What Happened?

I guess it's life. Soon after I wrote my last post, life started up again on the campus of Continental Theological Seminary and you haven't heard from me since! Of course a newsletter has gone out, and there have been a few Facebook posts, but the blog has been silent. Forgive me.

Just after the school year began, I celebrated my 40th birthday. A milestone. Over-the-hill. Hard to believe, but it still happened! On that day, my colleague was injured and I did the job of 2-3 people for about 6 weeks. During that time, I got out of the habit of updating this blog and did only the essentials. Finally, after the Christmas holidays, I feel like a normal person who got some much-needed rest (well...as normal as I can be!). So it's time to blog again!

Starting tomorrow students will be taking first semester exams, and in less than 5 months we will hold yet another graduation of wonderful CTS students. How can time go so quickly? Life gets so full of activity, that sometimes I forget to cherish quiet times, building relationships, and thinking about what has been and what will be. I don't make new year's resolutions, per se, but I do take time to think about the year that has past. Boy...has it been a wild one. Full of God's favor, but not without its challenges. I have learned much, including forgiveness, long-suffering, adapting to change, handling disappointment, when to say no (well...i'm still working on that - a life-long struggle!), and so many other things.

But what I've experienced more than anything is God's faithfulness. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, or how much we do or don't achieve - no matter if people are disappointed in us, or if we feel like we have failed, God continues to remain faithful and unchanged. His constant presence sustains me. How could I live without Him?

There are days when I, like you, want to give up. There are moments when life is too overwhelming and it seems there is no one with whom I can talk. There are hours when the only thing to do is to hold tightly to Jesus. And He is ALWAYS there. Never failing. Never walking away. Never giving up. Always loving. Always forgiving. Always present.

There is power in presence.

In just a few months I'll be returning to the USA for my missionary furlough / itineration. These days will pass quickly. My prayer for 2010 is that I continue to remain faithful to God in every area of my life. I fail quite often, but I pray that I can hear His voice more clearly, be obedient to His bidding, and come closer to Him. This is the best goal I feel I can have for this year.

There is power in being in His presence.

Ministry will always be there. The work won't end. There will always be need - always want - always demands. But I can lose touch with Him if I don't stay close.

Jesus - teach me to stay close to you. Teach me the power of Your Presence.

It's that time again...

Only a few more days and CTS students will be returning for another year of training for ministry. Although it's been a good summer, it's been extremely busy and for the most part, extremely quiet without our students here. I'm ready for the life to be back on campus.

In June we had 40 graduates. Our prayer has been to enroll 40 new students to replace those graduates! We have not quite met our goal so pray for God to open the doors for young men and women who are called to full-time ministry to join us for training.

Thank you for praying for the next generation of European ministers of the Gospel. Pray for church planters. Pray for worship leaders. Pray for committed pastors and evangelists. Pray for youth leaders. Pray for children's workers. Pray for missionaries. Pray for those called to compassion ministries. Pray that all of these disciples of Christ develop the heart of servant. My prayer is that they develop hearts that can look beyond the surface of a society hardened to Jesus and see individuals for who they were made to be - God followers. I pray they have hearts of compassion first, not judgement. I pray they create loving communities that draw the hopeless, not just another church for the sake of having a church.

Classes resume on 16 September. I'll be teaching Youth Ministries and Spiritual Leadership development, as well as continuing my service to the seminary as Director of Student Life. Thanks for your prayers for wisdom and direction through this year. Only 10 months and I'll be returning to the US for my scheduled furlough. I pray that God give me wisdom, patience, strength, and financial support to do my very best for Him during this year.

May God bless you for your prayers and partnership!

Summer Newsletter

The summer has been great so far with CTS hosting several conferences, 4 weeks of intensive courses in Hebrew, summer student workers, and preparation for the new school year that begins in less than 8 weeks!

To see what happened during the last several months at Continental Theological Seminary, click on the picture to the right to read my Summer 2009 Newsletter. Thank you so much for your prayers for me and for the seminary. God is using us to train men and women for full-time ministry in Europe and the world. You are a part of that process! THANK YOU!

