Monday, July 27th, 2009
It is always a joy to have our missionaries on campus with us to catch up with them personally and find out what God is doing through them and how He is leading. Fourteen of them attended a two-week seminar presented by our BIM staff.
As well, the missionaries shared about their experiences in chapel. Their stories speak to God’s calling in our students as well. It brings the world to them in a personal way, not as a far-off possibility.
“Several people, including myself, promoted Bethany College of Missions at Sonshine Fest in Willmar, MN. I felt the Lord heavily speaking to me, “Rachele you are here to bring my Kingdom, not to promote BCOM.” We are to bring the Lord’s Kingdom wherever we are… sometimes I forget this. He was really stirring in me. I went to the other two girls and began to tell them what the Lord was speaking. One person mentioned the scripture in Hebrews 6 that says, ‘Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment.’ They classify raising people from the dead as elementary teachings??!! That is CrAzY!! We also talked about the verse, “The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us.” That is crazy to think about.
I went back to my tent and left the girls and the promotion booth. I told the Lord that I would step out and lay hands on people and pray for them, if that is what He wanted. But I needed Him to back me up otherwise I have nothing to work with. As I waited on Him, I still felt like He was saying He wanted to break in at Sonshine. I also felt we needed to bring a Kingdom perspective - but how??
I went back to our booth and a few more students were there. I told them what the Lord had been stirring in our hearts. One got excited and said he was going to make signs. He made one that said, “NEED PRAYER?” and another that said, “NEED HEALING?” We prayed and asked the Lord to bring only who He wanted. From the time we began until four hours later, people kept coming. We began laying hands on people and praying for their requests. At one point, one of the girls asked a guy if we could ask the Lord for a word or prophecy for him. In my head I was thinking, “Do not sign me up to prophesy.” But the Lord quickly reminded me that He is the Shepherd and I can hear His voice. From that time on we prayed for people, but we also listened to see if the Lord wanted to speak to us about the people. This is how the Lord allowed us to bring a Kingdom perspective. We began calling them forth into who the Lord created them to be. We spoke truth over them and prophesied. People began to come up for healing and they were being healed! The first time we prayed we would ask how they felt and they said better so we prayed again until they were healed! I am not sure why the Lord waited 2-3 times but He did.
People were running to get their friends and brought them back for the Lord to heal them. It was beautiful. One guy said that He wished he knew what he was doing. He wished he could do what we were doing. I told him we didn’t know what we were doing either. I told him the process of the Lord speaking this morning. I asked him if he felt weak and then told him to jump on board. He was able to lay hands on people with us and see the Lord heal. It is amazing how the Lord delights in our weakness—how in our weakness He just asks for obedience. Simply beautiful!
475 people attended the Alumni Picnic held last Saturday. Even though it was a bit cold outside, everyone seemed to enjoy visiting with friends and the activities that were offered. Picnic pictures can be viewed at this link.
The online Master of Arts and Certificate programs begin August 10. Participating students represent Bethany International Ministries, Bethany Press, STEM, Operation Mobilization, and One Step International. Having students from several ministry agencies will provide an exciting opportunity to learn from one-another. Bethany administration is also in discussions with the leaders of other ministry agencies that are very interested in developing the possibilities related to Bethany’s Global Studies programs. Please continue to pray for the Lord’s purposes to be advanced through Global Studies.
Five teams are out, stretching the Short-Term Evangelical Missions staff to their limits. Please pray for God’s Kingdom to advance in every direction!
There is a team going to the Mediterranean Coast in November. If you are interested in becoming a member of this team, applications are needed by August 2. You can find out more here.
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
The Home Assignment Seminar (July 13-24) has 14 adults and 13 missionary kids in attendance. The BCOM senior class is helping BIM staff with seminar logistics and MK activities. Pray that the seminar will be a blessing to the missionaries and their families. Pray also for Milta, Linda and Amy as they carry major responsibilities in coordinating the seminar.
Please continue praying for our teams. Last Saturday night, while a STEM team slept in a New Orleans church, someone broke into a 2nd story window across the hall by pushing in a window air conditioner. They stole electronic equipment but did not harm or threaten the team in any way. We know prayers covered us because God used this group of young teens to bring hope to many in the Gulf Coast region!
If you’ve followed recent news you know Honduras has been going through some political upheaval lately, prompting a US Department of State warning against people traveling there. Our team scheduled for July 17-24 to Honduras spent three days fasting and praying last week, seeking God’s direction, and decided to continue on schedule. Please pray for the team and two STEM leaders who will be accompanying the group, for health, for protection against all attack, and for the power of God to work through them in boldness to counter the current spirit of fear in the country.
During the coming week STEM will have four teams out, ministering in Biloxi, MS, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Urban Minneapolis.
Pray for people who have received the claims of Christ by our teams - that seed will fall on good ground and produce much fruit that will remain.
Pray for team members who have now returned home, that as their lives have been impacted, they will continue on in total commitment to Christ and in a lifestyle of obedience to the Great Commission.
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
The Bethany Center for Global Studies (BCGS) team is preparing for the start of the next distance education term that begins August 10. This week we received an application for the MA in Intercultural Leadership from one of the U.S. leaders of an international missions agency. We are presently in dialog with that agency and other U.S.-based missions to potentially partner together to help prepare their candidates for cross-cultural service overseas, as well as to give their on-field missionaries continuing education credits. Please pray that these discussions will be fruitful.
Bethany College of Missions and BCGS now have the capability to help BCOM alumni finish their degree who did not complete all graduation requirements. If you know of an alumnus interested in completing their degree requirements for BCOM, please have them contact Jason Hache, BCOM Administrator and Registrar.
BCGS, STEM, and BCOM will all have display booths open at the July 18 Alumni Picnic. We are excited about the number of alumni who are interested in our programs and who want to find out how to promote Bethany to their own circle of contacts.
