“The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”
The Christmas season provides each believer with a visual reminder of Christian missions. While contemporary custom focuses inordinate attention upon the presents received, the biblical message accentuates the person sent. Jesus Christ, who is coequal with the Father according to the Godhead, voluntarily set aside the glories of Heaven to humble himself through incarnation and death on the cross. He is the season’s true message. His vicarious sacrifice forms the true gift and His missional obedience is the true Christmas spirit.
Old Testament Survey 1 course taught in Ecuador
The course preparation manual that we created to guide the development of our Theological Curriculum Project specifies that each new course be “field tested” prior to publication. The purpose of this step is to ensure that the freshly created notes accurately communicate the intended content and that the pedagogical helps for both professor and student are clear, concise, and easy to follow. Having recently completed the notes for Old Testament Survey 1 I was invited to “field test” them in a new Bible Institute in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Situated at the top of the Andes Mountains, Cuenca is a 400 year old colonial village with 500,000 inhabitants that is home to several BMM missionaries and three Baptist churches. These growing ministries have sensed the need to provide a more formal environment for the training of their pastors and theological leaders, thus they have begun offering modular classes. This was my first time in the country of Ecuador and the second time modular classes were offered.
Ten students studied with us during the week. Classes were held for three hours each evening, Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday. I am pleased to report that the notes were very well received. Several recommendations were given to improve the course’s overall presentation all of which we plan to incorporate prior to publication. I also was able to preach at the Iglesia Bautista la Gracia on Sunday morning. It was a real blessing to interact with each of these believers and we remain excited about what God is doing in Ecuador and throughout Latin America.
Additional responsibilities call for additional prayers
I want to repeat our request that you would join us in special prayer that God would supply a new General Director for EBI. While we are confident in God’s timing and we rest in His sovereign direction, the appointment of a new Director is urgent for two very important reasons. First, I have been asked to function as the Interim Director during this period of transition and I admit to being ill-equipped to fulfill many of the tasks inherent in the position. The sooner that God would provide such a leader, the more quickly our ministry could function at optimum efficiency. Secondly, due to these increased administrative demands upon my time and energy the development and production of Theological Curriculum materials has been greatly curtailed. You may remember that we had promoted an aggressive timetable for the release of our upcoming new courses but we are now several months behind schedule and each month spent as Interim Director limits my involvement in course development and production.
Praises & Prayer
1. Several EBI staff members are experiencing serious physical challenges. Both Joan Stephens and Gary Sammons have been in and out of the hospital. While Gary is now home recuperating, he is still very weak and in need of prayer for strength. Joan is facing additional treatments and an uncertain future. We ask that you faithfully lift both her and her husband Marv up to the Lord in prayer. Gary Hilliker has also experienced physical difficulties the last several months. We ask your prayers that upcoming treatment options would alleviate his discomfort and allow him to continue to minister effectively.
2. The M.A.B.S program which we introduced last prayer letter is off and running. Some twenty-five students are enrolled from four different countries: Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. You may remember that we at EBI are representing BMM and helping Piedmont Baptist College in the administration of this program. The first class, Investigative Writing and Communication, which is preparatory for graduate level work, began in October. The next module, Biblical Hermeneutics, is scheduled for January of 2009. Please pray for these students, many of which are juggling ministry and continuing ministry preparation.
3. Please pray with us for more staff. The growth of the Theological Curriculum Project as well as the addition of new literature tools demands more help especially in the areas of Spanish editing, document formatting, and graphic design. We are praying that God would raise up additional missionaries with expertise in these specialized areas who could join us in our ministry. However, we are quick to acknowledge that many of these tasks do not demand missionary involvement. In fact, the Church is filled with talented individuals who are looking for an opportunity to invest their abilities in Great Commission ministries. Please pray that God would supply this important need and if you or someone that you know is interested in helping us with one of the aforementioned tasks, please let us know. We would love to hear from you!
