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December 2018 Newsletter

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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Dear Friends and Family,

Christmas greetings in the precious name of our Jesus! This is the season when we remember God’s greatest gift to us – His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Although we have been living below the equator since 2012, I still can’t get used to experiencing Christmas in the summer! As always we are truly thankful for your unwavering faithful prayers and support, and for the many gifts that have been given to sustain our ministry at the Bible Institute of South Africa.

Update from the Bible Institute of South Africa

It is hard to believe that the year has finally come to an end. The past semester has been filled with challenges, but by God’s grace we have made it through. Once again we can look back over the past year and see how God has blessed us in many ways. We give thanks to God for providing for our needs and for sustaining us through difficult circumstances. I wish that I could share more of what we have experienced, but please know that God has been at work in bringing about much change at the Bible Institute. I hope to be able to share more soon, but until then please continue to pray for us. We have in some small way experienced the words of the Apostle Paul “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9).

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) – January Consultation in Ethiopia

For the past few months SIM has been assisting bible colleges and seminaries in Ethiopia with Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). This January a team of educators will be returning to Ethiopia to evaluate the project and identify areas that need attention and change.

At the recent ICETE meetings in Panama (see last month’s newsletter for more about ICETE) I met with Tim Jacobson, SIM’s International Theological Education Ministry Point Person, and shared the work that I have been doing at BISA related to distance education and academic administration. As a result we agreed that it would be good for me to join the TEFL team in Ethiopia for a week in January to see if we can assist these schools in the administration and delivery of the TEFL programme, and also see if there is a way that BISA can make use of the programme. I have also arranged for BISA’s Educational Technologist to accompany me on this trip.

Prayer Requests

  • Please pray that January’s TEFL consultation in Ethiopia will bear fruit for God’s kingdom.
  • Please pray for the Board and leadership of the Bible Institute as serious issues continue to be addressed.
  • Please pray for me as I plan for the upcoming academic year at the Bible Institute in the face of many changes.
  • Please pray that God will uphold and protect our family in the coming weeks and months.

Support Update

We now have a deficit of $8,000 in our ministry account. This deficit is largely due to the ongoing monthly shortfall we experienced over the past year, as well as additional ministry expenses such as the trip to Ethiopia in January. This means that we have not been reimbursed for ministry expenses we have made over the past six months. Despite this I continue to press forward with ministry opportunities in the certain hope that God will provide for our needs as He always has done. Please pray that our current need will be met soon.

Blessings in Christ,

Tim & Kristina Churchill

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)