2017-1

LOOKING BACK “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him.”

Psalm 22:27

The Ambassador Institute was started in August 2007. Now, almost ten years later, it is

encouraging and amazing to look back at what the Lord has done with this ministry. It started with the need to train pastors and leaders who would never be able to study in traditional school settings. The road blocks for these pastors were finances, distance, family, business, and learning methods. Ten years later, an oral training method has been made available to people in five countries and seven languages. 2007 – Recorded AFLTS classes taught in English 2008 – Introduction to the International Orality Network2009 – The first Ugandan class of 20 was started2010 – The first Indian class of 25 was started2011 – The first Ugandan class graduated – Curriculum translated into Portuguese 2012 – The first Indian class graduated – Curriculum translated into Russian – Curriculum translated into Spanish – Oral Training was introduced to Ecuador2013 – 70 students from 7 classes in Uganda graduated – Curriculum translated into Luganda for Uganda2014 – 50 students graduated in India – Curriculum translated into Telugu for India – Aletheia Bible School started in Ecuador 2015 – 58 students from 8 classes in Uganda graduated – Romans curriculum was completed2016 – 45 students from 7 classes in Uganda graduated – 24 students from 1 class in India graduated

2017-2

UGANDA

There is a need to re-focus the leadership after all of the drama that Nate and Rhoda Jore have had to deal with over their work permit. At the end of March and the first two weeks in April, Pastor Kevin will be traveling to Uganda.

Jane Eyotia, one of the board members, wrote the following in an e-mail. “Special greetings in the name of the Lord.  Thank you for being there for us. You know it is great to know that you have somebody somewhere who cares and carrying the loving heart of God!”

“We have been in a serious battle of the Work Permit.   It became a blessing in disguise because all teachers, students and the team joined hands to fast and pray at set

days.  I have never seen this type of unity before.  When we meet, we do not only pray for the work permit, but we also pray for all our directors, projects, classes, and personal needs, etc.  Though prayers were being carried on in different places, the target was the same.”Pastor Kevin’s trip will include board meetings, graduation, and meeting with the Jore and Berger families. Micah and Famke have established their training base in Karenga. Karenga is in the north-eastern corner of Uganda next to Kidepo Game Reserve. Micah, Famke, and Naomi will be on furlough in the U.S. through the summer. Consider having them at your church to hear about their work and ministry. Micah’s email is hacim1@hotmail.com

PRAYER REQUESTS

ASIA- Brent and Emily Raan as they wait for the paper work

to return.- Accountability for the classes, which includes the

teachers, students, class times, and exams- Typing and printing of the Telugu curriculum

UGANDA- Micah and Famke Berger as they learn Karamajong

and build relationships in this new region- Nate and Rhoda as they focus on ministry- The Ministry Team as some classes finish and others

need to be revived- Pastor Kevin’s trip at the beginning of April

ECUADOR- The Pillman family as they return for furlough- The Cross Cultural Ministry class who will be traveling

the first two weeks in April- Aletheia Bible School and their three students

GENERAL- The development of Book Four of the Ambassador

Institute curriculum Free and Living Congregations

In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple

he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

2 Samuel 22:7

Ambassador Institute

www.AmbassadorInstitute.org(763) 412-2029 kevino@aflc.org

LOOKING FORWARD“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jer. 29:11

Looking back is helpful when planning the future. The way the Lord has led can give clarity to where He is leading. The World Missions Committee has established some goals for the Ambassador Institute this coming year. These can be a prayer list as you remember the challenges of this ministry before the Lord. Every goal that we have requires some action on our part, as well as a dependence on the Lord to make it possible. Without the Lord directing our steps, we accomplish nothing. Without obedience on our part, we are resisting or rebelling against His call.

Curriculum Finish Book Four in the curriculum which will

focus on Free and Living Congregations, including sections on worship, the church, and leadership.

Translate Book Two of the Revised Spanish Print the Revised Telugu

Uganda Encourage the Ambassador Institute leaders Strengthen the classes and expand locations

Asia Emphasize doctrinal understanding Stress accountability Promote quality teaching

Expand locations

Explore A New Field – such as a Caribbean country

Ambassador Institute3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.

