The EVANGEL Voice July, 2014

Upcoming Events

August

3 - 17: SOPM Cameroon 20 - Sept. 8: SOPM Madagascar

September

11: SOPM Harrisonburg 16: SOPM Fairfax County Adult

Detention Center

November 2 - 18: SOPM Sierra Leone

EVANGEL Theological Seminary 36 Southgate Ct., Suite 201

Harrisonburg, VA 22801 (540) 433-7760 (888) 711-0066 info@ets.edu

Full Hearts For A Full Year It’s so hard to believe that we are halfway through 2014. The time has seemingly flown by. Each new day is a gentle reminder of the good-ness of God and His faithfulness to us. In 6 months some incredible things have happened. A total of 4 groups of the

SOPM have finished; Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (March), Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (June), and 2 groups in Harrisonburg (Jan. & June). The 2nd half of 2014 is filled with some exciting things. In August we have 2 trips planned. I will be going with Julius Esunge to Cameroon. We are expecting an enroll-ment of 85 pastors and lead-ers. Two local leaders will be assisting with the teaching and at the conclusion of the pro-gram we will certify them as SOPM instructors. In addition, Dr. Pitts Evans will be going to Madagascar to launch the SOPM there. The program will be held in the capital city and hosted by the largest church in the country. One hundred pas-tors and leaders will be en-rolled. Finally in November, I will be returning to Sierra Leone. We will have 85 pastors and leaders enrolled there. Last year, we certified Rev. Patrick George as an instructor. This year we anticipate certifying an additional 2-3 instructors which will allow local leaders to take the SOPM into other areas of the country as well as neighboring countries. By the end of 2014 over 600 African pastors and leaders will have com-

SOPM Graduates June 2014

Check out our Web Site for more

information and resources

www.ets.edu

pleted the School of Practical Ministry and there will be 3-6 local certified instructors. We are so humbled by this incredible opportunity to serve the church in Africa. In September, we will be starting a new group of the SOPM in Harrisonburg. Once again, space is lim-ited so if you’re considering enrolling contact us soon to get your name on the list. Dr. Pitts Evans, the Senior Pastor of Whole Word Fellowship in Oakton, VA will be starting a new group at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. In June, the first group finished up with 8 men receiving their certificate. Currently, we are busy developing an advanced level of instruction for the SOPM. It will offer a Biblical studies concentration and will utilize the same format as the current SOPM program. Our goal is to be able to offer this new program in the spring of 2015. This new program will also be introduced in Africa as an advanced certificate program under the umbrella of the SOPM. Finally, I want to share some exciting news. Tom Watson has joined the staff of Evangel as the adminis-

trative director. He shares a passion for ministry and the vision that God has given Evangel. Tom’s gift-

ings will help take Evangel to a higher level of effectiveness for the Kingdom. (For more see “On A Personal

Note” p. 3)

Grace and Peace,

Pastor’s Lives Are Being Transformed

If you scanned the calendar of our upcoming events you noticed that we have 3 International Schools of Practical Ministry scheduled in the next 5 months. This is the largest effort we have ever undertaken. With an expected enrollment of 270 pastors and leaders, we have the opportunity to make a dramatic impact on the Church in Cameroon, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone. Just a few days ago, Dr. Julius Esunge, the President of Hope Outreach International Ministries sent me this report about the impact of the SOPM in Cameroon.

To the friends of ETS:

The authoritative prayer guide Operation World aptly depicts Cameroon as a nation with great potential for advancing the Kingdom of God, but one with a distinctively "spiritual poor church,” owing to widespread corruption, weak leadership and very strong syncretism. Having crisscrossed the nation as an evangelist for over 20 years, I know first-hand the reality of the challenges, and the unique opportunities for growing the Kingdom of God by training leaders whose lives and ministry are anchored in God's word. The annual School of [Practical] Ministry is a critical piece in this

endeavor. The participants are selected through a rigorous process to ensure their potential as multiplying disciples of the Lord Jesus. Rather than bore you with details, let me share with you one of many success stories [in Camaroon], with gratitude to God for all of you who make this training possible. Here are the words Pastors Benson & Comfort Etta recently shared with me:

“We had no experience in pastoral ministry, we were looking for training and materials for our pastoral work. Through HOIM we learned of the SOPM program we quickly applied and were selected. During the training we received straight forward on the job practical ministry training that has changed our life and ministry. My best lesson was the module on communication and biblical interpretation, it has

Dr. Julius Esunge

totally changed my preaching and teaching ministry in terms of content and delivery and results. The S[O]PM program challenged my entire belief system, I came to realize that most of us pastors em-phasize the do’s and don’ts of salvation at the expense of what Jesus has done. A month before S[O]PM we had just lost our son, The Lord, used the instructor to comfort us, he said it was alright to cry and experience emotion when you feel pain, that it was not a sign of weakness or car-nality. That removed every feeling of guilt within us. Over the last 22 months, our main church has grown from 7 adults and 12 children to 120 adults and 75 children, and we have opened a daughter church which is 2 months old with an attendance of 13. The church also carries out regular workshops on community development, agriculture, financial empower-ment as well as outreach projects for HIV/AIDS patients and the homeless." We are so incredibly thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness to His people and for this powerful testi-mony of that faithfulness. (See “Making A Difference” p.4 to learn how you can help with this year’s SOPM in Africa)

Evangel Strengthens Relationships and Raises Need Finances

Saturday, May 17th dawned as a beautiful day in Harrisonburg, Va. as the 8th Annual ETS Benefit Golf Tournament got underway that morning. For those who love golf, it was a perfect day to be out playing for a very worthy cause. For those who don't play, please know that this annual event is a wonderful way to build relationships and awareness with people Evangel may not otherwise be in contact with. Eleven teams with 4 golfers in each team competed that day. When the tournament concluded, the two best scores were the teams led by Jim Hall (low gross) and Ed Blackwell (low net). Congratulations! Each year there is a special "Church Team" category with the winner receiving a trophy. This year the team from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va. successfully defended their title and took the trophy home for a second year in a row. Based on player comments, our 8th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament was a great success. Evangel raised $3,100 which will be used for the School of Practical Ministry to help train pastors and church leaders in Africa this year. Also, a portion of the proceeds each year is "tithed" to a non-profit ministry. This year's recipient was the local Salvation Army. Plans are already being discussed for the 2015 ETS Benefit Golf Tournament. We hope you can join us! For more on this article, including additional information about the tournament, names of business sponsors, more pictures and other details, please visit our web site: www.ets.edu and click on Golf Tournament.

Mt. Calvary’s Winning Team

On A Personal Note...

In 2009 I had the privilege of being a part of the first international School of Practical Ministry team to

assist in providing training for pastors and church leaders in Kenya. I came away with a profound ap-

preciation for the work of Evangel Seminary through the SOPM. I also had a clear sense that the Lord

was calling me to be more engaged and involved with this ministry when we returned home. Since that

time, I have volunteered to assist with the annual Golf Tournament along with other projects.

Fast forward almost 5 years to the present time and I am once again humbled and grateful to the Lord for

the door He has opened with the opportunity to come on staff at Evangel.

Having spent a good deal of my adult life in Christian ministry, I am pro-

foundly aware of the privilege it is to serve in this way. Bob and I have

established a good working relationship and have found that our individ-

ual giftings complement one another. For this and other reasons too

numerous to articulate, the timing for this move seems to have clearly

been established by the Lord.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read; "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

Everything in nature seems to flow and function in a seasonal pattern. Often we can divide our lives into

"seasons" of time. This analogy of seasons holds true for ministries as well. I believe Evangel Seminary

is entering into a new season of growth and fruitfulness in the Kingdom.

There is renewed vision and passion to fulfill the call that God has given Evangel Seminary. The strong

Biblical foundation of this ministry that was initially laid by Dr. Bob Reichard Sr. is providing a solid plat-

form on which to build well into the future. I feel richly blessed to be stepping into this new role during this

strategic period. Thank you in advance for your prayers and your support for this ministry at this pivotal

time; both are highly valued and appreciated!

Making A Life Changing Difference Earlier in the newsletter we shared an incredible testimony of what God is doing through the SOPM. You, our faithful partners and friends play a significant role in this. Your prayers and financial gifts make all of this possible. You have sown incredible seed into the church in Africa, seed that continues to grow into fruit that is having a lasting impact. To provide training this year alone, we need lots of help from our friends. Pastors in Africa have ex-tremely limited resources, so they pay only a fraction of what the SOPM course and additional resource materials that we give them actually cost. For these international opportunities to be fully funded this year we need over $25,000. Here are a number of ways you can help:

♦ $150 will provide a scholarship for an African pastor

♦ $ 75 will provide a 1/2 scholarship

♦ $37.50 will provide a 1/4 scholarship Would you prayerfully consider making a special financial gift to Evangel for this training. You can use the enclosed envelope. Just write Africa in the memo section of your check and remember that your gifts towards this endeavor are tax deductible. Thank you in advance for your help.

Prayer Focus There are several prayer needs that we want to share with you. Please join

with us in lifting these requests to the Lord.

♦ Kari Engen (daughter of Harry Engen, 2006 ETS graduate) - healing.

♦ Jim Glanzer (2014 SOPM graduate) - healing.

♦ Linda Heath (ETS partner) - healing.

♦ The upcoming SOPM trips.

♦ The new SOPM classes in the fall.