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Archive for June, 2010
The Next Term
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Bethany Center for Global Studies
New classes start August 9 and will run until October 3
- Biblical Foundations of Leadership - Tom Shetler
- Perspectives on Intercultural Leadership - Ed Dudek
- Collaborative Leadership - Tom Shetler
For more information we invite you to visit www.bethanycgs.org
You can also contact Rick Boswell, Director of Online Marketing and Recruitment at 952-996-1450.
Summer Class
The college students are currently taking a 3-week eschatology course taught by Matt Hedrick.
Bethany International Ministries
BIM workers, Dan and Nancy G. in Kenya
Dan and Nancy hosted a team that served two weeks in Kenya. This team joined with Kenyan churches and the Bethany Kenya team to form a tgroup of 70 people! Together they provided medical services, ministered to area youth and worked on a construction project. Please pray for the Germos and other leadership as they collaborate to be hands and feet of Christ among least reached peoples!
BIM Worker, George F. in Brazil
George spent two weeks in Brazil and gave this report, “Had a great time in Brazil. Spoke to about 4000 in 9 services and felt there was great receptivity. In one service about 80 responded to the call for salvation. It’s good to be home again. My next trip is to Boston in early August for a conference in a Brazilian church.” George will minister to BIM missionaries during the Furlough Seminar in July.
BIM workers Kerry and Jan O. in Mexico “Our first Missions conference (at Amistad Cristiana in Mexico City) surpassed all of our expectations with over 1000 in attendance on Friday night and about 1600 all day Saturday. Many made commitments to pray, give and go! Praise God!” Amistad has the goal of sending out 100 missionaries.
STEM
We’ve requested prayer each week for Haiti teams and thought you’d like to read about some of the STEM team activity there, so here’s a brief, “Readers Digest” version of a week with the QFM team from northern Minnesota:
- On Monday we had a medical clinic where 120 people got help, medicine, food, and prayer; there were children’s games, songs, crafts and a Bible story. Also we cleaned and repaired computers that were damaged by the earthquake, did inverter and batteries maintenance, and performed a drama.
- Tuesday was a hard day for some because of the overwhelming needs in the community of Troussable. The small church in this community also collapsed, so part of the team was shoveling and taking ruble from one side of the hill to the other.
- The next two days we went to Victory Baptist Church and cleared rubble from the back rooms on the second floor and the church area; we built and painted benches and small chairs for church and school. We also had a medical clinic for 110 people
- The last day we worked in the Free Medical Clinic across the street, where shelves were being built so the medicine is organized.
- This team was able to bring a huge boost to Haitian ministries by bringing in computers and computer systems, electrical expertise and much more. The training they established in computer systems will continue over the next two months.
Please continue to pray that God will work in effective, anointed ministry through STEM teams this week!
- #683 in Jamaica, June 22-30
- #699 in Haiti, June 29 - July 6
Picnic
Bethany International is having its annual picnic on Saturday, July 24. Students, Alumni, Associates and Friends of Bethany are invited. We ask those who plan to attend to contact Sue Shetler (952-946-4194) by July 5 to RSVP.
On Campus
Monday, June 21st, 2010
A group of approximately 50 adults are at Bethany this week for overseas training through TeachBeyond. The majority of them will be serving at Black Forest Academy and a few will be serving in International and MK (missionary kids) schools throughout the world.
STEM Update
Three teams are currently serving with Short-Term Evangelical Missions (STEM).
- A mixed-age team from Maplewood, MN is in Haiti. This team includes a Haitian whose family had to flee the country a number of years ago due to political threats. This is what she said during our training session with her team:
“When I heard about this opportunity, I felt God calling me to go back to my homeland to help. I don’t have anything to offer.” (The rest of the team vehemently disagreed with that statement!) “I can help translate. I want to minister in the same way I received ministry as a young girl in Haiti.“
- A large group from Wheaton Bible Church is ministering in Urban Minneapolis where they will work alongside a number of local ministries.
- A youth team from Stillwater, MN is in Jamaica.
Please pray for God’s protection and anointing on each team this week.
One additional note: it’s not too late to join any of our July and August teams in Haiti. Grab a friend, a son, daughter, mom or dad and go. You can make a difference in a place of desperate need! Contact STEM at 952-996-1385.
Interns receive their Associates Degrees
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Last week three interns who studied in Manila arrived back on campus and this week they graduated from BCOM. While in the Philippines, they were able to work with children and their families who where displaced by floods that hit Manila a few months ago. About 3 million people in the Manila area are living in slum-like conditions.
Answer to Prayer
On Tuesday, June 8, the Presbyterian Homes Board voted to purchase 10.85 acres of land located on the east side of our Bloomington campus for a senior housing complex. Hopes are to begin construction at least by next spring (’11).
