Staff, students, guest speaker, Steve Gregg and myself on the stairs to our classroom
What a place to study God's word!
In class listening to Steve Gregg share on Joshua and Judges
Showing posts with label Kona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kona. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2012
First ever Discipleship Bible School!
Friday, August 24, 2012
God's "radical" idea.
It's pretty clear from the Bible that God wants his people to be... different. From as far back as the exodus, His command to the Israelites was "You shall be holy because I am holy." (Lev. 11:44) Holiness, as describes in God's law, was certainly going to make them stand out among their neighbors, the way they ate, the way the dressed, the way they worshiped.... Essentially, this term, "holiness" translated into "different," even "weird" in every aspect of life for God's people as far as outsiders were concerned. "You shall be weird because I am weird!"
If you've talked to many 20-30 year-olds recently and asked them about their dreams, it's probable you heard the word "radical" in there somewhere. This word has been driving a generation to travel the globe, throw themselves over cliffs and off bridges (with bungee cords and squirrel suits) tattoo their entire bodies and all around, live life on terms quite different than former generations. In working with youth in training and equipping them for ministry and missions, I encounter this fiery spirit all the time, I love it, and can certainly see it in my own life as well. In our quest to be "radical" my generation has stumbled upon an old testament mandate, perhaps by accident, perhaps as part of God's plan to do something in the world on a global scale!
God has put this desire in hearts around the world, but as Christians, as leaders, as mentors, how can we focus and direct this passion towards His Kingdom purposes? In recent discussions, prayer times and pondering this question, I've come across some really neat insights from the word, and from other Christian leaders God has been speaking to about the same thing. One quote that really spoke to me by David Platt, author of a book called "Radical" (go figure) is "Faithfulness is the new radical." When I read that it hit me like a 2" x 4" This is the message my generation needs, not just preached at them, but demonstrated by leaders, older and younger in all walks of life.
One of the weakness of "radical" is that it tends to be drawn to "the next big thing" hopping from adventure to adventure, conference to concert to adrenaline rush to... you get the picture, and overlooking perhaps, the details that make it all worth it from an eternal perspective. I love an analogy shared with me recently about UCLA's Men's Basketball coach, John Wooden. The most successful NCAA coach in history, Wooden led his team to 10 National championships, including 7 in a row, and won a record 88 consecutive victories. Wow, world records and championships are something a generation bent on "radical" can get excited about!
Here's the part that struck me: One of Wooden's coaching techniques started the first day of practice with his new players. He would gather them together, before any practice, and give them each a pair of unfolded socks. "All right gentlemen, your first lesson in Basketball from me is how to properly fold your socks." I imagine there were a lot of confused looks going around in that circle until he went on to explain: "If you don't know how to fold your socks, they may get wrinkles, if your socks are wrinkled it could result in blisters, if you have blisters you won't be able to practice to your full ability. Bad practice could result in one bad play that could be avoided, that play could cost us a game and that game may be the difference between winning it all and going home empty handed!" Talk about real life application of faithfulness and attention to the small things being part of doing something radical! Here's a team with the greatest legacy in sports history, and the difference between them and all the other teams may be as small as their method of folding socks!
In living as a missionary for the past 11 years, I can say I have found this principle to be true. It's easy to get caught up in movements where miracles are happening, or to be looking ahead to the next time and place a certain speaker is talking or worship band is playing, but what we do in the times between those things ultimately determines whether we live radical lives or not. Just like folding socks positioned UCLA to have an edge over the competition, our small obedience over time in the same direction, towards God's call on our lives, could be the difference between truly experiencing "radical" or just dying our hair bright colors a couple of times. Nothing against hair dye, it looks radical :-) but it probably won't make you feel radical unless it is part of a life rooted in much more.
Simple applications to living life with "faithfulness being the new radical:" Quiet times. Maybe 1 in 10 quiet times feel radical, maybe 1 in 100, but spiritually they prepare us for divine appointments, small or large God may be leading us to. Offering to pray for a person who is sharing a need, frustration, hurt or fear. Maybe this will result in instant salvation, physical healing, revival and possibly usher in the 2nd coming of Christ, most likely, the person will say thanks, and walk away with no visible change. You may never see them again, but you've been obedient to a Biblical mandate on a believer's life, and you will not know the domino effect that prayer might have in that person's life, and others around them until you stand in heaven and see history from God's perspective.
I like to think of the example of King David. We call him King David, but he wasn't born a king. The youngest of Jesse's sons, David had lots of crossroads in his life that prepared him to be a king. "Oh yeah! He fought lions and bears, giants and armies, he did lots of 'radical' things!" Yeah but I bet there were lots more days just sitting and watching sheep than there were fighting lions. He also spent a good amount of time hiding in caves, working for his dad and practicing music on his lyre. If he had said "watching sheep is boring, let someone else do it," he wouldn't have faced lions or bears. If he hadn't said "Ok dad, I'll take the groceries to my brothers," (I Sam 17) he would not have been there to fight Goliath. And if he hadn't had the patience and obedience to hide in caves and say "I will not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed," he would never have been the king God wanted him to be.
Want a radical life? Try looking at every minute as an opportunity to be radically obedient to God. Consider that quiet times might me radical nourishing times that prepare you to minister to others. Wonder if perhaps baby-sitting for $5 per hour might be training God has put in your life to mentor masses, lead companies or administer justice from a position of authority. Pulling weeds, washing cars, taking out the trash, what amazing opportunities for God's kingdom could tasks like these be? I can tell you that they never will be if we rush through them half-heartedly with our eyes on the next big thing, but if we approach them as opportunities to be obedient to God, you never know.
