I am now sitting at my desk in good old western PA. I made all my connections, but the airlines made it a tight squeeze. I arrived at the departure gate in JFK just as they were calling out for boarding. The arriving plane was late from London, and JFK was my first stop in the US. I had to get through immigration, retrieve my bag, pass customs, re-entry through security, and find my gate. After all that, we waited in the plane for an hour. But before I knew it, I arrived in Pittsburgh. Trish picked me up.
I am trying to dig out from mail, messages, receipts, and laundry. I should be reorganized soon. The trip was very rewarding. The reports I've received have been encouraging and showed it to be well worth it (see the earlier posts). I find these kind of trips to multiply in terms of influence. While we were able to pour into these leaders, they can then take it to their respective churches. Yet, there is much to do and so much more training is needed. Maybe some day, the opportunity I will be able to go back or for one of you to go!
Thank you again for all the faithful support!
Pastor Joe
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Leaving
August 11, 2008
We have made it out of Goma. It was to be the most difficult part on the way home, but we had no problems. Now, we have a nice leisurely nine hour lay over in Nairobi airport. I have window shopped every store. I think I will read some.
On our way to the airport, our translator, Simeon, reported feedback from some of the pastors who attended our Goma institute. Many of our lessons addressed forgiveness. One pastor said he had bitter relationships with several people in his church. He was able to reconcile with all of them. I taught on the qualifications of an elder in First Timothy 3. I applied it to all of us. Simeon said they had no idea of the high standards set for leaders. They were not discouraged but challenged to grow. They especially mentioned being above reproach and husbands of one wife. I explained to them that this is beyond the issue of divorce. It means that we are to be a “one woman man.” Many men may have only been married once, but they have wandering eyes and are not one women men. When I heard these stories, I felt ragged around the edges – just tired out. But, they made me feel that all the time, expense, and effort was more than worth it.
Thank you to all who prayed and supported me here in Africa. You have just as much stake in this as I do. I just got on the plane. You did the support and battle in prayer.
Pastor Joe
We have made it out of Goma. It was to be the most difficult part on the way home, but we had no problems. Now, we have a nice leisurely nine hour lay over in Nairobi airport. I have window shopped every store. I think I will read some.
On our way to the airport, our translator, Simeon, reported feedback from some of the pastors who attended our Goma institute. Many of our lessons addressed forgiveness. One pastor said he had bitter relationships with several people in his church. He was able to reconcile with all of them. I taught on the qualifications of an elder in First Timothy 3. I applied it to all of us. Simeon said they had no idea of the high standards set for leaders. They were not discouraged but challenged to grow. They especially mentioned being above reproach and husbands of one wife. I explained to them that this is beyond the issue of divorce. It means that we are to be a “one woman man.” Many men may have only been married once, but they have wandering eyes and are not one women men. When I heard these stories, I felt ragged around the edges – just tired out. But, they made me feel that all the time, expense, and effort was more than worth it.
Thank you to all who prayed and supported me here in Africa. You have just as much stake in this as I do. I just got on the plane. You did the support and battle in prayer.
Pastor Joe
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Leaving soon
August 10, 2008
I am about to finish my last full day in Africa. We had trouble getting to our respective churches to preach, but I made it in time. I spoke in a church led by one of the Institute leaders and preached on the believer’s uniform: love, from John 13. It went well except that my translator had some difficulties. I had to repeat myself more than half the time or speak very slowly and clearly. I have become spoiled by the translator at the Institute. His name is Simeon, and he is very skilled. One of the church members spoke English with me later. He sensed that I did not think the message went out clearly, but he assured me that the church understood the main point.
As I head down to dinner tonight, it became clear that God has been answering many prayers and has helped me the whole time through. Adjustments and frustrations have been minimal in terms of culture. We all have been well taken care of by the national pastors.
I will make one or two more entries until I get back to Pennsylvania. The most stressful part of the trip should be the Goma airport itself. Once the wheels are up, the rest of the trip should be downhill. I will be in Nairobi most of tomorrow waiting for my flight to London. From there I will go to New York and then to Pittsburgh. Oh, I did have two moments that were “just like home.” The other night, a thunder storm blew through that looked just like the ones in PA. And about 3:20 in the morning, I happen to wake up to hear a rumble. Yes, we had an earthquake just like in CA. It was minor and short – no damage.
Take care,
Pastor Joe
I am about to finish my last full day in Africa. We had trouble getting to our respective churches to preach, but I made it in time. I spoke in a church led by one of the Institute leaders and preached on the believer’s uniform: love, from John 13. It went well except that my translator had some difficulties. I had to repeat myself more than half the time or speak very slowly and clearly. I have become spoiled by the translator at the Institute. His name is Simeon, and he is very skilled. One of the church members spoke English with me later. He sensed that I did not think the message went out clearly, but he assured me that the church understood the main point.
As I head down to dinner tonight, it became clear that God has been answering many prayers and has helped me the whole time through. Adjustments and frustrations have been minimal in terms of culture. We all have been well taken care of by the national pastors.
I will make one or two more entries until I get back to Pennsylvania. The most stressful part of the trip should be the Goma airport itself. Once the wheels are up, the rest of the trip should be downhill. I will be in Nairobi most of tomorrow waiting for my flight to London. From there I will go to New York and then to Pittsburgh. Oh, I did have two moments that were “just like home.” The other night, a thunder storm blew through that looked just like the ones in PA. And about 3:20 in the morning, I happen to wake up to hear a rumble. Yes, we had an earthquake just like in CA. It was minor and short – no damage.
Take care,
Pastor Joe
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Last day of teaching
August 9, 2008
Last day for the Goma institute. Everyone is feeling better, but my throat is still sore. I have no fever, congestion, or any other symptoms. I should be OK.
THE NEXT PARAGRAPH WILL DESCRIBE CONDITIONS AND STORIES FROM AN ORPHANAGE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR SOME TO READ.
While I taught yesterday, our other team members visited an orphanage. The violence in the outlying areas has left many children without parents. The woman leading the orphanage started it when she had a three month old herself. An injured baby was brought to her. The baby was found trying to nurse from his mother who was killed earlier in the day. The orphanage houses around 140 children. Two teenage girls live there with their own children (one had triplets). They had been repeatedly raped over months. They were able to escape, but struggled with having children of rape. They were able to receive counseling to accept and love their children. Another young boy bears a scar from his mouth to ear. He was maimed by a rebel with a machete as a baby. He also lost his hand. While the political structure has calmed down, there is tension. It is like a feud. No one knows how the conflicts have started; they just know they are to fight one another. The orphanage children simply live there with no plans for adoption. There is not even a procedure to find them homes. And, governments (US included) complicate the process or make it prohibitive. Over the past two weeks, I have taught on the depravity of man. We really are wicked. When we see our depravity more fully, we see how amazing the redemption of Christ really is.
I just finished the last institute course. We covered the doctrines of the church and end times. Throughout this week, we have stressed the personal lives of the pastors. We did not do this by design – it just happened. So, part of church doctrine is church leadership. We went through the list of elder qualifications in First Timothy 3. The concepts of being above reproach and managing your household well hit home. I give them a real life example of a pastor who did not keep his life above reproach. It cost him almost everything. Then I gave some practical ways to keep our lives that way. It’s been a good week, but we are only starting to just now to bond with the students. I think the language barrier has contributed to this.
One of our teachers, Doug, brought his college age son, John Michael. Some of the pastors brought their daughters. They gathered their courage, made a line, and each had their picture taken with John Michael. Very cute. None of them wanted to have their pictures taken with us old guys. Go figure.
I handed out some candy to my little friends who entertained me this week. I was very popular for a few moments. Most of the same kids were not there, but I had to take the opportunity. I had our translator teach me how to say, “Be kind” in Swahili. Go “mooa-wamah” one to another.
Pastor Joe
Last day for the Goma institute. Everyone is feeling better, but my throat is still sore. I have no fever, congestion, or any other symptoms. I should be OK.
THE NEXT PARAGRAPH WILL DESCRIBE CONDITIONS AND STORIES FROM AN ORPHANAGE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR SOME TO READ.
While I taught yesterday, our other team members visited an orphanage. The violence in the outlying areas has left many children without parents. The woman leading the orphanage started it when she had a three month old herself. An injured baby was brought to her. The baby was found trying to nurse from his mother who was killed earlier in the day. The orphanage houses around 140 children. Two teenage girls live there with their own children (one had triplets). They had been repeatedly raped over months. They were able to escape, but struggled with having children of rape. They were able to receive counseling to accept and love their children. Another young boy bears a scar from his mouth to ear. He was maimed by a rebel with a machete as a baby. He also lost his hand. While the political structure has calmed down, there is tension. It is like a feud. No one knows how the conflicts have started; they just know they are to fight one another. The orphanage children simply live there with no plans for adoption. There is not even a procedure to find them homes. And, governments (US included) complicate the process or make it prohibitive. Over the past two weeks, I have taught on the depravity of man. We really are wicked. When we see our depravity more fully, we see how amazing the redemption of Christ really is.
I just finished the last institute course. We covered the doctrines of the church and end times. Throughout this week, we have stressed the personal lives of the pastors. We did not do this by design – it just happened. So, part of church doctrine is church leadership. We went through the list of elder qualifications in First Timothy 3. The concepts of being above reproach and managing your household well hit home. I give them a real life example of a pastor who did not keep his life above reproach. It cost him almost everything. Then I gave some practical ways to keep our lives that way. It’s been a good week, but we are only starting to just now to bond with the students. I think the language barrier has contributed to this.
One of our teachers, Doug, brought his college age son, John Michael. Some of the pastors brought their daughters. They gathered their courage, made a line, and each had their picture taken with John Michael. Very cute. None of them wanted to have their pictures taken with us old guys. Go figure.
I handed out some candy to my little friends who entertained me this week. I was very popular for a few moments. Most of the same kids were not there, but I had to take the opportunity. I had our translator teach me how to say, “Be kind” in Swahili. Go “mooa-wamah” one to another.
Pastor Joe
Friday, August 8, 2008
Dragging along!
August 8, 2008
We are starting to drag. Some of our team is sick but ok to continue. Overall, we are just tiring out. There are two days left of the institute, we preach on Sunday, and fly out on Monday morning. We have an eight hour layover in Nairobi. We are considering seeing some of the town, but it may not be worth it once we pay for a transit visa and a taxi. We will likely hang out at the airport.
If you see Trish, wish her a happy anniversary. We’ve been married for 21 years today. And, it’s a double anniversary. One year ago, the Olkowski’s arrived in Pennsylvania. We are grateful for our new friends and church family at Zion. Our launch team has been a blessing to us. And, we miss and appreciate our friends and family in California too.
Our doctrine studies included man, sin, and salvation. I did not cover this next point in Zambia, but I addressed the idea of our value just as a creation of God in his image. Everyone has intrinsic value. Doug followed up in his lesson as well along the similar lines. It was a good one-two punch. We also were able to discuss temptation and avoiding sin.
I briefly taught the ideas of free will and election. No problem! We did enjoy looking at all the accomplishments of the cross and what it did for us. Part of me does not understand why someone rejects all that God has done for us through Christ. But another part remembers how my excuses seem to make sense. I have not desire to go back to the old way of life. The pastors took detailed notes to study later.
Our illnesses are percolating. Our leader, John, is back at the hotel with some anti-biotic with some kind of flu. John Michael was sick yesterday. My throat is getting sore (it might be from dust and pollution). We are almost done though.
I’m so glad I’ve come, but I’m missing home too. Hope you all are well.
Pastor Joe
We are starting to drag. Some of our team is sick but ok to continue. Overall, we are just tiring out. There are two days left of the institute, we preach on Sunday, and fly out on Monday morning. We have an eight hour layover in Nairobi. We are considering seeing some of the town, but it may not be worth it once we pay for a transit visa and a taxi. We will likely hang out at the airport.
If you see Trish, wish her a happy anniversary. We’ve been married for 21 years today. And, it’s a double anniversary. One year ago, the Olkowski’s arrived in Pennsylvania. We are grateful for our new friends and church family at Zion. Our launch team has been a blessing to us. And, we miss and appreciate our friends and family in California too.
Our doctrine studies included man, sin, and salvation. I did not cover this next point in Zambia, but I addressed the idea of our value just as a creation of God in his image. Everyone has intrinsic value. Doug followed up in his lesson as well along the similar lines. It was a good one-two punch. We also were able to discuss temptation and avoiding sin.
I briefly taught the ideas of free will and election. No problem! We did enjoy looking at all the accomplishments of the cross and what it did for us. Part of me does not understand why someone rejects all that God has done for us through Christ. But another part remembers how my excuses seem to make sense. I have not desire to go back to the old way of life. The pastors took detailed notes to study later.
Our illnesses are percolating. Our leader, John, is back at the hotel with some anti-biotic with some kind of flu. John Michael was sick yesterday. My throat is getting sore (it might be from dust and pollution). We are almost done though.
I’m so glad I’ve come, but I’m missing home too. Hope you all are well.
Pastor Joe
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Goma continues
August 7, 2008
We are now in day three of the institute. Yesterday, I was able to send out an emergency email. There is a cultural and spiritual resistance to renouncing the idolatry in Africa. There was quite a stir. We will see how things go today.
A huge thunder storm came through last night. Lots of thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. I was warm and dry, but I had to wonder how the residents living in shacks and lean-tos faired.
