Tag Archives: bible training

God Is Opening My Eyes to the Truth — Elisante's Testimony

Posted on by

by Elisante, BSN student, from Tanzania

I first heard of Bible School for the Nations from Joshua S., (BSN leader in Australia) and a team he led to Tanzania in March 2008. I translated for them when they ran a BELT seminar in Arusha. I liked the teachings, as they were deeply based on what the Bible said. They helped us dig into the Bible and showed unity in the old and new testaments.

I was excited!

I had been staffing DTS in YWAM Tanzania and pastoring a church. I taught the word of God to youth in churches and  conferences and taught Bible classes in schools. I also translated for several speakers as they taught from the Bible, mainly from English to Swahili. But I wanted to get more knowledge of the Word of God. There were questions that I couldn't find answers to. I wanted to know about the law, if Adam and Eve had any choice, or if they were just going to sin anyway, and so many more.

As I prayed more about it, I knew I needed the BSN to give me more time to study, understand, and apply God's Word. I applied for BSN Australia twice, but could not get there because of visas. I also tried to go to Nepal and Norway, but couldn't get through because of visas and financial difficulties. I then applied to come to Madison!

Getting to the States was not easy. I needed so many documents to show the embassy that I am a “good” person and that I would return to Tanzania after BSN. Once I had all of the documents together, I thought I would apply for just myself. Bringing my wife and two young kids would be so expensive. Besides, the people at the embassy told me that it would be impossible for me to get the short term visa with my family.

When I told this to Manuel (BSN leader in Madison), he explained from God's perspective the importance of bringing my family. Still, I applied for just myself.

When that application was also denied, I applied with my family. One week before the school began, we were all granted visas to USA!

My family had visas, but no money to purchase tickets. People all over the world prayed for us and some gave gifts of money so we could come. And here we are. God is so good, Bwana Asifiwe!

To be in the BSN and learn has been the greatest experience ever! God is giving me a lot of understanding of His word and His plan for mankind. He's showing me that He  wants the Bible to be understood. He is opening my eyes to the truth.

I want to go back to Africa after my BSN and serve the Lord, teaching the truth in the church. I also want to translate the BSN teaching in Swahili, work with the BELT team in the Congo, and maybe even bring the BSN to Africa. In anything I do, I want to see  people, pastors, and ministers of the word have a deeper understanding of the Bible. I want to share to other people the truth that is setting me free, that way we may also disciple the Nations.

Many people I know in Africa have limited understanding of the word of God. They love God, they are in the Church, but they don't know God. I want to play my part, even though it's a small part, to make God know. I started that by going to the Congo for out BSN outreach in January!

* Read Elisante's story from the Congo: Is there hope for the Congo?.

zp8497586rq

The Congo is Open to Truth

Posted on by

by Elisante, BSN student
Ibambi, DR Congo

Elisante, Asaino-Joseph - YWAM Bible School outreach to Congo

Elisante and Asaino-Joseph

Asaino Joseph was the oldest man who came to the seminar in Ibambi, DRC. He was always on time, being brought by motorcycle as he couldn't walk properly. He sat at the back, always taking notes, asking questions, and engaging in group discussion.

One day in the middle of teaching called “Command to Mission,” Asaino came up front.

“I will go to Tanzania!” he said, overjoyed. “If this man from Tanzania, went to America, and come to the Congo to bring us the good news, I will also go to Tanzania.”

He then invited me to his home, where he told me his story.

Asaino Joseph is a son of an evangelist in the same church where he was a pastor for more than 50 years. He grew up in the church his whole life.

“At 82 years old, all my life I have never received any teaching like the BELT seminar

teaching!” he told me. “This is the kind of teaching that the Congo needs. I wish I was still young. I am old and my body is weak, but my spirit is strong. I hope the young people here will put into practice what they have learned.”

He cried the whole time he told me his story and the things that God was opening his eyes and heart to.

He promised to keep praying and teaching the truth to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, (he has more than 500 of them).

“I will keep praying for the Congo, and Tanzania, and for you, Elisante,” he said.

In Asaino Joseph and in the other 93 graduates of the seminar, I saw signs that revival is coming to the Congo.

God is up to something great in the Congo! The people I met, the pastors, and other community leaders are getting ready. They are receptive to the Word of God, the are hungry and thirsty for righteousness. They openly confess their sins, they are ready to take responsibility as the church, and as leaders.

Looking in, the Congo might look closed because of her wars and other problems, but if you will go inside, you will know that the Congo is open to the truth.

I know I will continue to go to the Congo to declare the truth, to bring them the light, the Word of God, that they may wake up and shine the light in the Congo, in Africa and all over the world.

zp8497586rq

When the righteous cry out, the Lord hears – Nepal

Posted on by
2

by Jackie, Bible School for the Nations student
Nepal

“When the righteous cry out, The Lord hears.” (Psalm 34:17)

Genae, YWAM BELT / BSN staff, prays for the participants in the 3 week seminar on Biblical Education and Leadership Training. Photo by Jackie.

It is day three of the Transformation of the Heart seminar in Nepal. Genae has been teaching on the greatness, or nature, of God. She ends her time talking about fear. She asks all forty-seven participants who are soon to become pastors, both male and female, to speak to God and hear from him about fears they need to cast aside.

BELT participant in Nepal prays. Photo by Jackie.

Silence fills the tiny one room church. I begin to pray, and the Holy Spirit feels so evident. Team member Michael received a word of the Lord in the morning for this day: Presence. And it was true. I can feel God filling up the entire room. Slowly we hear the sounds of cries and sobs slip out from many bowed heads in the room. Whispered prayers echo out of lips. And slowly the prayers grow louder and louder. They are filled with desperation but they are strong. There is no self consciousness, just pure openness and honesty with The Lord.

I cannot understand what their Nepali prayers are saying, but I could feel their urgency.  They all want and need God. Minutes upon minutes pass by but the strength of the prayers continue.

“We thank you, Lord, that as we gain more understanding of your love, our fears our cast aside,” prays Genae. “That is the greatness of our God. He hears all of our prayers at the same time, even in a place of fear. He is with us, every one of us.”

Even as she ends her teaching, the prayers are still crying out for a long time. And God continues to listen.

He is the still small whisper with us, just as he was with Elijah. And He is moving in Nepal.

The Bible is Mine Now

Posted on by

by Ben, Bible School for the Nations student, Children at Risk DTS graduate

The YWAM Bible School for the Nations has meant a lot of things to me since it began about six weeks ago. I've had a safe community to sort through my questions. The biggest thing for me has been that my belief in the Bible is no longer just because of what my pastor/parents/authority figure told me–my belief in the Bible is completely mine!

It's mine not because I just learned more in class, but because I'm coming to know one of the greatest books ever written more personally than I ever thought I would have a chance to!

This book is filled with every emotion expressed by mankind and God alike. Now I no longer see the Bible as portraying a God who is distant, dictator-like, or inhuman.

Do I think I'll know everything about the Bible at the end of the school? Absolutely not. Will I know more than I ever expected? Definitely!

I encourage you to pray and look into the Bible education courses that YWAM offers, not just because you'll know the Bible more but I truly believe that you will have an improved understanding of the God you love and worship.

zp8497586rq

Losing a few hours of sleep to grow closer to God!

Posted on by

by Tori, Bible School for the Nations student

Tori (left) - YWAM Bible School student (BSN)

Well, here I am, sitting in the classroom, going over every detail of the last four weeks, and thinking to myself, “What did I get myself into this time?”

I love the places God is taking me, even if it means losing a few hours of sleep here and there. In the end, it's totally worth it!

So far in the BSN (Bible School for the Nations), we have read through the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Job, Ruth (and Deuteronomy by the end of next week). Talk about gettin' down to business!

These first four weeks have flown by so fast. I have learned so much and I am growing so much deeper in my relationship with God. Looking back at the Old Testament, I see God in new and amazing ways.

So often people see two Gods of the Bible: the angry and wrathful God of the Old Testament and the loving and good God of the New Testament. However, God never changes (Hebrews 13:8) and while it may seem all fire and brimstone, in reality God is just as merciful, loving, and good in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament.

We looked at Exodus 20:18-21 and asked God to show us His perspective of the story. Talk about eye-opening.

God had just brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, shown His greatness and love for them, and when He asked them to come up to the mountain to hear Him speak to them, they refused and sent Moses in their stead! Heart breaking :(

But God doesn't give up on them, nor does He wipe them out. He continues to love them and lead them.

Love and Blessings,

~Tori

zp8497586rq

Congolese government officials ask for more Bible training

Posted on by

Dow teaches at the YWAM BELT course in DR Congo. Photo by Rachel Ancheta

by Dow S.,  Bible School for the Nations staff / BELT Ministries

After we taught in the Transformation of Society seminar on biblical principles of civil government, the participants were very somber about how far off their nation is.

They organized an outreach to city governmental officials, set an appointment to meet with ALL of them, and then they taught them about their biblical role as government leaders!

The officials responded by saying that they were amazed that the Bible has so much so say about their jobs and responsibilities, and would the pastors please come back and teach them each Monday morning!

God is opening doors for transformation in the Congo! Thank you for your part in it!

******************

For further information about this seminar, read: “Laying Foundations for Freedom”

zp8497586rq

Laying Foundations for Freedom

Posted on by

by Dow S.,  Bible School for the Nations staff / BELT Ministries
Congo YWAM & Wycliff BELT Outreach

We have been so privileged to be a part of the BELT-Wycliffe project in the Democratic Republic of Congo! BELT, which stands for Bible Education Leadership Training, is a three-part series of seminars that equips pastors, leaders and church planters to be more effective in discipling their nations. Wycliffe has eleven locations in the Congo where major Bible translation works are being finished. YWAM has been invited to run our Transformation Series in each of these eleven locations.

YWAM Madison is partnering to bring the series to Isiro. This is our third and final trip there. During the previous trips we taught on Transformation of the Heart (Revival in 2010) and Transformation of Character (Mind / Leadership renewal in 2011). This year we will finish with the Transformation of Society seminar (Extending God's ways to the World). (Read about the 2010 BELT seminar here: http://blog.ywammadison.org/archives/788)

But how does one “transform” society?

It is not accomplished through top-down “power-over” means. We will teach biblical principles that bring true internal-to-external freedom in ways that will change all of society if they are applied. This change begins with the recognition that God is the Highest Authority, and all people and nations are accountable to Him. God's law is the highest law, and all nations' laws must submit to the law of God in order to be legitimate – yet individuals must live according to God's laws of love whether or not they are “on the books” of a nation's legislation.

People are made in God's image and have great value. Therefore governments must dispense justice impartially, treating all people as equal before the law. There must be consequences for breaking the law, or else the law is just a suggestion. Government exists for the protection of the individual and their property. Think of the effects these beliefs would have on the war-torn nation of the DR-Congo, ever capitulating between anarchy and tyranny!

We are excited to see what God is going to do. Please pray with us for another effective trip. I have been so impressed by the Holy Spirit's work in the Congo, and I believe it is at least partially because God is answering prayers.

Please pray for protection and for the whole team, for unity and also against spiritual attacks, insecurity, and gender discrimination for the girls on the team. Please also pray for team finances.

You can help us see true transformation in the DR-Congo by praying for the team, or by donating to help cover the expenses of our volunteers. (The following link will take you to PayPal. Please add a note that your donation is for the BELT Congo outreach.)

Word from Warren: Mobilization for Mission

Posted on by

Warren Keapproth is the founder and director of YWAM Madison. He and his wife, Gayle, joined YWAM in 1972 as newlyweds in their early twenties. They're passionate about helping people discover and then do what God has called them to do.

YWAM Madison classroom mural - World Map

This mural in our training classroom was painted by one of our students in 2011.

Jesus used practical ways to teach the principles of the Kingdom of God. Although he taught his disciples and the crowds who followed after him, he didn't rely on words alone to convey his message.

Jesus went out to DO and to teach.

Observing his mobile lifestyle, the disciples were sent out in pairs, without extra baggage, to learn in a dependent outreach experience. They returned, rejoicing from their journeys with enthusiastic reports of miraculous healings, demons routed, and many evidences of God's power working through them.

These same means of discipleship are still at work today!

Over the last twenty-five years as YWAM Madison, we have sent students to share the life of Jesus to Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cameroon, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania), Asia The Official Cellulite Cure

8;”>(Malaysia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and more we can't mention here!), Europe (Sweden, Norway, England, Germany, Latvia, Kosovo), Central America & Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Dominican Republic), South America (Argentina, Brazil), North America (various US cities and states, Canada), and the South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea).

Each team has returned with reports of God's faithfulness and provision while seeing his power at work through them. You can read many of these stories here on our blog. Just click one of the country tags above to see our stories from that part of the world.

It's as we go into all the world that we experience Jesus with us, teaching us his ways and experiencing his love for the world.

Thank you for “going with us” by praying for our teams, encouraging us, volunteering at our training facilities, and supporting our teams financially! We would love to thank you and share stories in person at our 25th Anniversary Celebration October 14-15.

We look forward to going to many more nations in the coming years and hope that you will join us!

zp8497586rq