¡Les deseamos una feliz Navidad y un próspero año nuevo
The Christmas season provides each believer with a visual reminder of Christian missions. While contemporary custom focuses inordinate attention upon the presents received, the biblical message accentuates the person sent. Jesus Christ, who is coequal with the Father according to the Godhead, voluntarily set aside the glories of Heaven to humble himself through incarnation and death on the cross. He is the season’s true message. His vicarious sacrifice forms the true gift and His missional obedience is the true Christmas spirit.
Old Testament Survey 1 course taught in Ecuador
The course preparation manual that we created to guide the development of our Theological Curriculum Project specifies that each new course be “field tested” prior to publication. The purpose of this step is to ensure that the freshly created notes accurately communicate the intended content and that the pedagogical helps for both professor and student are clear, concise, and easy to follow. Having recently completed the notes for Old Testament Survey 1 I was invited to “field test” them in a new Bible Institute in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Situated at the top of the Andes Mountains, Cuenca is a 400 year old colonial village with 500,000 inhabitants that is home to several BMM missionaries and three Baptist churches. These growing ministries have sensed the need to provide a more formal environment for the training of their pastors and theological leaders, thus they have begun offering modular classes. This was my first time in the country of Ecuador and the second time modular classes were offered.Ten students studied with us during the week. Classes were held for three hours each evening, Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday. I am pleased to report that the notes were very well received. Several recommendations were given to improve the course’s overall presentation all of which we plan to incorporate prior to publication. I also was able to preach at the Iglesia Bautista la Gracia on Sunday morning. It was a real blessing to interact with each of these believers and we remain excited about what God is doing in Ecuador and throughout Latin America.
Additional responsibilities call for additional prayers
I want to repeat our request that you would join us in special prayer that God would supply a new General Director for EBI. While we are confident in God’s timing and we rest in His sovereign direction, the appointment of a new Director is urgent for two very important reasons. First, I have been asked to function as the Interim Director during this period of transition and I admit to being ill-equipped to fulfill many of the tasks inherent in the position. The sooner that God would provide such a leader, the more quickly our ministry could function at optimum efficiency. Secondly, due to these increased administrative demands upon my time and energy the development and production of Theological Curriculum materials has been greatly curtailed. You may remember that we had promoted an aggressive timetable for the release of our upcoming new courses but we are now several months behind schedule and each month spent as Interim Director limits my involvement in course development and production.
Praises & Prayer
1. Several EBI staff members are experiencing serious physical challenges. Both Joan Stephens and Gary Sammons have been in and out of the hospital. While Gary is now home recuperating, he is still very weak and in need of prayer for strength. Joan is facing additional treatments and an uncertain future. We ask that you faithfully lift both her and her husband Marv up to the Lord in prayer. Gary Hilliker has also experienced physical difficulties the last several months. We ask your prayers that upcoming treatment options would alleviate his discomfort and allow him to continue to minister effectively.
2. The M.A.B.S program which we introduced last prayer letter is off and running. Some twenty-five students are enrolled from four different countries: Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. You may remember that we at EBI are representing BMM and helping Piedmont Baptist College in the administration of this program. The first class, Investigative Writing and Communication, which is preparatory for graduate level work, began in October. The next module, Biblical Hermeneutics, is scheduled for January of 2009. Please pray for these students, many of which are juggling ministry and continuing ministry preparation.
3. Please pray with us for more staff. The growth of the Theological Curriculum Project as well as the addition of new literature tools demands more help especially in the areas of Spanish editing, document formatting, and graphic design. We are praying that God would raise up additional missionaries with expertise in these specialized areas who could join us in our ministry. However, we are quick to acknowledge that many of these tasks do not demand missionary involvement. In fact, the Church is filled with talented individuals who are looking for an opportunity to invest their abilities in Great Commission ministries. Please pray that God would supply this important need and if you or someone that you know is interested in helping us with one of the aforementioned tasks, please let us know. We would love to hear from you!
¡Les deseamos una feliz Navidad y un próspero año nuevo
2 comments:
I didn't know you maintained a blog. Hope you don't mind if I check it from time to time.
Cathie, of course. I must admit that I am not too faithful in updating this site, but your comment encourages me that someone is reading.
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