Dear friends,
Happy New Year in arrears as they say here. We pray your year has started well.
Thank you for your prayers for us. We are thankful that our region is enjoying a time of peace. Join us in praying for this to be extended to the rest of the country, especially the north-east.
The series of meetings at the church in Kafanchan went well as did David's preaching on Christmas Day. The pastor of that church, Rev Luka Nboi, was our student and has since been transferred to be the pastor of our local church! Please pray for him and his family as they adjust to a new phase of ministry.
We were able to complete our marking during the Christmas break. Our growing team of missionaries joined together at the Shelly's home on Christmas Day for lots of good food and fellowship. The SIM Spiritual Life conference was an encouragement. We were inspired by Jim Plueddemann's messages based on Psalm 84: 5-7 as he led us in thinking about what it means to live as pilgrims. May we all go from strength to strength as we follow the Lord daily no matter how bumpy the path (Ps 84:7).
My (Debbie) journey into the new semester has been a stressful one. I have been given two new courses to teach and one which I haven't taught for eight years!This is as a result of staff changes and changes in the curriculum. It is certainly an opportunity to learn more about 1 and 2 Corinthians and Christian Ethics as well as update my understanding of the Old Testament Historical books. The classes are not big, which is a help. Please pray I would have a good understanding of the material and be able to communicate it clearly. Thankfully, David has taught the Corinthians course and I can use his notes.
David is happy to be teaching two courses which he has taught before, Hermeneutics and Third World Theologies. He is still kept very busy with the work in the Registry. Praise the Lord for the 310 students who have registered for the new semester and pray for the Lord to meet their need for school fees.
Six new faculty have joined the team as some staff who were on contract have come to the end of their time here. The newly appointed Deputy Provost was elected to be the Chairman of a local District Church Council although he will still come a teach a course. We have need of a new Deputy Provost and the Provost needs much wisdom in making this choice. Please pray for a good adjustment for the new teachers. We thank the Lord for bringing them and for a good time of transition for Dee Grimes who has come from Jos to serve at the Seminary.
Our good friend, Dr Paul Todd, will arrive in Jos on Monday for a few weeks of ministry with ACTS (Africa Christian Textbooks). We are looking forward to seeing him again.
In February, I will travel to Miango for a board meeting on the 8th and David is preaching at a local church on the 24th where one of our former students is pastor. One of our former students is launching a book he has written about the involvement of the Boys Brigade and SIM in evangelism and church planting. He has asked David to do the book review at the event on the 9th. There are always other meetings to attend and speak at in the Seminary. The weather is getting warmer and we need the Lord's help to keep going.
Thank you again for your fellowship in this ministry.
Debbie and David