"...With God all things are possible."~ Matthew 19:26
Andrew Greenplate
If you've talked to many 20-30 year-olds recently and asked them about their dreams, it's probable you heard the word "radical" in there somewhere. This word has been driving a generation to travel the globe, throw themselves over cliffs and off bridges (with bungee cords and squirrel suits) tattoo their entire bodies and all around, live life on terms quite different than former generations. In working with youth in training and equipping them for ministry and missions, I encounter this fiery spirit all the time, I love it, and can certainly see it in my own life as well. In our quest to be "radical" my generation has stumbled upon an old testament mandate, perhaps by accident, perhaps as part of God's plan to do something in the world on a global scale!
let's do something radical!
God has put this desire in hearts around the world, but as Christians, as leaders, as mentors, how can we focus and direct this passion towards His Kingdom purposes? In recent discussions, prayer times and pondering this question, I've come across some really neat insights from the word, and from other Christian leaders God has been speaking to about the same thing. One quote that really spoke to me by David Platt, author of a book called "Radical" (go figure) is "Faithfulness is the new radical." When I read that it hit me like a 2" x 4" This is the message my generation needs, not just preached at them, but demonstrated by leaders, older and younger in all walks of life.
One of the weakness of "radical" is that it tends to be drawn to "the next big thing" hopping from adventure to adventure, conference to concert to adrenaline rush to... you get the picture, and overlooking perhaps, the details that make it all worth it from an eternal perspective. I love an analogy shared with me recently about UCLA's Men's Basketball coach, John Wooden. The most successful NCAA coach in history, Wooden led his team to 10 National championships, including 7 in a row, and won a record 88 consecutive victories. Wow, world records and championships are something a generation bent on "radical" can get excited about!
Here's the part that struck me: One of Wooden's coaching techniques started the first day of practice with his new players. He would gather them together, before any practice, and give them each a pair of unfolded socks. "All right gentlemen, your first lesson in Basketball from me is how to properly fold your socks." I imagine there were a lot of confused looks going around in that circle until he went on to explain: "If you don't know how to fold your socks, they may get wrinkles, if your socks are wrinkled it could result in blisters, if you have blisters you won't be able to practice to your full ability. Bad practice could result in one bad play that could be avoided, that play could cost us a game and that game may be the difference between winning it all and going home empty handed!" Talk about real life application of faithfulness and attention to the small things being part of doing something radical! Here's a team with the greatest legacy in sports history, and the difference between them and all the other teams may be as small as their method of folding socks!
you never know what folding your socks can do...
"champions are made, not born."
In living as a missionary for the past 11 years, I can say I have found this principle to be true. It's easy to get caught up in movements where miracles are happening, or to be looking ahead to the next time and place a certain speaker is talking or worship band is playing, but what we do in the times between those things ultimately determines whether we live radical lives or not. Just like folding socks positioned UCLA to have an edge over the competition, our small obedience over time in the same direction, towards God's call on our lives, could be the difference between truly experiencing "radical" or just dying our hair bright colors a couple of times. Nothing against hair dye, it looks radical :-) but it probably won't make you feel radical unless it is part of a life rooted in much more.
Simple applications to living life with "faithfulness being the new radical:" Quiet times. Maybe 1 in 10 quiet times feel radical, maybe 1 in 100, but spiritually they prepare us for divine appointments, small or large God may be leading us to. Offering to pray for a person who is sharing a need, frustration, hurt or fear. Maybe this will result in instant salvation, physical healing, revival and possibly usher in the 2nd coming of Christ, most likely, the person will say thanks, and walk away with no visible change. You may never see them again, but you've been obedient to a Biblical mandate on a believer's life, and you will not know the domino effect that prayer might have in that person's life, and others around them until you stand in heaven and see history from God's perspective.
I like to think of the example of King David. We call him King David, but he wasn't born a king. The youngest of Jesse's sons, David had lots of crossroads in his life that prepared him to be a king. "Oh yeah! He fought lions and bears, giants and armies, he did lots of 'radical' things!" Yeah but I bet there were lots more days just sitting and watching sheep than there were fighting lions. He also spent a good amount of time hiding in caves, working for his dad and practicing music on his lyre. If he had said "watching sheep is boring, let someone else do it," he wouldn't have faced lions or bears. If he hadn't said "Ok dad, I'll take the groceries to my brothers," (I Sam 17) he would not have been there to fight Goliath. And if he hadn't had the patience and obedience to hide in caves and say "I will not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed," he would never have been the king God wanted him to be.
Don't wait for a giant to stand in front of you to be radical!
Want a radical life? Try looking at every minute as an opportunity to be radically obedient to God. Consider that quiet times might me radical nourishing times that prepare you to minister to others. Wonder if perhaps baby-sitting for $5 per hour might be training God has put in your life to mentor masses, lead companies or administer justice from a position of authority. Pulling weeds, washing cars, taking out the trash, what amazing opportunities for God's kingdom could tasks like these be? I can tell you that they never will be if we rush through them half-heartedly with our eyes on the next big thing, but if we approach them as opportunities to be obedient to God, you never know.
King in the making
"...With God all things are possible."~ Matthew 19:26
Andrew Greenplate
Friday, December 23, 2011
Mele Kalikimaka!
"Mele Kalikimaka" from the Big Island!
This week saw the end of our nine month School of Biblical Studies. On Wednesday I had the privilege of graduating students from China, Palau, Switzerland, South Korea, Finland and the United States; and commissioning them into a new season of fruitfulness in the Kingdom of God. Several of them will be attending SBS outreach, traveling to Costa Rica to teach the Bible and Bible study tools there, some are returning to staff YWAM training schools here in the Islands, and some are returning to their homes and mission fields to be a light and a witness in their own communities. These past nine months I have witnessed the faithfulness of God in some amazing ways, from financial provision, to visas for international students, to physical healing. It has been an incredible privilege walking with these students, and partnering with you in the Kingdom work God is doing here in Kona and through our prayers and efforts in the nations.
