More than 50 years ago, that was the origin of Bible Study Fellowship. A handful of women heard former China missionary Audrey Wetherell Johnson speak at their church in Southern California and they approached her about leading them in a Bible study.
As they were challenged by their ongoing study, the initial group of five friends began bringing more and more friends.
Remembering those early days, Miss Johnson wrote in Created for Commitment, a book published in 1982 by Tyndale House:
"My aim had always been to ensure that every member of the class was living by the reading of God's Word. God gave me a profound conviction that the way to know Him intimately as a Person related to me was through study of His Word with the help of the Holy Spirit."
It quickly became obvious that God was leading Miss Johnson's path for the study. Her initial class outgrew two homes before moving to a church to accommodate all of the new women attending.
Soon, another church invited her to start a second women's study. Then a men's group was formed by one of the husbands of a class member. Children's classes grew from the desire to provide more than "child care" for class members' children.
More History
To Northern California .. and Beyond
A New Home in San Antonio