Our time in San Diego at the EFCA One conference went very
well. Mike and I led the pre-conference presentation of the Pathways Bible
Study Method for lay people. We covered the whole 13-week course in four - 1/2
hours so it was a race, but those attending really seemed to like it. Some said
it was exactly what they needed in their ministry. We had a good cross section
of pastors, missionaries and laymen who attended, about 18 in all. We hope to
follow up with them over the next several months to see how they are using the
study and to get feedback from them that will help us improve the course. All
in all, we were very pleased with the way the day went and the outcome we
received.
We had one other day at the conference before we left for
Asia, and I spent the entire day dialoguing with lots of different people about
what we do and how they might get involved. I gave about 50 copies of our lay
study away so we will see how people respond. In general, we had very good
responses and people were receptive to trying it out and even helping us in
some way to produce or promote the ministry. My teammates all had similar
experiences as well. Brad and Eric gave a commercial at the Expository Preaching
pre-conference workshop and reported that Pathways is becoming much better
known among pastors in the EFCA, and many people are talking about it. About a
dozen or so new pastors signed up to get information about training
opportunities in the future. In every way, we thought the conference was a
great success for our team.
We got up on Thursday at 4 am to head to the airport and
flew to Seattle, Tokyo and finally Bangkok. It was a long tiring trip made a
little easier because on two of the legs we got bumped up to business class
which was fun. We got to Bangkok Friday night (you lose a day on the trip due
to the date line) and went to the hotel where we always stay overnight only to
find we had booked the wrong hotel. We got the Thongta Residence rather than
the Thongta Resort, both cheap overnight hotels. So late at night we had to get
a taxi to take us over to the right hotel, and the driver couldn’t find it
right off so we didn’t get to bed until midnight. Thanks to jet lag, we were up
bright and early the next morning and went to the airport for breakfast and our
flight on to Chiang Mai. A few perks, a few hassles, weird hours, pretty much a
normal trip.
We are now in Chiang Mai and have had our first day of
training. It went well. The material this time is on the Salvation Story of the
Bible and is going to be difficult for the students to fully grasp. It is also
my first time to teach it, and already I have lots of ideas about how it needs
to be changed. One student said she thought at the beginning that the material
was too hard and she could not understand it. But as she listened, she began to
understand and finally thought by the end of the day that she would do okay. So
for her at least we had success and I think many others felt the same way.
I am teaching alone this time and it was a tiring day. My
feet were feeling like they got hammered after standing on the concrete
barefoot all day. It is warm here but not unbearably hot like it was a few
weeks ago so we are thankful for that. As we began yesterday the men sang some
songs while waiting for one student to show up, and I was struck by what a
privilege it is to be here with them and to teach them how to study the Word. I
really enjoy being with them. I am looking forward to a good day today. Edie
and I are both up around 3 am so are well prepared for the day by 8:30. So far,
we haven’t made it past 8 pm before we crash, but gradually we will get in
sync. Thanks for your prayers!
Al
