A Simple Invitation
Seeds Planted in Emmy’s Life Grew into a Life Transformed
By Bennett Rolan — Editorial Manager
On her wedding day, Emmy Josefson was given a Bible. Two months later, when she moved with her husband from Texas to Qatar, Emmy left her Bible behind.
“It just wasn’t something I was interested in,” she said.
At the time, Emmy would describe herself as “spiritual.” She had served with the Peace Corps in Morocco and practiced meditation and yoga. She had a persistent longing for something more, and the move to Qatar felt like an adventure on the way to seeking a higher purpose. In Qatar, Emmy and her husband were teachers at an English-speaking school. They made friends and started a family. Qatar felt like home.
Five years later, Emmy and her husband returned to the United States. With three boys under the age of 4, Emmy decided to stay home and focus on parenting. She traded her life of adventure for long days of diapers and laundry.
“It was a huge transition for me,” Emmy said. “When I was teaching, I got to talk about politics and history. As a mom, I felt like I lost that.”
A friend’s persistence
During that time, Emmy’s friend invited her to try BSF.
“I saw her every week at a play date and every single week she asked me to come,” Emmy shared. “She was relentless in inviting people to BSF.”
Emmy always turned her down until her friend mentioned one important fact: “I realized they had free childcare.”
Preparing for her first week in BSF, Emmy needed a Bible. The one she abandoned years before was left in a box labeled “donate.”
“I walked into my garage, pulled it off the top of the box, and brought it in. I got into that BSF chair reluctantly, but it became my favorite day of the week.”
BSF offered a break from Emmy’s daily routine, but it quickly became much more.
“I got into that BSF chair reluctantly, but it became my favorite day of the week.”
“I came with a million questions. The women I met on that journey shepherded me. They became my community. It was a really intimate group. That was what I was yearning for.”
In God’s Word, Emmy discovered the higher purpose she had been missing. A year after joining BSF, Emmy gave her life to Jesus and got baptized.
“I wanted the four women there from BSF who shepherded me in my relationship with Jesus. These were the women who would sit and answer my questions. The instant I made the decision to be baptized I felt different. I had been meditating before, but now I was praying, using my Bible. I felt completely different after my baptism. Through BSF, I’m completely changed.”
Four years ago, Emmy was searching for spirituality. Today, she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Emmy and her family have moved back to Qatar, where they live in an expatriate compound. She still has plenty of questions. To dive deeper into God’s Word, she enrolled in online seminary.
“I always tell people that God brought me back to America so I could find Jesus, then He sent me back into the world.”
God’s relentless pursuit
God led Emmy on a path toward salvation and used His people to show her the way.
“Christians have a light, and I always thought, ‘I want that, how do I get that?’ That is something I’ve been chasing. I can look back now and see that God was always there.”
The simple gift of a Bible grew into a lifetime love of God’s Word. A friend’s persistent invitation to BSF gave Emmy the courage to ask God her questions. Faithful BSF group members and leaders walked alongside Emmy as she approached the cross and surrendered her life to Jesus.
“I can look back now and see that God was always there.”
In our study, People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided, we see God’s relentless pursuit of His people. We meet the prophets He used along the way. We may not know much about their personal lives, but we do know that Amos, Joel, Obadiah, and the rest of the prophets were just ordinary men. They were brothers, sons, and friends. They struggled with sin and longed to serve the Lord. God used their obedience to deliver His extraordinary message. And He still uses His people to do that today.
We may not be called to deliver prophecy to a nation, but we are clearly called to share the gospel. Through God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can light the path toward salvation. But are we willing to take that first step toward leading others to Christ? Where is God calling you to declare His truth? Who will you pursue?
“I will forever be grateful for BSF,” Emmy shared. “If I could say anything, I would say keep inviting your friends. There is no greater gift that I’ve ever been given. BSF changed my life, it gave me Jesus.”
“BSF changed my life, it gave me Jesus.”
Bennett Rolan
Editorial Manager
Bennett Rolan joined the BSF staff in 2017 after working for several Christian ministries and non-profits. She loves to combine her passion for God’s Word and her journalism background to share stories of God’s Work in and through BSF. As a wife to a busy college football coach and a mom to four young children, BSF studies keep her relationship with the Lord grounded and focused. She loves to learn from fellow believers as God faithfully grows her each day.
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Testimonies are the best tool for our Matt 28:19 mission. Bsf is also my tool to transform me for the last 20+ years. All misunderstandings of different interpretations of the Word of God creating divisions in our own faith of the same God can be resolved if we keep focusing on our own self transformation. Let God be God alone. Amen.