Final week's class on Revelation with guest speaker, John Randerson!
break time with the class, lots of snacks and coffee
New projects, places and prayers
In both my personal prayer life and in my prayer times for you as a ministry partners, I have really had the sense that God is speaking "new beginnings" as a crucial message for 2012. As I look back on the past year, and ahead to new challenges, the faithfulness that I have experienced from God translates to a sense of excitement and expectation for what He will do in the coming months. Even though there are always uncertainties, and steps God may ask each of us to take in faith, that faith can be founded on the fact that He has been worthy of the trust we've placed in Him, and will continue to prove Himself faithful into the future. As we celebrate Christmas and the holiday season with friends and loved ones, my prayer for you is that you are reminded of all the ways God has been faithful to you in 2011, and that as you look ahead to a new year, any doubts, worries or fears will be replaces by an expectancy to see how the Lord will prove his unending love and good intentions towards you in the next 12 months!
The Gospel spread among nations
This spring I have several projects I will be working to get started. I will be taking some teaching trips to Central America, sharing in Bible schools there and visiting my students on their "outreach phase" of SBS. Along with this, I am hoping to do some networking and promoting of different ministries at work there. God is using his people in Central America to lead the way in areas such as music, literature, environmental stewardship as well as mercy ministries and justice incentives. Projects that really excite me, and I hope to be able to share more with you in the coming months as I network and advocate for some of them. As I return to Kona from visiting my home church for the holidays, I am beginning work on curriculum for a new course within the University of the Nations. My hope is to prepare a Bible course that will be comprehensive enough to give young people a solid foundation in the word of God, while at the same time providing each student with the opportunity to radically process their own call, and discover what God says in His word about the area of society they are called to revolutionize.
Prayer for Nations: United States
I have felt compelled to pray for my own nation over this past month as we usher in a new year. In getting to travel to other nations and share the gospel, one of the things I have come to realize is how blessed I have been by the Godly heritage my nation has from it's birth.
As I network with and hear reports from good friends serving in groups like International House of Prayer, The Call, and YWAM USA, I believe that the coming year is a critical time in the history of the United States to return fully to the Lord. I don't know exactly what this may look like, but I do think a major part of it will be the writing of "In God we trust" on the hearts of the people of my nation. The meaning may be lost on our dollar bills, but if the history in the Bible tells us anything, it shows that when people turn their hearts to the Lord he is faithful to bring healing and restoration to their land.
As the people of God, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to get this ball rolling! Take time with me this Christmas season to pray for a radical return to the one all hearts long for, and a revelation of Jesus, born in a manger, now reigning in glory forever!
My nation needs this message as desperately as any other. I pray that the good news brought in human form that we celebrate Christmas day awakens your heart in a new way this December 25th; and that the joy we know as believers is spread to family, friends and neighbors!
"See, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ, the Lord!" Luke 2:11
This week saw the end of our nine month School of Biblical Studies. On Wednesday I had the privilege of graduating students from China, Palau, Switzerland, South Korea, Finland and the United States; and commissioning them into a new season of fruitfulness in the Kingdom of God. Several of them will be attending SBS outreach, traveling to Costa Rica to teach the Bible and Bible study tools there, some are returning to staff YWAM training schools here in the Islands, and some are returning to their homes and mission fields to be a light and a witness in their own communities. These past nine months I have witnessed the faithfulness of God in some amazing ways, from financial provision, to visas for international students, to physical healing. It has been an incredible privilege walking with these students, and partnering with you in the Kingdom work God is doing here in Kona and through our prayers and efforts in the nations.
Final week's class on Revelation with guest speaker, John Randerson!
break time with the class, lots of snacks and coffeeNew projects, places and prayers
In both my personal prayer life and in my prayer times for you as a ministry partners, I have really had the sense that God is speaking "new beginnings" as a crucial message for 2012. As I look back on the past year, and ahead to new challenges, the faithfulness that I have experienced from God translates to a sense of excitement and expectation for what He will do in the coming months. Even though there are always uncertainties, and steps God may ask each of us to take in faith, that faith can be founded on the fact that He has been worthy of the trust we've placed in Him, and will continue to prove Himself faithful into the future. As we celebrate Christmas and the holiday season with friends and loved ones, my prayer for you is that you are reminded of all the ways God has been faithful to you in 2011, and that as you look ahead to a new year, any doubts, worries or fears will be replaces by an expectancy to see how the Lord will prove his unending love and good intentions towards you in the next 12 months!
The Gospel spread among nations
This spring I have several projects I will be working to get started. I will be taking some teaching trips to Central America, sharing in Bible schools there and visiting my students on their "outreach phase" of SBS. Along with this, I am hoping to do some networking and promoting of different ministries at work there. God is using his people in Central America to lead the way in areas such as music, literature, environmental stewardship as well as mercy ministries and justice incentives. Projects that really excite me, and I hope to be able to share more with you in the coming months as I network and advocate for some of them. As I return to Kona from visiting my home church for the holidays, I am beginning work on curriculum for a new course within the University of the Nations. My hope is to prepare a Bible course that will be comprehensive enough to give young people a solid foundation in the word of God, while at the same time providing each student with the opportunity to radically process their own call, and discover what God says in His word about the area of society they are called to revolutionize.
Prayer for Nations: United States
I have felt compelled to pray for my own nation over this past month as we usher in a new year. In getting to travel to other nations and share the gospel, one of the things I have come to realize is how blessed I have been by the Godly heritage my nation has from it's birth.
As I network with and hear reports from good friends serving in groups like International House of Prayer, The Call, and YWAM USA, I believe that the coming year is a critical time in the history of the United States to return fully to the Lord. I don't know exactly what this may look like, but I do think a major part of it will be the writing of "In God we trust" on the hearts of the people of my nation. The meaning may be lost on our dollar bills, but if the history in the Bible tells us anything, it shows that when people turn their hearts to the Lord he is faithful to bring healing and restoration to their land.
As the people of God, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to get this ball rolling! Take time with me this Christmas season to pray for a radical return to the one all hearts long for, and a revelation of Jesus, born in a manger, now reigning in glory forever!
My nation needs this message as desperately as any other. I pray that the good news brought in human form that we celebrate Christmas day awakens your heart in a new way this December 25th; and that the joy we know as believers is spread to family, friends and neighbors!
