Goa 2011

I am spending the next two weeks in India teaching Old Testament Survey. This is my fifth opportunity to be a part of pastor training for the RHEMA Pastor's Institutes in India. I will be teaching English speaking pastors in Goa this first week and then go to Mumbai for another week of training for Hindi speaking pastors. I am so thankful that God allows me to share some of what I've learned in twenty-six years of ministry with these men who are just starting out on the journey. Most of them would never be able to afford the kind of training they receive for free through the ministry of RHEMA.

I've just completed the first day of training with a class of fifty. They have already proven to be one of the best groups of men that I've had the opportunity to teach. Many of these men traveled four days on a train just to get here. They have already spent seven weeks away from their homes and families. Their typical day begins at sunrise and ends after dark. They are in class from 8:30 to 5:30, they have supper and then they have study time long into the evening. What time they have to sleep is on mats lined up next to each other on the floor. They have every right to be tired, cranky, and not too attentive as their anticipation of graduation and going home exceeds their expectation of learning from yet another teacher.

And yet, they were all amazing in their class participation and their desire to learn more about God's word. These men are my heroes and I look forward to spending the week together with them.