SECOND TERM SHORT COURSES
We finished our third term on Friday, the 13th of July. The students are in the tougher second year of our program, but are very much up to the challenge. The second term saw our students completing courses in Bible Geography, Acts, 1 Corinthians, Greek, Expository Preaching, and the Minor Prophets. We then took a week break before beginning our short courses.
We had Brother Paul Merideth, from Temple, Texas conducting one of our short courses. Paul is imminently qualified to teach and is currently writing his dissertation for his PHD. More importantly, he is a faithful gospel preacher with a love for God’s word. Paul taught the course on the Cost of Discipleship and was well received by our students. Jason and I co-taught the second short course on New Testament Worship.
CAMPAIGN TO WESTERN SAMOA
We finished up our short courses on Thursday, the 2nd of August. Part of the class on New Testament Worship was used to get our students prepared for the campaign to Western Samoa. We had been invited by the Goodwill Church of Christ in Aleisa, Samoa to conduct a workshop on the Old Testament book of Job. 10 of our 11 students committed to the trip. (The one who was unable to attend had just returned from a 6 week mission effort in the neighboring country of Tuvalu.)
Students attending the workshop: Asher, Alphonsus, Emosi, Kitione, Lency, Movono, Peter, Samuela, Semi, and Va
There were regular classes and services on Sunday, the 5th of August, with our students doing the teaching and preaching. Monday through Wednesday we had classes at 9:00, 10:00, 2:00, and 7:00 each day. The afternoon sessions were broken down with a men’s class and a ladies’ class. In the evenings we also had classes for the youth and the children and a key note speaker from our students for the adults.
Each of the students taught at least one class. Our second year students taught two classes. It was a real joy to see these students take what they have been learning and use it in the field. The lessons were well organized and utilized material they had gotten from their text course on Job, Expository Preaching, Biblical Interpretation, and General Homiletics classes. Many of them also drew from personal experiences in their lives to bring to life the message of Job.
I was also able to talk with Paulo who is a school principle in Samoa. He is interested in attending the school. He is looking at starting the program in 2020. He is active in preaching and teaching at the Vaimoso Church of Christ and comes highly recommended by the local leadership.
THIRD TERM
We are now well into our third term. This is the most challenging yet. Jason is teaching our third course in Greek. 4 of our students have opted to take a course I am teaching on Introduction to Critical Thinking instead of the Greek class. The other courses being taught this term are Revelation, Bible Basis for Missions, History of Preaching, World Religions, and Timothy and Titus.
Vinaka vaka levu for your prayers, words of encouragement, and financial support. May the fruit born from our efforts together be credited to your account!
Rocco Pierce, Director