On the Road Back to Sierra Leone, New Member Care role at TLI, and some excellent books

Tomorrow morning I leave for another week of training in the capital of Sierra Leone – Freetown. This will be my eighth week of classroom instruction in Freetown over the last two years. The students have grown tremendously and I’m excited about teaching apocalyptic literature from the book of Revelation. It’s an amazingly practical book, especially for the church in Africa. I taught this course in South Africa and in Makeni – it’s impact on the students was impressive.

Below are some excerpts from our training manual.

“Biblical apocalyptic writing reveals supernatural realities—what is really happening and what will really occur—to help God’s people patiently endure.”

“The opening verses of Revelation identify it as one kind of apocalyptic writing called an apocalypse, a prophecy, and a letter. In these ways, Revelation paints an engaging and dramatic picture of God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness over everything happening in heaven and on earth—both now, in the glorious end, and beyond.”

• “As an apocalypse (Rev. 1:1), Revelation uses vibrant symbolic visions to reveal a supernatural reality meant to change how people think about the situations they are in.
• As a prophecy (Rev. 1:3; 22:7, 10, 18–19), Revelation tells God’s new covenant people what he requires of them, encourages them to repent for living differently, and announces judgment and hope.
• As a letter (Rev. 1:4, 11), Revelation helps God’s people live wisely in any situation by contemplating their lives and the new covenant with God in King Jesus by the Spirit. Its recipients were real people
  in a real time and place with real struggles.”

Please pray for the students, especially their ability to see the truths related through the images.

I’ve added member-care to my duties at Training Leaders International which includes one week in Minneapolis every month. I’m looking forward to contributing to the ongoing vitality of our US based trainers and staff. My Africa travel will not be as extensive as it has for the last seven years, but I will keep traveling to strengthen the church and train leaders.

Most of us read. But finding good books is sometimes difficult. So… if you purchase and read any of the books below, and are disappointed, let me know, I’ll reimburse you. Reading good books is good. These are my newest, most excellent, and insightful ones from this year.

Here’s a picture of a not-so-recent family outing – 36 years ago.

Thanks for reading and praying and giving. Our ministry would not be possible without your generosity and prayer support.

Bob and Vickie