And we're off!

Have you ever been a part of something that just seemed to gel? Where God just seems to do it and show up? That's what this school has felt like for us. The last few years have been a long journey of hard effort, time, energy, lots of prayer, tears, and opposition, but from day one of this school, it's been clear to all of us that GOD IS IN THIS THING. God was always in SBS (our previous bible school which ran the last 2 years), but for whatever reason, he is making it very clear by his presence, that this school is just right for this group and for this season. Every class, every event, every exercise and teaching, has gone so smoothly and produced so much fruit already, that we just praise God for doing it and using us in the process. It's as if God has just taken all of our human efforts and simply breathed on them with his abundant life that is not going to come back to us void.

Michael & I (Terra) faced much personal opposition when we were praying & deciding to create this school as a combination of a discipleship school & sbs (School of Biblical Studies). Within the few days we had to decide, we lost hope of a salary, our furnace went out, we needed emergency auto-maintenance that required a few thousand dollars, and my computer broke. Some people might have seen those things as red flags signaling to not move forward, but in our hearts we knew it was just confirmation that we were to push ahead full-throttle. We weren't sure how it would all work out, but God spoke personally to us & confirmed it... so we decided to give it a go.

We now see why we were facing that opposition. The enemy didn't want this to happen! Just in three weeks, we have seen our students:

WEEK ONE:

• Grow strong community and trust with each other
• Learn how to be open, real, & vulnerable
• Face their own individual "poser" and take steps toward seeing him shrink in their lives (we explored this concept during our amazing retreat with Randy & Terri; basic concept found in the book "Posers, Fakers, & Wannabees"
• Examine why they do or don't trust people & take steps toward growing in that
• Face their strongest fears in life head-on and burn them in the fire
• Support each other with accountability & agreements
  

WEEK TWO:

• Learn the basics of the inductive Bible-study method
• Discover the rich depth in Philemon's 25 verses
• Experience true forgiveness from the ones closest to them in their lives (Actually sending letters to those they wanted to forgive)

WEEK THREE:

• Learn more details about the inductive method through the book of Titus
• Experience how to give and receive feedback with each other --just as Titus was able to give hard feedback to those who he was discipling
• Experience and meditate on the value & function of Christ's grace
• Practice showing grace to others through a lifestyle of good works

So in three little weeks, we have revealed our brokenness, seen Christ bring healing, leaned on each other in love, and gained more tools for our own self-discovery and for relationship with others. We have likewise gained more biblical tools for understanding our Father in heaven so that He can continue to teach us his transforming truth-- that we might be made whole IN Him and FOR Him. Because He has given us all the grace we could ever imagine, we can extend that to others and bring His upside-down kingdom into our broken world. I'm excited for what is to come next week as we study humility and unity in the book of Philippians!
~ Terra Montford