Archive for February, 2010
Our Focus
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
The Bethany Board of Trustees arrived on campus February 21 for the first of three board meetings they will have this year. Along with receiving reports on the College, International Ministries, and Bethany Press, they will focus on Bethany’s vision and priorities for the next few years. There are several objectives that flow out of Bethany’s mission.
- Penetrate the darkest places, bringing the church from where it is to where it is not
- Establish regional platforms for partnership with national churches, networks and ministries (Global Access Partnerships)
- The church everywhere has access to culturally relevant mission training (GlobeServe/Go100)
- Grow mobilizing (ACTS) workers for church planting, training, prayer, and justice
- Establish training and field programs that effectively work in different nations in a sustainable way
The College
All of the campus students are enjoying the third week of their Old Testament I course with instructor Tom Shetler.
Outreach
This week in the prayer and fasting time and in the weekly chapel, Haiti was brought to the forefront. We heard that the earthquake in Haiti is likely the worst natural disaster in history in terms of percentage of people from one nation impacted. STEM is on a fast-track to get disaster response teams there, beginning with the first one going February 27, the second on March 6, and the third on March 13. We still don’t know every aspect of what the teams will do, but we do know God has called us to bring more than humanitarian aid. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation, going in the opposite spirit of fear perpetrated by the voodoo religion. We also are to be ministers of comfort, bringing comfort just as we have received comfort from God (2 Cor 1:3-4). We are booking teams to go to Haiti throughout the remainder of the year and into next year.
Speaking of “comfort” we have another team of 31 ministering in Dulac, Louisiana this next week (Feb. 21-27). Please pray for their safety as they work, as well as for those divine appointments in which they will be able to minister the Kingdom of God to people open to receive.
Paul Sunde Remembered
A memorial service will be held March 3 at Bethany for Paul Sunde, who served as a Bethany missionary in Japan for many years. Feel free to call the Welcome Center at Bethany for details: 952-944-2121.
BCOM Paradox
Monday, February 15th, 2010
PARADOX is an opportunity for high school students, young adults, parents and pastors to come for an overnight visit here at Bethany College of Missions (BCOM). This time (April 15, 16) will be filled with worship, fellowship, and info sessions about BCOM.
Why do we call it PARADOX? A paradox is something that seems contradictory, like when Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt 16:25). At BCOM it is our desire to do more than just train good Bible students and missionaries; we aim to equip them to be people who truly lay down their lives for the sake of Christ. Prospective students (and their parents) are invited to attend the next PARADOX event to see if BCOM might be the place where the Lord is leading them for the next season of their lives. You can view the Paradox website for more information.
Teams to Haiti
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
STEM’s ‘Scout’ team has returned from Haiti and is working hard at putting together
all of the logistics and information for future teams. The first teams that STEM will be sending out are as follows: February 27 - March 6; March 6-13; March 13-20. There will likely be more teams to follow for individuals who want to join. If you are wanting to establish your own dates with a team from your church or organization you can do that as well anytime after March 20.
The staff at STEM is working hard to strategize and plan the long-term response in an expedient manner in order to be as effective as possible for the people of Haiti and the Kingdom of God!
