NEAR THE END? - Baptist Bible Tribune

v i e w f r o m b b cJim Edge | President | Baptist Bible CollegeBAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGESummer is training time for BBC student internsAlmost as soon as the final“Amen” was spoken at BaptistBible College’s 2009 FellowshipWeek events, the majority of the studentsheaded for destinations all overthe world! Yes, I said the world! It usedto be a common thing for students tocomplete their spring semester at BBCand then go home to work for the summer.But now it is becoming increasinglycommon for students to acceptchallenges to experience ministry ona whole new hands-on level! We havestudents completing internships, shorttermmissionary experiences, and ministrytraining times around the globethis summer. These students are beingexposed to ministry in a brand new21st-century method that seems futuristic.Well, as we are quickly learning,the future is here!First, I want to give an updateregarding two of our students who wereinvolved in a serious automobile accidenton May 24 in Michigan. Many ofyou have been praying about this situation.Steven Crane and Cynthia Murray(the granddaughter of K.B. Murray)are both giving God the glory fortheir recovery from what could havebeen life-threatening injuries. Cynthia’scrushed voice box was especiallycritical. She recently reported to us(in a strong voice) that she was doinggreat and the doctors are expectingcontinuing recovery. She loves to singpraises to God and prays she will beable to resume all of her singing ministries.Steve’s fractured knee cap isimproving and he plans to resume hiswork for BBC’s security staff when hereturns. Steven and Cynthia are bothquick to say their lives are testimoniesof God’s grace. Both believe God musthave something special planned forthem because He spared them throughthis accident. We believe that too! It isthrough ordeals like this that we realizewhat is really important —the studentsGod will use in the future.We have students who have completedmissionary experiences in CostaRica and Colombia this summerthrough BBC’s field-training courses.Students are serving on mission fieldsin the Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya,Southeast Asia, Europe, and othercountries of South America. Most ofthese interns are working alongsideveteran missionaries. Kristin Sorrellis in the Philippines working with theGreg Lyons family. She has reportedthat her experiences will forevershape her plans and preparations forher future ministry. That kind of testimonyis repeated over and over by ourstudents serving God on these missionfields.I joke that many of these studentstraining overseas have fallen so in lovewith their ministries that they don’twant to come back to America. In reality,most of these students are evenmore determined to complete their educationand receive as much preparationin the classroom as possible. The pasthas taught us that they return moregoal-oriented, focused, and committedto the process of their educationaldevelopment. They know there is sucha great need but they also recognize ahuge need to be properly prepared tominister in this modern world!We also have a large number ofstudents working in camps and churchesaround the country. In fact, as Iwrite this article, there is a group ofhigh school campers on the campusof Baptist Bible College. This groupof teens from New Mexico and WestTexas are having a great camp experiencehere at BBC. But alongside thecampers are our own students whohave returned this week because theyare doing internships in these variouschurches. Will Hamlet is doingan internship in New Mexico leadingup to his wedding later this month inArkansas. Mike Petracca is interningat his home church in Albuquerque,New Mexico. Mike Ziegler is here thisweek while doing an internship in DesMoines, Iowa. Daniel Jarvis is back oncampus while doing an apprenticeshipin Lubbock, Texas.Next week, Baptist Bible Collegewill host a LIFT Camp on our campus.There will be approximately 200 campershere for that event. But along withthose visitors there will be a host ofBBC students returning as counselorsand interns in the many churches represented.BBC’s own Rec Team will beserving with the camp. This furthershows the number of students who areinvesting their summer in the serviceof our Lord. They are being stretched todo more than they thought they coulddo, yet, they are being blessed morethan ever.These are just a few examples ofthe many practical, hands-on, ministryexperiences our students are havingthis summer. The sun does not seton the ministry of Baptist Bible Collegethis summer because of the worldwideoutreach of our own students. Theyare scattered everywhere having thelearning experiences of a lifetime! I ameager to hear their testimonies whenthey return in August. Praise the Lordfor the great things He is doing in andthrough the students of Baptist BibleCollege!24 Baptist Bible Tribune [ July/August 2009 ]