Carlos
Fernández
Mexico Ministry
First, I want to let you know that since my last Field Report,
I have successfully completed my graduate program! My thesis
was accepted and I have graduated. Thank you for your prayers.
I am currently on a FaithSearch ministry trip
to Mexico, and the Lord's blessing is quite evident.
It has been an interesting trip, too, not without humor. During
the flight, and after learning I was from Peru (where an earthquake
struck) and was coming from Minneapolis (where a bridge collapsed)
the quickwitted flight attendant begged me "Oh, please
sir, get out of my plane!"
When I cleared customs in Mexico (at about 10 p.m.) I learned
from my host we would be leaving for Southern Mexico at 4 a.m.
After catching two or three hours of sleep, we began a ten-hour
drive to the state of Tabasco. To top it off, a hurricane struck
the Yucatan Peninsula as soon as I left there! You might need
to take cover when you see me next!
We had four presentations down there: two at the Southeastern
Presbyterian Seminary, whose students were extremely grateful
and enthusiastic, and two more at a town were a river meets
the Caribbean, called El Paraíso, which means Paradise.
I preached there twice on Sunday, to extremely welcoming
audiences. We also had two presentations with the Baptist
Seminary Students. They were truly mesmerized!
Back in Mexico City, we have done sixteen FaithSearch
presentations. We had an all-day teaching event with the
regional Baptist convention, and next I will be training college
workers with the National Autonomous Mexican University, the
largest campus in North America. Pastors and teachers alike
are truly impressed and very thankful.
Still to come are two teaching events and one outreach with
the college students. Then I have another weekend of preaching
and teaching in Southern Mexico before returning home to Minnesota.
Praise God for these fruitful opportunities to proclaim the
Gospel with evidence.
Don
Bierle
Bible Teacher at Heart—Called to Evangelism
A deep conviction was placed in my heart at my adult conversion
that there was nothing more important than teaching others
the Word of God. And there was nothing that motivated and
fulfilled me more than that. It became my passion, even though
I was a scientist.
Shortly after my confession of personal faith in Jesus, I spent
massive amounts of time in study of God's Word, and the Holy
Spirit was powerfully present. Then, forty-two years ago, I
began teaching my first Bible studies-in homes, in churches,
wherever there was an opportunity.
My wife, Vernee, will attest to this: During all the early
years of Bible teaching I vowed I could never be involved in
evangelism—an activity that was a real "turn-off"
to me. (God must have a sense of humor!) Eleven years later
(1976) I wrote the first draft of the "Faith Study"—intended
for Christians, of course. After all, I was an academic dean
and college professor, not an evangelist!
During the next five years God did a new work in my heart.
He eventually led me to a deeper understanding: Teaching
the Bible and doing evangelism are not separate ministries—the
second flows out of the first. Both are centered on The Word:
one Written, the other Living.
So God gave me the desires of my heart (which He placed there):
to teach His Word. He also harnessed that passion to His heart:
"who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge
of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). I teach the Word and the
Holy Spirit saves. God is truly a genius!
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Several opportunities to experience the teaching of FaithSearch
"teacher-evangelists" are coming up: two Growing Faith
classes on Mondays and Thursdays; New Testament History and
Survey, also on Thursday evenings; plus our FaithSearch
outreach events. See the schedule for
details.
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