Teaching, teaching, teaching!!!

Flying home to Kona from Oahu - Mauna Kea peeking through the Clouds

When I decided to staff the Chronological School of Biblical Studies, I seriously never thought I would be teaching in front of groups of people. I thought maybe my teaching role would be more casual, one-on-one discussion style teaching... that my role in staffing would be grading and serving in the background... mainly because teaching in front of people still gets the butterflies fluttering in my tummy. Not to mention, I've learned under so many amazing teachers that I kind of struggle with insecurity at times. Okay, a lot of the time. ;)

I guess God had another plan. And while I'm still such a beginner, I'm growing to actually love teaching in all settings, not only informal. Ron Smith, the founder of the SBS, said this: If you want to be a teacher, be willing to take ANY teaching opportunities you are given. Teach children, teach adults. Teach one person, teach groups. If you want to develop your gift of teaching, you have to PRACTICE. When I heard this, I prayed and told God that I was open to him using me more in the area of teaching the Bible. I also asked him to give me opportunities to teach the Bible to Pacific Islanders.

I think he heard my prayer.

So this quarter I am teaching in several classroom settings that I didn't ask to teach in, but was invited by others to teach in their groups. Here's some of it:

• Leading a weekly Bible Study on the book of Titus with some YWAM staff who work with a ministry called Island Breeze. Through the study I am also teaching them the Inductive Bible study method.
• Teaching weekly in the Asia Pacific DTS on how to study the Bible inductively and why it is valuable to study it!
• Leading worship at the Youth Group of Central Kona Union Church, which includes sharing on the Bible with local South Kona teens and the aunties and uncles who faithfully serve food and pray for the youth each week.
• Teaching 1 & 2 Thessalonians on April 29th in the C-SBS.
• Teaching Colossians and Philemon on May 25th in the C-SBS.

So... I guess my word of advice and encouragement to you is this:

Don't limit God by insecurity or fear! Whatever God is leading you to do... maybe it's a good idea to just DO IT. Even if it's uncomfortable... God wants to use YOU! He can use anyone, but he wants to use you for something unique to who you are. So... LET HIM. Don't limit God!!!

While I am so excited to go on outreach to Fiji and Samoa in July-August, I am excited that God has me doing ministry here in Kona, Hawaii now... after all, this is where my feet are, so this is my mission field. (Thanks, Pastor Mike for that quote that always reminds me of this truth!)

Until next post... Aloha!

Jillian