March with April

Howdy y'all!!!

How are things on the other side of the planet? Things have been going pretty quickly for us over here and time has FLOWN! Although, strictly speaking, time doesn't fly :).

As I mentioned in my last report, Dad taught a seminar for us titled Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?. We had an amazing attendance for this and even got in contact with some students who had disappeared! I was pleased to see Daniel Borela, my student in Jesus: Man of the Bible, Jesus: Lord of Our Lives, and What Is Real Christianity? at the seminar. Daniel never decided to become a Christian because he had some questions about the name of God and Jesus. He looks at verses like Acts 2:38 and John 15:16 and thinks that what we call Jesus and his father is important. I have tried to help him understand these passages and asked him to show me a verse that emphasizes this fact, but it hasn't done any good. Please help me pray that I can find a way to help him find out what the truth of this matter is.

We just finished our two week mini-sessions at the BSC. Basically, what this means is that instead of our usual 6-week class schedule we offer our classes which meet once a week every night (from Monday to Saturday) for one week straight. We offer two weeks like this back-to-back, offering our courses on the major religions of the world, archaeology and how it proves the Bible, some of the parables of Jesus studies, and others. This gives people a quick taste of what we have to offer at the BSC without having to make a commitment for 6 weeks. We also do this around this time of year because of school graduations and Holy Week (the Thursday and Friday before Easter Sunday), which is a government holiday. We will have students enroll in classes before Holy Week, then drop out because they go home for the holiday, and then these students never return because they are ashamed. To keep this from happening we invented to practice of mini-sessions.

We had an amazing attendance to the mini-sessions! Monday of the first week we had 11 people, all new and some who hadn't signed up that day! Unfortunately, due to finals and unexpected job interviews, the attendance dwindled until week 2, which brought in about 15 people! I taught our class called Christian Evidences during the second week and had 12 people for my first class! That was pretty amazing! Again, though, it seemed it wasn't meant to be as students dropped out due to finals. After contacting them, though, they are very eager to continue studying with us this coming session during SUMMER vacation, so some doors have been opened. Please keep all our students in your prayers.

During these sessions I've been texting students and contacts inviting them to join and it has really been helping! Some people respond with "How did you get my number?!?", while others are eager to join classes. One man even texted me asking if we could study the Bible through text messaging because he doesn't have access to the internet! THAT is something I've never done, but I'm going to try it!

Tomorrow is a big day for us and our church family here. We are all headed to Negros Island, the island right next to Cebu, for a retreat! Becky and Richard Emperado have been wonderful and offered us the use of their beach property rent-free. We are leaving tomorrow and will return Sunday night. We are all looking forward to good fun and fellowship, especially with members who haven't been around lately who have said that they are going! Please keep us and our safety in your prayers.

On the family side, everyone has been doing well. Amy has been recovering little by little, and her doctor keeps telling her to take it easy! Jon and his lovely family are well and growing steadily. Sean just graduated from pre-school! Rach, Clint, and their kiddos are also doing well and bringing us all joy! RJ has been having some trouble with allergies, but he still continues to work on his Cebuano, Hebrew, and any other language he feels like tackling in addition to his work at the BSC. I have been a little sick lately, but I seem to be on the mend.

I would like to ask for a special prayer for my parents. Mom and Dad have had a lot of struggles since they started their business and have been very tight on funds. Please pray for their business to pick up and that they will have peace of mind. It has been a struggle, but they have weathered all the storms together and plan to deal with whatever God brings them. Please keep them in mind and in your prayers always.

Thank you so much for all you do for us! It is so comforting to know that there are brethren all over this planet who love and support the work that we do. We look forward to seeing you all soon, as Amy and I leave for furlough June 17-September 2. Please continue to keep all of us and the work in your prayers! May God continue to bless us all!!!

In him,
Sara Murrell