Archive for August, 2009
Urban Ministry
Monday, August 31st, 2009
507 people have gone out on STEM (Short-Term Evangelical Missions) 
teams this year and we have begun recruiting teams for next year. Just as important as that is all the follow-up that occurs with team members, leaders, and host receivers. It’s an ongoing process and we ask for your prayers for leadership training and growth as well as for effective debriefing.
STEM hosted six teams that did urban ministry in the Twin Cities this summer. Participants came from as nearby as Wisconsin and Iowa and as far away as Washington state. Some went out on the streets and into city parks to share the love of Jesus. All teams took part in “mercy ministries” such as helping with a community food shelf, serving meals at a Gospel mission and teaching English to immigrants. One team hosted a VBS for children of international students at the U of M. While the teens put on the program, the adults on the team got to know the parents and had some great conversations about the Gospel. STEM’s partner ministry wrote to the team afterwards, saying “The children LOVED climbing over and playing with the student leaders. Your maturity and commitment exceeded expectations-you gave it your all to serve and share Christ’s love with the children AND parents. Perhaps we could convince you to come back next year?” Our teams work hard to prepare for their mission trips, whether overseas or here in the US. We love to get this kind of positive feedback!
MP3s Now Available
You can now listen to Bethany’s first president, Pastor T. A. Hegre, via podcast at the Bethany International ITunes page. He and other former conference speakers will be highlighted there. One or two podcasts will be posted each week.
You will need ITunes installed on your computer via a web download that you can find here in order to listen to the messages via ITunes.
As well, these messages will soon be available on the BI site in MP3 format for easy download to your computer and MP3 player (for those who don’t use ITunes).
Ron Asmus
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Thursday afternoon several hundred friends attended the funeral for Ron 
Asmus, longtime friend and former home staff member of Bethany. What impressed me is the breadth of impact one life can have, when truly given to the Lord. Everywhere that Ron worked and everyone with whom he worked could tell the same story of fun, of friendship, of being blessed, and of being grateful for him. He was a servant - it wasn’t just what he did, it was who he was. He was a faithful servant to Bethany and in more recent years at Bethel University.
Following the funeral many stayed to visit and catch up with each other. Friendships run deep. Where there has been the genuine and deep investment into the lives of others there is a bond of friendship that goes beyond time and even the tough events of life. Why is it that even at a funeral there is joy? There was genuine joy among the people gathered. This could be what comes out of human friendship, but this was more than that. In talking with dozens of those attending; love, appreciation and warmth dominated. More than one person commented that it is too bad we often come together at funerals or weddings, but rarely in between. It occurred to me that these kinds of gatherings and the renewal of friendships are “appetizers” for heaven. I would imagine that Ron, who is now completely healed, has met up with the many that have gone before us from the global Bethany family. What a great reunion into the eternal life where tears, pain, and sin’s curse are no more. It is a reminder again of why we ”live with eternity’s values in view.”
New Students
On Monday, the 24th, new students will arrive on campus. It is this coming week, and all that it means in terms of our calling, that stirs in me a sense of neediness before God. We will teach, coach, work with, pray for, lead, and hang out with these students for the next 9 months. It is God who will bring the transformation in their lives, plant the seed of His calling, and stir up a new passion in their lives.
a big day
Monday, August 17th, 2009
Congrats to the Grads!
The Bethany College of Missions graduation was held Saturday at Bethany Church. I am so impressed with the spirit, vision, and intentionality of each graduate to “be” missionaries as a life style, not just a vocation. When I asked them their thoughts about the future; here is some of what they expressed: “Heart for Muslims - I want to minister to Muslim women. Go back to Asia…God has put a burden on my heart. Be a church-planter among the unreached.” Others are going on to specialized training in community development; some are staying right here on campus to mentor, others are going home for a season to reconnect with family (and get married). What is common to all is they are on a pursuit to fulfill God’s purposes in their lives. At graduation we do not want to merely recognize accomplishment of the BA degree (which is significant), but bless and dedicate them to the Lord.
BCOM Graduation 2009
Next week is a transition week—saying goodbye to students and preparing for the new students. The new students arrive August 24. I am really excited about this coming year. As we continue in faithfulness and obedience in all God has given us, we open the doors not only for His abiding presence, but also for His divine blessing. I pray that each of these students will know the powerful work of transformation, equipping, and blessing. - Dan Brokke, Bethany International President
Online Classes
The Online Master of Arts in Intercultural Leadership and the Certificate in Cross-Cultural Studies began the new term on August 10 with 20 students. I am convinced online education is the wave of the future. We have students from around the world not only learning from instructors Tom Shetler and Ed Dudek, but from each other. Believe me—this is exciting. I know because I am one of the students.
I invite you visit us at www.bethanycgs.org. - Rick Boswell, Director of Online Admissions
Teams with Impact
Thanks for your prayers for STEM teams this summer. In a period of three weeks, we had 11 teams out. One urban team spent much of their time with a mostly unreached people group living right here in the Twin Cities.
