College of Theology & Evangelism Fiji
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Being a Master’s Men! “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:1). The apostle Paul was a “servant” of Christ. When Paul referred to himself as a “slave of Christ,” his readers knew exactly what he meant. His life revolved around the Master. Nothing else, including his own personal agenda mattered. When we survey the N.T., we quickly find that the term “slaves of Christ” was not reserved for low-level believers. The apostles eagerly embraced the title for themselves and also used it to refer to others in ministry (Acts 4:29; Col 1:7; 2 Tim 2:24). In contemporary Christianity the language is anything but slave terminology. Rather, it is about success, health, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness. Instead of understanding that God is our Owner and we are His possession, the message is exactly the opposite: Jesus is here to fulfill all your wishes. What Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 4:1 is a timely reminder to us all that we are His subjects and His subordinates. In a word, we are His slaves! The story of the martyrs validates that this is precisely what they meant when they declared to their persecutors, “I am a Christian.” A young man named Apphianus, for example, was imprisoned and tortured by Roman authorities. Throughout his trial, he would only reply that he was the slave of Christ. Though he was finally sentenced to death and drowned in the sea, his allegiance to the Lord never wavered. There is no higher calling in life than to proclaim the gospel from the pulpit and to teach the Word of God under the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there is a paradox that requires a minister of Christ to grasp that he does not deserve to minister. Indeed, what an honor to be given this underserving and incomprehensible privilege of proclaiming the gospel. Here at CTEF and among Bible Churches, our desire for everyone is that they may learn sooner how it is only when under the exclusive ownership of God, can we give our Master unquestioning obedience. Like a dispensing chemist who makes up a medical prescription prescribed by a doctor, the requirement is to do the job as instructed, and not to try to make self-devised “improvements” of one’s own. Hence, does man indisputably consider us, as servants of Christ? The ministry of CTEF would not be possible apart from your faithful support. As we continue to depend humbly on the Lord’s provision to carry out the work before us, it is such an encouragement to know we are not laboring alone. Thank you for praying and for giving so that the gospel of Jesus Christ might be proclaimed to all nations. College of Theology & Evangelism Fiji Ambassadors for Christ International – USA Ì AFCI USA Service Center PO Box 369 Ì Roswell, GA 30077, USA Office: 470–514–5427 Ì E-mail: [email protected] Jan–Feb 2020
Transcript of College of Theology & Evangelism Fiji
Being a Master’s Men! “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:1). The apostle Paul was a “servant” of Christ. When Paul referred to himself as a “slave of Christ,” his readers knew exactly what he meant. His life revolved around the Master. Nothing else, including his own personal agenda mattered. When we survey the N.T., we quickly find that the term “slaves of Christ” was not reserved for low-level believers. The apostles eagerly embraced the title for themselves and also used it to refer to others in ministry (Acts 4:29; Col 1:7; 2 Tim 2:24). In contemporary Christianity the language is anything but slave terminology. Rather, it is about success, health, wealth, and the pursuit of happiness. Instead of understanding that God is our Owner and we are His possession, the message is exactly the opposite: Jesus is here to fulfill all your wishes. What Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 4:1 is a timely reminder to us all that we are His subjects and His subordinates. In a word, we are His slaves! The story of the martyrs validates that this is precisely what they meant when they declared to their persecutors, “I am a Christian.” A young man named Apphianus, for example, was imprisoned and tortured by Roman authorities. Throughout his trial, he would only reply that he was the slave of Christ. Though he was finally sentenced to death and drowned in the sea, his allegiance to the Lord never wavered. There is no higher calling in life than to proclaim the gospel from the pulpit and to teach the Word of God under the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there is a paradox that requires a minister of Christ to grasp that he does not deserve to minister. Indeed, what an honor to be given this underserving and incomprehensible privilege of proclaiming the gospel. Here at CTEF and among Bible Churches, our desire for everyone is that they may learn sooner how it is only when under the exclusive ownership of God, can we give our Master unquestioning obedience. Like a dispensing chemist who makes up a medical prescription prescribed by a doctor, the requirement is to do the job as instructed, and not to try to make self-devised “improvements” of one’s own. Hence, does man indisputably consider us, as servants of Christ?
The ministry of CTEF would not be possible apart from your faithful support. As we continue to depend humbly on the Lord’s provision to carry out the work before us, it is such an encouragement to know we are not laboring alone. Thank you for praying and for giving so that the gospel of Jesus Christ might be proclaimed to all nations.
