In the meantime, here is something one of our students wrote while studying the book of Ezra. I thought it was too good not to share. Revival is a word that is thrown around quite often in these parts. The student is Mikaela Grönlund from Sweden.

Summary of the theme Revival

Revival starts with love for God, and an understanding of who God is. When we leave our religiosity, there is room for revival. Revival is a matter of the heart and not the actions. God can easy make converts through performing miracles – this attracts people and builds faith in them. But there is no longlasting revival without repentance. The elements that have to be there are: transformed heart – Faith – Repentance – transformed lifestyle (fleeing from sin and discipleship).

I believe that revival almost always starts among christians, in the churches. God has to build up the believers first so that they are able to receive and disciple the new converts when they come. Imagine if there would come 50 new believers to a church one day -  the church has to embrace them and teach them how to go forward in their relationship with God. The “old believers” cannot just speak to their friends, they have to include the new converts and they have to be living examples of what a life with God looks like and how it should be lived out.

Believers have to take actions and always be ready for revival.

What it meant for the Original Readers of Ezra

The people that returned to Jerusalem were 2-3% of the Jews. Those who returned had to give up their business, their houses and their lives in Babylon, and they went to a city in ruins. Jerusalem was not attractive. But they wanted to return because they were zealous for God. They wanted to be set apart for God. They wanted their children to be set apart for God, away from idolatry. They wanted to flee the sins of Persia.

The exile had served a good purpose. The exile was not just punishment – it was the start of a revival; among the Jews and for the rest of the world. Many of the highest kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Darius I, Darius II, Artaxerxes and Cyrus; all these kings experienced God’s power.

The people that returned were zealous for God. But when the first crush for God had calmed down, many of them (both priests, levites and normal citizens) fell into temptations and sin – they intermarried idolatrous women. As a believer you have to stay faithful to God’s word both when you feel the passion in your heart and when you don’t feel the passion. The leaders had been bad examples for the people – and many, many men did the same sin. The sins of the people spread like a fire. But Ezra dealt with it and said “this is not acceptable!”. He showed the people the necessity of repentance and holy lives.

What it means for us today

I was challenged when I was at Circuit Riders. The message that they were preaching was “Revival is coming soon. Do you believe it?!”. If you would have asked me a few years ago I would have shouted “YES, Halleluja! Thank you Jesus! I believe it!”. But I have heard these sermons for so many years, I have heard people speaking visions that they have seen; a small fire that spreads over the entire nations etc. But I have almost not seen anyone getting saved yet. So when they were speakig this message I was thinking “Are you speaking this because God has promised a revival to come, or because you want it to be true?”. But then I realized what this mentality had done to my heart.

I know that revival is on God’s heart. I know that it starts with a burning passion for Jesus and increased boldness in believers. I know that God has to prepare the church before he sends new believers there. It might take 20 years for God to prepare the church…or it only takes 3 years. No matter what I have to be ready!

If I don’t believe that revival is coming, then I have a mindset of  “People will not get saved. People will not receive my message and take it to their hearts – basically: People are not interested in Jesus”. If I have this mindset, then I easily become passive. But a requirement for revival is that believers are willing to spread the word of God. That believers fear God more than men. That believers find their deep joy and strength in Him.

This book and the last weeks have reminded me about how I can deliberately work for a revival to come. No matter if a revival will come or not in my lifetime, I need to have the mindset that people are hungry to hear about God. I also need to prepare myself in all ways, and I need to stay faithful to God, living as a good example for other believers – aware that I am a leader for – I am called to lead  people to Jesus with my words and actions.

Anyone who has a baby, knows a baby, or has seen a baby can imagine what our families are going through as they anticipate meeting Obadiah for the first time. This kid has no idea what he is getting into.

With that said: have any of you ever flown with a baby before? Well, we have a total of 25 hours of flight time between us and America. We are searching for suggestions and advice!

We would love to meet up and share what we do. Please email us if you would like to grab a cup of coffee and just chat.

See you soon!

Thank you everyone for your prayers for the students! For more insight and understanding, I have asked a few of our students to share about their thoughts on the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) and how they plan to use what they have learned in the future. These are the people that we work with everyday and what make what we do here possible!