"See, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ, the Lord!" Luke 2:11
Monday, June 6, 2011
Update from the Islands
Island happenings
Hello! Greetings from Kona once again. The training quarter is more than half way over, and the rainy season has given way to what is going to be a hot summer! The Biblical Studies students barely notice however. They have been busy in what all of them admit has been the most academically challenging two months of their lives :-). By the end of this quarter, they will have completed historical research and compiled their own inductive commentary on almost every chapter of the New Testament. Please keep our campus in prayer this week. This is the final deadline for students to pay their tuition and outreach fees, and there are still many waiting to see how God will bring in the funds they need to complete their programs. God has been challenging us here on our campus not to settle for "little victories" like the people of Israel when they left Egypt. After their first victory, they wanted to pitch their tents and settle there, when the whole promise land still lay ahead of them. My prayer as we walk together towards the purposes of God in our lives, is that we would not be "settlers," but become "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37) in all the areas God want's to bring victory in our lives!
The UofN students of April 2011, gathered at the Plaza of Nations
A short trip to the mainland
The end of May found me in California for the first time ever! I had such a week of divine appointments, I feel like I have to share because God was seriously so amazing in preparing the whole trip. I was able to attend the wedding of a great friend, but also visit with several other friends from ministry in years past, and had incredible times of mutual encouragement, prayer, and networking for the Kingdom of God. I met with a friend from years ago who had gone back to school and is now feeling called into missions again, and feeling led to Indonesia in the area of education, along with a group of their classmates from Fuller Theological Seminary. The amazing thing about this is that a colleague of mine is currently working closely with the Indonesian government to develop B/A degrees for educators across the country, that will be facilitated by the University of Nations. Not only that, he lives less than an hour's drive from where we were sitting having lunch! They are setting up a time to meet and discuss God's dream of discipling this nation of Indonesia through Christian higher education.
Grassroots News
I want to share with you a new ministry that is starting up in YWAM, and is already making an impact in the area of news reporting. For years now, God has been challenging us as a mission to use our network (permanent training locations in 187 nations) to network and share stories of hope, and what God is doing around the world. Grassroots News is a response to what we have felt is a calling of God on our mission, and this summer, YWAM trained reporters will be broadcasting news stories from every nation on earth as part of the network launch. I would encourage you to check out this internet TV channel, as it is a great place to find up to date breaking news without political or advertising agenda, and exposes the hope, rather than the despair that is so often the focus of breaking news. Just to give you some examples, YWAM's grassroots news reporters were submitting breaking news stories of the earthquakes and relief efforts in Haiti and Japan before any major news networks had anyone on the scene!
God at work in Indonesia
There has been an on-going urgent education discussion with educators and christian leaders of Indonesia dialoguing with Loren Cunningham, founder of Ywam's University of the Nations (UofN). Indonesia has passed a law that by 2015, ALL teachers in ALL schools must have a bachelors degree or they will not be able to continue teaching. This will affect approximately 1.7 million teachers including 30,000 christian teachers teaching in Christian schools. This potentially will result in the shutting down of Christian schools. The body of Christ in Indonesia in cooperation with christian educators have a plan to establish over 1000 E-LEARNING CENTERS throughout Indonesia served by local churches to provide E-learning to christian teachers to help them get their bachelor's degree that is government approved. This is the first phase. Each e-learning center will serve between 20-40 teachers studying part time in the evenings over a one year cycle. A key to this strategy is providing FACILITATORS at each e-learning center who "LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE THE LOST". They will provide on-going discipleship, mentoring, coaching and guidance to the teachers so as to impart Jesus' heart to love and disciple the children in their classrooms .
UofN International has been formally approached to help train these FACILITATORS in Indonesia using much of our DTS content and values. Loren has made a call internationally and at least 10 of our largest bases in Ywam worldwide and Ywam leaders from Indonesia has responded to this challenge. Mark Brokenshire, International Dean of UofN's College of Education is facilitating this partnership. FACILITATORS coming for training will be sent by their local churches who are starting up these e-learning centers. UofN's primary task is to help train and disciple 4000 FACILITATORS within the next 2 years. Transformed facilitators will in turn transform teachers who will transform students who will transform an emerging generation What an opportunity to disciple a nation! UofN Bali will begin the first FACILITATORS training this July and will establish a pilot e-learning center shortly after.
Would you pray with University of the Nations and the body of Christ in Indonesia as we embark on these two challenges? Pray that the Lord will strengthen our partnerships and bless our friendships especially at key leadership levels. May He grant us faith to do the seemingly 'impossible' because He has spoken and He is able to accomplish as we hear and obey.
Hello! Greetings from Kona once again. The training quarter is more than half way over, and the rainy season has given way to what is going to be a hot summer! The Biblical Studies students barely notice however. They have been busy in what all of them admit has been the most academically challenging two months of their lives :-). By the end of this quarter, they will have completed historical research and compiled their own inductive commentary on almost every chapter of the New Testament. Please keep our campus in prayer this week. This is the final deadline for students to pay their tuition and outreach fees, and there are still many waiting to see how God will bring in the funds they need to complete their programs. God has been challenging us here on our campus not to settle for "little victories" like the people of Israel when they left Egypt. After their first victory, they wanted to pitch their tents and settle there, when the whole promise land still lay ahead of them. My prayer as we walk together towards the purposes of God in our lives, is that we would not be "settlers," but become "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37) in all the areas God want's to bring victory in our lives!
The UofN students of April 2011, gathered at the Plaza of NationsA short trip to the mainland
The end of May found me in California for the first time ever! I had such a week of divine appointments, I feel like I have to share because God was seriously so amazing in preparing the whole trip. I was able to attend the wedding of a great friend, but also visit with several other friends from ministry in years past, and had incredible times of mutual encouragement, prayer, and networking for the Kingdom of God. I met with a friend from years ago who had gone back to school and is now feeling called into missions again, and feeling led to Indonesia in the area of education, along with a group of their classmates from Fuller Theological Seminary. The amazing thing about this is that a colleague of mine is currently working closely with the Indonesian government to develop B/A degrees for educators across the country, that will be facilitated by the University of Nations. Not only that, he lives less than an hour's drive from where we were sitting having lunch! They are setting up a time to meet and discuss God's dream of discipling this nation of Indonesia through Christian higher education.