Wow! what a great story of persistence! I tend to give up too easily. I will be looking at my life to where can I invite another and to persist in a kind way. BSF is so awesome! Thank you for this encouraging story and wonderful testimony of what God can do in one special life at a time.
Such an encouraging testimony of God pursuing love for us. God so loved that He died for us. He knows us even before we were formed! BSF has been a safe place to share and learn how God is changing lives. Thanks for sharing Emmy’s story.
BSF has matured my faith and encouraged me in so many ways. If you’ve never participated please consider the study of John in the fall
Wonderful post! Thanks for capturing Emmy’s story so beautifully. I am encouraged to continue to share BSF.
Wonderful. Please know that BSF is the way I reach out to people who don’t know Jesus. It’s given me so much confidence to share His wonderful love. I have also had friends who consistently tell me ‘maybe later’ but I will not give up!
Yes, plant those seeds. Invite your friends to BSF. It is like no other bible study. I found this bible study by calling around to various churches because my church was 45 minutes away and I wasn’t about to travel down that highway anymore like I had been doing for the past 15 years. God hooked me up! He gave me the hotline to BSF. This is my 5th year and even through the Covid years, I didn’t give up. We were online and discussing our lessons and praying for one another. We were continuing to fellowship in spite of what was going on around us. I have been to many bible studies at many churches and there are none that compare. Yes, it is work and putting in a lot of time with the Lord, but it is well worth it. I have brought two women in now and they love it! Yes, there is a lot of scripture reading, questions to answer, and lectures to attend, but isn’t God worth it? Isn’t it worth learning the Word of God for yourself important and not just taking someone else’s word for it? When I would ask all my questions and state what someone else told me, my group leader reminded me, “if it is not biblical, it is not true”. I had to learn to stop listening to other people’s interpretation of the bible and read it for myself. The best thing that has ever happened to me besides the day I accepted Jesus into my life 33 years ago!
Emmy, BSF also changed my life. I was a Christian, but I began my personal relationship with Jesus at BSF. I also feel like it was the best gift I’ve ever received. May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family.
Thanks so much for this article. I have a friend that I have been inviting. I am encouraged to continue inviting her to BSF.
I encourage very much Emmy. Our Lord is patient, now His purpose for you was accomplished . He will always sustain you.
I hope anyone inviting young moms with children to BSF remembers to include that BSF kids is also a learning class. Not just free childcare. I feel honored as a children’s leader to present a story and music, time to the littlest of our members in the infant class.
It’s so encouraging reading stories like Emmy’s.
Does BSF have a podcast? My husband and I travel back and forth to our cabin now that we are retired. No internet there however when I’m driving I like to listen to podcasts.
Debra – we would love to have a podcast! Praying God will make a way
Thank you for sharing Emmy’s story. It’s a beautiful reminder to keep asking and inviting people to BSF. I too am grateful for the life changing ministry of BSF. God uses the BSF ministry to grow closer to Him in a well structured and understanding way.
Your story is a beautiful one of how a person is called to learn more about the Lord through the faithful ministry of BSF in teaching the Bible. Many have come to know Him as they have studied His Word and been taught by very capable and biblically knowledgeable people. The wording “BSF changed my life- it gave me Jesus” is a bit misleading to me as it intimates that BSF can give Jesus. That is only possible through the Holy Spirit, Who BSF is very faithful to teach about in many of its lessons. He is the One Who draws us to Christ and leads us to salvation. BSF is true to its calling and exemplary in its teaching and I will remain grateful for its instruction now and always.
Debbie – so true. God is using BSF but only He can soften hearts and draw us near. Thanks!
After my first child child born, I missed the interaction of the adult conversation especially with women of faith. Invited to BSF in CA, quickly it was my favorite day. The fellowship was wonderful but the structured studied called me to meet God daily in his Word with a book of the year, therefore, the Holy Spirit grew my
Understanding tremendously.
We moved many times as Marks job changed. I’m so grateful for BSF in each state. I invited others and was asked to be a teaching leader.
Only Covid, and ailing in-laws were a disruption. Thankful BSF stays on topic, Gods Word.
BSF is needed more than ever before. Prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide and protect all our sisters in Yahweh/Yahshua’s Word as they fervently seek the Truth in all Its glory. Our Savior is coming soon…..we must be ready and constantly in The Word!
I am truly blessed from reading all if the blogs. To God be the glory.
Thank you for Emmys story. And asking the question of who will I pursue. I immediately thought of at one dear friend. Though we live continents apart I can still introduce her to BSF and I believe there will be opportunity for her to meet Jesus in the Bible. Am excited.
In Emmy’s story. Isn’t Qatar, the capital of Muslim Nation of Egypt where one could be found guilty in owning a book (God’s Words) called Bible?
Juliana – yes! But since Emmy and her husband live on an ex-patriot compound she is allowed to read her Bible. Thank you for asking!
I feel like that kind of oppression can happen anywhere…where your freedom to read God’s Word can be taken away. I pray that when I read the Bible, His Word is imprinted on my heart and that cannot be taken from me and I would be able to share this gospel Good News boldly whenever prompted by the Lord to do so
Love it. PTL
Praise God for this precious woman, our sister, in Jesus Christ! How amazing is it that she knew where the gift of the Bible was? When the Holy Spirit moves us, we need to be bold and courageous in inviting others to study God‘s word! And when the Holy Spirit moves us to give the gift of a Bible, we need to move forward without hesitation, and do it with love and compassion and an invitation! This is my prayer, dear God! I don’t want to miss any opportunity to further Your kingdom
Enjoyed reading Emmy’s story and how God pursues us. Like Emmy, it was the gentle invitation of a friend in London who encouraged me to join BSF. I didn’t take up her invitation the first time but she planted a seed that God watered.
I finally took up her invitation in 2005 and now enjoy the privilege of leading an online group. My invitation to others is, “it’s the best Bible study you’ll ever do in your life.” Praise God for all that He’s done and is doing in your life, Emmy.
I take this opportunity to thank God, for giving me time to read His word. I joined BSF in 2015 and it has really changed my life. Before BSF I could not stand to preach the Gospel, but after joining the BSF less than a year time, I was equipped. And as I continued with my journey on Christ Jesus who is my Lord and savior, as this new year begin, it’s begin with good news in my family. I went home to see my dad, on 10th Jan 2023, where I shared the word from psalms 95:3-8and my brother received Jesus Christ as His Lord and savior, Bonface gives his life to christ. I thank God for the opportunity.
I can clearly relate to ‘God’s relentless pursuit’ and His constant presence every day. First for a very long time my wife and I rang in 2023 by staying up late. 2022 was a year of health challenge for us both, but it did not take us long to realize and bask in God’s presence knowing He was right there with us through it all. His mercy, grace, and love is never ending. The verse that keeps on popping up for me over the last couple months is; John 1:14.
Emmy gives a strong testimony that God is Faithful. He pursues his Children and
Protects them. His love is everlasting. Emmy goes boldly and I love her story as she has an adventure in doing Gods work. We pray for all who choose this path. Thanks for encouraging.
Really encouraging testimony from Emmy..was great to read and hear where she is today going on with the Lord.
Beautiful story of finding Christ! God bless you.
I read Bennett’s
Blog and found a similar need of mine in it.
I was introduced to Bible
Study at the age of 12 years
when my weekly sitter, my
Maternal grandmother’s
absence, caused Mom to
find another acceptable
sitter for me during School
Break that year and it turned
to be a Nunnery that had a
a Kids Summer School close
in distance to home that I could walk back and forth
to it safely and join other kids at a Park close to Mom’s work.
I even started attending
Sunday’s Church services.
Thus, I continued through
to earning a living.
Meanwhile, many times,
there was a feeling of something missing in my life, but “what” was it was
I sure didn’t know.
Then one day, a member of one of my Garden Club handed me a little Invitation
Card, just stating that maybe
I would be interested in
attending the group mentioned in the card she had given me. And I was…
It was a Church where BSF
Meetings were held.
I went several times and found what I was missing
all this time in life. Really
Knowing God and his love for all that believe in him
and Jesus.
I have pondered through
my life and realized that my
God has always been right there with me guiding my
away!
Griselda – so encouraging! Thank you for sharing!
I receive such a blessing this year and BSF. I didn’t know it was going to come in a form of a broken leg and a broken arm and a book. God’s word is more powerful than I ever imagined.. I started writing a book over 12 years ago, and then just let it sit because the devil told me I wasn’t good enough I have attention deficit, my thoughts get scrambled, and I couldn’t do it. These were all lies that the devil had told me and with help of my BSF and learning to study God’s word I’m getting stronger and stronger every day.. God’s word truly is our strength!!!!! Over Christmas break? We were setting the story of Jonah.. that’s when I fell in the shower, broke my right arm and right leg and it sounds funny to say thank you God, but I am so thankful God is so faithful he’s so good!!! I felt like I was Jonah , and my couch was the whale . I knew God had written a book in my heart and getting it out was too difficult. Then God’s word showed up in a big way, and I realized his word is stronger than any two edge sword so with a broken arm, I began to write. Confirmation came in a form of another BSF person in my class. , she was only there for three weeks and one of those weeks we had a sharing time, D shared her story of her son, being a paraplegic, she told everyone that she had written a book on Amazon. When it came time for me to share, I said your stories amazing. Maybe it’ll encourage me to write my story.. little did I know what I was going to do.. I ordered her book over Christmas break and I was I laid on the couch and patiently waiting for it to arrive the Holy Spirit, kept building me up. I couldn’t wait to get her book but my surprise God showed up in a bigger way that I could’ve ever imagined.!!! When it arrived, I quickly opened it and flipped through the pages. I wanted to see a picture I felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking to me, and he was.. I was one of the caretakers for D’s son. This was about 20 years ago , God is so Amazing!!! I’m so THANKFULL to my friend N who never gave up inviting me to BSF.
