Thank you sweet family for your precious prayers over these women and this conference. The audience today was completely different than the first conference and many of the women went through the material faster which was good but required further on the spot adjustments on our part. We think part of them going faster in grasping content might have to do with the fact that many of these women know some English and the translators were more familiar with the material we were going through so there was less lost in translation in trying to understand on the spot. It also could be the work done these past few days further simplifying/refining along with having learned the rhythms of having done it once already and implementing lessons learned. Thank you Holy Spirit for the work you are doing!
The morning was was spent teaching the Read and Observe portion of Calvary's Pastor Steve Kilgore's ROADS method. The really special thing was two weeks ago a mens team came from Calvary for a Pastors training conference . During that conference the local pastors were able to translate the method into a pneumonic device that we've been using for the women. As the Lord would have it, the ROADS acronym translates to a pneumonic device using words that all start with the sound "an". The reason the local Pastors chose this pneumonic device is because the sound "an" by itself translates to our word "read." So everytime they said the words that begin with the sound "an" they are re-emphasizing the importance of slowing down and reading the text in order to move to the next step.
It was so sweet to see the women from the church cell group we went to last night here at the conference. We led the women in a game called "change 5" where you had to pick a partner and study them, then turn around and change 5 things about yourself. Then they each turned back around to see if they could spot the 5 differences amongst each other. The application we made was that when we study the Bible, we are using our eyes to see what is there and that no matter how many times you come to the Bible, there is always something new to discover about God when you slow down, pay attention and look at what the text says. Studying the Bible also helps us to see truth clearly as defined in God's word and notice when something isn't quite right in our own words or the words of those around us.
After lunch, Nancy did a great job teaching the Analyze portion of the method where we asked questions to move what we are observing to the place of understanding. Please pray for these women as they go home and reflect on the first part of the ROADS method that they would be able to understand and apply what they've learned in a way that they can replicate it in other instances when they study Gods word. Tomorrow we will introduce the Do and Share portion of the method.
Please pray for Mary as she prepares to teach and the rest of us as we prepare to lead these women tomorrow in the last portion. Please pray that what we are teaching impacts and transforms these women in a way that gets them closer to our Living God. Please pray for this final day of the last conference tomorrow that there would be lasting fruit for the Kingdom of God! Thank you again for walking with us and praying us through! We rest on and trust that God's word will do it's work as these women engage with God in His word. Blessings to you all!
The morning was was spent teaching the Read and Observe portion of Calvary's Pastor Steve Kilgore's ROADS method. The really special thing was two weeks ago a mens team came from Calvary for a Pastors training conference . During that conference the local pastors were able to translate the method into a pneumonic device that we've been using for the women. As the Lord would have it, the ROADS acronym translates to a pneumonic device using words that all start with the sound "an". The reason the local Pastors chose this pneumonic device is because the sound "an" by itself translates to our word "read." So everytime they said the words that begin with the sound "an" they are re-emphasizing the importance of slowing down and reading the text in order to move to the next step.
It was so sweet to see the women from the church cell group we went to last night here at the conference. We led the women in a game called "change 5" where you had to pick a partner and study them, then turn around and change 5 things about yourself. Then they each turned back around to see if they could spot the 5 differences amongst each other. The application we made was that when we study the Bible, we are using our eyes to see what is there and that no matter how many times you come to the Bible, there is always something new to discover about God when you slow down, pay attention and look at what the text says. Studying the Bible also helps us to see truth clearly as defined in God's word and notice when something isn't quite right in our own words or the words of those around us.
After lunch, Nancy did a great job teaching the Analyze portion of the method where we asked questions to move what we are observing to the place of understanding. Please pray for these women as they go home and reflect on the first part of the ROADS method that they would be able to understand and apply what they've learned in a way that they can replicate it in other instances when they study Gods word. Tomorrow we will introduce the Do and Share portion of the method.
Please pray for Mary as she prepares to teach and the rest of us as we prepare to lead these women tomorrow in the last portion. Please pray that what we are teaching impacts and transforms these women in a way that gets them closer to our Living God. Please pray for this final day of the last conference tomorrow that there would be lasting fruit for the Kingdom of God! Thank you again for walking with us and praying us through! We rest on and trust that God's word will do it's work as these women engage with God in His word. Blessings to you all!