Aloha from the Big Island!
Well, It feels like time has been flying by this past month. In the midst of the craziness of sending 300+ students on outreach, and welcoming another group of 300+ to the University of the Nations for the next three months, I have really felt your prayers as God has continued to give me energy, and provide for me and the ministry here in miraculous ways. He has brought together an incredible team of staff that I am privileged to work with, as well as a group of students who are so hungry to study God's word! Our class is 22 people, ages 18-62 representing 9 nations... and somehow, they all ended up on the same rock in the middle of the Pacific ocean. The atmosphere on campus is something I haven't felt at this level here in Kona before; just this contagious expectancy for God to do big things, and a huge desire to press into Him and get all the vision, the equipping and anointing He desires to pour out. Please pray that God continues to stir the hearts and minds of staff and students here, not growing weary, not getting distracted, but fully committed to the places he sends us, both our local communities, and outreaches.
Class of SBS Kona Hawaii, 2011School of Biblical Studies
The school I am teaching this year is a nine month, intensive course which takes the students through every book in the Bible. This course is the most rigorous cirriculum the University of the Nations offers The method we use is called inductive Bible study, and the students receive teaching on each book, and also have significant time spent in self study examining the text, researching historical context and processing application as the Holy Spirit directs. Last week I taught the introduction classes for this course, introducing the students to this method, as well as going through the book of Titus. This week we are currently studying Acts, which our visiting speaker (Dr. Mark Smith: archaeologist and history professor) has been suggesting would be better titled "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" instead of the title given in the middle ages "The Acts of the Apostles." It has been an incredible two weeks, seeing the students grow in their confidence in studying God's word, as well as their understanding of the history, culture and geography of the New Testament world.
Students prepare skits for historical re-enactments of TitusGod at work in the islands!
This morning I was profoundly impacted by an intercession time we had as a class. One of our staff on campus came to our class and shared about an upcoming trip they are taking to North Korea. In our time of prayer together, one of the SBS students from South Korea, Hwansik Kim, began to pray out with conviction for the people of North Korea. In getting to know Hwansik this past week, I learned that just 6 weeks ago he finished his term of service with the South Korean army. Just months ago, Hwansik was sitting in the driver's seat of personnel carrier at the edge of the de-militarized zone between North and South Korea after a North Korean artillery strike of a south Korean island. Two nights ago he was describing to me how he felt as the army was moved to def-com 1, and the engines were revving in preparation for a war that was just barely avoided after an incredibly stressful and intense time. Today Hwansik along with his classmates and staff engaged in a different battle over North Korea, as we prayed that the plans and purposes for the people of that nation to be realized in this generation.
This morning I was profoundly impacted by an intercession time we had as a class. One of our staff on campus came to our class and shared about an upcoming trip they are taking to North Korea. In our time of prayer together, one of the SBS students from South Korea, Hwansik Kim, began to pray out with conviction for the people of North Korea. In getting to know Hwansik this past week, I learned that just 6 weeks ago he finished his term of service with the South Korean army. Just months ago, Hwansik was sitting in the driver's seat of personnel carrier at the edge of the de-militarized zone between North and South Korea after a North Korean artillery strike of a south Korean island. Two nights ago he was describing to me how he felt as the army was moved to def-com 1, and the engines were revving in preparation for a war that was just barely avoided after an incredibly stressful and intense time. Today Hwansik along with his classmates and staff engaged in a different battle over North Korea, as we prayed that the plans and purposes for the people of that nation to be realized in this generation.
My brother Josh and I leading worship at Kona Coast Chaplaincy
hiking into a crater: Volcano National Park, South-point of Hawaii.Prayer for Nations
North Korea:
I wanted to use this section today to invite you to join in our intercession topic this week. North Korea has been on prayer lists of people all over the world for years and years, and God is indeed moving there. A century ago, the capital of North Korea, Pyong- yang, was referred to as the Jerusalem of Asia, because of the radical work God was doing there, stirring up revival. No one from that time would recognize the city now, which has been the seat of oppression and deception of an entire people group for many years. This week in our prayer times we have been believing for a continued and accelerated move of God to open the doors of this nation. Praying for ways for God's people to go in, for the lost to be found, and even prayers in faith for the future North Korean believers who are soon to be called into the global harvest field!North Korea:
SBS staff hard at work in the office!