Grassroots News
I want to share with you a new ministry that is starting up in YWAM, and is already making an impact in the area of news reporting. For years now, God has been challenging us as a mission to use our network (permanent training locations in 187 nations) to network and share stories of hope, and what God is doing around the world. Grassroots News is a response to what we have felt is a calling of God on our mission, and this summer, YWAM trained reporters will be broadcasting news stories from every nation on earth as part of the network launch. I would encourage you to check out this internet TV channel, as it is a great place to find up to date breaking news without political or advertising agenda, and exposes the hope, rather than the despair that is so often the focus of breaking news. Just to give you some examples, YWAM's grassroots news reporters were submitting breaking news stories of the earthquakes and relief efforts in Haiti and Japan before any major news networks had anyone on the scene!
God at work in Indonesia
There has been an on-going urgent education discussion with educators and christian leaders of Indonesia dialoguing with Loren Cunningham, founder of Ywam's University of the Nations (UofN). Indonesia has passed a law that by 2015, ALL teachers in ALL schools must have a bachelors degree or they will not be able to continue teaching. This will affect approximately 1.7 million teachers including 30,000 christian teachers teaching in Christian schools. This potentially will result in the shutting down of Christian schools. The body of Christ in Indonesia in cooperation with christian educators have a plan to establish over 1000 E-LEARNING CENTERS throughout Indonesia served by local churches to provide E-learning to christian teachers to help them get their bachelor's degree that is government approved. This is the first phase. Each e-learning center will serve between 20-40 teachers studying part time in the evenings over a one year cycle. A key to this strategy is providing FACILITATORS at each e-learning center who "LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE THE LOST". They will provide on-going discipleship, mentoring, coaching and guidance to the teachers so as to impart Jesus' heart to love and disciple the children in their classrooms .
UofN International has been formally approached to help train these FACILITATORS in Indonesia using much of our DTS content and values. Loren has made a call internationally and at least 10 of our largest bases in Ywam worldwide and Ywam leaders from Indonesia has responded to this challenge. Mark Brokenshire, International Dean of UofN's College of Education is facilitating this partnership. FACILITATORS coming for training will be sent by their local churches who are starting up these e-learning centers. UofN's primary task is to help train and disciple 4000 FACILITATORS within the next 2 years. Transformed facilitators will in turn transform teachers who will transform students who will transform an emerging generation What an opportunity to disciple a nation! UofN Bali will begin the first FACILITATORS training this July and will establish a pilot e-learning center shortly after.
Would you pray with University of the Nations and the body of Christ in Indonesia as we embark on these two challenges? Pray that the Lord will strengthen our partnerships and bless our friendships especially at key leadership levels. May He grant us faith to do the seemingly 'impossible' because He has spoken and He is able to accomplish as we hear and obey.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The scoop from Kona
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!Friday, January 28, 2011
New year's news
2011 Begins...
Aloha, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! God's blessings are often hard to quantify in a day or a week or a month, how much more so in remembering his faithful love, provision and guidance through an entire year! As you look back on 2010, I pray that you would see with new eyes, the unmistakable fingerprints of the God of the universe, actively enriching your life, and that those reminders fill you with expectation to see Him even more in 2011! As I think back on God's faithfulness, I think of an incident in May, traveling from Herrnhut, Germany to Indonesia. Due to my own oversight, I missed the train I needed to take to the airport, and ended up waiting an hour and a half for the next train. I stepped off the train at the Herrnhut airport 7 minutes before take off, rushed to the ticketing desk, was escorted through security, onto the plane, and took off on time! I sat down in my seat (14A) nearly fainting from shock or gratitude or a combination of both as I thought to myself "only God could have gotten me on this plane!"
sunset over Heredia, Costa Rica
campfire at the Heredia YWAM base with
With some students, going to visit YWAM
Campfire worship time
Costa Rican possums
Back to Business
This year won't see me traveling as much as last year, which is partly a blessing :-). I will be leading a 9 month ministry school called School of Biblical Studies back in Kona, Hawaii. I am really looking forward to this opportunity, both to invest into a new group of students, hungry for Gods' word, and also to invest into the community of Kona. I am believing that God will speak to the hearts of the students He wants to see take this course, and multiply His message in the nations. Could you be praying that the way would be opened for these students to come? Many from the developing world are still believing for things like visas, plane tickets and financial provision in order to be part of this school. Students for this school are expected to come from nations such as the United States, Norway, Rwanda, South Korea, China and Moldova.
Teaching Inductive Bible Study for DTS in Kona, Hawaii
Prayer for Nations
India:
I spent some time in India last summer, and recently had lunch with a friend who had just returned from a medical mission there. As we talked, I was reminded of some of the things that stood out to me while I was there, not just the visible, ever present poverty, idolatry and social oppression, but the subtle darkness, perceptible to believers as we look from the outside in on those whom Isaiah describes as "walking in darkness." The thing I would ask for you to join me in prayer for is the numerous new churches in regions such as Orissa, India, where the violence and hatred stem from not only religious animosity, but economic exploitation and a still present, if not condoned or legal, oppressive caste system. Pray for supernatural protection of believers in communities targeted by fundamentalist groups. Pray that Christians will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to respond in the opposite spirit, with love and compassion. Pray that the enemies of God's people will, like Saul on the road to Tarsus, be won over by the power of Jesus to transform any life. You can visit persecution.org for more information on the persecution in India and how to pray for these events.