CollegeofTheology&EvangelismFiji Ambassadors for Christ International – USA Ì AFCI USA Service Center
PO Box 369 Ì Roswell, GA 30077, USA
Office: 470–514–5427 Ì E-mail: [email protected]
Jan–Feb 2020
By God’s Grace Alone
Premend & Ashwin
CTEF 2020 Calendar
FIRSTSEMESTER:January6: CTEFOfficeOpensJanuary29: OrientationApril11–13: EasterHolidayMay18–22: ExaminationMay23–30: SemesterBreakJune1–5: ANNUALCONF SECONDSEMESTER:June8: ClassesresumeAugust3–14 MABSprogramOctober12–16 ExaminationOctober21 Student’sPicnicOctober24 BanquetOctober26–30 JRMLectureSeriesOctober31 GRADUATIONNovember14 CTEFOfficeCloses
CTEFMinistryNews v SixnewstudentshavejoinedCTEFthisyear.Oneis
fromIndia,twofromTuvalu,andthreearefromFiji. v Therearecurrently20studentsinourresidency
program.45studentsareinouroff-campusprogram.Thisnumberhasdoubledfromlastyear.
v Afterthesemanydecades,CTEFhasanewoff-campuslocationonthesecondbiggestislandcalledVanuaLevu.
v Sincethisyear,IhavesteppedintomynewroleofCollegepresident.
FamilyNews&UpcomingTrip v Charleneistakingthissemesterofffromcontinuing
atTheMaster’sUniversityduetohealthandfinancialreasons.
v TMAI again this year kindly awarded a Shepherds’ Conference scholarship. I will be in States from February 23–March 8.
v I am scheduled to be at Fairview Heights Baptist Church, Inglewood on March 1 and Community Bible Church, Anaheim on March 8.
My Teaching Schedule
ON-CAMPUSClassesFIRSTSEMESTER:1stYears:Þ ChurchHistoryI
3rdYearsÞ SpiritualLifeIII{Prayer}Þ IntrotoHebrewGrammar4thYearsÞ SpiritualLifeV{Worship}Þ N.T.Exposition:HebrewsÞ O.T.Exposition:Genesis1–11..
My Teaching Schedule
OFF-CAMPUSClassesLautoka&SuvaFebruary3–7 SpiritualLifeI:FOFClassMar30–April3.N.T.SurveyApril27–May1ChurchHistoryIJune1–5 O.T.SurveyJune8–12 SpiritualLifeII CupandtheGloryJuly6–10 N.T.Exposition:1PeterAugust3–7N.T.Exposition:1PeterAug31–Sept4ChurchHistoryISept28–Oct2 O.T.Survey
BibleChurchMinistryNews
AsyouentertheBibleCollegedriveway,housessituatedonboth sidesbelong toHindu families. Lastyear through theministryeffortsofVBSandYouthCamps,Rajjat, a16-yearyoungmanprofessed faith in Christ. His house is the firstoneontherightasyouenterthedriveway.EarlierthisyearRajjat’sgrandmotherbecameverysicktothepointofdeath.AfterexhaustingallHinducitesandocculticplacesforrelief,thefamilyapproachedus.TheLordgrantedherimmediaterelief and this kindness of the Lord opened furtheropportunities to share the Gospel with her. She has beencomingtoourLovuBibleChurchforthelastfourweeks.
Abigailisin4thGrade
She joins other girls from her
school who were also inducted as
“Class Captains.” Abby is excited
and nervous about her new responsibility.
College of Theology & Evangelism Fiji’s Vision and Mission
Since 1974 by God’s mighty grace CTEF has been committed to training and equipping the next generation of mostly young indigenous men from across the South Pacific. Liberalism, prosperity gospel, and a variety of cults have been causing much havoc across all the island nations. Several mainline churches could be noted for a lack of Biblical convictions and Gospel driven ministries. CTEF was born to carry the weighty responsibility of upholding the changeless truth of Biblical Christianity. Here at CTEF, we firmly believe the most strategic way to make disciples of all nations is through training and equipping. Our mission is to put in the hands of the upcoming Pacific Islands church leaders the necessary tools needed to plant and pastor Bible-centered, Christ-exalting churches. Only eternity would reveal the training’s impact on and through these leaders.
