Inquiry Bulletin Insert

INQUIRY Winter 2010

Luther and Kevin This past January we held a two-week training seminar in Chirala, India. The training included: Doctrine of the Means of Grace by Dr. Francis Monseth, Discipleship by Pastor Mark Antal and Congregational Life by Pastor Kevin Olson.

The style of the training in India is different than at AFLTS because the culture, the language and the education of the people is different. A classroom in the U.S. typically includes desks, books, class notes, and a teacher. In India, the training comes from an oral tradition in which the lesson is learned by repetition and memory. Books are not readily available in Telugu and so the training style must be varied. Instead of straight lecture, the students will be engaged in a story most often from the Bible that they will learn and apply to the topic of the class. The oral method of training engages the mind in the study of the text, it is more quickly retained because it is a story, and it involves the emotions that go along with the feelings of the people in the story. It can be a challenge to change teaching styles from one culture to another, but it is also a great privilege to be a part of taking God’s Word half way around the world.
Along with the two week short courses was a chance to hear how their own training had been going over the past two months using the Ambassador Institute curriculum. They are getting ready to be tested on the second semester from the Old Testament.

We were at a remote village and participated in several adult baptisms as well as seeing the work that the Lord was doing through people to start two elementary schools.

One completely Hindu village, called Pedepe, is a target for the pastors to share the gospel using music, preaching, tracts, and a medical clinic. Last October, they held an evening showing of the Jesus film. Sixty people came to the showing and a church was begun. Since that time 2 people have been baptized and changed their names to a Christian name. Pastor Isaac has been sent to the village to work with the people full-time. Praise the Lord for this open door and the people’s receptivity to the gospel.

THE LEADERS OVERSEAS

UGANDA

Chris Kiira was Nate and Rhoda’s gardener. From age 13 on he has been on his own, away from home and even providing for his family. His history is rough, with illness and problems. The Lord has used these to work in and through him. He was miraculously cured and given a new start on life. In June he and Sarah were married. They had both the traditional African introduction and the Christian marriage at the same time. Marriage has its own challenges as it did for Chris and Sarah. Even though he has faced more trials than most of us can imagine, God has carried him through them all and the Lord is using him as a young man to teach and lead pastors that are twice his age. Pray for him and the ministry the Lord is doing through him.

INDIA

Devasahaym is the coordinator for the training in India. He works under Pastor Luther Sasteri. He is a young man and has been put in charge of teaching pastors that have been serving longer than he has been alive. His wife teaches kindergarten and music at St. Paul’s school where his twin boys also attend. He was recently asked to be a teacher along side of some men that teach oral training in other parts of India. I praise the Lord for his cheerful spirit and genuine love for the Lord.

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