2009 WAS A MONUMENTAL YEAR AT CTS AS WE CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF TRAINING.

You can help CTS Celebrate our 50th Anniversary - Our Year of Jubilee! Read the second page of the newsletter for information about donating to special scholarships.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership!

The Idea Factory

Here's an interesting site with a bit of insight into the young European mind: The Idea Factory. The site says it is "an exclusive place for young, bright thinkers to come and discuss the issues that burn deep in their hearts, but flicker weakly in the European public debate." Enjoy!

Graduation and Vacation

We completed another great year at Continental Theological Seminary and graduation was a beautiful occasion, with many guests, former students, staff and presidents joining in the festivities. Here are some photos of our students as they complete their studies:

The day after graduation my parents arrived for a 2-week holiday in Europe. I put them to work for a day at CTS and then we set off on our trip to Normandy and London. We made some memories, finally did the WWII tour, and I was able to drive in England as we crossed on the ferry. Good times. Enjoy some of our memories!

Now it's back to work, preparing for another school year at CTS, but also hosting various conferences and groups that stay on campus during the summer. Schools don't stop just because it's summer time, unfortunately. I'm excited to make preparations for the coming school year. Only one more year and I'll return to the US for my scheduled year furlough. Many exciting things planned for the future and I'll keep you filled in along the way.

George Bernard Shaw said, "We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future." Thanks for your prayers as I seek for wisdom, learn from the past, but hold tightly my responsibility for the future. Have a great week!

It's Graduation Day!

Today is the big day!  After a wonderful Baccalaureate on Thursday morning, banquet Thursday night, and amazing 50th Anniversary Celebration last night, we are finally to the highlight of festivities at Continental Theological Seminary:  GRADUATION 2009!

Thanks for praying for our administration, faculty, staff, students and most of all, GRADUATES, as we celebrate this day of conferring degrees. The 40 graduates will receive Masters or Bachelors Degrees in Bible and Theology and will "go into all the world to preach the Gospel!" The reason that CTS exists is to train labourers for the harvest field.  This fact alone makes graduation a very special occasion.  

Pray for these graduates as they are obedient to God and His calling on their lives to reach a lost world with the Love of Christ!

CTS truly is CHANGING LIVES TO CHANGE THE WORLD!

50th Anniversary & Graduation - ONE WEEK AWAY!

CONTINENTAL 

THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY

Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium

50th ANNIVERSARY & GRADUATION

4 - 6 JUNE 2009

Come and join us!

Events include 2009 Graduation, with guest speaker George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, and visits by previous presidents, students, professors.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, 5 JUNE
09:00 - Baccalaureate & Awards Assembly - in the chapel. A special service to highlight our graduates, hear the student speaker, and giving of awards and scholarships.

19:00 - Graduation Banquet - in the chapel. A fun evening of food & fellowship to honor the 2009 Graduating Class - Tickets 15 EUR - Limited seating. Final day to purchase tickets Friday 29 May.

FRIDAY, 5 JUNE
14:00 - Alumni & friends gathering - visit with former students, faculty & staff, tour the campus, look at photos from your days at CTS/CBC.

19:00 - 50th Anniversary Celebration in the chapel. Featuring former presidents, vision for the future, movie of photos.

SATURDAY, 6 JUNE
14:30 - GRADUATION COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
40 Students graduating with BA or MTH in Bible & Theology.
Guest speaker: Rev. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God World Fellowship.

Promotional Items on Sale to celebrate the 50th Anniversary! T-Shirts - Mugs - USB Stick with History of Photos & Song by Alumnus Barto & Gaelle Di Pasquale - Photo & History Book to Commemorate 50 Years of Ministry. Items will be available for purchase on Friday, 5 June and will help to raise funds for the seminary to prepare for another 50 years!

Write to Director of Enrollment Management & Alumni Emmanuelle Rouffet - erouffet@ctsem.edu - for more information and lists of hotels & restaurants in the area. Or call +32 2 334 85 55.

JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION!