Lasting Effects
It had been three years since I visited the Christ for the World Bible Institute in Vicente Guerrero, in the Baja of Mexico. What a joyous surprise to find that three former students are now staff at this Bible Institute, three are staff at the orphanage, one is a local pastor, and one is working locally and serving his church.
Miguel and Paola were both students of the Oral Training in 2017 and 2018. They were married two years ago and started working at the orphanage. This summer they both began working at the Bible College. Miguel uses his oral training to reach those in the villages around the area. Paola is active in outreach to children in the area. The storytelling method helped the children grasp and understand the Bible quickly.
Caesar and his wife Miriam took the training. Now he is the pastor for two local churches and has used the training as a Bible Study to help his church grow in God’s Word.
Marco shared with the class one of the stories he remembered when they were part of the school’s mission to the indigenous people of Oaxaca, Mexico. They used the stories to cross the language and cultural barriers and bring the gospel to that hard-to-reach people group. Adriana, Fabian, and Marina use the training as they work with the kids of the orphanage.
John told his churches in 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”, oh how true that is.
Growing Influence
Orality training continues to empower national leaders to equip their own people. As it does, the influence of this strategy of discipleship continues to grow. The lives that have been affected through the Christ for the World Bible Institute are taking God’s Word further than any individual or any ministry could.
The borders to Malawi have reopened and the requests for training continue. One of their leaders sent a text that said, “Your ministry has allowed our people to begin doing ministry. It even helps us to reach the Muslims in this area.”
There are four ministries in Malawi that would like to train their people in this oral strategy; Prison Fellowship, Grace Bible Churches, Balaka Churches, and the Iris Africa Bible School. We will need to prepare well in advance for this trip. It will require lodging and food for the students and extra teachers to lead the classes.
To get all these groups started well, we will need two teachers for each location and three weeks for travel and training. The training team for this trip will include Kevin Olson, Paul Kneeland, Michael Rokenbrodt and a teacher from Uganda. The cost will be significant, but the impact will be even greater.
On Friday, October 15th, we will be doing a fundraiser / awareness hike and bike. There are currently seven signed up to hike the 20+ miles into and out of the Grand Canyon. There are seven others who will be riding bike for 100 miles around Minneapolis and St. Paul. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to make this training in Malawi possible. It is possible to sponsor a biker or a hiker directly by check, through the www.oralityinstitute.org web site, or through www.tithe.ly online giving. “What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge.” 1 Corinthians 9:18
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