; “Fruit of the Spirit” curriculum is released online.
Garri and Albina arrive in Winnipeg to produce Ella’s Backyard Vlog.
Square One launches new website.
NOV
DEC
Shoaib attends COICOM in El Salvador with Ernesto & Marina.
“JellyTelly” becomes “Minno” and adds more Micah’s Super Vlog.
Jacob retires at the end of 2019. His Low German Light of the Gospel radio programs and other resources are available online.
Irene records her next book, “Tears and Grief”, on CD. The book is set for release in early 2020.
2 more Micah’s Super Vlog chapter books are released. New streaming platforms (Castle, RightNow Media, and Shalom World) negotiate to carry Micah’s Super Vlog cartoons.
Ernesto celebrates 25 years with the Encuentro radio ministry.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
GARRI AND ALBINA MOVE FROM MOSCOW TO WINNIPEG
Garri Sergienko and Albina Nikitina, our longtime ministry partners in Russia, made the big move in September, 2019 to join us at our Winnipeg Studio. Planning and set construction is underway for Ella’s Backyard Vlog, the newest children’s program under the Ella’s Backyard banner, with filming to start in spring.
It’s exciting to look back and see what we all accomplished in 2019. But we can’t stop! Romans 10 says, “But how can they call on him to save them unless ... someone tells them?” Let’s work together, with God’s help, to be the ones to tell them.