I will teach on the Holy Spirit and angels & satan (hopefully). Besides the doctrines themselves (deity, work in believer’s lives, gifting, etc.), I want to apply the truths themselves. I will record later how it goes. (Later) The lessons went very well. I was able to discuss at length the concept of begin filled with the Spirit. There are quite a few questions about sanctification and when a believer sins. They understood how we cannot live the life on our own. We need the Spirit to live the life. I also covered angels and demons and how to be aware of satan’s schemes.
We are challenging them to formally renounce practices of the old life. We actually burned some cult books that some of the leaders were involved with. The pride among the leadership is thick, so it means much for them to take a stand. What will others think? Sounds just like home! It seems like this resistance is cracking though.
Hope you all are well.
Pastor Joe
We are now in day three of the institute. Yesterday, I was able to send out an emergency email. There is a cultural and spiritual resistance to renouncing the idolatry in Africa. There was quite a stir. We will see how things go today.
A huge thunder storm came through last night. Lots of thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. I was warm and dry, but I had to wonder how the residents living in shacks and lean-tos faired.
I will teach on the Holy Spirit and angels & satan (hopefully). Besides the doctrines themselves (deity, work in believer’s lives, gifting, etc.), I want to apply the truths themselves. I will record later how it goes. (Later) The lessons went very well. I was able to discuss at length the concept of begin filled with the Spirit. There are quite a few questions about sanctification and when a believer sins. They understood how we cannot live the life on our own. We need the Spirit to live the life. I also covered angels and demons and how to be aware of satan’s schemes.
We are challenging them to formally renounce practices of the old life. We actually burned some cult books that some of the leaders were involved with. The pride among the leadership is thick, so it means much for them to take a stand. What will others think? Sounds just like home! It seems like this resistance is cracking though.
Hope you all are well.
Pastor Joe
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Second day teaching in Goma
August 6, 2008
Second day at Goma! Many like to hear about the weather. I was expecting hot and dry climate in both cities. But, since I’m in a different hemisphere, it’s winter here and dark by 6:00PM. Both cities have been cool and unusually dry. I was comfortable in short sleeves, but the nights have been cooler. Yesterday, it rained quite a bit. It hope it’s dry today, for my laundry is hanging on a clothesline. So far, so good, but it’s overcast.
There is a contingent of children who meet us every day at the institute. I have no idea what they are saying. They love having their picture taken. I video taped them being silly and then replayed the tape – big hit. They enjoyed what I call “Stupid finger tricks.” Ask my kids if you don’t know what they are. At least the African children liked them. They also like shaking hands. They have runny noses, filthy hands, and often have them in their mouths. Jesus touched lepers, so I suppose dirt, snot, and spit won’t hurt.
Your emails and blog comments have been very encouraging. It makes me wonder how many missionaries I can write but don’t. The contact relieves our minds of what is happening at home. Drop those missionaries an email!
Our teaching time has been cut. They are starting later and ending earlier than planned. This means I have not had a chance to teach Romans. We will see. I may just give an overview. And don’t forget that we need to be translated. That takes more time too.
Today, I covered Jesus in Theology. We started with his deity & humanity, his laying aside of his glory, his death & resurrection, and his return. Besides the teaching, there was some good application moments. When I discussed the kingship of Christ, I mentioned how the kings of Israel were to be spiritual leaders primarily. If the king followed God, the people followed God (and visa-versa). Church leaders bear the same responsibility. When a leader falls, it hurts more than just the leader. The other point to bring home is the home we have from the resurrection. The disciples were crushed, broken, and scarred the Friday of Jesus’ death. But God is the God of Sunday morning. Not only does the resurrection give us assurance of future life, it gives hope in difficult situations. If God can turn Jesus’ death into life, just think what he can do in the struggles of our lives.
We had a battle today in Doug’s spiritual warfare section. He challenged the pastors to abandon the idolatry that still exists in DRC. Many have kept practices from the animist ways. It causes a stir. A group of pastors finally came forward to express their commitment to renounce the idolatry from Satan’s kingdom. Some cracks were made, but there is much work to do. Keep praying.
By the way, add six hours to EST (nine for PST) if you’re curious what time it is for me. Our institute meets from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Do the math.
Pastor Joe
Second day at Goma! Many like to hear about the weather. I was expecting hot and dry climate in both cities. But, since I’m in a different hemisphere, it’s winter here and dark by 6:00PM. Both cities have been cool and unusually dry. I was comfortable in short sleeves, but the nights have been cooler. Yesterday, it rained quite a bit. It hope it’s dry today, for my laundry is hanging on a clothesline. So far, so good, but it’s overcast.
There is a contingent of children who meet us every day at the institute. I have no idea what they are saying. They love having their picture taken. I video taped them being silly and then replayed the tape – big hit. They enjoyed what I call “Stupid finger tricks.” Ask my kids if you don’t know what they are. At least the African children liked them. They also like shaking hands. They have runny noses, filthy hands, and often have them in their mouths. Jesus touched lepers, so I suppose dirt, snot, and spit won’t hurt.
Your emails and blog comments have been very encouraging. It makes me wonder how many missionaries I can write but don’t. The contact relieves our minds of what is happening at home. Drop those missionaries an email!
Our teaching time has been cut. They are starting later and ending earlier than planned. This means I have not had a chance to teach Romans. We will see. I may just give an overview. And don’t forget that we need to be translated. That takes more time too.
Today, I covered Jesus in Theology. We started with his deity & humanity, his laying aside of his glory, his death & resurrection, and his return. Besides the teaching, there was some good application moments. When I discussed the kingship of Christ, I mentioned how the kings of Israel were to be spiritual leaders primarily. If the king followed God, the people followed God (and visa-versa). Church leaders bear the same responsibility. When a leader falls, it hurts more than just the leader. The other point to bring home is the home we have from the resurrection. The disciples were crushed, broken, and scarred the Friday of Jesus’ death. But God is the God of Sunday morning. Not only does the resurrection give us assurance of future life, it gives hope in difficult situations. If God can turn Jesus’ death into life, just think what he can do in the struggles of our lives.
We had a battle today in Doug’s spiritual warfare section. He challenged the pastors to abandon the idolatry that still exists in DRC. Many have kept practices from the animist ways. It causes a stir. A group of pastors finally came forward to express their commitment to renounce the idolatry from Satan’s kingdom. Some cracks were made, but there is much work to do. Keep praying.
By the way, add six hours to EST (nine for PST) if you’re curious what time it is for me. Our institute meets from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Do the math.
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Now in DRC!
August 2, 2008
Today is Saturday, our day of rest. We have the day to shop for souvenirs, check the internet, and just catch a breath. On institute days, we leave by eight and are back in our rooms around 7:00PM. So, the days are pretty full. We shopped in what used to be the oldest standing village in Lusaka, Zambia. While it has the old, thatched roofs, it is now a market that features Zambian arts and crafts. It was interesting just to look around. The clerks say, “Sir…look at this elephant…good deal for you today! Look! Bracelets, drum, bowl, mask?” With our local leader, Pastor Mutali, we had little trouble finding good deals.
