Out of Office Memo

It's true.  There are still places in the world where people don't rely on the internet for daily connection with the rest of their world.  I will be in one of these places for the next 30 days.
Crazy.
The last few days have been a bit of a blur, but here are some highlights:

I turned 31

The temperatures in the valley hit triple digits for several days straight

The Caribbean team has prepared to teach Inductive Bible Study Seminars & Bible Overviews

The Caribbean team got our visas to the nation where we are going

My computer battery died and since I typed that I've accidentally bumped the power cord and had to restart it once - thank God for auto-save

The CSBS graduated last Saturday

Two CSBS students are on outreach in East Asia currently

Four CSBS students and two staff (myself and my friend, Emily) are about to head to the Caribbean

I suppose that's about it.  If you try to email me or call me during the month of July, I won't respond.  I won't actually get your message until I get back in the USA.
So... here's my out of office memo.
See you all in August!
Pray for us!
We need it!

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

So grateful...

My parents are seriously the best parents ever.

And my friends and family in Washington are pretty great as well!

My mom initiated and organized a fundraising event for my outreach team, called "Gospel & Grub!"  My Dad helped make a ton of Caribbean Jerk chicken for the event and also run the sound system, and the event brought in not only enough for my outreach fees but for two other students as well!

There are so many people who gave towards our outreach... and I'd just like to take a moment to say, "THANK YOU!!!" I would thank each and every one of you personally for your help with the Gospel & Grub night... or for giving financially towards our team... but I'd have a difficult time knowing where to start.  If you happened to give by check, then I can track you down.  But I know you didn't give for the thank you card.  You all are awesome and I am humbled to be a part of serving alongside you in the Kingdom of God.  I hope someday I will get a chance to thank each one of you who contributed time, efforts, or finances to seeing my team go to teach the Bible in the Caribbean region.

But there's one person I want to take the time to publicly and personally thank - my momma.  She put so much heart and soul and elbow grease into making this "Gospel & Grub" event happen.  So, here's my little shout out to my mother who had an idea and ran with it.

Mom - you continue to inspire and encourage me in all areas of life.  You serve and bless people regardless of their age, nationality, or background.  You give selflessly to people you've never even met!  And you genuinely care for others.  Throughout the years I've learned so much from you: the value of helping and serving others who are in more difficult circumstances, the value of honoring parents and caring for them in their old age (yes, I will be there for you when the time comes!), and the value of doing everything wholeheartedly and with excellence, from cleaning the house or weeding to working in an office or playing music.  You and Dad have taught me what it means to follow through with commitments and how to laugh and have fun in the midst of hard times.

I know Mother's Day and really, May 13th, are not easy days for you.  There is the pain of our loss, and I can only imagine that is stronger for you when you watch other mothers honored or shown affection by their kids and think of the hole in your life because Jeff isn't there anymore and your one living child lives far away.  So, while I want to say thank you for being my mom and for being the example that you are and always have been for me... I also want you to know that I am praying that this coming Sunday and Monday are not only bearable for you, but are filled with joy as you think of happy Jeff memories (he loved you very much) and knowing you have a daughter who also loves you very much even if she lives so very far away.

I wouldn't ever want to trade you for any other mother in the world.
You're the best mother I could have ever asked for.
Just sayin.

More about Outreach in July!

Hey all!  Here's some photos of my outreach team and a video sharing about what we're doing.  Still not mentioning the nation by name, but if you haven't figured it out by now, you can email me at jillianesther@gmail.com for more details!  :)

From Left to Right: Kate Cook, Josh & Amanda Warner, Geoff Cummer, Emily Yoder, Jillian Wellman

We are completely serious 100% of the time.

So excited to be co-leading a team with my buddy, Emily.  

Outreach!

My heart is heavy as I think of the nation where my friend, Emily, and I will be leading a team of four Bible students to teach for the month of July.  

To our understanding up until recently, this nation has been enjoying more religious freedom than normal.  We will be going to said nation with "religious worker" visas.  For us outsiders, we will be safe and legally allowed to teach the Bible in small house churches.  Closely monitored, of course, but permitted to teach, nonetheless.  This is pretty amazing!  

But, for local pastors and believers, there is still persecution - even beatings and imprisonments.  As I read an article about this current persecution, I realized what a privilege God has given us to be able to serve these churches in a time where they need some truths on which to stand, in which to hope... truths found in the promises of God in the Bible... truths that will help them through this rocky time.

