How easy it is to move from the adoration of God and the spiritual confidence it instils to  the worship of lesser things.  It seems to me that the seed of all praise is the adoration of God.  Words of praise are empty if they do not spring from this well.  The deeper the well of informed adoration, the more sincere our praise and the less likely we are to shift our confidence and trust to things that cannot help us. 

Ministry Highlights from January

We had a great month of overseas ministry in January.  It started in South Africa just a few days after Christmas.  I had the opportunity to teach a course at the Baptist Bible College of KwaZulu Natal and then lead a forum on theological education in South Africa.  There were thirty some educators at the conference.  At the conclusion of the meeting I was asked to return in early March and lead them on in this process.  The goal is to develop an accredited ministry training program that will serve multiple regions in the country, reflect local concerns and effectively prepare men and women for biblical ministry in South Africa and around the world.  This is a tall order and one that will only be realized as a result of God's blessing and your prayers.

Almost as soon as Karen and I returned from South Africa I was off to the Bahamas to meet with theological educators based in the Caribbean.  It was a short (two days) but productive trip. We were able to agree upon a model that will provide education for a number of countries in the region.  Task teams are now working on various aspects of that model in preparation for our next meeting in June. 

From the Bahamas it was off to Arequipa, Peru where I had the privilege of training leaders from ABWE's Spanish speaking South American countries in the Essential Mission Components.  Jim Ruff (Center for Excellence in International Ministry) and Steve Douglas (ABWE Peru) joined me in teaching the course.  All the participants were experienced church planters and educators.  The discussions were amazing, and I believe there will be a significant impact in Peru, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay as these leaders take the EMC principles back to their fields.  In this course the trainers benefited as much as the participants because every day the room  was filled with an unimaginable amount of experience and spiritual insight.

Financial Needs

As I mentioned in our last newsletter,  our travel deficit for 2009 was leveled at the end of the year.  This means we started 2010 in the black, but with a zero balance.   Thanks to a significant gift from Emmanuel Baptist Toledo, Ohio I had the funds necessary to purchase tickets for my ministry in Peru in January, and Africa and Asia  during March and April (I will outline that trip in a minute).  However, we are in need of funding for the many trips I will have to take within Asia while I am there.

A gift to our travel fund provides training for foreign bible college and seminary faculty members.  These men and women are preparing their own people for ministry in their countries and on mission fields around the world.  However, they do not have the opportunity to hone their own skills and knowledge.  That is why it is so important for us to take this training to them.  Please pray that God will continue to provide so that we can help develop the skills of those training missionaries and pastor in nations outside the USA and Canada. 

Looking Ahead

Let me outline our ministry plans for the next two months. 

March 1 depart for South Africa.

March 3-4  -  Johannesburg: Developing a new theological education initiative for South Africa

March 8-13 – Thailand: Asia Baptist Theological Seminary Triennial and Board meetings

March  14- April 7 – Ministry in The Philippines :

• Curriculum development at Doane Baptist Bible Institute and Seminary,  Iloilo
• Speaking at Baptist Bible Seminary and Institute, Manila, 
• Prefield training curriculum development for Stir Asia mission agency; 
• Follow up visits to Davo Bible Insittute and Fellowship Baptist College
• Ministry in churches  

April 8 – Karen arrives in The Philippines (hooray) on an award ticket (frequent flyer miles)

April 9-13 -  Ministry to a Bible college in India

April  26  - Theological Educator's Biennial Conference, The Philippines

 

We have a few slots open in this trip but our contacts in the Philippines will have them filled before we depart.  Please pray for God's blessing as I have significant training opportunities with three schools and a mission board.  If you would like more detailed information on any of this, please drop me an email and I will happily respond. 

 

If you would like to help financially in this ministry please send your gifts to

ABWE International

Account of Dale & Karen Marshfield – 111623

PO Box 8585

Harrisburg, PA 17105

Online giving at ABWE.org (make sure to specify our account number)

If you would like to see some new pictures go to our web site -  marshfield.abwe.org

If you would like to see the detailed development program we are pursuing with schools in Africa and Asia please go here

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.  God bless.

Dale Marshfield