I appreciate the emails and the blog comments! They have been a huge encouragement.
Pastor Joe
August 3, 2008
This morning, I preached twice in Pastor Mutali’s church. He is the regional director for our training institute. These believers do not lack for enthusiasm. I had planned a sermon on overcoming difficulties, but the more I thought of it, it just did not sit right. So, I spoke both services on John 13:34-35 which is Jesus’ command to love one another. It seemed to hit home. I preached in English, and Pastor Mutali translated into the Bemba language. During the service, there was also a baby dedication. This is very similar to the dedications I have seen in the US. The pastor commissions the parents, lays his hands on each child, and prays for them. There must have been about 22 kids dedicated in the first service alone.
The church is in an area called Kuyama. It is the most densely populated area in Zambia. Most of the homes are squatters who just took over a plot of land, built a shanty home or concrete brick structure, and made it their own. There is no law here. Garbage is everywhere. No electricity. No plumbing. There were three cars in the parking area, but about 200 people were at church. All of them walk. There is no sewage except for the ditch that runs along the road. You can imagine the smell. These people give birth, live, and then die. Their lives do not amount to more than that. Yet, there are many that attend the church and have committed their lives to Christ. We do not need riches to have meaning, but the poverty is devastating.
Early the next morning, we will be on our way to Nairobi and then on to Goma, DRC. Our plan leaves at 2:30 in the morning. I’m glad that our institute does not start until Tuesday and will go to Saturday. This one will be in French, so we will use translators. This will make the challenge to fit everything in even greater.
Pastor Joe
August 4, 2008
We arrived in Goma, DRC today. We were dropped off early and spent some quality time in the Lusaka airport. I had a few Zambian dollars left, so I purchased some odds and ends and some cookie/cracker items not to mention bottled water. We flew for over three hours to Nairobi (there are no direct flights from Lusaka to Goma). We did not take a major airline. This is not to say that it was junky; it was just hard to find. We finally managed to find the gate where we should be. They confirmed our seats with cell phones and two-way radios. We verified our luggage and road a 50 seat jet. It rides just like a bigger jet until the descent and a roller coaster effect.
Goma is best described as chaotic. There is confusion in the airport and confusion in the town. Once we deplaned, we had no trouble getting through immigration except we could not understand that the clerk was asking if we were military. A nice, French speaking young man next to us translated. We were then surrounded by men who want to carry our luggage (for a fee of course), so we had to grab our bags and not let go. Our bags then needed “inspecting.” Half of the airport staff do not wear any kind of uniform. So, we funneled (and I mean “funneled”) into a narrow line. There was lots of screaming and yelling. They only wanted our main bags checked. Everyone else is trying to get their bags checked too. I was worried that the clerk would take the gift I received in Lusaka from the pastors – a clock to remind me of Zambia. I was able to communicate what it was without unpacking the whole thing. There was barely enough room for me to pass much less with my baggage. I just plowed through like everyone else did. Once in the lobby, we waited for almost two hours for our ride. There was some confusion when our flight arrived. While I watched the bags, John was able to use someone’s cell phone and call our contact, and our ride finally came. The airport is filthy and in terrible shape. It has constant noise. I watched the money changers work while everyone else kept an eye on this obvious stranger.
Our ride through Goma was not quite as adventurous. There are walls of people on both sides of the road. Make shift shanty markets sell just about everything. We needed the high profile car just to make it over the potholes. I was expecting a very low end place to stay. However, our hosts managed a very good price for nice rooms. I even have a view of the nearby lake. No suffering for Jesus here!
The pastor’s institute starts tomorrow. I have met our new fellow teachers, and we will work together well. With the translation, our time will be at a greater premium than in Lusaka, so we are making some tough choices.
Hey, if you made it this far, thanks for reading all of this. I very much appreciate the responses and emails.
Everyone be good!
Pastor Joe
August 5, 2008
We have officially started the Goma institute. As of this writing, I am sitting in the back while the first session is ongoing. I will stress the doctrine/theology portion of my lessons. With the time it takes to translate (English into French or Swahili), we are going to focus on one session each to do a complete job. I will then cover what I can in Romans.
The Goma facility is a little rougher around the edges, but it depends. On one hand, our power should be a little more dependable with a generator. And, we have a chalkboard with chalk. Both places have a sound system. On the other hand, we have no overhead lights here. The bathroom is an outhouse with a hole in the floor. The rest of the facility is more open. However, for both places, we have more than adequate facilities to teach. We make do. No complaints.
Our new team members are Doug Dorman and his son, John Michael. Doug leads a ministry called “Your Next Step Institute.” They do discipleship training. John Michael is a junior in college. He is accompanying his father, documenting their trip, and will work with some kids and teens while he is here. Doug will be teaching a course on Spiritual Warfare. They are good men. Be praying for them too. Thanks.
Ok…power update. The generator cut out and we don’t have power. Oh well. Again, we make do. I was able to get through a couple of sections in theology. We have a fantastic translator, Simeon. I threw out some pretty technical language, and he handled it well. It looks like he will translate for all of us the whole week. I hope his voice holds out!
Grace and peace to you.
Pastor Joe
Today is Saturday, our day of rest. We have the day to shop for souvenirs, check the internet, and just catch a breath. On institute days, we leave by eight and are back in our rooms around 7:00PM. So, the days are pretty full. We shopped in what used to be the oldest standing village in Lusaka, Zambia. While it has the old, thatched roofs, it is now a market that features Zambian arts and crafts. It was interesting just to look around. The clerks say, “Sir…look at this elephant…good deal for you today! Look! Bracelets, drum, bowl, mask?” With our local leader, Pastor Mutali, we had little trouble finding good deals.
I appreciate the emails and the blog comments! They have been a huge encouragement.
Pastor Joe
August 3, 2008
This morning, I preached twice in Pastor Mutali’s church. He is the regional director for our training institute. These believers do not lack for enthusiasm. I had planned a sermon on overcoming difficulties, but the more I thought of it, it just did not sit right. So, I spoke both services on John 13:34-35 which is Jesus’ command to love one another. It seemed to hit home. I preached in English, and Pastor Mutali translated into the Bemba language. During the service, there was also a baby dedication. This is very similar to the dedications I have seen in the US. The pastor commissions the parents, lays his hands on each child, and prays for them. There must have been about 22 kids dedicated in the first service alone.
The church is in an area called Kuyama. It is the most densely populated area in Zambia. Most of the homes are squatters who just took over a plot of land, built a shanty home or concrete brick structure, and made it their own. There is no law here. Garbage is everywhere. No electricity. No plumbing. There were three cars in the parking area, but about 200 people were at church. All of them walk. There is no sewage except for the ditch that runs along the road. You can imagine the smell. These people give birth, live, and then die. Their lives do not amount to more than that. Yet, there are many that attend the church and have committed their lives to Christ. We do not need riches to have meaning, but the poverty is devastating.