Some of my team in Indian garb, experiencing the local transportation
The local produce market
Visiting the Taj Mahal
Aloha, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! God's blessings are often hard to quantify in a day or a week or a month, how much more so in remembering his faithful love, provision and guidance through an entire year! As you look back on 2010, I pray that you would see with new eyes, the unmistakable fingerprints of the God of the universe, actively enriching your life, and that those reminders fill you with expectation to see Him even more in 2011! As I think back on God's faithfulness, I think of an incident in May, traveling from Herrnhut, Germany to Indonesia. Due to my own oversight, I missed the train I needed to take to the airport, and ended up waiting an hour and a half for the next train. I stepped off the train at the Herrnhut airport 7 minutes before take off, rushed to the ticketing desk, was escorted through security, onto the plane, and took off on time! I sat down in my seat (14A) nearly fainting from shock or gratitude or a combination of both as I thought to myself "only God could have gotten me on this plane!"
Central American excursion
The past two weeks I've been in the nation of Costa Rica. In addition to this little Latin-American country's legendary beauty, I believe God has some amazing plans in its future, and I was incredibly blessed to be part of what He's doing there now. Several years ago, a missions base and training center called "Pura Vida Missions" was founded in Heredia, Costa Rica, in order to reach out to nearby communities, assist local church leadership and serve the local church in practical ways. Most recently, this has included launching a 10-month ministry school to train both native Costa Rican Christians, as well as international students with a heart for that nation. I was invited to teach for two weeks in that school on Bible survey and tools of inductive Bible study. It was an incredible time of fellowship, and mutual encouragement and learning, as I was challenged by each of the students' dreams for serving God, and blessing the nation of Costa Rica. In addition to taking ministry related classes each week, each student is regularly engaging in the local community in areas of evangelism, church work (leading youth groups, worship times outreaches etc.) as well as community development work in exploited communities and disaster areas.
sunset over Heredia, Costa Rica
campfire at the Heredia YWAM base with
With some students, going to visit YWAM
Campfire worship time
Costa Rican possums Back to Business
This year won't see me traveling as much as last year, which is partly a blessing :-). I will be leading a 9 month ministry school called School of Biblical Studies back in Kona, Hawaii. I am really looking forward to this opportunity, both to invest into a new group of students, hungry for Gods' word, and also to invest into the community of Kona. I am believing that God will speak to the hearts of the students He wants to see take this course, and multiply His message in the nations. Could you be praying that the way would be opened for these students to come? Many from the developing world are still believing for things like visas, plane tickets and financial provision in order to be part of this school. Students for this school are expected to come from nations such as the United States, Norway, Rwanda, South Korea, China and Moldova.
Teaching Inductive Bible Study for DTS in Kona, HawaiiPrayer for Nations
India:
I spent some time in India last summer, and recently had lunch with a friend who had just returned from a medical mission there. As we talked, I was reminded of some of the things that stood out to me while I was there, not just the visible, ever present poverty, idolatry and social oppression, but the subtle darkness, perceptible to believers as we look from the outside in on those whom Isaiah describes as "walking in darkness." The thing I would ask for you to join me in prayer for is the numerous new churches in regions such as Orissa, India, where the violence and hatred stem from not only religious animosity, but economic exploitation and a still present, if not condoned or legal, oppressive caste system. Pray for supernatural protection of believers in communities targeted by fundamentalist groups. Pray that Christians will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to respond in the opposite spirit, with love and compassion. Pray that the enemies of God's people will, like Saul on the road to Tarsus, be won over by the power of Jesus to transform any life. You can visit persecution.org for more information on the persecution in India and how to pray for these events.
Some of my team in Indian garb, experiencing the local transportation
The local produce market
Visiting the Taj MahalWednesday, November 24, 2010
Giving thanks in Kona
Happy Thanksgiving!
Use whatever language you know to thank the Lord for all his blessings!
SourceView™ Bible project
Prayer for Nations: Fiji
Students study God's word at YWAM, Fiji
Aloha! November here on the big island looks a lot different than November at home. No fall foliage, not nearly as many pumpkins, but Thanksgiving, in any climate, is a great opportunity to count our blessings, and remember all of God's faithfulness in the past year. I'm so thankful for you and the partnership we share in God's kingdom, and the work He is doing around the world. As this quarter of training comes to an end at the U of N, around 500 students are preparing to leave on international outreaches to places like Cambodia, Thailand, China, Mozambique, South Africa, Colombia and many others. Most of these students are youth, who are giving up their holiday season, spending it away from friends and family, in foreign countries for the sake of the gospel. I feel privileged to have gotten to know them, and be part of many of their schools, and I hope you will join me in praying for God's protection over their teams, and for His power to minister through them as they leave for the nations. Also, I've put a video sideshow on youtube documenting some of this years travels with PhotogenX and you can view that here!
Use whatever language you know to thank the Lord for all his blessings!SourceView™ Bible project
The past month I have been working with a team of editors, proof readers and publishers on a new Bible publication that I want to tell you about. The SourceView™ Bible is the first major innovation in the formatting of the Biblical text since the introduction of verses into the Scriptures nearly five hundred years ago! This breakthrough layout highlights the dramatic narrative of the original manuscripts and enhances the reader’s ability to follow the story. The reader can, at any given moment, clearly see who is speaking the words recorded in the Bible. The natural flow of the Biblical story comes to life as the drama unfolds with no artificial breaks. The multicolored text reads much like a movie script, engaging the reader in the page-turning interplay of those who form the speaking cast of God’s story. The format features a new reference system built on the natural dialogue found within the Biblical text, a new multicolored layout of the text and a left-hand column with character subtitles that inform the reader who the speaker is. Never again will you feel lost in the text with questions like “Who’s speaking?” or “What’s going on here?” It is set for an Easter release date from Tyndale House Publishers, and you can see a sample of the text and pre-order your own copy in the New Living translation at the link above.
sample cover of the SourceView Bible
sample cover of the SourceView BibleUpcoming Events
This year I am excited to be spending the holidays (Christmas & New Year) at home in Pennsylvania, and for the chance to see many friends and family members in that time. From there I will be spending some time with some new Bible schools recently started in Costa Rica and Fiji, before returning to "home base" to prepare to lead the 9-month, School of Biblical Studies here in Kona. Already there are students accepted from places like China, Tanzania, Norway, and several other nations. I would like to see 25-30 students be part of this course, so we have the next 4 months to believe for 10-15 more students to apply. I guess a common theme from this newsletter could be summed up by Matthew 9:38 "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Costa Rica: Trip one, with Josh, Jason, Michael and Nick doing building projects for Youth With A Mission.
