11 Days

The CSBS (Chronological School of Biblical Studies for any newbies to my page) is graduating in 11 days on June 22nd, 2013!  It is starting to sink in that after 9 long months and 66 books of the Bible, 20 amazing young men and women will be graduating and going on to change the world with the truth of God's Word.  I have had the awesome privilege of walking alongside these students as a staff member - grading their homework, leading them in worship times, and teaching lectures on Inductive Bible Study and the books of Job, Micah, Jeremiah, 2nd Corinthians, and Titus.  I've also just lived life with them along with the five other amazing staff members.  Because we are an intensive course, students don't have multiple courses they are taking with different teachers and different classmates in each course.  Rather, for nine months, we have walked through the Bible and walked through life together as one group - we are in lectures together, we eat meals together, we hang out in our free time together... yep - it's like a hippie commune.  But with showers and soap.  :)


I've really grown to love each person in this CSBS and will miss the ones that will leave us after graduation.  But I'm so excited to hear the stories of God using them and using his word to transform European University Campuses, the Fashion Industry in the USA, various nations in Asia, and who knows how many other areas of society!

My roommate, Shannon, just returned from leading a DTS (Discipleship Training School) outreach to China and their school graduates this Saturday... it's so fun and inspiring to hear stories of how God used these teams in China, Kenya, and Thailand!  Very cool.  God could just reveal himself to people in dreams and visions (and he does do this, also) but often times he chooses to use us - fallible, plain, and rather weak human beings - to reveal who he is to the world.  A few of these DTS students are considering doing the CSBS in September, which I will also be staffing.  Pray that God would speak clearly to each one of these DTS graduates about his calling and plans for their lives and that they would be obedient.  IF that happens to be CSBS, that would be awesome!  :)  It is such a great foundation for any believer who wants to live according to God's word, but definitely for anyone who wants to be a missionary!

Finally, on July 1st I will be leaving for the "Caribbean" with the CSBS teaching team I am co-leading.  The four students taught as a team for the first time last week at my church in LA, Winds of Hope.  They taught a seminar on the Inductive Bible Study Method and went through the book of Titus with Spanish and English speakers.  This was excellent practice for the Caribbean nation where we will be in July.  We are meeting weekly and getting excited about the opportunities that are opening up for us in a not-so-open nation.

Jill, Amanda, Geoff, Josh, Kate, & Emily with Winds of Hope Church

Titus Inductive Bible Study Seminar with Winds of Hope Church

So, lots of fun and exciting (and a little hectic) stuff happening this week and the next!  I will try to post one more time before I leave for the Caribbean (no internet access where we will be.)
Until then, have a WONDERFUL WEEK!
- Jillian