Early the next morning, we will be on our way to Nairobi and then on to Goma, DRC. Our plan leaves at 2:30 in the morning. I’m glad that our institute does not start until Tuesday and will go to Saturday. This one will be in French, so we will use translators. This will make the challenge to fit everything in even greater.
Pastor Joe
August 4, 2008
We arrived in Goma, DRC today. We were dropped off early and spent some quality time in the Lusaka airport. I had a few Zambian dollars left, so I purchased some odds and ends and some cookie/cracker items not to mention bottled water. We flew for over three hours to Nairobi (there are no direct flights from Lusaka to Goma). We did not take a major airline. This is not to say that it was junky; it was just hard to find. We finally managed to find the gate where we should be. They confirmed our seats with cell phones and two-way radios. We verified our luggage and road a 50 seat jet. It rides just like a bigger jet until the descent and a roller coaster effect.
Goma is best described as chaotic. There is confusion in the airport and confusion in the town. Once we deplaned, we had no trouble getting through immigration except we could not understand that the clerk was asking if we were military. A nice, French speaking young man next to us translated. We were then surrounded by men who want to carry our luggage (for a fee of course), so we had to grab our bags and not let go. Our bags then needed “inspecting.” Half of the airport staff do not wear any kind of uniform. So, we funneled (and I mean “funneled”) into a narrow line. There was lots of screaming and yelling. They only wanted our main bags checked. Everyone else is trying to get their bags checked too. I was worried that the clerk would take the gift I received in Lusaka from the pastors – a clock to remind me of Zambia. I was able to communicate what it was without unpacking the whole thing. There was barely enough room for me to pass much less with my baggage. I just plowed through like everyone else did. Once in the lobby, we waited for almost two hours for our ride. There was some confusion when our flight arrived. While I watched the bags, John was able to use someone’s cell phone and call our contact, and our ride finally came. The airport is filthy and in terrible shape. It has constant noise. I watched the money changers work while everyone else kept an eye on this obvious stranger.
Our ride through Goma was not quite as adventurous. There are walls of people on both sides of the road. Make shift shanty markets sell just about everything. We needed the high profile car just to make it over the potholes. I was expecting a very low end place to stay. However, our hosts managed a very good price for nice rooms. I even have a view of the nearby lake. No suffering for Jesus here!
The pastor’s institute starts tomorrow. I have met our new fellow teachers, and we will work together well. With the translation, our time will be at a greater premium than in Lusaka, so we are making some tough choices.
Hey, if you made it this far, thanks for reading all of this. I very much appreciate the responses and emails.
Everyone be good!
Pastor Joe
August 5, 2008
We have officially started the Goma institute. As of this writing, I am sitting in the back while the first session is ongoing. I will stress the doctrine/theology portion of my lessons. With the time it takes to translate (English into French or Swahili), we are going to focus on one session each to do a complete job. I will then cover what I can in Romans.
The Goma facility is a little rougher around the edges, but it depends. On one hand, our power should be a little more dependable with a generator. And, we have a chalkboard with chalk. Both places have a sound system. On the other hand, we have no overhead lights here. The bathroom is an outhouse with a hole in the floor. The rest of the facility is more open. However, for both places, we have more than adequate facilities to teach. We make do. No complaints.
Our new team members are Doug Dorman and his son, John Michael. Doug leads a ministry called “Your Next Step Institute.” They do discipleship training. John Michael is a junior in college. He is accompanying his father, documenting their trip, and will work with some kids and teens while he is here. Doug will be teaching a course on Spiritual Warfare. They are good men. Be praying for them too. Thanks.
Ok…power update. The generator cut out and we don’t have power. Oh well. Again, we make do. I was able to get through a couple of sections in theology. We have a fantastic translator, Simeon. I threw out some pretty technical language, and he handled it well. It looks like he will translate for all of us the whole week. I hope his voice holds out!
Grace and peace to you.
Pastor Joe
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Last entry from Zambia!
Here is my last entry from Zambia. As it says below, I may not have internet in DRC. I will keep records until I get back. JO
August 1, 2008
One of my concerns traveling to another continent is that I would get sick especially by food poisoning. I’ve been on three prior trips and each time I became sick. However, at the last day of our first institute, I’m pleased to say that I feel great. I have one week to go. The only problem I have had is sleeping, but that was my fault. Some of you know that I like my coffee strong enough to stand up a fork. The Zambians know how to make coffee. A couple of nights at dinner, I had their coffee. It only took me two times to learn my lesson. It kept me up almost all night. But, the coffee is fantastic!
My last class in Romans is finished for this institute. I will teach it again in Goma, DRC. This last lesson covered the application section of Romans from chapter twelve forward. We examined the ideas of being living sacrifices and how that works out in life. I made sure we covered the part in chapter fourteen about disputed items. We decided not to get too specific so as not to cause a ruckus in the teaching session. So, I used other examples and stressed the ideas of accepting one another and not causing another to stumble. I feel ok about how the whole course went since the students asked excellent questions. I will make a few changes for the next institute since the material needs to tie together better.
The pastors seem so thankful. They come up and graciously shake our hands. Little do they know how much they have blessed us. They actively take notes and think through the issues.
I just finished my last course. I had about four hours of notes left and only one hour to teach. Fortunately, the student notes have detailed explanations with Scripture references. So, there was much for them to study later on. We did make it to the end times. I don’t even have a chalkboard to use; I would have liked to draw a timeline. However, I got the idea to use volunteers to illustrate the order of events. It worked really well. We did come up with even a better way to use the illustration when we get to Goma.
And, it broke my heart later when a pastor asked me if I had a Bible. The poverty is horrific.
The students graduated today. They were so appreciative and wanted to know when I could return. I have to wonder about the spiritual hunger in Zambia. If the pastors are this hungry, how do the rest of the believers feel?
We are leaving for Goma on Monday early. So, we are not sure if we will have internet access. Don’t worry if you do not hear from me for the week. We will start the next institute on Tuesday, August 5, and finish on Saturday. I should be home on the 12th.
Pastor Joe
August 1, 2008
One of my concerns traveling to another continent is that I would get sick especially by food poisoning. I’ve been on three prior trips and each time I became sick. However, at the last day of our first institute, I’m pleased to say that I feel great. I have one week to go. The only problem I have had is sleeping, but that was my fault. Some of you know that I like my coffee strong enough to stand up a fork. The Zambians know how to make coffee. A couple of nights at dinner, I had their coffee. It only took me two times to learn my lesson. It kept me up almost all night. But, the coffee is fantastic!