This year I am excited to be spending the holidays (Christmas & New Year) at home in Pennsylvania, and for the chance to see many friends and family members in that time. From there I will be spending some time with some new Bible schools recently started in Costa Rica and Fiji, before returning to "home base" to prepare to lead the 9-month, School of Biblical Studies here in Kona. Already there are students accepted from places like China, Tanzania, Norway, and several other nations. I would like to see 25-30 students be part of this course, so we have the next 4 months to believe for 10-15 more students to apply. I guess a common theme from this newsletter could be summed up by Matthew 9:38 "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Costa Rica: Trip one, with Josh, Jason, Michael and Nick doing building projects for Youth With A Mission.
Costa Rica trip two: With VCF youth group to Pura Vida ministries
Prayer for Nations: Fiji
This island nation has undergone unbelievable transformation in the last few decades, both religiously and economically. Recognized throughout the world as a coveted tourist destination, Fiji's religious roots, both past and present often go overlooked. Once a place where animism ruled supreme, and witch-doctors ruled by fear, and even cannibalism was practiced as a religious rite. God has been moving in Fiji however, and the blood, sweat and tears poured out by missionaries and intercessors over that land has borne a harvest, culminating in a nation wide revival several years ago.
Now, Fiji is considered an evangelized nation, but what is more exciting to me is that there is a deep longing in the Fijian church to become a sending force in the global harvest. YWAM has partnered with believers in Fiji to train and equip Fijian missionaries, who are willing to go to the ends of the earth. This February, I have the opportunity to be part of this movement, as I go to teach a School of Biblical Studies run on the island of Vunayasi. Please pray that the work that God is doing in Fiji will bear fruit for the Kingdom all over the world!
Now, Fiji is considered an evangelized nation, but what is more exciting to me is that there is a deep longing in the Fijian church to become a sending force in the global harvest. YWAM has partnered with believers in Fiji to train and equip Fijian missionaries, who are willing to go to the ends of the earth. This February, I have the opportunity to be part of this movement, as I go to teach a School of Biblical Studies run on the island of Vunayasi. Please pray that the work that God is doing in Fiji will bear fruit for the Kingdom all over the world!
Students study God's word at YWAM, Fiji
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Time goes by
My October thus far...
After a fun-filled arrival day, (where 650 new students arrived at the campus) the University of the Nations looks much busier than it has in several years. Students from over 30 nations, and from every continent, converge here for a quarter of study, worship, and passionate pursuit of our heavenly father. I have the great privilege this quarter of teaching in several of the training schools we run here, as well as assist and coach several new staff as they learn to teach the word of God. I am also facilitating some of the community outreach projects for the students to serve our local mission field here in Kona, I'm hoping this will include outreaches like feeding the homeless, street evangelism and community service projects. At the end of this month I have the opportunity to preach at a local church here in Kona, please pray that God would speak through me to bring a message that encourages and blesses the Kona Coast Chaplaincy.
A hula dancer performs at a welcoming ceremony for the students at the U of N
Students present the flags of their nations for their classmates
YWAM 50th year celebration comes to Kona
It is Youth With A Mission’s Jubilee (50th; Leviticus 25:8) Year, and we are celebrating with all the colors and cultures as only a multinational group can. All across the globe YWAM Bases have been celebrating 50 years of world missions, launched by Loren Cunningham's vision of waves of young people taking nations for Jesus, and in late November the party will all culminate with the final celebration here at YWAM Kona. Our Kona community is preparing for a swell of close to 5,000 as people from over 100 countries come to celebrate what God is doing in this world. PhotogenX’s will be launching a number of new initiatives at the celebration, as well as holding a seminar on creative media in missions. Our Biblical studies department is hoping to connect with many of our co-workers, who are doing similar things around the world. FOR MORE INFO VISIT - www.ywam50.com/kona.
Are you an Ironman?
This past week, our little town of Kona was host to the world championship of Ironman triathlons. Staff and students from the U of N volunteered in areas of security, water safety and athlete aid stations, helping everything run smoothly for the athletes who complete 2.4 miles swimming, then a 112 mile bike race, followed by a 26.2 mile marathon, under the scorching Hawaiian sun. For me, the race is always motivational on several levels. On one hand, I am motivated in the area of physical exercise (which usually lasts a few weeks) and on the other, I can't help but be reminded of the spiritual parallels the apostle Paul draws from the task of an athlete. For Ironman athletes, training is only part of what goes into completing the race. All the runs, bike training and swimming lead up to this event, but unless their body is properly hydrated, given proper nutrition, and protected from the sun, their big race day will more than likely end in disappointment. As a Christian, I hope to continually learn from this illustration, and remember to constantly seek nourishment from the Word, hydration from the Holy Spirit, the source of living water, and protection in the fellowship of other believers and in the equipping of the armor of God (Ephesians 6).
2010 Ironman world Champion
On the bike for 112 miles.
Prayer for Nations: Afghanistan
No nation has been in more of a constant state of uncertainty and chaos the past decade than Afghanistan. It's government has been replaced, it's loyalties questioned and tested, its culture and religion blamed for atrocities, and it's people overlooked and marginalized. I have a student this quarter from Afghanistan, and talking with him about his home has put a burden on my heart to see God work in the way only he can to bring breakthrough to that nation. In the past few months YWAM missionaries and Christians from other groups have paid the ultimate price for bringing the Gospel to Afghanistan, and it was the sad duty of one of our most recent DTS outreach teams to facilitate a memorial service there for some of the long term workers who had been killed for the Gospel. When you read this, please say a prayer for the protection of our workers still there, who will remain nameless for security purposes. I have several good friends currently serving the Lord in Afghanistan, and I'm praying that the Lord gives them supernatural protection and wisdom in how to minister, but also supernatural boldness, that His kingdom may go forth in that nation!