“I have really considered the SBS and this time as such important time and a turning point in my life. SBS has equiped me with an understanding of Who God is, both in nature and character. This is something that has been repeated over and over again in my studies and therefore is leading me to love Him more. It has also stirred in me a hunger to go out and teach and equip many more other people in Uganda and the world. I plan to teach about the reality of God with a passion to love Him more and have a deeper relationship with Him.” Emma from Kampala, Uganda

“I have a huge heart for discipling senior high school and college students. For the last six months of SBS, God has been growing me in the foundations of my faith with a Biblical worldview of how He intended our faith and lives to be lived out, but also in how to disciple and equip others into coming into an understanding of what a passionate relationship with God looks like. I am also a kindergarten teacher, working with littlies from 3 months to 5 years old. I work a lot with our children’s parents and have come to realise the responsibility that parents and educators have in working together to teach. I cannot wait to go home to New Zealand and put everything that God has been growing me in, into practice, however that may be.” Helen from Auckland, New Zealand

“For me, SBS has been a time of experiencing God’s love and grace in gentle ways and it is seeping through my life bringing an inner transformation. I have found every book of the Bible more relevant to my own life and now the Bible stories are no more ‘just stories’ but I have become an ‘insider’ to every story which God has used to form, shape, build and bless me. My expectation was to study the ‘Word of God’ but now I have been encountering ‘the God of the Word’ every day through it. With these insights and understanding, I believe that I can reach out the Word to people in light of right context and concept. Studying the Bible is an unending task and a process of new discoveries all the time but meeting God every time while doing so is powerful, amazing and life-changing! And I am glad that SBS has equipped me with the right tools to venture with God and grow in Him.” Shikha from Darjeeling, India

We just want to say thank you to all of the encouraging emails, letters and cards that we have received in the last couple of months. We have been so blessed with this new season in life! Our family is doing well and we are getting very excited to come home for a visit this June!

Right now I just want to share a prayer request for some of the students. Many of them are having financial difficulties due to many reasons. I have made a little newsletter with the students who are in need and a little biography of each one. If you feel led, please let me know if you would like me to email this to you. For security reasons, I won’t be posting it online.

Thanks!

And so we will soon have a newsletter out for you.  But in the mean time, here are a ton of pictures for you to see!!

We are now 1.5 years in, and I am happy to say that I truly believe South Africa is our home.

 This thought first crossed my mind last August when we arrived back in SA after a month in Uganda. The second my feet touched the ground in Johannesburg and the cool, dry air filled my lungs, I knew I was in the right country. Maybe it was the Malaria that gave it a kick start. I was the sickest I had ever been and I longed for my own bed; not my bed in Washington, but my bed in Cape Town.

We are now having a child here. He will be born here, and he will grow up here. His first words will be “braai” and “boerewors”. He will go to school with other South African kids. He will use South African slang and lingo with his South African/American accent. He won’t learn Spanish as his second language, it will probably be Xhosa or Afrikaans. Chances are, he won’t know how to play American football, baseball and basketball. But I bet he will be able to tell you all about rugby and cricket.

Every time we purchase something for long term use I think about this as well.  Something as simple as an ice chest or a bookshelf actually symbolizes roots. We have invested into this country. We also have had our eye on the housing market. Unfortunately, as foreigners we would need a 50% down payment for a home loan. This isn’t in our near future, but some day we hope to own our own home here.

We will be returning to the States for a two month visit in June of 2013. I am really looking foreword to catching up with family and friends. But the unexpected thing is, I am already looking foreword to returning to South Africa after that. I am curious of how it will feel to leave our old home again and return to our new home. Unlike last time, we won’t be arriving to the fear of the unknown, we will be returning home.

I am very happy about the journey that God has taken us on. Growing up I never thought that this is where I would be. I wonder what else God has in store for us.

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

We are happy to announce that this month we moved into a new classroom! A building that is only a 10 minute walk from the main campus has opened up. It was once a dance studio. The owners put in new carpet for noise control; and we worked hard to get all the mirrors off the wall and set up our own equipment.

For context, below is a photo of us scrunched into the old classroom. Above as the main photo we are spaciously stretched out and praising God for this amazing answer to prayer.

On Friday both of these women died suddenly in a car accident.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes serious tragedy to bring people together. This event has caused many to look at their own life and see how fragile we are. Everyday drama and petty arguments fade away as we realize they mean nothing in comparison to a mother and daughter leaving this world without any warning.

People who have experienced loss of a close friend or a family member often question God and the gospel in light of these events. How do we truly counsel someone who is suffering with this amount of pain? I have failed many times in my attempts to put on a prayer “band aide” or offer a cliche statement to help someone suffering and in need. Often it is easier to not ask the tough questions.

I am beginning to learn the importance of walking with someone in times like these. Emotional healing takes a long time and leaves noticeable scars.

I would love to hear what you all think about this. Please email me if you have any advice or stories.