Ambassador Inquiry- December 2017

Leadership

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Elisha is a simple man and does not get much credit or recognition for his life of ministry. He is the main driver for the ministry in India. He is given full responsibility for the ministry vehicle. He keeps the vehicle in good running order and transports people for hours and hours over Indian roads in the midst of Indian traffic. The traffic includes: trucks, buses, bicycles, motorcycles, animals, ox carts, and pedestrians in addition to maneuvering the road itself.

Two years ago, Elisha and Mercy had their marriage arranged. It was a difficult adjustment for both of them to go from single and unaware of each other one month and married the next. Mercy became pregnant soon after their marriage and they had their first child ten months later.

Elisha is a servant for Jesus, a good father, and a safe driver. He makes the Ambassador Institute training events possible. He waits patiently for the class to be completed and then he faithfully delivers his guests safely home.

The November India trip’s focus will be on a graduation for two classes, the printing of the books, the board meetings, introducing the Romans curriculum, and possible new classes.

Pray that we can meet our budget for the year.

Ambassador Inquiry- November 2017

Reformation

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

One hallmark of the reformation was the Word of God for people in their own language; Martin Luther translated the Bible into German for the first time. The emphasis was on making God’s Word accessible and understandable for the common people.

A hallmark of the Ambassador Institute oral training is to bring God’s Word to people in their own language as well as in a form in which they are able to hear and understand. Oral training is not a question of whether people can read, but it is all about how they learn, remember, and teach others. Students of the Ambassador Institute have commented on how God’s Word became a part of them rather than information that they had learned. They had memorized the Word in a way that allowed them to study it for themselves, remember it, and teach it to others.

Partner with us in this effort to make God’s Word accessible to those who have not heard, nor understood, nor had a chance to know Jesus in a living and personal way.

Ambassador Inquiry- October 2017

Training

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will… accomplish what I desire.”  Isaiah 55:10-11

In September, Pam and I took a personal trip on behalf of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN to work with the Bible Institute Students down in the Baja of Mexico. Our week with the students went very quickly and their hunger for the Word of God was refreshing. They were deeply moved as they personalized the stories of the Bible and as they were introduced to Jesus throughout the Old and New Testaments.

The students represented the countries of Spain, Portugal, El Salvador, and Mexico. Within Mexico, the students came from the Oaxacan Indians, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and the Baja areas. Some of them came out of rehabilitation and prison, others grew up as orphans, and others came from pastor’s families. All of them were learning the stories of God’s Word and putting them into practice as reach out to the local communities.

Ambassador Inquiry- September 2017

Leadership

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22

There are many scriptures that speak about seeking counsel. Many of them are regarding the counsel of the Lord, but this one from proverbs speaks also about the counsel of man.

These three Ambassador Institute Board members have been serving in an advisory role for the World Missions Committee for several years. Pastor Haugen for five years, Pastor Hinrichs for four years, and Pastor Ballmann for two years. Each of them have a great deal of wisdom to add to the discussions and the direction for this ministry. We meet about five times a year to discuss ministry direction, curriculum, and recommendations to the World Missions Committee.

September is the All Boards meeting and the seven members of the World Missions Committee will be meeting to make decisions for each of the fields of ministry plus the Ambassador Institute and Journey Missions. This will be an important meeting with many large items to discuss. Pray for that meeting and the ministry that follows. The WMC is made up of: Pastor Craig Johnson, Scott Erickson, Glenn Espe, Paul Handsaker, Dr. Lyle Mattson, Pastor David Nelson, and Pastor Kent Sperry. The World Missions Committee meets for two days, four times a year.

Ambassador Inquiry- August 2017

India

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs– he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Both Emmanuel and Dr. Annan Kumar are good soldiers for Christ Jesus. These two men are leading the two largest classes in India. Dr. Annan’s class consists of business leaders and adults from the town of Baapatla. They meet three days a week for 2-3 hours rain or shine. He provides some type of snack for all of the students in his class at every meeting.

Emmanuel travels by train twice a month to reach Rajamundry. He leads an evening class on a roof top for two nights and then returns on a night train that next evening.

Anil is another good soldier for Christ Jesus. He has been the chairman of the Ambassador Institute in India. He started a class in his home congregation last November. He and his wife Monica have two girls.

WAYS TO PARTNER

• LEARN: Learn how to use an oral strategy in your congregation. Order a book of the curriculum. Do a Skype call with Pastor Kevin or a missionary.
• PRAY: Bring copies of monthly updates or prayer letters to your Bible Study group for intentional prayer. Send e-mails asking for updates.
• SEND: Support a trip to one these countries. Support someone going long term or short-term. Support a project within the country.
• GO: Go along on one of Pastor Kevin’s trips or join a team with Journey Missions. Sign up as a short-term assistant for three to nine months.
• MOBILIZE: Plant the vision of doing international ministry into the heart of someone from your own circle of influence. Start an oral training class.
• WELCOME: Invite people from other cultures to your home for a meal and share life with them.

Ambassador Inquiry- July 2017

Uganda

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1

Graduations are celebrations, even when there are only four graduates. Although there are only four, all four of them have high positions and they have all begun teaching other classes.

2016 had been a difficult year for the Ambassador Institute in Uganda.  All seven of the ministry team members plus Nate and Rhoda had struggled enormously last year and the message of hope that they needed to hear was of the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Tracy said, “The problems that we have been facing cannot be solved by money. Only the message of hope in God’s Word can offer us anything.” In the midst of great personal struggles, the team helped lead the number of classes from four in January to 31 in April. There are 265 students represented in those 31 classes.

The team broke the classes into seven regions or zones. Each area has a team member in charge of it to oversee the work. Namyonjo David was added to the board because of Wanume Fred’s year and a half long battle with family illnesses.

Uganda Missionaries

Brent and Emily Raan have recently accepted an invitation by World Missions to serve in Uganda. They are planning to move in September. They will start working in Jinja with the Ambassador Institute Board and will be considering the greater World Mission ministry of planting churches as well.

 Micah and Famke Berger are home on furlough through December. They are looking to raise their support and return to the remote far north eastern corner of Uganda in the town of Karenga. They have been learning the language of Karamajong and building relationships with the leaders of the area. They are hoping to start an Ambassador Institute class in that area when they return next January.

Nate and Rhoda Jore moved into their new home last November. They have come through several challenges since then including multiple cases of Malaria, getting a work permit to stay in Uganda, getting the Ambassador Institute back to full health, and mentoring teachers who are leading the second generation of Romans classes. They are hoping to focus on starting house churches in this next season of ministry.

“Entrust to reliable men who will then be qualified to teach others.”