EBI Strategic Planning
Last week EBI met for an intense three-day session of strategic planning. Our goal was to clearly articulate the nature of EBI’s mission, to prayerfully consider our vision for the future, and to determine strategic objectives which will allow us to most effectively accomplish our God-given task. The ten participants (drawn from EBI staff, the EBI board of directors, and the BMM home office) were unanimous in their conviction concerning the escalating importance of EBI ministry and resources for future missionary efforts in Latin America. We reaffirmed the following statement of mission, “EBI exists to assist the Hispanic church in the fulfillment of the Great Commission by creating, publishing, and distributing biblically based literature.”
As the Hispanic church continues to grow both in Latin America and here in the United States there is a mounting need for quality Bible based materials to aid the national church in the accomplishment of this task. EBI is in a great position to meet these ever-expanding needs. Please pray with us that God would continue to provide the necessary personnel and resources.
New medium for prayer letter
Modern technology has dramatically simplified missionary communication. Past communication mediums were slow, sporadic, and one-sided; however, the internet has opened up new vistas of communication that promote an immediate, continuous, and much more personal flow of information. It is for this reason that we propose a change in the method of prayer letter delivery. While we will continue to provide a “hard copy” sent through the US postal service for all who would request it, starting with the next prayer letter (June 2008) our preferred means of delivery will be a digital (PDF) copy via email. It is here that we need your help. We are asking that each church and/or individual supporter contact us at brburk@yahoo.com either expressing your desire to receive the prayer letter via traditional means or providing us with your preferred email address.
I am also glad to announce another technological jump. Our bimonthly updates as well as additional reports, personal reflections, pictures, and ministry links will soon be available on our new ministry blog titled Faithful Men. It can be found at http://bruceburkholder.blogspot.com/. It is our desire to provide a more accessible and interactive communication with each of you. So we invite you to join the conversation.
Praises & Prayer
1. Our oldest son, Jared, was married to Janelle Halladay on March 29th at Faith Baptist Church in Peckville, PA. It was a beautiful wedding with many family and friends attending from all over the country. While Pastor Michael Cantando delivered the charge to the couple it was my privilege to officiate the actual ceremony including the official pronouncement (“I now pronounce you…”) and the introduction of the couple (Mr. & Mrs. Jared Burkholder). What fun! It was a great weekend. God was glorified through each aspect of the wedding. We are especially grateful that Janelle is part of our family and for the relationship which we have with her parents Jim and Grace Halladay. Thank you to each one who prayed for the event!
2. We thank the Lord for the great weekend of EBI strategic planning mentioned above. We are also grateful for the godly leadership and team of workers which God has brought to EBI. Please pray for EBI as we look to the future. We appreciate your prayers as we seek to provide additional resources to aid the Hispanic church.
3. The Hispanic On-line M.A.B.S. offered by Piedmont Baptist College to promote the development of theological leaders through Latin American is a “go.” Details are falling into place and promotional materials are set to be released. Please pray that God would raise up a significant number of men to study with us in the program. A cohort is a group of students that enter the program together, study together, and ideally who complete the program together. We are praying for a group of 15-25 to fill the cohort.
4. The formal announcement of our Theological Curriculum Program is ready for distribution. This eight page glossy spread is being sent out to Bible Schools, missionaries, and national pastors throughout Latin America explaining the benefit of this curriculum to their pastoral training programs. I have included to the right a glimpse of a few pages from the brochure. These two pages illustrate a few of the educational components in the courses which we are developing. While the text is in Spanish it should give you a better understanding of what our materials look like.
5. The Old Testament Survey I course is written and is now in the hands of a content editor. This course was written in English so after the editing process is complete it will be passed to a professional translator and then on to formatting. We are projecting a June 15 availability so please pray with us for each step of the process. These other courses are still under development: Bible Doctrines I, III, IV, Family, Evangelism and Discipleship, A Christian View of Science. Please pray with us for the different authors and individuals involved in the process.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
February 2008 Ministry Update
Old Testament Survey I course nearing completion
For months we have been announcing the continuing development of the next course in the Theological Curriculum Program. As writing of Old Testament Survey I nears completion we can more confidently speak to its content and its potential impact for theological education. Like most survey courses, Old Testament Survey I is designed to introduce the Bible College student to the basic content and to the primary themes of the Old Testament. As the Old Testament provides foundational and doctrinal instruction in the person and works of God, the creation and fall of man, God’s calling of and dealings with the nation of Israel including covenants, promises, and prophecies, all of which are significant for New Testament and Gospel understanding, such an introductory study is essential to the adequate preparation of future pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers.