I’m a CL in BSF. I sometimes wondered if the whole process of preparing for the BSF CL, especially the infant class, where I was serving, was really meaningful.
Because I’m still a Korean with poor English, and I’m close to 60 years old, and I have some disc problems.
But reading this has made me realize that I was working to give those young moms who we’re tired of parenting a break from parenting and give them time to meet Jesus! And I was also reminded that my calling was an precious mission to sow the seeds of God’s Word in those babies entrusted to me.
Thank God & thank you for sharing this beautiful story!
DukYe – thank you for your service to these precious women and their little ones. Your heart for others is a gift to those you serve!
Thank you for this beautiful and encouraging story. May God help us all be faithful to keep sharing in “little” or “big” ways however the Spirit leads and helps us.
About 3 years ago I finally got my sister who lives an hour and a half away from me to join a BSF meeting near her home.
She started attending with my niece and soon she invited friends to her group. She is very involved with her group now and it has given her strength to walk thru a difficult time in her life she lost her daughter last year. I have been attending BSF for 7 years now and I have been totally blessed by the deep study of God’s word that I doubt I could have achieved on my own.
Thank You
Elaine – thank you for sharing! Sometimes the most difficult people to invite are our family members. Your testimony is a true encouragement
I’ve thank God for His word and helping us to share as we grow. I’ve been in BSF a long time and I enjoy learning more about my Savior. Thankful to invite others and they except the invitation. Recalling enjoying People of the Promise. There is hope for this dying world. What a mighty and living God we serve. Thankful for the journey even when times get hard I know He is with me.
I love reading about other people’s stories and experiences, especially when they share how they came to know the Lord Jesus. I use to think I had problems until I started listening and reading other people’s concerns.
Once upon a time I was relentless in inviting others to BSF as Emmy’s friend was and knew the joy of watching many know and grow in Jesus while we attended together . God rarely allowed me the joy of being the one in the place of ministering to them once they were there other than the initial invitation , and sometimes opportunities to encourage them to persevere .
I am forever thankful that He gave me the privilege to introduce them to what for some has become a lifelong study & application of Gods Word as they mature in knowing Him. Such a gift from God to see the fruit of His Spirit in brothers and sisters lives . BSF was and is a ministry God has used consistently and mightily in tethering me to Himself through His Word . My daily life does not offer as many opportunities to invite as it once did, but I continue to invite as the Spirit leads & have also had the privilege to lead others that are not led to our local class through the Wordgo studies , another glorious gift from His heart to ours . I’m so very thankful for ALL God has done and is doing for his covenant children through BSF in exalting Jesus through the study of His Word as it is proclaimed to the nations .
I am encouraged by her testimony. Truly the Word of God is alive and active and draws us to a relationship with the living and eternal God, our Creator.
BSF changes my life, too 🙂
To God be the glory for the things He has done! Hallelujah!
Always thank His calling and faithfulness. Amen
I felt deeply touched and can totally relate Emily’s story to my own life… God always go before us. I’m so grateful to be guided by The Holy Spirit. He never forsakes, and my heart is forever thankful that he leads me to real life after earthly death. Glory hallelujah praise Jesus Christ amen 🙏 amen
All Glory to GOD for your life EMMY.I am encouraged to share God to the people around me and the world around me.
Thanks.
Is it possible that you give my husband this book kingdom divided.
Hi Esther! We would love for your husband to study with us. You can use your mybsf.org account to access the BSF store and purchase a lesson book. You can also go to join.bsfinternational.org to find a group near you. If you have further needs, please contact your local class leadership. Thank you!
I have been BSF for many years…this
study of the prophets and their contribution to Christianity by the obedience to our Lord has helped me immensely in my everyday struggle to a Child of God ….I have met the most devoted women…..I wish that I known about BSF during my career in USAF.