- Aug 16 - 23 - Our last Biloxi team for the summer. It will be the second group sent from a Korean church in New Jersey. Please pray for health, safety and a good productive week.
- Also STEM Share staff members are finishing up a visit to another “closed” country in the middle-east, setting up logistics to take future teams there. Please pray for divine appointments and clear direction from God for us.
Were you praying for us between 12:30 - 1:30 EDT on Wednesday, July 22? During that time slot, in six different locations, unplanned and unknown to each other, team members in the Dominican Republic were praying with individuals to accept Christ as Savior. In Monterrey, Mexico, after a week of intense evangelistic efforts, God used a team of very young teens as a catalyst for a pastor to plant a new church. The poor heard clear gospel presentations when literally hundreds of children from very poor urban and rural areas attended VBS with STEM teams. Again, thank you for helping to send people out in obedience to the Great Commission.
The Tornado
Monday, August 10th, 2009
Reflections from Dan Brokke
I have thought about today, the 6th of August, several times throughout this year. It marked a day 40 years ago of tragedy and shock for the entire Bethany family. None of us imagined that seven of our community would suddenly be with Jesus in a moment of time. I am sure there are stories that each person who was directly impacted by the tornado could tell. Family members who were either in the town of Outing or traveling when it struck, or those who heard of it over the radio here in Bloomington or around the world, could remember details of that day and the swirling thoughts as they heard of what was beyond comprehension.
Jon D. (who also witnessed the tornado) and I recently talked of our own perspectives when I was visiting with him in Japan; his was of coming from town and entering into the devastation and mine from lying on the ground with my dad behind one of the cabins as it struck. The total destruction was hard to grasp as we got up from our cocoon of a refuge where we were spared during the tornado. I know that God preserved our lives for more life on earth, while others entered the glory of heaven.
The following article can be found online from the National Weather 
Service. I have included a link below. The tornado that struck the Bethany Cabins taking seven lives is the F4 that went for 30 miles. This is the first time that I have seen the extent of tornado activity that went on throughout northern Minnesota, and the first time that I have seen a rating of the tornado as an F4. It was big.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=dlh&storyid=30198&source=o
At the funeral held in Bethany Church, seven caskets were lined up across the front. Pastor Hegre shared powerfully about our hope in Christ and the Resurrection. An article in the Minneapolis Star reported, “Some 1,000 persons attended funeral services for seven tornado victims in Bethany Missionary Church in Bloomington Monday afternoon. The loss of four residents must be keenly felt in the small colony of 75 teachers, administrators and their families who live together on 70 tree-shaded acres of western Bloomington. The death of three other persons must have been equally saddening. They included a 5-year-old child and two lifelong missionaries. All were killed last Wednesday when a tornado struck a retreat owned by Bethany Fellowship on Lake Roosevelt.” The article went on to quote Pastor Hegre’s message, “In a sense it was tragedy. Separation is always painful. But I wonder whether it should not be called triumph. Those who left us are now in the church triumphant.”
LeRoy and Vonnie D. lost three of their family: mother, Edith; daughter, Becky; and niece, Sharon. Harold C. lost his wife, Evelyn, and in-laws, Arthur and Minnie Olson. And our family lost my brother, Paul. In the midst of the loss and pain, God was faithful and present. There was confusion; there were questions that, frankly, never get answered; and there was second guessing about decisions and personal choices. But, in the midst of it all, God gave His comfort and the revelation of His goodness by His Spirit and through the outpouring of love from dear friends and members of the Bethany Fellowship and Bethany Church family.
We remember this day again with the hope and knowledge that we will all be united someday in Jesus presence. We have a Great Hope!
Huge Step Forward
A Bethany donor who is passionate about training nationals in missions made a $30,000 gift to Bethany. In light of this, an additional $30,000 will now be released from a Christian foundation. Together these funds will enable Bethany to complete a full bachelor’s degree in missions that will be used by the South African Theological Seminary. In addition to the degree being available through the seminary, Bethany will also use the materials in a distance education format to train leaders throughout Africa. The goal is to launch the first training site in early 2010. Within the next few years scores of national leaders will be trained throughout Africa. Already Bethany is in discussion with a ministry that anticipates planting 9,000 churches this year in Africa. This ministry has identified their need for trained leaders and sees the Bethany program as a vehicle to accomplishing this. A future step would be to translate the materials into other languages so that the program will truly have a global impact. This is a huge step forward in missions training! Several other foundations and donors are currently considering proposals from Bethany. Your ongoing prayer support is greatly appreciated.
The Launch of a New School
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Christian Montessori Training
Teachers from Korea, California, Costa Rica and Minnesota are here and ready to learn. These 9 students are attending the three-week Christian Montessori Training School held on our campus. Former BCOM student Grace Lee is the instructor for the school which trains students to become trainers and teachers in Christian Montessori schools throughout the world.
Bethany House of Prayer
Jen Lawrence shared on humility in last week’s Forerunner meeting. To hear Jen’s message or view the notes, click here.