After a detailed introduction to the Old Testament in general is given, the course is laid out in two sections. The first deals with the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and the second section deals with the twelve books that comprise the Historical Narrative (the books from Joshua to Esther). Each book is thoroughly investigated by examining its title, its author and date of composition, its purpose and scope, its literary structure that includes a detailed outline of the book’s content, and its treatment of special topics and themes that arise within the book’s teaching. In addition we are including many maps, charts, and diagrams that will help to illustrate the massive amount of historical, geographical, and cultural information. Finally, we add significant pedagogical aids for the instructor that will equip him to teach the class with knowledge and excellence.
After the course is written there is still a marathon of editorial, stylistic, and formatting steps. Please pray with us for the rapid completion of this course as there are five others currently being prepared close behind in the pipeline of development.
On the Road Again
Financial support issues are becoming a concern to our family and ministry. Over the last several years we have lost approximately 25% of our support. This loss is due both to our transition in ministry from Mexico to Editorial Bautista Independiente and to the increasingly difficult economic climate in the USA. This necessitates the raising of additional support. It is our prayer to raise these funds with little or no impact upon our present ministry. In other words, we hope to be able to raise most of the additional funds through local and regional trips on the weekend while continuing the production of materials and ministry throughout the week. If you know of potential churches looking for involvement in Hispanic theological and ministry preparation, please let us know.
At the same time we hope to revisit our supporting churches. It has been several years since we have reported to many and we are anxious to see you again and to report on all that God is doing! We plan to begin scheduling meetings toward the middle of this year, but if you are planning a conference and/or a special missionary meeting earlier and would like us to participate, please let us know.
Praises
1. Our oldest son, Jared, graduated from Baptist Bible College this past semester with a degree in pre-seminary studies! As we announced earlier, he is getting married to Janelle Halladay on March 29 of this year. It is their desire to serve the Lord together on the mission field, if God permits. We are grateful to the Lord’s working in the life of our children.
2. We just celebrated EBI’s annual board meeting. While such meetings are not typically described in celebratory language, we consider this annual event a highpoint on our calendar as EBI board members and staff members gather together in Sebring, FL for fellowship, reports on the state of the ministry, and future planning. We praise the Lord for our co-workers!
3. The Hispanic On-line M.A.B.S. program at Piedmont Baptist College was approved by all participating institutions. As you recall from our last prayer letter BMM and EBI are partnering together with Piedmont to help launch this innovative ministry. With a projected startup date of October 2008, the many details are beginning to fall into place…but there is still much to do. Please pray with us for wisdom.
Prayer
1. The Iglesia Bautista de Fe in Mexico City continues to prosper under the leadership of pastor Juan MatÃas. Growth is occurring, both in number of believers as well as in the church’s facilities. Those who have followed the tumultuous events of the church’s building program will rejoice with us in the progress that is now being made. In a recent phone call, Juan shared that the increasing cost of materials has slowed down construction activity. They are presently waiting for the Lord to supply the needed funds for exterior windows (approximately $4,000 US). Please pray with us that God would provide the resources so that construction can continue. If you would like to contribute the meet this need, please contact us directly or send funds to BMM marked “Mexico City Church project.”
2. Please pray for continued course development. Specifically I ask prayer for the completion of Old Testament Survey I, Bible Doctrines I and III, Christian Home, Evangelism & Discipleship, and Investigative Methods. Also pray for safety and effectiveness in travels to Latin America for teaching assignments. This year trips are already being planned to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and McAllen, TX.
3. We would ask special prayer for the details surrounding our son’s wedding in March. Also we request prayer for our daughter Lindsay as she makes plans for college this fall.