Board Meeting on June 13-15
Our Bethany Board convened last night and will meet through Wednesday. This is one of three meetings held each year. Today they will be joined by some of our staff and Global Interns to work in committees. They appreciate your prayer covering as they meet.
Bethany Farmhouse
The Bethany farmhouse was demolished last Wednesday morning. You can view photos of the demolition here.
STEM
STEM has a large team in Haiti this week made up of listeners to QFM, a Christian radio station in northern MN. This team has gathered a lot of relief materials to carry with them into Haiti such as computers, monitors, bags of shoes, and much more. Please pray for their safety in travel and that the Lord will keep them in good health so they can be effective in ministry this week: Jun 12-19.
Report sent in by STEM Team Leaders, Katia & Miguel Ulloa:
We’re back in Haiti. We are thankful to God for how society here is going back to normal. There are many children attending school even though a lot of schools are tents.
Last week we had a team of 12 from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Minnesota. It was a blessed week for all! The first day we went to a church service in Pettit Gouave. The next day we worked across the street from the guest house, preparing a house to be a Free Medical Clinic for the community. We painted, cleared gravel and weeds, helped with carpentry and mixed cement for the floor. It was good to be able to help in a project that will bring so much hope! The plan is to open the Clinic this weekend, providing medical service and free medicine. There’s also a place for medical teams to stay.
For two days we had a medical clinic where more than 160 people received medical help, medicine and prayer. As well, we were able to share the Gospel with the children of the community. The first day of the clinic we had a little patient who impacted us all. It was a tiny two year-old who came in carried by his mother. The mother said the child had been sleeping a lot and wasn’t able to eat or drink anything. Some tried to give him Pedialyte, but for a while it seemed impossible because he was unconscious and wouldn’t respond even when his mother was shaking him to wake. We were heartbroken and at a moment the doctor even thought he was already dead. We took a time to pray for him with his mother. Then we kept trying to wake him and have him drink. In less than ten minutes, there was a miracle before us. The little boy was running around and playing with everyone in the waiting area, running and jumping all over the place! We cannot stop thanking God for his kindness.
The next day we went with the team to another community, where we had a medical clinic for about 95 people. We shared with the children through games, songs and stories. A small group was able to prayer walk and were received in six homes. Another small group was working at the Community Center for Integrity Development checking the computer center and the needs after the earthquake damage. The next team will be able to work in that as well.
We spent a second day in the community helping with the construction of 52 wooden chairs for a kindergarten. This school is part of the church’s ministry and they plan to open next week, where 100 children will be able to receive free education and meals.The last night it was a very special time of fellowship with the guest house staff. We shared Communion together and thankfulness to the Lord for the way He’s been working among us.
We know that God is helping each one of us to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, allowing others to see it through our lives. We pray that God will continue to work in us as we continue to prepare for the next team, arriving this Saturday. We appreciate your prayer and support!
Reports from Graduates
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Last week Jolean (’04) shared in chapel about her intercessory prayer ministry in Romania. Next month she will be leaving to work with the English Language Institute in Asia. Jolean is very enthused about this new adventure.
Franz Clotaire (’85) , from Haiti, also spoke in chapel. Since the Haiti earthquake people who had been closed to God are now seeking Him. Shortly after the earthquake the president of Haiti declared 3 days of prayer. People are seeing God’s grace and mercy. The churches in Franz’s community have made 17 trips to the earthquake area with food, clothing, and to give help. He has two requests for prayer: 1. For the orphans of Haiti 2. For the Lord to fill the vacuum in people’s lives through the love of Christ and the power of the Gospel. You can check out the Clotaire’s work here.
Back to Haiti
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
STEM
Please pray for the team from St Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie (in Haiti, May 29 - June 06).
- Protection in travel, both air and ground
- Health of the team, leaders, and other Haitian and Dominican participants
- Effective ministry both in construction and in ministering to Haitians’ spiritual needs
- Divine appointments for the team as they would like to establish long-term relationships
- Katia and Miguel, STEM Team leaders as they juggle many responsibilities
We still would love to schedule more teams throughout the year; pray that God will connect us with those who want to do that. If you would like help organizing a team from your home church, or small group, or circle of friends, call us — together, we can do it!
Bethany College of Missions
Our freshmen have started a 3-week Christology course while the senior students are enrolled in one of three Ministry Focus Electives:
1) Children at Risk
2) Creative Access
3) Media and Mission
Bethany Center for Global Studies
New individuals were recently accepted into the BCGS program and started class this week. One of them is a missions pastor who is thrilled to be in the program and sees it as a means to guide her regarding future ministries.