Plymouth, MN 55441(763) 412-2029 kevino@aflc.org

2017-3

ASIA"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 Samuel and Sanjee Varao are twin 17 year-old boys from India who have felt God’s call to be messengers of His Word.

They heard about and started attending an Ambassador Institute class that was being held near their home. When they heard the Word of God through the stories in the AI curriculum, the Holy Spirit changed their lives. They started writing and singing worship songs about the Lord. They asked to be baptized and desired to serve the Lord with their lives. It will be more difficult for them than for other men their age, because both of them had polio. They are unable to move their hands or their feet and spend their days in wheelchairs. Their future plan for ministry is for one of them to sing and the other to proclaim God’s Word.

CLASSESThe Rajamundry class is the newest group to start meeting in India. Their class meets on a roof top at night. Emmanuel is the teacher. He travels 8 hours by train one way every month for training. There are presently 50 attending and they are excited to be learning God’s Word in this new and challenging way.2017-4

SPANISH EXPANSION

Israel Floress, a seminarian from Leon, Mexico, translated Book One of the revised curriculum into Spanish during the fall. He will translate the Book Two this spring. These translations allowed us the chance to explore training pastors in a closed Caribbean Island at the end of January. Israel

would like to have this oral training available for his congregation as well.

ECUADORPastor Kevin teaches the Cross-Cultural Ministry class alongside of Pastor Mark Olson. The class has been traveling from the Association of Free Lutheran Bible School to Cuenca, Ecuador for six years. They do ministry alongside of the Aletheia Bible School students as they share God’s Word with schools in Cuenca. The Ambassador Institute has a partnership with Aletheia and has trained eight teams from their parent church, Paz De Dios, in the Oral Bible Study method.

This year Mark Olson, Justo Pillman and Ruth Gunderson will be leading the trip.

YES, IN THE U.S.

Church or District Training events: There have been five Ambassador Institute training events held at churches and districts in the U.S..

Ambassador Institute Curriculum can be ordered from the AI office at kevino@aflc.org ($15) or from Amazon by searching for “Share the Word”, ($15).

Online: The lessons can be downloaded from the AI website at www.ambassadorinstitute.org.

Bible Study or Devotions: This curriculum is written for an oral presentation by a teacher, but it is useful to meditate and memorize the scripture. The subjects and questions are useful to draw out the context and thought of the scripture.

International Travel: You are welcome to join Pastor Kevin on a trip to Uganda or India and see firsthand the training in practice.

Financial Investment: We praise the Lord for the partnership of individuals and congregation making this ministry possible. Thank you!

“Entrust to reliable menwho will then be qualified to teach others.”

2 Timothy 2:2

Ambassador Institutewww.AmbassadorInstitute.org

(763) 412-2029 kevino@aflc.org

Last November, the Baapatla class held a special event to honor the diligence of their students over the year and half that they had been studying. They had taken four of the six exams and were close to finishing the last two.

Kieliand is a business man from the Baapatla class. He is a father and a carpenter. In 2013, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Recently, he started to learn the Word of God through the Ambassador Institute classes. It was a method that he could understand and pass on to others. He learned about loving his neighbor through the Good Samaritan text. He understood it easily and he started to share it with others, including the Sunday School children. People have asked him how he, a simple man, that doesn’t know how to read and write, has gained so much knowledge of God’s Word. They are amazed at how easily he shares The Word.

EMMANUEL AND HARIKA

Emmanuel has been an AI teacher for four years. He has applied to attend seminary at AFLTS and his wife, Harika, has applied to attend Bible School starting in September. By having a formal seminary degree they hope to be strong leaders within the AFLC India and for the Ambassador Institute.

BRENT AND EMILY

Brent, Emily, Amaleah, and Sarala have been waiting for paperwork so that they can return to ministry. Pray for them regarding visa challenges. Recent changes have made it increasingly difficult for people to get visas.

Ambassador Institute3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.

Plymouth, MN 55441(763) 412-2029 kevino@aflc.org