A hula dancer performs at a welcoming ceremony for the students at the U of N
Students present the flags of their nations for their classmatesYWAM 50th year celebration comes to Kona
It is Youth With A Mission’s Jubilee (50th; Leviticus 25:8) Year, and we are celebrating with all the colors and cultures as only a multinational group can. All across the globe YWAM Bases have been celebrating 50 years of world missions, launched by Loren Cunningham's vision of waves of young people taking nations for Jesus, and in late November the party will all culminate with the final celebration here at YWAM Kona. Our Kona community is preparing for a swell of close to 5,000 as people from over 100 countries come to celebrate what God is doing in this world. PhotogenX’s will be launching a number of new initiatives at the celebration, as well as holding a seminar on creative media in missions. Our Biblical studies department is hoping to connect with many of our co-workers, who are doing similar things around the world. FOR MORE INFO VISIT - www.ywam50.com/kona.
Are you an Ironman?
This past week, our little town of Kona was host to the world championship of Ironman triathlons. Staff and students from the U of N volunteered in areas of security, water safety and athlete aid stations, helping everything run smoothly for the athletes who complete 2.4 miles swimming, then a 112 mile bike race, followed by a 26.2 mile marathon, under the scorching Hawaiian sun. For me, the race is always motivational on several levels. On one hand, I am motivated in the area of physical exercise (which usually lasts a few weeks) and on the other, I can't help but be reminded of the spiritual parallels the apostle Paul draws from the task of an athlete. For Ironman athletes, training is only part of what goes into completing the race. All the runs, bike training and swimming lead up to this event, but unless their body is properly hydrated, given proper nutrition, and protected from the sun, their big race day will more than likely end in disappointment. As a Christian, I hope to continually learn from this illustration, and remember to constantly seek nourishment from the Word, hydration from the Holy Spirit, the source of living water, and protection in the fellowship of other believers and in the equipping of the armor of God (Ephesians 6).
2010 Ironman world Champion
On the bike for 112 miles.Prayer for Nations: Afghanistan
No nation has been in more of a constant state of uncertainty and chaos the past decade than Afghanistan. It's government has been replaced, it's loyalties questioned and tested, its culture and religion blamed for atrocities, and it's people overlooked and marginalized. I have a student this quarter from Afghanistan, and talking with him about his home has put a burden on my heart to see God work in the way only he can to bring breakthrough to that nation. In the past few months YWAM missionaries and Christians from other groups have paid the ultimate price for bringing the Gospel to Afghanistan, and it was the sad duty of one of our most recent DTS outreach teams to facilitate a memorial service there for some of the long term workers who had been killed for the Gospel. When you read this, please say a prayer for the protection of our workers still there, who will remain nameless for security purposes. I have several good friends currently serving the Lord in Afghanistan, and I'm praying that the Lord gives them supernatural protection and wisdom in how to minister, but also supernatural boldness, that His kingdom may go forth in that nation!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
SBS Mobile Core Course
I want to share with you a bit of what I will be doing in the near future...
We with the School of Biblical Studies here in Kona are passionate about bringing the Word of God to the nations of the earth. The school that I am leading now ends it's lecture phase in December, but that is not the end of the journey for me, and hopefully not the end for many of the students. In January I will meet up with a YWAM outreach team that will be on the mission field traveling for 15 months! I will join them in Egypt and teach a bible course over the next three months that they will be completing on the field. Their main project over this trip is to publish a photography / documentary project advocating for social injustice issues.
The three month course I will be directing is called Biblical Foundations for Photographic Communication, and will hopefully ground these students and their project in Biblical truth, as well as God's heart for the poor, the outcast and the destitute for whom they are advocating. I hope to bring an outreach team from SBS along for this time, to teach in the countries we travel as well as teach part of the course. Please pray that God would move in the hearts of SBS students to take all they have been studying to the nations!
We with the School of Biblical Studies here in Kona are passionate about bringing the Word of God to the nations of the earth. The school that I am leading now ends it's lecture phase in December, but that is not the end of the journey for me, and hopefully not the end for many of the students. In January I will meet up with a YWAM outreach team that will be on the mission field traveling for 15 months! I will join them in Egypt and teach a bible course over the next three months that they will be completing on the field. Their main project over this trip is to publish a photography / documentary project advocating for social injustice issues.
The three month course I will be directing is called Biblical Foundations for Photographic Communication, and will hopefully ground these students and their project in Biblical truth, as well as God's heart for the poor, the outcast and the destitute for whom they are advocating. I hope to bring an outreach team from SBS along for this time, to teach in the countries we travel as well as teach part of the course. Please pray that God would move in the hearts of SBS students to take all they have been studying to the nations!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
SBS in Kona and Budapest
Well I just got back from my time in Switzerland and Hungary, so blessed to be able to be a part of what God is doing in YWAM over there! All my travel went smoothly and teaching in the SBS in Budapest was an incredible week. I was able to spend time with students and YWAM staff from Lebanon, USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Macedonia, Singapore among others, teaching in the mornings and being part of the community there. God totally orchestrated my time, and the trip was a great blessing to the staff team who had been praying for a speaker for that week before I committed to go. While I was there I taught three books in their SBS: Lamentations, Nahum and Zephaniah. They have a team of two SBS staff pioneering a new school there, which is a huge amount of work, and it was great to be able to bless them this past week.
Divine appointments
I try to remember I Peter 3:15 as I travel which says: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." On my flights and train trips these past two weeks I've been able to have some great conversations that I believe God set up and I want to share one with you.
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