Meeting of the Minds

We just completed two pivotal meetings back-to-back. First, the curriculum development committee met, and then the global education committee. Lots of discussion, and some great projections. GATS is picking up momentum and it is exciting to see the progress.

GATS Faculty Development in Central America

Linda and I have just returned from a fabulous two weeks in Central America. We had the awesome honor of teaching nearly two hundred Bible school teachers representing almost all of the Central American countries. It was a great time, taking the Word to the World, and imparting teaching strategies and vision into the lives of these great teachers.

What God Can Do Through a Few Good Bible School Students

What can God do through a few good Bible school students? The answer is simple. A lot! Here's a sampling of a few events in Ghana, during recent weeks:

• Three preaching points have been established in collaboration with one of our local churches, the pastor, and three students. Thirty-five have recently been baptized in Jesus name. Three received the Holy Ghost.
  

• In another location, during the school break, a student working with one of our Bible school instructors, and a local church baptized twenty-eight in Jesus name. A new church plant has been established.
  

• Another student pastor had three receive the Holy Ghost at his church.
  

• At our newest Bible school church plant average attendance has reached forty-seven including children with nine receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  

• A special children's event was held at the Bible school church plant. Over ninety kids attended and five received the Holy Ghost.
  

• During break, a Bible school student and intern travelled to minister in our northern-most city. Nine were baptized in Jesus name and four received the Holy Ghost.
  

• Two students were recently sent on weekend ministry to a village church. Five received the Holy Ghost and three were baptized.
  

• Lashibi, one of the Bible school church plants, reported seven being baptized yesterday!
  

• Earlier this year one of our Bible School students was teaching at a church that had not yet experienced full truth. Twenty-four people were baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins. Eleven people were filled with the Holy Ghost!
  

Update on Associated Schools

As of today, October 1, 2008 forty-four nations and fifty-six schools have expressed intent of joining the Global Association of Theological Studies. 

Seven of the nations (or twelve of the schools) have received membership status for various programs offered.

Our goal is for fifty schools to send their letters of intent by the end of 2008, and for twenty-five to finish the appropriate application process.

Africa Report

 

A total of twenty-four African nations have pledged intent of being involved with GATS. Four of these have submitted applications, and have been approved. Welcome to our newest membership nations and schools in South Africa and Zambia.

 

Brother Sisco, our regional representative recently promoted GATS in the sub-regional conference in West Africa.

True Teachers

 

True Teachers

 

What, pray tell, is a teacher?

What does a true teacher do?

A teacher loves without a reason

A teacher pulls you through . . .

All the lazy days, the hazy days

A teacher lets you know

What you are now, what you could be

True teachers help you grow.

A teachers knows that real respect

Is something that you earn,

And although the teacher teaches

She's always willing to learn.

A teacher is more than a chalkboard

A teacher is more than a pen

A teacher changes the future

Though she never knows quite when.

So as you stand in your classroom

Know you're part of the race of rare creatures

Who stand out from the average instructors,

And call themselves true teachers.

 

                    Melinda Danae Poitras

 

"A teacher affects eternity: she can never know where her influence stops."

(Henry Brooke Adams)

Pacific Report

Kevin Vacca reports: In the Philippines, I was able to make a presentation to the Board of Christian Education which was well received with all the Bible school presidents expressing enthusiasm for the program. The chairman of the Board of Christian Education recommended that I make a presentation for GATS at the February 2009 Executive Board meeting. At this meeting we scheduled Bible School teachers training for two days (sixteen total hours) during the month of May. This will involve forty teachers from the five schools. We will use the GATS Advance Educators Series. We presented GATS at the Micronesia West General Conference. I will be traveling to Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga in March to introduce GATS. We also have a regional retreat next year in October, and we can do more promotion there. And perhaps start a Pacific Bible School Association.