My first day of Bible School is complete!
I’ve only been at Ethnos360 Bible Institute for a few days now, but I already love it! The atmosphere around campus is amazing. Everyone is here for the same reason, and it is cool to hear snippets of conversations as people discuss deep theological matters on the way to lunch.
One thing that has been a consistent theme in our teaching is that this isn’t about getting good grades and a diploma. This is about seeking out God’s will and leaving changed. We should care more about being molded into the form of Christ than getting straight A’s (even though I am happy to say I got a 100% on my first assignment).
I am excited to get into my classes and learn all sorts of things this school year. But I’m even more excited to see how God will change me and my classmates in these next 2 years.
Hearing stories from missionaries gets me excited to do my best at school and learn and apply everything. But with excitement, I also have heartbreak. You have no idea how many people groups have never heard the name of Jesus. Of course, I’ve heard it repeatedly, “Not everyone has a Bible in their language” or “There are still people who have never heard the gospel before”.
But one story that was shared at school opened my eyes to how lost and unreached our world truly is.
One of our teachers was on a mission trip to some overseas country in a rural area. His group was having a campfire when the leader started pointing out other campfires you could see in the distance. They represented small villages. From the hill they were standing on, they saw around five different villages. Out of those 5, none of them had a Bible in their language, none of them had ever heard about Jesus, and none of them had ever talked to, let alone met, a Christian before. Just think about how many people are in one village! How close they are to hearing from those who have the good news. But they’re just out of reach. The problem isn’t that no one will share the good news with them (even though we always need missionaries going to new places). The problem is resources. How much time and money would it take to learn the language? How much time does it take to translate a Bible? Are they friendly? Do they even have a written language? Despite all these obstacles, we go forward. People sacrifice and risk their lives just to share Christ. But how much more did Jesus sacrifice for us? Philippians 2:8 tells us:
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Love so amazing.
Maybe after these 2 years, I’ll move forward to becoming a missionary to an unreached tribe. Or maybe I’ll move to a small town in Kansas to teach Sunday school classes. Either way, I would be forwarding God’s message of salvation!
Romans 10:14 should make you reflect and honestly break your heart for those villages around the world without God.
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? “
How can people know God if no one has told them? Of course, God can make himself known all by himself if he wants to. Just look outside or in a science book. Everywhere you look, it shouts the praise of a perfect creator! But if you read the next verse in Romans, it has an answer to our questions.
“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
We must send people out! Whether that means you’re the one being sent, or you’re helping send others out, be ready to preach that good news!
Please pray for me as I am equipped with more knowledge about God and how to help those people without hope. I am excited about the fact that maybe one day I will be sent to a different country, but until then I will be serving in WI!
Some ways you can help me be “sent”
- Please pray for me and that I’ll make good connections and find a solid home church for the next two years. I also need to find a job within walking distance of the school.
- You can help me by financially supporting me and giving to my current mission: Bible school! Go to the “Give” section of my website.
- You can send me a nice letter in the mail. I finally figured out how to open the lock on my mailbox, and it would be nice to see some letters inside it! My address is 915 N. Hartwell Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186.
Hi Hannah!
It’s a great news to hear from you! I am sure you are going to do great in school! You are in my prayers!
Greetings from all my family!
Blessings,
Alban
Thanks Alban! I think of you and your family often. Hope all is well!
Hi!!! Is there a way I can get notified for when you post on your blog?
Hi Anna! Good question. I’m sure there is a way I can make that happen. I’ll update you once I have a solution 🙂
Hi Hannah! The U. S. A. is a mission field too. Brianna’s husband hadn’t even heard the story of the birth of Jesus until he started dating her! He was raised in FL by parents who are atheists. They didn’t bad mouth Christianity they just didn’t care one way or another. He was baptized a couple of years ago 🥰. I gave him his first Bible. He was thrilled. An army Bible before he was deployed to Kuwait. People need Jesus everywhere! Aunt Trish
Hi Aunt Trish! I definitely agree that America is a mission field too. There are many people in our own country, and maybe even city, who have never heard the gospel before. No matter where we are in the world, we need to be living out the Great Commission by sharing the Gospel. We can do that without leaving our town! I put emphasis on overseas missions since that is what I am going to school for, and I feel a particular burden for. Great to hear your effect on other people’s lives for Christ!