I’m very happy to have joined BSF. I had not heard of it until one of the ladies from my Bible group mentioned it three years ago. I have learned so much. Born and raised Catholic, I had so much to learn from the Bible, BSF and Saddleback church. I share with my daughters what I learn.
Thank you for BSF, for her life. It was indeed a great blessing knowing who Jesus is in our lives.
This is a great story! Thanks so much for sharing it! I am sure Emmy’s children’s lives and perhaps her husband’s life have also been transformed through the gift of that Bible and the invitation to join the Bible study.
Awesome .. how Jesus love us so much God blless you Sist Emmy🙏
I enjoy the story it encourages our grown in Christ. Amen
Wonderful, encouraging story. Reminder that we can share our stories of BSF’s impact on our lives to invite others and as believers we can seize opportunities to mentor those that come seeking. Also, it doesn’t matter why they come initially, like Emmy. God’s Word will speak to their hearts and our lights will be a calling to know Him.
Good day.
I appreciate this message.
Thank you.
I am encouraged. I must really keep inviting people to Bsf and try to be a real friend to members in my group.
Greetings BSF Staffing. I was once apart of the BSF group. I would to rejoin once again.
How can this process be completed?
Hi William! We would love to have you back in BSF. Please go to https://join.bsfinternational.org/ to search for groups near you. If there is not a group near you, you can also join a BSF Online class. Thank you!
I loved this story of questions, searching and finally fulfillment! God uses BSF to draw us closer unto Himself as I have learned from attending for the last 4 1/2 years. He’s created a hunger in me to share with others what He has shared with me through the ministry of BSF! I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of so great a community!
Just come when they meet. Find out the day, time and location near you. I’m sure you would be welcomed back. God’s waiting for your with open arms to come back.
Great story! It’s amazing how free childcare can set “us free” to be able to spend time with Jesus!!! Thank you, BSF!!! Thank you, Bennett.
BSF help me more than my pastor teachings. i was able to understand Bible very well. i met God when I read bible daily through the help of BSF, glory be to God,,,
Could I get the mini series on Joel and Obadiah? I would like to forward to some co-workers and neighbors. I was unable to find it in resources.
Here you go! https://www.bsfinternational.org/trybsf/
Thank you for adding spark to my faith journey. This message focused my goal to share this wonderful story.
What about her husband?
Deann- thank you for asking! Emmy continues to share with her family. Her story reminds us to pray for those we long to accept Christ!
Tonight I will be bringing a visitor to BSF. She shared at church with me a problem in her life and I’ve invited many before her, but this may be the one that God has been reaching for for many years.
I began BSF when Revelation was taught, but started in the middle as I sought answers about a book about the Millennium a friend from work wrote with his evangelical father. I became a believer and my faith grew. I still have problems in my life, but pray for help and answers. Once I asked God to lead me where I could help others learn the gospel and as an RN, I should have expected God used me to bring up Jesus when I encountered a man saying that he was dying, but instead of immediately getting him emergency help first, I said DO NOT DIE WITHOUT KNOWING JESUS! When he responded I HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD PERSON, I automatically said IT DOES NOT MATTER, and EMS help was called as I spoke to him what Jesus did for us. A day can no longer pass without me thinking about my Lord and praising HIM for his gift of eternity. I was baptized as a child, but was reborn after I began learning with BSF.
Penny – thank you for sharing! Such an encouragement
I am not a nurse but I pray God can use me before I leave this earth to bring someone to Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord! This is the urgency of the Father’s will! That NONE PERISH! HE GAVE His Son for all. The Lord deserves the praise of each and every soul so the Father may be worshipped by His own creation in perfect order just as it should be. May we ALL GROW to ask each day for the filling of the Spirit so our minds rest on God’s will! Not so much what we are doing, but SEE what HE is doing and those He is bringing in front of us to speak to! Each one, each heart, each life is on the brink and we are SO BLESSED to be able to watch God SAVE THEM by Christ through the gospel. God bless you Sister!!
I love the study and have attended BSF for years, and have invited others to come in the past. But, now I would hesitate due to the very uncomfortable place that we meet — a huge tent. It is cold and dank, very difficult to hear with all the ambient noise, and not a place one wants to bring anyone. While the pandemic was raging, the tent was an adequate site, but now I dearly wish we could get back into a church. For older women, it is just not a place I want to invite my friends.
Nancy – we will be praying for wisdom! Have you considered starting a WordGo group with your friend? WordGo has BSF study material packaged into an app so you can meet anywhere, any time. It is a great tool for those who are new to Bible study
This is a great lesson I have learnt from Emmy. I have learnt from BSF to listen and share with my fellow BSF ladies. May the name of the Lord be praised as we continue to share the Gospel with other Christians.