My last class in Romans is finished for this institute. I will teach it again in Goma, DRC. This last lesson covered the application section of Romans from chapter twelve forward. We examined the ideas of being living sacrifices and how that works out in life. I made sure we covered the part in chapter fourteen about disputed items. We decided not to get too specific so as not to cause a ruckus in the teaching session. So, I used other examples and stressed the ideas of accepting one another and not causing another to stumble. I feel ok about how the whole course went since the students asked excellent questions. I will make a few changes for the next institute since the material needs to tie together better.
The pastors seem so thankful. They come up and graciously shake our hands. Little do they know how much they have blessed us. They actively take notes and think through the issues.
I just finished my last course. I had about four hours of notes left and only one hour to teach. Fortunately, the student notes have detailed explanations with Scripture references. So, there was much for them to study later on. We did make it to the end times. I don’t even have a chalkboard to use; I would have liked to draw a timeline. However, I got the idea to use volunteers to illustrate the order of events. It worked really well. We did come up with even a better way to use the illustration when we get to Goma.
And, it broke my heart later when a pastor asked me if I had a Bible. The poverty is horrific.
The students graduated today. They were so appreciative and wanted to know when I could return. I have to wonder about the spiritual hunger in Zambia. If the pastors are this hungry, how do the rest of the believers feel?
We are leaving for Goma on Monday early. So, we are not sure if we will have internet access. Don’t worry if you do not hear from me for the week. We will start the next institute on Tuesday, August 5, and finish on Saturday. I should be home on the 12th.
Pastor Joe
Thursday, July 31, 2008
institute continues
July 30, 2008
Over the past few days, I have been concerned about two things. First, am I teaching at a level appropriate to these people? Should it be deeper or not? John and I spoke this morning and assured me that my teaching level is correct. Second, will the knowledge we are imparting result in pride? I fall into this trap too. I will address it at the end of Romans 11 where Paul just starts praising God from all the heavy doctrine he has just taught. Since Paul said he has not arrived, neither should we.
Yesterday, I received a couple of interesting questions. One was, if we are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, why did Peter say in the “name of Jesus” in Acts 2:38? I think the reason is that there were other baptisms done at that time (like John’s in Acts 18). This baptism may be referred to as “Jesus’ baptism” opposed to other baptisms. The second question is why did Jesus say he had no place to lay his head but in John 1:38-39 he had a place to stay? I’ve never heard this question before! The answer is that Jesus said he had no place to lay his head to mean he did not own anything. He often stayed with friends, so he had a place to sleep. But, he did not own it.
The Romans section today covered the idea of sanctification (growing in our relationship with Christ). Paul starts off explaining that we do not need to serve the old master; we can say “No!” to sin. So, why give in to it? He then practically explains that there is a struggle the believer experiences between our internal desire to do right but the other desire is to do wrong. He wants to know who will set him free from this conflict. He answers his own question with Jesus Christ. The Spirit then provides us the power to live as we should. He reminds us that there is no condemnation in Christ and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Frankly, while this material is very good, I had trouble keeping focus, and I’m not sure why.
I’ve been thinking and praying about Zion of Petroleum Valley today. As I write, one of the men covering for me is meeting right now with the group. I’m confident he will do well, but I’m also asking God to help him.
In the second session today, we flew through theology. In fact, I’m way behind where I should be. I am going to fly through the rest as much as possible without sacrificing content. I covered the rest of bibliology, Christology, and started the Holy Spirit. Not bad for ninety minutes. And while it was right after lunch, the students were much more engaged, and I felt better too. We all really enjoyed the lesson, and I had several come up with good questions later.
The worship is fantastic. Their zeal would put most of the US churches to shame. Dancing in the aisles is just fine!
Pastor Joe
July 31, 2008
People are usually curious about the living conditions in other nations. So, let me tell you about Zambian food and shelter. The food, pleasantly, has been ok. There are times when the meat would be better suited as shoe leather, but it has been good. Other food is standard rice, meat, and vegetables. There is a starch dish that is very popular called mnshea (sp?). It has the consistency of dense mash potatoes. It has virtually no taste. Our hotel is ok. It seems a little expensive for what we get, but it is far cheaper than other places. It is clean, but the hot water and electricity are sporadic. The staff is very polite and friendly. One of the guards escorted us a few blocks down the street to the internet café. He stayed with us the whole time. We draw too much attention on the street, so it’s nice to have a local keep the unscrupulous at bay.
I’ve told you about my courses, but these are not the only ones we are teaching. The students come for the entire day. Our missionary, John, works with TPI, Training Pastors International. He is teaching some courses on preaching style to make our messages more interesting and biblical. He is also teaching them a Walk Thru the Bible seminar on the New Testament. His wife, Jennifer, is teaching a course on Church Administration. The pastors really appreciate this. She is covering organization, planning, budgets, buildings, scheduling, and resources.
Today in Romans, we covered chapters 9-11. These explain Paul’s heart for his countrymen, the Israelites. It seemed to make an impact on the students to see that he would be willing to give up his salvation for their salvation. He then explains the plan God has for his people of the Old Testament (Israel) and his people of the New Testament (Church). We discussed his example of a grafted olive tree and our responsibility to spread the news about Christ.
In Theology, we finished the Holy Spirit, ran through angels & Satan, and started anthropology. Yes, we are moving fast and there is not enough time. Even though it was fast, we covered the spiritual warfare that all believers face. I wanted to assure them that while Satan is not one to take lightly, we have great victory available to us. When I finished, the pastor acting as MC, asked if I can stay a month to cover the material more completely. I don’t think I will have permission to do that.
One more day to go on this institute. We will finish with a graduation for the students as we hand out their certificates. They have been so thirsty, cooperative, inquisitive, and responsive. I gained far more than they have.
Pastor Joe
Over the past few days, I have been concerned about two things. First, am I teaching at a level appropriate to these people? Should it be deeper or not? John and I spoke this morning and assured me that my teaching level is correct. Second, will the knowledge we are imparting result in pride? I fall into this trap too. I will address it at the end of Romans 11 where Paul just starts praising God from all the heavy doctrine he has just taught. Since Paul said he has not arrived, neither should we.
Yesterday, I received a couple of interesting questions. One was, if we are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, why did Peter say in the “name of Jesus” in Acts 2:38? I think the reason is that there were other baptisms done at that time (like John’s in Acts 18). This baptism may be referred to as “Jesus’ baptism” opposed to other baptisms. The second question is why did Jesus say he had no place to lay his head but in John 1:38-39 he had a place to stay? I’ve never heard this question before! The answer is that Jesus said he had no place to lay his head to mean he did not own anything. He often stayed with friends, so he had a place to sleep. But, he did not own it.
The Romans section today covered the idea of sanctification (growing in our relationship with Christ). Paul starts off explaining that we do not need to serve the old master; we can say “No!” to sin. So, why give in to it? He then practically explains that there is a struggle the believer experiences between our internal desire to do right but the other desire is to do wrong. He wants to know who will set him free from this conflict. He answers his own question with Jesus Christ. The Spirit then provides us the power to live as we should. He reminds us that there is no condemnation in Christ and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Frankly, while this material is very good, I had trouble keeping focus, and I’m not sure why.
