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THE WORD

The Word

“Living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 describes the power of this growing ministry because it describes the power of God’s Word at work in people.

His Word describes the kingdom of God. It is a window into the mysteries of heaven and it entices the curious to dig for the treasure. It is also a mirror that reflects who we are. It shows us ourselves and points out our rebelliousness toward God. It is a rock in which we can stand, it is a fortress in which we are secure and it is our hope in which we place our trust. God’s Word is the very tool that God uses to change people.

There are 31 classes studying God’s Word in Uganda. They are memorizing, studying, and retelling that Word. In the first year of their two-year curriculum, they will go through an overview of the Bible.

Alice

Alice took the training and says this about her experience, “I am now able to speak the Word of God and I am confident because of the lessons that we learned, right from the beginning up to the end. I am even able to tell someone about Jesus even from the first lesson. When we believe in Jesus we get eternal life and all of those words are in the lessons that we learned. I am ready to tell more people about the Word of God, about Jesus Christ. It is my pleasure and my prayer that they also get saved and after getting saved they are also ready to tell other people about the same.”

“The Samaritan Woman is the story I enjoyed the most. In fact, when I look at that story, she was not a believer, she was a sinner. When Jesus talked to her, gave her the Word, gave her the gospel, she changed and she believed. She went and called other people to come, as if she was the person summarizing the lesson, because she was a sinner, she believed and she went and called other people to come and witness and see the change.”

Alice was also changed, along with many others with a similar testimony. In April, a survey was done and testimonies were gathered from the most recent graduates from the Ambassador Institute. Almost every single interview emphasized the change that had taken place in their lives. Even the testimonies from people about two students that died before finishing the course emphasized how much the Word had affected them.

The fact that there has been change is great; but “What areas of the student’s lives have been affected by the change?” is also an important question.

The survey included questions on these 14 character qualities:
1. Not Being a Lover of Money
2. Being Truthful
3. Slow to Anger
4. Manager of the Home
5. Not Quarrelsome
6. Faithfulness in Marriage
7. Being a Servant
8. Not Double-minded
9. Honest Gain
10. Generosity
11. Self-Control
12. Humility
13. Perseverance
14. Faith

These are all qualities that come out of Paul’s directives to Timothy and Titus regarding qualities for the elders and deacons. They are more than good qualities for a person to have or to strive for; these character attributes are a living testimony of God’s work in someone’s heart.

Mfumbiro

Mfumbiro David is a teacher and leader in the Ambassador Institute. He reflects the work of God through the evidence of these qualities in his life. This photo is a picture of his passion fruit project where he has hand grafted every plant and nurtured them to the point that they are yielding a good harvest and profitable income for him and his family. His life and the fruit from the vines are a fitting parallel to the work of God.

Along with questions about character, were 14 questions asked to the students and their family regarding the student’s ministry life. These and the previous topics on character are all a part of the curriculum:

Spiritual Life
1. Worship
2. Bible Study
3. Prayer
4. Spiritual Disciplines

Congregational Life
5. Love your Family
6. Love your Neighbors
7. Love the Church
8. Church Unity
9. Praying for Healing

Evangelism / Mission
10. Witnessing
11. Evangelism
12. The Call of God
13. Suffering for the Gospel
14. Cross Cultural Missions

Jesse

Jesse was asked what he noticed in the life of his parents when they took the class. He watched his dad take the class for two years and then his mom took the class for the next two years. He said about his parents, “Whenever they go for training, they also come and teach us at home. I have learned to be patient. I have learned to fast and pray when situations happen to me at school. I now have hope and I trust God in my heart. I know that He is the only Savior in the world.”

“Previously there was no happiness in our home, now [my parents] cooperate and there is joy in their hearts.”

Luke and Andrew

This past summer, Andrew Quanbeck and Luke Erickson worked with the Ambassador Institute in India. There are currently 60 students in the eight classes. Andrew and Luke were able to meet with the Ambassador Institute board a few times. They met with some teachers weekly and went through lessons with them. Andrew and Luke visited several of the classes to get a sense as to how things were moving forward. The reports were good and their presence seemed to be valuable.

Emmanuel and Harika

Emmanuel, one of the teachers in India will be getting married to Harika on November 19th. Kevin and Pam Olson will be in India during that time and Kevin will be officiating their wedding. Arranged marriages seem like an unusual thing in the United States, but there is the benefit of family involvement and a relationship that is based on similar backgrounds and values as opposed to mostly feelings.

Other goals for the Olson’s time in India include: meeting with the Ambassador Institute Board, having Ambassador Institute teachers training, starting up new classes, working with the Bible Women, and attending the graduation of another class.

Aletheia

No students have signed up for the training at Aletheia Bible School this year. Pastor Darwin Paacha is continuing to work with Paz de Dios Church and is offering local training for their lay leaders.

WorldView

The World Missions Committee has expressed an interest in beginning work in another country. The process of getting a work started can be quite long. Steps needed and prayer requests that go along with those steps include:

A ministry that is interested in partnering with the World Missions Committee
People that see the need for training their members in the Word of God and would value an oral style of training
A couple or two individuals who are willing to go and get the training started
The support needed to begin a new work

Prayer Girl

INDIA
- Praise for the Short-Term Assistants ministry
- The seven classes that are meeting
- Brent and Emily as they raise support for ministry in India
- Pastor Emmanuel and Harika’s wedding

UGANDA
- Nate and Rhoda Jore as they finish their furlough
- Micah and Famke Berger as they work with the ministry team and make plans for their future work in Uganda
- The board members as they oversee the 31 classes
- The new Envision Uganda video as people see the work that the Lord has been doing

ECUADOR
- Aletheia Bible School and their need for students
- For the development of leaders through local training offered this year

GENERAL
- Kevin and Pam as they visit many churches this fall
- The financial short-fall that accumulated over the past two years
- The interest from World Missions to expand into another country and explore where and how to go forward.

“Pray the Lord of the Harvest”

Jesus said, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38)

The Ambassador Institute harvest has been multiplying from year to year as the classes continue to disciple students who are willing to go and teach other classes. The training began with 20 students in one country and has grown to include 39 classes in three countries.

The Word of God has also been having fruitful harvest in the lives of people. The testimonies from those that have been in the classes repeatedly say, “This has changed my life.” Families, churches and communities have all seen God’s Word at work transforming people from the inside out.

Interest in missions has also been growing. Those that have been a part of the spring Cross-cultural Ministry Class have come back with a desire to continue working and serving through short-term mission opportunities. This past spring 17 of the 18 students signed up to discuss future mission opportunities.

The finances need to also grow to meet the expanding ministry. Our budget for 2015 is $118,430. We also have accumulated a short-fall from the past three years. Each year individually was not a large amount, but together it amounts to $34,000. Please consider how you might help in the harvest.

The Lord is the one that provides the Word of God, the interested students, the new teachers, the interest in missions and the finances to make it all possible. Join with me in “praying the Lord of the harvest” as we seek his provision in each of these ways.
Pastor Kevin Olson
Department Head

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