4. Please pray for our financial support needs and safety in travel.
For months we have been announcing the continuing development of the next course in the Theological Curriculum Program. As writing of Old Testament Survey I nears completion we can more confidently speak to its content and its potential impact for theological education. Like most survey courses, Old Testament Survey I is designed to introduce the Bible College student to the basic content and to the primary themes of the Old Testament. As the Old Testament provides foundational and doctrinal instruction in the person and works of God, the creation and fall of man, God’s calling of and dealings with the nation of Israel including covenants, promises, and prophecies, all of which are significant for New Testament and Gospel understanding, such an introductory study is essential to the adequate preparation of future pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers.
After a detailed introduction to the Old Testament in general is given, the course is laid out in two sections. The first deals with the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and the second section deals with the twelve books that comprise the Historical Narrative (the books from Joshua to Esther). Each book is thoroughly investigated by examining its title, its author and date of composition, its purpose and scope, its literary structure that includes a detailed outline of the book’s content, and its treatment of special topics and themes that arise within the book’s teaching. In addition we are including many maps, charts, and diagrams that will help to illustrate the massive amount of historical, geographical, and cultural information. Finally, we add significant pedagogical aids for the instructor that will equip him to teach the class with knowledge and excellence.
After the course is written there is still a marathon of editorial, stylistic, and formatting steps. Please pray with us for the rapid completion of this course as there are five others currently being prepared close behind in the pipeline of development.
On the Road Again
Financial support issues are becoming a concern to our family and ministry. Over the last several years we have lost approximately 25% of our support. This loss is due both to our transition in ministry from Mexico to Editorial Bautista Independiente and to the increasingly difficult economic climate in the USA. This necessitates the raising of additional support. It is our prayer to raise these funds with little or no impact upon our present ministry. In other words, we hope to be able to raise most of the additional funds through local and regional trips on the weekend while continuing the production of materials and ministry throughout the week. If you know of potential churches looking for involvement in Hispanic theological and ministry preparation, please let us know.
At the same time we hope to revisit our supporting churches. It has been several years since we have reported to many and we are anxious to see you again and to report on all that God is doing! We plan to begin scheduling meetings toward the middle of this year, but if you are planning a conference and/or a special missionary meeting earlier and would like us to participate, please let us know.
Praises
1. Our oldest son, Jared, graduated from Baptist Bible College this past semester with a degree in pre-seminary studies! As we announced earlier, he is getting married to Janelle Halladay on March 29 of this year. It is their desire to serve the Lord together on the mission field, if God permits. We are grateful to the Lord’s working in the life of our children.
2. We just celebrated EBI’s annual board meeting. While such meetings are not typically described in celebratory language, we consider this annual event a highpoint on our calendar as EBI board members and staff members gather together in Sebring, FL for fellowship, reports on the state of the ministry, and future planning. We praise the Lord for our co-workers!
3. The Hispanic On-line M.A.B.S. program at Piedmont Baptist College was approved by all participating institutions. As you recall from our last prayer letter BMM and EBI are partnering together with Piedmont to help launch this innovative ministry. With a projected startup date of October 2008, the many details are beginning to fall into place…but there is still much to do. Please pray with us for wisdom.
Prayer
1. The Iglesia Bautista de Fe in Mexico City continues to prosper under the leadership of pastor Juan MatÃas. Growth is occurring, both in number of believers as well as in the church’s facilities. Those who have followed the tumultuous events of the church’s building program will rejoice with us in the progress that is now being made. In a recent phone call, Juan shared that the increasing cost of materials has slowed down construction activity. They are presently waiting for the Lord to supply the needed funds for exterior windows (approximately $4,000 US). Please pray with us that God would provide the resources so that construction can continue. If you would like to contribute the meet this need, please contact us directly or send funds to BMM marked “Mexico City Church project.”
2. Please pray for continued course development. Specifically I ask prayer for the completion of Old Testament Survey I, Bible Doctrines I and III, Christian Home, Evangelism & Discipleship, and Investigative Methods. Also pray for safety and effectiveness in travels to Latin America for teaching assignments. This year trips are already being planned to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and McAllen, TX.
3. We would ask special prayer for the details surrounding our son’s wedding in March. Also we request prayer for our daughter Lindsay as she makes plans for college this fall.
4. Please pray for our financial support needs and safety in travel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)