Thursday, January 27, 2011

Cotacachi Bible Class

 

IMG_0948_450x338

Great news! Cotacachi Bible Class was birthed on 13 January 2011. What a blessing! But most of all and above all, we praise God for the beginning of a great work – yet to come!

“For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see . . . They are the eyes of the Lord . . . .” (Zechariah 4:10)

IMG_0956_450x338

Dawn Pahl, from S.A. and S.A. Yes, that’s right! I come from South Africa and from South America.

I praise God for the privilege of studying His precious Word, and for giving me this privilege of launching a Bible Class! My favorite gemstone is the “Pearl of great price, Jesus!"

 

IMG_0951_450x338

Diana Wiberg (USA)

Diana is one of our “foundation stones” – “Precious Stones”. Diana plays an active role in our local, newly-developed English Church. She is our worship leader, and has dedicated her musical and vocal talents to the Lord. Diana, you are a blessing! Di, looking at you, I think I would call you a “Ruby”. A Ruby’s melting point is 2030 degrees Celsius. Di, you have been through the melting pot, and have come out sparkling! Di, you are a gem!

 

IMG_0952_450x338

Sydney Heard (USA)

Sydney, you are an “Emerald”! Sydney is the wife of Pastor Bill Heard. An English-speaking Pastor’s wife in Cotacachi – a first! Then we are blessed to have an “Emerald” as a foundation stone. What are the characteristics of an “Emerald”?

An emerald is an exceptionally fragile gemstone. This bright and beautiful, green precious stone is not formed in the depths of the earth, and because of its fragility, cannot be mined from rock. Emeralds are hand-picked out of the jagged, greenish quartz rocks that have been beaten about by water over a period of time. From the constant friction of the water, the rocks sometimes break away, exposing these delicate gems embedded in little cavities or pockets in the rock in which it is formed. They are then left exposed to the air to harden. Sydney, you are hand-picked by God, to serve beside the man of God that He has given you. Sydney, you are a gem!

 

IMG_0955_450x338

Joan Bailey (USA)

Joan, you are a sapphire! I call the book of Job 28 the mining chapter. It tells of how man mines underground and discovers gems. The sapphire is referred to as a “stone of darkness”. Verses 5 and 6 say, “As for the earth from it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire; its stones are the source of sapphires.” It is those times of deep suffering that God uses the heat to develop us into beautiful gems that shine for His glory. Joan, your tender and compassionate heart shines forth from you as a sparkling sapphire. Joan, you are a gem!

IMG_0958_450x338

We praise God, for our first Bible Class held on 13 January, 2011 – in a “Christian Courtyard”. In the background you will see the name “Solid Rock Libreria". Dan and Cindy Oie opened a first-time ever Christian Bookstore in Cotacachi, in June 2010. They have allowed us to have our Bible Class in this area, or indoors if the weather is not favorable. Do you see the hand of God working in Cotacachi?

 

IMG_1026_450x338

The Bible College will gladly render any assistance to people who need to know and understand more of the Scriptures. Not only in the classroom situation, or independent-type learning, but on a one-to-one basis. Any place is the place to teach the precious truths found in God’s Word.

 

IMG_1040_450x338

Before our second class, the Lord sent another gem to our church. Sirkka comes from Finland, immigrated to Australia, and is in Cotacachi at the moment. We had a blessed time together as I introduced her to the study methodology, as set out by Dr. Curt, that we are employing at the College.

IMG_1044_450x338

 

Sirkka reminds me of an Opal, that deep fire in an Opal – her spiritual maturity, and trust in the Lord. Sirkka, you are a gem!

 

IMG_1047_450x338

During our first Bible Study. we looked at the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of His children when He calls them into service for Him. In this lesson, God challenged us to “Go! Gain Ground!” When God calls us, He points out the territory that He wants us to possess for Him. Two of our gems were ill that day.

 

IMG_1049_450x338

During the latter part of the lesson, the weather became cloudy and chilly and so we continued indoors in the Solid Rock Restaurant. At this early stage we were experiencing bonding in this little group. “You will know them by the love they have for one another”.

IMG_1050_450x338

Sandiego, seen in the picture, is the chef at the Solid Rock Restaurant – a man truly dedicated to the Lord. Both he and his wife work here as a team. He tends to the coffee needs within the group.

 

IMG_1052_450x338

What a joy it is to see these Gems seeking deeper depths in the Word of God! I love my Gems! They’re Jesus’ Gems. The challenge this week was to gain new ground for God during 2011.

Class 3 was one of the most dynamic of experiences. I am going to give you an overview of our lesson in Part two of this new work that God has started in Cotacachi, Ecuador. Join me in my next post – and keep checking our Bible Class posts.

By the way, our motto for our Bible Class is: “I have treasured the words of His mouth".” (Job 23:12) – and we do! Do you?

1 comment:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete