- what’s new at bethany
- Anti-Human Trafficking Challenge
- New Mission Publishing Model Introduced
- Cambodian Bible Project
- Global Prayer for the Poor and Suffering
- Our People at Work
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- history
- who we are
- president’s message
- request a speaker
- Work Opportunities
- contact us
Archive for September, 2010
As we continue on…
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Today’s update gives a very personal and up-close look at the day-to-day happenings of Bethany, written by President Dan Brokke to Bethany associates, ministry interns, and students in his weekly update.
It has been some time since we all prayer walked the campus. [We did this last Tuesday]. It was again great to hear what each ministry department is believing God for and other challenges and opportunities they each face. I took time to join up with different groups as they visited various areas. One thing that really touched me was how one group prayed for and laid hands on the Services Team one at a time. Embedded in these prayers were statements of appreciation and testimony of the impact they had had in various lives. I agree. Another testimony was from John DePree of how God has provided just this week. Early on Monday BPI was preparing to shut down for four days - they had enough orders for one day’s work. John and Henry Krell (volunteer chaplain for BPI staff) met at 11am for a time of prayer asking God for sales - by the end of the day they had new orders for 700,000 more books to be produced by the end of September. John asked, “Was it our prayers that made the difference?” We may not know, but this we do know, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights.” God loves it when we His people approach His throne seeking grace and help in time of need. He loves it when we set aside time to seek His face, ask for His wisdom and understanding, and humble ourselves under His mighty hand.
Chapel - Alumnus Pete U.
I wish all of you could have heard Pete U. (’76) share in chapel. Pete and I had never met before today. He arrived on campus in late August 1975, the week that I moved away.
Pete hit a homerun in all that he shared. He encouraged us to endure, to stay with it, to keep trusting God no matter how long it takes to see answers to your prayers. He spoke of God’s leading beyond (and better than) our plans and ideas. Pete and Carol served for a number of years with Wycliffe and now serve with them in the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics where Pete teaches and prepares workers for translating scriptures. I so appreciated the way Pete used stories of God’s work to bring truth to life - the story of the TESOL teacher who invested wholeheartedly to friendship and relationships; the way God went ahead of Pete to use a godless professor to point Pete to the right person in the right town to bring a breakthrough. And, while here at Bethany, God met him and revealed Himself to Pete in his personal prayer closet (one of the boiler rooms on campus), through the answered prayers of Reba Dahlen and Helen Strand (their brother’s salvation after decades of prayer), and the impact of truth taught and demonstrated day after day.
Encouraged in the Lord
The past six weeks have seen the change of a fiscal year and preparation for our annual audit, wrapping up of a school year, an internship team coming back from Thailand, the senior retreat, graduation, getting dorms fully ready for new students, a sophomore orientation, a freshman orientation. The first 3-week class, Evangelism, Discipleship and Community, has all the students together - nearly 90 students. Others have traveled, are preparing for evaluation and selection of 35 applicants for next September’s Global Internship, moving offices, a number of special events that demand more on our services and kitchen staff, and several special projects such as upgrading our high speed internet service throughout the campus (still in progress). As well we are heading into the last six weeks of sending in our first round of accreditation reports and the self assessment and improvement plan.
So, where is the encouragement? Sure, we continue to operate with tight budgets, but I feel for the first time in more than four years, that we are able to focus in a new way on the future. I hear it in reports, I see it in our appointments, it is seen in our meeting agendas, and shows up in our projects. In the next few weeks we have opportunities to meet with other ministry leaders who want to work with us. Next week we have a phone conference with our partner regarding a mission training project in Asia; I meet with a dozen ministry leaders at Wooddale Church regarding the upcoming Lausanne conference; in a couple more weeks the leadership team from YouthWorks will visit the campus; I have a meeting with the President of Oral Roberts University…others have many other connections. This is a short list.
So, again, where is the encouragement? God is here. He is worthy of being trusted. He deserves our worship. It is His presence, it is His provision, it His power that brings all fruitfulness. Our first value statement is “We Join God.” Where is He working, where is He leading, where can we align with Him! We don’t really know that without taking the time to listen, to seek His face and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This starts in the place of prayer, of worship, and by listening.
I can feel the pressure of the work load - it never leaves me. But the oppressive burden of it is lifted when I find my heart settled in the knowledge of His love and will. I pray that you are encouraged in the Lord. He is with you. And, please know that you are prayed for. Take time to carry each other’s burdens. Share yours with someone else, and stop to carry someone else’s as well.
I know that for me the load of responsibilities is not going to be less, but in the Lord it can be lighter.
You are loved,
Dan
New Mobilization Team
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Mobilization
Bethany (Minneapolis) has formed a Mobilization Team that will work locally and throughout the Midwest to expand relationships, serve churches, ministries, Christian schools and engage with networks and leaders. John and Kathie P., Grayling T. and Rick B. are the team members. They represent all of Bethany International’s ministry and training opportunities - STEM, BIM, BCGS (Global Studies) and BCOM. The team can be reached at 952-944-2121.
BCOM
Plans are in place for the fall college campus visit days to be held November 4th - 5th. The event was called “Paradox” in the past, but is now called “BCOM Preview.”
Bethany Center for Global Studies
A new term will begin October 18. Classes offered will be ICLS 502 Jesus as Leader, ICLS 503 Perspectives on Intercultural Leadership, ICLS 504 Intercultural Communication and ICLS 505 Methods of Exploring Culture. For more information on Bethany’s online programs please visit www.bethanycgs.org or contact Rick Boswell, Director of Online Marketing and Recruitment at toll free 877-829-2454.
GlobeServe
Tim F. and Ed D. attended Bethany International University’s first-ever trainer’s alumni reunion in Singapore. About 80 of their trainers gathered from throughout the nations for three days of fellowship and encouragement. We heard many reports of what God is doing through them and their schools. Some of the trainers have recently multiplied beyond just one missionary training school and now oversee several. We rejoice with BIU, our partner in ministry through GlobeServe, and pray for God’s blessings upon them as they continue to train trainers into the future.
STEM
STEM is delighted to welcome JOHN & KATHIE P. to the Bethany Campus. The Pedersons spent 12 years in Venezuela with TEAM before returning to the U.S. to mobilize others to reach the lost. Since 2000, they have recruited, trained, and led teams for STEM. John served as President of STEM Share from 2006-2009. His passion is networking and involving others in the “task remaining”. Kathie has taught at Oak Hills Christian College (Bemidji, MN) and the Leech Lake Tribal College (Cass Lake, MN). Her evangelistic heart is always looking for creative ways such as mime or drama to communicate the timeless message of Jesus to the nations.
A New Year
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
The new BCOM schoolyear has begun with 85 freshmen and sophomores engaged in their Evangelism, Discipleship and Community course. There are 21 interns serving overseas.
As well, 21 young people, many BCOM graduates, are serving at the Bloomington campus in various positions or overseas as intern field advisors.
Bethany Center for Global Studies will begin their next term on October 18 with these courses being taught: ICLS 502 Jesus as Leader, ICLS 503 Perspectives on Intercultural Leadership, ICLS 504 Intercultural Communication and ICLS 505 Methods of Exploring Culture.
The STEM teams in Haiti this summer have been a wonderful mix of young and old and of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds. For instance, the last team had two grandmas, one black, one white, and two young Asian men including a Harvard College student. One participant commented, “Haiti has been an eye-opening experience for me. This is the first working (construction, painting, playing with kids etc.) ministry that I have been involved with. It has been fascinating.”
