A November Update

It's been a little while and I wanted to share several things that have been going on and what's coming up in the next little bit down here in San Carlos.

Millar Missions Module

We had the chance to host for the second time a missions module for a Canadian Bible school, Millar College of the Bible's campus in BC.  Nine students joined us for a week and a half as we looked at various topics related to missions work and also spent some time in ministry and connecting with local churches and ministries.  This time around we had the pleasure of having with us a missions team who serves here in Mexico in the mountains, reaching a remote indigenous tribe with the gospel.  Various members of their team shared from their hearts and their experiences as missionaries as we covered topics such as cross-cultural issues, language barriers, one's personal walk with God, the call to missions, and much more.  What a pleasure to learn from those who are literally on the front lines, bringing the Gospel message to an unreached people group.

A neat mix of people: the students from Millar College, the group of missionaries, and also some of the indigenous people they are working with were able to come along as well.

Conference

As we look forward to the coming new year, getting teachers in place while connecting with prospective students, we're also planning a day-long conference here at CEC for the end of November.  It's a chance to reach out and encourage past students as well as local people in ministry.  It also provides an opportunity to give people a taste of what CEC is all about.  We will have two of our teachers sharing on the theme: Adornments of a Servant (It sounds better in Spanish!)  Based on 2 Timothy 2:1, we will be looking at what it means to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  As Christian servants, we are called to be before we are called to serve; we want to take a look at both sides of this in a day of teaching and fellowship.  This theme really ties into what CEC is all about, not simply equipping people with tools but being transformed by them as well.  Pray for us as we prepare, and that this would be a significant time of fellowship with local church leaders.  There may even be some prospective students that come from this!

If you're interested in coming, let me know ASAP! ;)

School Season

Every year looks so different with students who come and even changes in staff.  Pray for the right students to come as we look ahead to January 15's start of the new school year.  At this point we have about 6 or 7 very interested students (which is perhaps ahead of schedule!)  We're not looking for quantity as much as wanting to have those students that will truly benefit from this time of studies.

Pray for us as a staff as well.  We have a great group of teachers and leaders.  The transient nature of our schedules and responsibilities brings its challenges as many of us are scattered across the continent for the majority of the year and only come together for the four months of the school term.  This always presents its difficulties as we make plans but we are excited for what God has in store for another year.  Please pray for us as we prepare!  We know that the stronger we are as a team, the greater our impact will be on the students.


Back in School

I'm not sure if I figured I had too much time on my hands (trying to remember when that was last actually the case...) but this fall I figured I'd try something new and different: go back to school!  More and more there is schooling being offered online and I wanted to see if it would work to take on one class at a time alongside of my current responsibilities.  So, this past September, I enrolled in Briercrest's Seminary class of Advanced Hermeneutics.  It has been very interesting and challenging but also an enjoyable experience to get back into the role of student (it was over 15 years ago since I was in Bible school...)  It has been a challenge to balance this along with everything else but it has also been very rewarding as well.  I just finished writing an exegetical paper this past week on Romans 6:1-11, looking at how Paul instructs us how to think as a believer: as someone who has already been fundamentally changed being united with Christ in faith, having our "old self" crucified and buried together with Christ, resulting in new life.  How we think about sin and how we live our lives ought to be completely different because we have been radically and fundamentally changed, being brought from death to life, just as Christ was.  (If anyone has some spare time and wants to read it, you can do so here.


Continued Prayers

Thanks so much for your continued prayers.  I'm looking at ways to keep you all better informed and would like to begin a Facebook group in addition to this blog, to be able to better keep you updated with quick little notes and prayer requests.  If you want to be sure to be a part of this group, please send me a note and let me know!  God bless you for your prayers and continued support!  ¡Dios les bendiga!