Cotacachi Bible College

. . . . .  Affiliated with Pillsbury College and Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

At the commencement of three New Years, the years 2000, 2003 and 2007, I received the same Word from the same Scripture from the Lord. The message was clear. One day I would be called upon to support a Bible College. These calls came to me while I was still in South Africa involved in my ministry – Rest-a-While Cancer Ministries. Ten years and ten days later, on 10 January, 2011, in Ecuador, the Cotacachi Bible College  was birthed!

I had the privilege of completing all the degrees offered for Biblical Studies at the Pillsbury College and Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, USA and some months before the Bible College came into being, Dr. Curt Scarborough donated the cd’s for the textbooks for the New Testament translated into Spanish, by one of his doctoral students, the Reverend Phillip Soto, Jnr. Thank you, Dr. Curt and Dr. Soto!

In December 2010, I took a photograph of a new shopping complex, little knowing that the table on the right would be where our little College would begin in 3 weeks’ time.

Dan and Cindy Oie, the owners of the Solid Rock Restaurant and Christian Bookstore have kindly allowed us to use their facilities every Thursday morning, where we meet around a rare commodity in Cotacachi, the Bible.

On 13 January, 2011, our Ladies’ Bible Class began. What Gems they are! We have grown to 7, which is a good number seeing that Cotacachi is a small town, with not many foreigners (Gringos) living here.

Recently our little group distributed Bibles in Spanish to key people in Cotacachi, starting with the mayor’s office. A Bible in Spanish! In most instances the people here have never ever owned a Bible. Their faces reveal a mixture of shock and absolute delight – and UNBELIEF!!!!!! Do you own a Bible – or is it BIBLES!!!!!  Are you delighted to read your Bible, let alone study it – seriously?

Our next stop was the Police Department, the BOMBEROS (nothing to do with bombs – all to do with Fire Fighting), then we went to the Bus terminal and handed Bibles to the Bus Drivers and their assistants. We cannot speak their language fluently, but the Spanish Bible says it all. These people need the Lord!

God does not despise small beginnings, and He delights to see the work begin. (Zechariah 4:10) The Cotacachi Bible College began in a bedroom in my rental property, with six files containing the basics for starting a College. On 13 January, 2011, the Board of Regents unanimously approved Dr. Curt’s recommendation for the Bible College to be affiliated with the Pillsbury College and Seminary.

Once again Dr. Curt donated all the textbooks, this time in English, that he authored, to the college and the printing began.

The next step was to try and find a punch in order to “bind” the textbooks. After prayer, God led me to a store where I bought this treasure . . . . ..

In a few days 75 textbooks in English, and 75 in Spanish were complete.

The enemy for sure, is not happy with the work that God is setting up here in Cotacachi. Progress may seem slow, but my eyes are on the Lord. Doors that He opens, no one can shut. There is a wide door opened here in Ecuador, and there are many adversaries.

In the meanwhile, the Lord has led me to plant seeds where Bible Colleges can take root and grow. Other areas include Ibarra, a large city, and Cuenca, just over 400 kilometers away, where there is great promise of extending this work. One of the most exciting signs at the moment is the establishment of a satellite College starting up in South Africa, in a vibrant Church, with a dynamic man of God. I am praying that God will open doors in this field, where many other doors to study the Scriptures will be opened  in the country where I was born.

My special thanks to Dr. Curt for all his assistance and willingness that many more students will become involved in the serious study of the Word of God, and . . . .

to my ladies (my Gems) who have so faithfully stood at my side, and who so diligently study the precious Word of God.

Each one of them has been handpicked by God to be in Cotacachi – “at such a time as this.”

I welcome any who would want to consider studying the Word of God, or if you are considering opening up a Bible College in your area, to contact me by leaving a message at the end of this post, or emailing me at dawnpahl@gmail.com You may also contact Dr. Curt at Pillsbury College and Seminary at www.pillsburycs.org