Monday, April 30, 2007

Precept "Pep Rally" in Taipei




One aspect of our strategy for promoting the vision of Precept Ministries in Taiwan is to hold "Pep Rallies" (for lack of a better term) in major cities. We have invited everyone who has had any contact with us over the years, by purchasing a book, attending a class or making a financial contribution. Our goal in these meetings is to share our vision as well as to report on what we did in the last year. Then we hope to encourage attendees to become more involved with us in the ministry--through attending classes, leading classes, praying for us and giving.

We held our first such meeting in Hsinchu, on March 3. There were about 20 people in attendence. It was a good "first go" helping us to clarify for ourselves what and how to communicate.

April 28 was our second meeting and we held it in Taipei in the coffee shop area of the Christian Tribune offices.



The program included a summary of past and future activities, testimonies of people whose lives have been changed by studying the Bible using Precept Bible Studies and a demonstration of our newest Bible study materials. We also honored those who have been leaders and gave those in attendance an opportunity to share their response to all they heard.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Precept Ambassadors Leadership Development Conference


Every two years, Precept Ministries International invites all of its Directors and Coordinators of International offices which are under the leadership of the Ambassadors at Large (Bob and Diane Vereen) to come to Chattanooga for a Leadership Develpment Conference. It has become a very important time for many of us. A time for renewing friendship with our counterparts around the world. It is also a time for being challenged and renewed in our spiritual lives and for gaining new vision for the work God has called us to do.


My roommates for the conference were Valerie Murphy, Director for Precept N. Ireland, and Clara Egbigwe, Director of Precept Nigeria. I was blessed to have two weeks with these two women...the fellowship was a little taste of heaven.


The newest attendees at the conference were Michela and Luigi Incarnato from Italy. They are lovely servants of God and I am privileged to be co-laboring with them as well as all of the others in our group.

God touched me in a very special way this time by bringing Philip from St. Louis to tell me thank you for training him as a Precept Leader over 10 years ago. Since he was trained (in what was my "maiden voyage" as a trainer) he has continually led Precept classes and had more than 1500 students! That is a lot of "grandchildren" for me!

Launch of Rural Outreach


From the time I returned from England/N. Ireland and Christmas was past, I found myself caught up in a whirlwind of visits to the rural churches that Precept Taiwan hoped to be able to help. In each case, I came to the church and led whatever people were gathered together, in an introductory study in one of the Precept 40 Min. Series Bible studies. The purpose was to sort of "test the waters" in each place and determine what would be the most helpful.
My visits took me to Orchid Island, and churches in Miaoli and Ilan Counties. I visited five churches in all. Each church had about 10 people attend the intro studies. There was a variety of receptions and levels of readiness. The impression I came away with is that some of the churches will benefit from immediately beginning to use the 40 Min. Series to study the Bible. There are some churches that really need something a bit more basic to get them going. I am asking God to help me to prepare the basic materials so that we can continue to help these churches. God desires for all of His children to know the truth. So, we take it to them in a form that is attainable for them.