I’ve been thinking and praying about Zion of Petroleum Valley today. As I write, one of the men covering for me is meeting right now with the group. I’m confident he will do well, but I’m also asking God to help him.
In the second session today, we flew through theology. In fact, I’m way behind where I should be. I am going to fly through the rest as much as possible without sacrificing content. I covered the rest of bibliology, Christology, and started the Holy Spirit. Not bad for ninety minutes. And while it was right after lunch, the students were much more engaged, and I felt better too. We all really enjoyed the lesson, and I had several come up with good questions later.
The worship is fantastic. Their zeal would put most of the US churches to shame. Dancing in the aisles is just fine!
Pastor Joe
July 31, 2008
People are usually curious about the living conditions in other nations. So, let me tell you about Zambian food and shelter. The food, pleasantly, has been ok. There are times when the meat would be better suited as shoe leather, but it has been good. Other food is standard rice, meat, and vegetables. There is a starch dish that is very popular called mnshea (sp?). It has the consistency of dense mash potatoes. It has virtually no taste. Our hotel is ok. It seems a little expensive for what we get, but it is far cheaper than other places. It is clean, but the hot water and electricity are sporadic. The staff is very polite and friendly. One of the guards escorted us a few blocks down the street to the internet café. He stayed with us the whole time. We draw too much attention on the street, so it’s nice to have a local keep the unscrupulous at bay.
I’ve told you about my courses, but these are not the only ones we are teaching. The students come for the entire day. Our missionary, John, works with TPI, Training Pastors International. He is teaching some courses on preaching style to make our messages more interesting and biblical. He is also teaching them a Walk Thru the Bible seminar on the New Testament. His wife, Jennifer, is teaching a course on Church Administration. The pastors really appreciate this. She is covering organization, planning, budgets, buildings, scheduling, and resources.
Today in Romans, we covered chapters 9-11. These explain Paul’s heart for his countrymen, the Israelites. It seemed to make an impact on the students to see that he would be willing to give up his salvation for their salvation. He then explains the plan God has for his people of the Old Testament (Israel) and his people of the New Testament (Church). We discussed his example of a grafted olive tree and our responsibility to spread the news about Christ.
In Theology, we finished the Holy Spirit, ran through angels & Satan, and started anthropology. Yes, we are moving fast and there is not enough time. Even though it was fast, we covered the spiritual warfare that all believers face. I wanted to assure them that while Satan is not one to take lightly, we have great victory available to us. When I finished, the pastor acting as MC, asked if I can stay a month to cover the material more completely. I don’t think I will have permission to do that.
One more day to go on this institute. We will finish with a graduation for the students as we hand out their certificates. They have been so thirsty, cooperative, inquisitive, and responsive. I gained far more than they have.
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The latest from Zambia
Hi, Sorry I've not posted sooner. It's tough to find the net around here.
July 26, 2008
As of this writing, I am sitting in the Johannesburg airport waiting for my final leg on the way in. I will be in Lusaka, Zambia for the first week. I will have been in a plane or in an airport for 24 hours by the time I get there. So far, it has been uneventful except that I did not know I would have a stop over in Darkar; we did not even de-plane though. All appears to be in order for my luggage to arrive with me in Lusaka. I figured out that this trip will take me to seven countries and three continents (ok, some are just lay overs).
Well, airports don’t make for exciting reports. Just keep praying. I start teaching on Monday, July 28. The only anxiety is not knowing what to expect in the teaching setting.
Pastor Joe
July 27, 2008 (Lusaka, Zambia)
It’s not even noon yet, and I’ve had a great Sunday. We visited Pastor Kenneth’s church for service. Services started at 6:00AM, but we did not have to be there until the 8:00AM service. John, the TPI leader, preached. I spoke just to give greetings from the church in the US and from Zion. They return greetings to you. (I should be able to preach next week). Lot’s of life and great music. Despite the jet lag, I had a wonderful time. We will take care of logistical needs today and then start teaching on Monday.
We drove through the street market which was full of people, but Pastor Kenneth said it was not crowded at all. He told us about the crime and poverty issues in the area. We had to make sure we did not hold our cameras out of the car window as they could easily be grabbed. The area was filled with squatters: people who would just build on a stake of land. That was home – no plumbing or electricity. There is a ditch in front of the house to dump waste. They just make do. The children, of course, are very cute and play with whatever they can find. At church, a group of kids wanted just to come over and shake hands.
All luggage and supplies have arrived with me!
Pastor Joe
July 28, 2008
I taught for the first day today. We had about 176 pastors and other visitors. We got a late start with registrations and setup and our lunch plans hit a snag. But, we made through our day well. The students are very responsive, appreciative, and interested.
My first teaching session is in Romans (1:1-3:20). I covered introductory material on the book, and then we dove right in. We examined Paul’s three purposes for his letter: Announce his visit, present the complete Gospel message, and address the Jew/Gentile conflict. He then states his thesis that we need God’s righteousness and can only access it by faith. We start with the bad news: we are horribly in need of a savior. Not only are people sinful, we revel in it. We would rather look to idols rather than our Creator. There is no excuse, and there is no hope for us on our own. Indeed, our situation is dire. I left them with the “bad news” of Romans (up to chapter 3). Tomorrow, we start the “Good News” of the rest of the book. I’m looking forward to it.
The second teaching session is in theology. Due to scheduling issues, I did not have a whole ninety minutes. As with Romans, we started with introductory material including various theological points of view and various types of theological study. Continuing, we discuss bias and interpretation/linguistic issues. Time ran out! I should have opportunity to catch up.
Keep praying!
Pastor Joe
July 29, 2008
Perspective is everything. I woke up this morning to find I had no hot water. It’s not that the water was not hot, no water came out. The frustration is not the water but the cost of the hotel does not match the level we should get. And, this place is considered a bargain. Then, later on, we were reminded that many of the pastors left for the training institute today at 5:00AM so they can get there by 8:30AM. It took so long because they had to walk. It’s hard to gripe about cold water now!
We received a great letter today from one of our attendees. He mentioned that he has attended other Bible conferences. He complained that they are more about the accomplishments or testimony of the speaker or that many go just to get a gift at the end or a free Bible. He appreciated that they are getting actual help for their ministries. Cool.
In Romans today, we covered 3:21 to 5:21. I was glad to leave the bad news section and give them the good news. We discussed how we are justified by the work of Christ. He has paid for our sins. Our original state is utterly hopeless by ourselves. Because of all this, we have reason to rejoice even in hard times. We discussed the terms justification, redemption, atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation. After the session, one of the men asked me about when a believer sins and confession. He also asked about this in relation to Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” It seems to be a hot issue here. I discussed it individually, but I will cover it when we get to that passage (Wednesday).
