An Answer to Their Prayer

With the land purchased and work started on the Bible College construction, we sat down with the Pastors of the Vietnamese Baptist Church and really laid out what our vision was and how it could assist in their work in growing their church.  As we talked, it became clear that what the Lord had laid on our hearts – open a Bible College so pastors can be trained in His Word – was the same vision the Lord had place upon their hearts.  It soon became apparent that Lien and I are the Lord’s answer to their prayers. This left me with a since of AWE as we realized that if we are God’s answer to their prayers, He will provide for all that is yet to be accomplished.

We decided during this meeting that since the property was purchased and construction already begun, we would actually open to students beginning in January 2014. What a great sense of joy – but also a great deal of stress involved in meeting this timeline.  We still need to find a curriculum of study and a partnership with a Bible College or Seminary, among other things.  As I sat back and thought about the work in preparing all the material and the central course guide, I was getting overwhelmed, for it is a lot of preparation. Then I realized again that since Lien and I are God’s answer to their prayer, that these doors would be opened and all we will need will be provided.

It is estimated that the cost for monthly training for 20 students is $50 per student. This covers material, travel, food, lights, and other needed resources that may arise. Again $1000 a month to run or operate a Bible College is a big obstacle for two missionaries from Florida. I thought “there is no way we will be able to afford this every month.” Then I realized once more, “Lien and I are God’s answer to their prayers” and every door will be opened that needs to be opened and everything needing provision will be provided for. Listen to this great Bible verse the Lord used to confirm this within our heart. 

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed”

— 2 Corinthians 9:8

God is more than able to sufficiently and abundantly provide for every good work.

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that God is more than able to sufficiently and abundantly provide for every good work. Offering a powerful yet conservative approach to Bible training for the next generation of Pastors that will ultimately shake this nation is surely a “GOOD WORK”.

Bible College Construction Begins

Finalizing the purchase of the land for the first Bible College in Southern Vietnam

The Lord has been so gracious to the ministry here. In a nation that is stricken with poverty it is so difficult for the believers to have anything to tithe and it is doubly difficult for a church or ministry to be able to be purchase land, but only through God’s great mercy were we able to purchase land that surrounds the current church property in order to build the first Bible College. Construction has begun on a central meeting area and an area for bathrooms and showers.  Funds are still needed to purchase an additional strip of land in order to build the dorms room necessary for the Bible College students. A grand estimate needed for land and construction and furnishing of all the buildings is roughly around $115,000 (USD). To the Vietnamese, this amount seems inconceivable, but we know that we serve an awesome God and He will provide in His time.

I stopped thinking “WHY ME?” and started saying, “WHY NOT ME?”

 

Because of my background in construction, I wanted to help with the building of the initial walls and foundation, thinking it would be a walk in the park and fun to be able to just labor. My job was to take the rocks and bring them throughout the property line. No problem right? Wrong, it was so hot that it tired me out after just one trip. Wheel barrel after wheel barrel I became more exhausted and started to wonder why in the world was I doing this. Here are some of the things I was thinking as I was working above.

“Why do I have to do this? I mean the Lord used me to help purchase this and supply the funds for this to be done, I mean come on I am an American Missionary with a Master Degree and working on another one, why am I carrying these rocks? I am going to be one of the Professors. No Professor is suppose to work like this!”

Work begins for the Bible College

All of these thoughts passed through my mind as I loaded and unloaded these heavy rocks in the scorching heat of this tropical nation. Then I realized I was grumbling, and complaining and realized that there was not a servant’s heart and attitude within me. Then I caught myself meditating on what the Lord had showed me weeks earlier on the plane, “Have God’s attitude within you”. I stopped thinking “WHY ME?” and started saying, “WHY NOT ME?” I started to be filled with great joy as my body tired out under the strenuous work and the scorching heat.