This brings me to another current reality:  I don't have the finances needed for this outreach.  I am so blessed to receive consistent monthly support from a variety of people, but this monthly support goes to living expenses with little left to save for special projects, such as this trip in July.  I truly believe God has opened doors for myself and our little team to travel to this "closed" nation to encourage and teach the believers there, who are hungry for teaching and Bible study resources.  I also believe that God is faithful to provide for the things to which he calls us.  My dependence is on God alone for my needs.  However, he does often use people to meet those needs.  Perhaps he is calling you to be a part of bringing Bible teaching and encouragement to the persecuted church in this undisclosed nation, by supporting me financially to be able to go.  If you feel this is something God is stirring in your heart, I would be honored to partner with you for the sake of the Gospel.  

I need $2100 by May 15th to cover flights, visas, housing, food, transportation, and ministry expenses.   

If you want to make a tax deductible donation, you can do so by sending a check (made out to Jillian Wellman) to:

     Hockinson Community Church

     15918 182nd Ave

     Brush Prairie, WA 98606

Or, you can go online to ywamla.org to make a secure online donation.

If you want to know more about this current persecution, please email me for a link to the article I mentioned.  

DISCLAIMER:

Please don't get me wrong - I don't share this information to persuade or manipulate you to give towards my trip.  I truly believe God will provide and that may or may not be through you.  But I was challenged by a supporter of mine who recently said, "Jill, if you don't tell people your needs, you might be robbing them of a chance to get involved in missions!"  I hope you don't feel expected to give or ANYTHING like that... I'm only trying to be obedient to the Lord by sharing this opportunity to be involved in missions in a nation I am not able to mention here.  :)  

Why the Old Testament?

Last week we finished studying the Old Testament in the Chronological School of Biblical Studies (CSBS.)  Emily Yoder taught on Malachi and at the end of her lecture she posed a question to our students:  Why the Old Testament?  Why is it important to study it?  Why did God take so long to bring about his plan of redemption through Jesus?  Why the Law?  ... Basically, why the Old Testament?

I could write my answer to the question... but instead, I'd like to share some of the things that our students shared.  I only copied their words into my journal.  This makes my heart happy.  And, while we've seen Jesus throughout the Old Testament, I feel this anticipation and excitement for the students to study the New Testament (now that they have studied the Old) and meet Jesus in a whole new way.

P.S.  Click on the image to zoom in!  :)

Jeremiah teaching

I know, I know.  

It's been several weeks since I taught Jeremiah.  

Nonetheless, here are some photos from the last day I taught.  We had a funeral service for Jerusalem... 

Mourning the destruction of Jerusalem (We have a thing for drama in our class.)

Eva, Peter, Patrick, and Jeff during a time of prayer and reflection

It was a somber time of realizing the cost of Judah's persistent rejection of relationship with God... the cost of sin.  And the lengths to which God went to get his people back.  

If you have never read this book, I encourage you to do so.  It is long, but so worth your time.  Jeremiah was a guy who lived a hard life, was extremely unsuccessful in ministry, but he had a relationship with God in a time when few did.  

Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet... 

He weeps, God weeps... it's a sad book.  

But we can all learn from Jeremiah's consistent obedience to God despite opposition.  

And we can all learn from Judah's mistakes.  

And we can ultimately learn that we have a God who loves mankind so much that he will do whatever it takes to bring about his plan to redeem us all.  

Oh yeah.  And he did!

Practically speaking... if you're going to read Jeremiah...

A good devotional on Jeremiah's life is Run with the Horses, by Eugene Peterson.  

But, honestly, just open up your Bible and read Jeremiah from start to finish and see if God doesn't show you more of his heart through the book.  If you get confused or want the back story, email me, or check out a bible dictionary or encyclopedia online.  There are so many resources out there.  

Okay, I'm done with my shameless plug for reading the Bible.  

What can I say?  

I'm passionate about people knowing the Word for themselves.  

Jeremiah Chapter 19

Well, that's about it for now.  The CSBS is studying Ezra & Esther this week.  In only three more weeks we will be finished with the Old Testament and ready to start into the New.

If you're interested in receiving my Spring Newsletter, please email me your address (or email address if you prefer a PDF version.)

Now, go read your Bible and be blessed!