We invite all that live in or near Bend, Oregon to a fellowship with Nels and Lorrie at Mike and Marcia Vogel’s home at 7:00 PM on the 22nd of April. Their address is:
62254 Powell Butte Hwy, Bend, OR 97701
Nels and Lorrie will also be sharing at Desert Streams Church during their morning service on the 24th of April.
We would love to see you while we’re in the States!
Dear Friends,
The Bible School in Virac, Catanduanes is completing its 19th year of operation this month. We have been, and are blessed to be a part of watching so many young people dedicate their lives to God and grow in their faith. One of our graduate students came from Manila and hosted a party for several of the former students that live in the area as well as for the students here on campus. It was fun and encouraging to reminisce about past years as well as their present activities and plans and hopes for the future. As can be expected, several graduates have married other graduates from the school and now are raising their own families. This year, we even have the daughter of one of our earlier graduates attending the school!
After the first year of primarily Bible academic training the new students are sent to other churches. During the second year they are usually discipled by older pastors in one of the outreach churches. The third year they individually pray and determine where they feel God wants to use them. Usually, they are sent to either an existing work or to one they feel led to start. This year, the students range in age from 17 years to 36 years old.
The following are excerpts from two of the students returning from last years field training:
Rodel (19 years old) writes, “It is pleasure for me to serve in a mission and be used for the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ…I am happy to be a co-worker in the Cebu church. (It) is good and growing and there were a lot of services…we helped in evangelism, Bible study, and Children’s ministry as well as prayer, men’s fellowship, and youth fellowship. I was also used to preach and to lead songs. I was challenged by the senior pastor and wife’s love of the ministry.”
Renan (19 years old) writes, “All the glory and honor is for the Lord only and how He used my life in a mission…God used me in a different and wonderful way; along with the overflowing grace of God there were trials. With the problems in the church, God gave me wisdom, boldness, and love to correct the wrong and to discipline the spoiled. I learned that with the trials came victory and overflowing blessings from God. We conducted youth fellowships and daily Bible studies and saw people commit their lives to Christ.”
David said in I Samuel 30:24 and 25, that those who go out to battle and those who remain with the supplies shall share equally. We are told in John 4:38, “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
On behalf of the Filipino students and us, we thank you for your part in making this ministry possible.
Nels, Lorrie, and Amy