For the Theology class, we finished some preliminary thoughts and then moved to Theology Proper, the study of God. We discussed his attributes and how they relate to our lives. With that, I like to tell people about the infiniteness of God. It applies to all the attributes. While we say that God is loving, he is infinitely loving. While he is wise, he is infinitely wise. He is not just powerful, but infinitely powerful. We also tackled the Trinity. It’s a difficult subject, but we made it through. And, since we are behind a bit, we were able to catch up a bit and get to the Bible. We started with inspiration and how that works.
I am very blessed by the influence of these people. It’s true that we get more from those we serve than we give to them.
Pastor Joe
July 26, 2008
As of this writing, I am sitting in the Johannesburg airport waiting for my final leg on the way in. I will be in Lusaka, Zambia for the first week. I will have been in a plane or in an airport for 24 hours by the time I get there. So far, it has been uneventful except that I did not know I would have a stop over in Darkar; we did not even de-plane though. All appears to be in order for my luggage to arrive with me in Lusaka. I figured out that this trip will take me to seven countries and three continents (ok, some are just lay overs).
Well, airports don’t make for exciting reports. Just keep praying. I start teaching on Monday, July 28. The only anxiety is not knowing what to expect in the teaching setting.
Pastor Joe
July 27, 2008 (Lusaka, Zambia)
It’s not even noon yet, and I’ve had a great Sunday. We visited Pastor Kenneth’s church for service. Services started at 6:00AM, but we did not have to be there until the 8:00AM service. John, the TPI leader, preached. I spoke just to give greetings from the church in the US and from Zion. They return greetings to you. (I should be able to preach next week). Lot’s of life and great music. Despite the jet lag, I had a wonderful time. We will take care of logistical needs today and then start teaching on Monday.
We drove through the street market which was full of people, but Pastor Kenneth said it was not crowded at all. He told us about the crime and poverty issues in the area. We had to make sure we did not hold our cameras out of the car window as they could easily be grabbed. The area was filled with squatters: people who would just build on a stake of land. That was home – no plumbing or electricity. There is a ditch in front of the house to dump waste. They just make do. The children, of course, are very cute and play with whatever they can find. At church, a group of kids wanted just to come over and shake hands.
All luggage and supplies have arrived with me!
Pastor Joe
July 28, 2008
I taught for the first day today. We had about 176 pastors and other visitors. We got a late start with registrations and setup and our lunch plans hit a snag. But, we made through our day well. The students are very responsive, appreciative, and interested.
My first teaching session is in Romans (1:1-3:20). I covered introductory material on the book, and then we dove right in. We examined Paul’s three purposes for his letter: Announce his visit, present the complete Gospel message, and address the Jew/Gentile conflict. He then states his thesis that we need God’s righteousness and can only access it by faith. We start with the bad news: we are horribly in need of a savior. Not only are people sinful, we revel in it. We would rather look to idols rather than our Creator. There is no excuse, and there is no hope for us on our own. Indeed, our situation is dire. I left them with the “bad news” of Romans (up to chapter 3). Tomorrow, we start the “Good News” of the rest of the book. I’m looking forward to it.
The second teaching session is in theology. Due to scheduling issues, I did not have a whole ninety minutes. As with Romans, we started with introductory material including various theological points of view and various types of theological study. Continuing, we discuss bias and interpretation/linguistic issues. Time ran out! I should have opportunity to catch up.
Keep praying!
Pastor Joe
July 29, 2008
Perspective is everything. I woke up this morning to find I had no hot water. It’s not that the water was not hot, no water came out. The frustration is not the water but the cost of the hotel does not match the level we should get. And, this place is considered a bargain. Then, later on, we were reminded that many of the pastors left for the training institute today at 5:00AM so they can get there by 8:30AM. It took so long because they had to walk. It’s hard to gripe about cold water now!
We received a great letter today from one of our attendees. He mentioned that he has attended other Bible conferences. He complained that they are more about the accomplishments or testimony of the speaker or that many go just to get a gift at the end or a free Bible. He appreciated that they are getting actual help for their ministries. Cool.
In Romans today, we covered 3:21 to 5:21. I was glad to leave the bad news section and give them the good news. We discussed how we are justified by the work of Christ. He has paid for our sins. Our original state is utterly hopeless by ourselves. Because of all this, we have reason to rejoice even in hard times. We discussed the terms justification, redemption, atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation. After the session, one of the men asked me about when a believer sins and confession. He also asked about this in relation to Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” It seems to be a hot issue here. I discussed it individually, but I will cover it when we get to that passage (Wednesday).
For the Theology class, we finished some preliminary thoughts and then moved to Theology Proper, the study of God. We discussed his attributes and how they relate to our lives. With that, I like to tell people about the infiniteness of God. It applies to all the attributes. While we say that God is loving, he is infinitely loving. While he is wise, he is infinitely wise. He is not just powerful, but infinitely powerful. We also tackled the Trinity. It’s a difficult subject, but we made it through. And, since we are behind a bit, we were able to catch up a bit and get to the Bible. We started with inspiration and how that works.
I am very blessed by the influence of these people. It’s true that we get more from those we serve than we give to them.
Pastor Joe
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The day before departure
Dear Friends,
I think everything is set. I have my passport, tickets, visas, etc. I just need to pack up today. Once in a while, I think, "What do I have to say to these pastors?" God reminds me: Just stick with My Word. So, as you pray, please remember 1 Cor. 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I will keep you posted...keep checking back or subscribe.
Pastor Joe
I think everything is set. I have my passport, tickets, visas, etc. I just need to pack up today. Once in a while, I think, "What do I have to say to these pastors?" God reminds me: Just stick with My Word. So, as you pray, please remember 1 Cor. 2:4-5, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
I will keep you posted...keep checking back or subscribe.
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Just Preparing
Dear Friends,
It is odd to realize that I will be getting on a plane this month for Africa. I will leave on July 25th and be gone until August 13. Until I leave, I am preparing for my lessons in theology and the book of Romans. I continue to build a prayer and support base. There is much to do.
If you are not familiar with the details, I will be teaching both classes in one week sessions. My students will have a curriculum to follow. Due to the concentrated nature of the courses, the format will be lecture.
Please drop me an email if you have any questions or want to let me know you'll be praying. I will try to make entries while in country, so you can keep track.
Thanks.
Pastor Joe
It is odd to realize that I will be getting on a plane this month for Africa. I will leave on July 25th and be gone until August 13. Until I leave, I am preparing for my lessons in theology and the book of Romans. I continue to build a prayer and support base. There is much to do.
If you are not familiar with the details, I will be teaching both classes in one week sessions. My students will have a curriculum to follow. Due to the concentrated nature of the courses, the format will be lecture.
Please drop me an email if you have any questions or want to let me know you'll be praying. I will try to make entries while in country, so you can keep track.
Thanks.
Pastor Joe
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