Banquet 2021
Last Sunday night, after months of planning, preparation, hard work and multiple setbacks, Lilli and I joined the junior and senior classes for a four course meal under the stars…in London!
Each year the junior class puts on a special event for the seniors called, Banquet. I guess it’s sort of like prom, without the formal dance. The juniors choose a theme, build a set, write and prepare a drama, plan and cook a four course meal, set up and decorate tables for about 150 people, and provide other entertainment for the evening. Siblings of the juniors and seniors are often chosen as servers, so we also had the privilege of being served by our very own Sophie! As you can probably guess, the theme this year was London.
As sponsors of the junior class, Lilli and I have been involved over the last 5 1/2 months with helping the students plan, organize, and implement their ideas. Specifically, we spent most of our time with both the Table and Servers committees, which each had their own junior class manager.
It’s quite an event to pull off, especially considering this year we had to push it back by an entire term, prepare it all outside (on a covered basketball court!) during the coldest and rainiest months, and then lose an entire dorm due to COVID for the last week of preparation and for the event itself. Because of this, the drama and entertainment had to be abandoned on the very last day.
Despite the challenges and many disappointments along the way, by God’s grace this class was able to overcome the obstacles and put on a very wonderful and memorable Banquet. These students were able to learn valuable lessons of leadership, working together, talking through disagreements, taking plans and turning them into reality, and trusting God despite difficulties.
Moffat Bible College
Kipterer is one of fourteen students in my Romans class. He was born in 1998 into a family of eight here in Kenya. Before putting his trust in Jesus Christ on December 15, 2015 at a youth conference, Kipterer said he was doing everything he could to follow his own earthly desires. But nothing could satisfy, until he met his wonderful friend, Jesus. Though his family was against his joining a Bible College, he is here to study God’s Word and dreams of one day establishing a rescue center for children in a location where they are often oppressed due to cultural beliefs.
Three days each week I get to walk the 10 minutes to Moffat so I can join Kipterer and his fellow students in studying the amazing book of Romans together. I can honestly say this is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done! As I walk back up the hill from spending time soaking in the gospel of Romans with my Kenyan brothers and sisters, I might as well be flying. I pray these students would come out of this class with a greater awareness of their sinfulness, a greater appreciation for what God has done for them in Christ (the gospel!), with a bigger vision of God than they had before, and the ability to see that all of life and ministry flows out of God’s mercies displayed in the gospel – for myself, teaching this class has truly been life-giving!
Praise & Prayer
- Praise for a fun and successful Banquet for the junior and senior classes and for giving us several beautiful days leading up to and on the evening of BQ!
- We are so, so thankful to both be doing what God has called us to do for his glory and with joy!
- Thankful Tiana got to reunite with many of her BGU classmates in Turkey for several days of conference sessions, debriefs, prayer and worship. She returned to ministry and classes in Hungary with renewed passion and energy.
- Pray that COVID wouldn’t spread further on the RVA campus. We have several cases confined to one dorm. This is especially crucial in light of students traveling home in three weeks.
- Pray for Jonathan’s Moffat students, that they would build their lives and ministries upon the sure foundation of God’s mercy in the gospel as a result of studying the book of Romans.
- A leopard was spotted in the nearby forest, which is actually pretty exciting to most of us. However with so many traveling through the forest alone and unarmed, pray that this is a lazy leopard.
- Hannah and Henrik are in Myrtle Beach, SC at “Summer Training Project” with Campus Outreach. Pray for them as they meet with students and help equip them to share the gospel on their college campuses.
- Pray for Josh as he returns to Minnesota for five weeks this summer to visit friends and family.
Foto Flashback
Jon, I love that you are enjoying teaching at Moffat so much. That is wonderful! And your students are blessed to have you as a teacher as you help them discover the wonder of Romans!
Thanks Rebekah! All glory to the Lord!