Primer Construction Tuesday

Primer Construction Tuesday

    Pastor Emmanuel (Ghana, Africa) led the early morning Bible study of Daniel 4:19-27.

We observed that Daniel was very respectful and humble as he spoke to the proud King Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel interpreted the king's dream telling him that a time was coming when he would "be forced to live with the wild animals, far away from humans"... until he learned "that God Most High controls all earthly kingdoms and chooses rulers." (Daniel 4:25).  Then Daniel beseechingly warned the king: "turn from your sins and start living right; have mercy on those who are mistreated.  Then all will go well with you for a long time." (Daniel 4:27)  This reminded us of how "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble," and that we are called to submit ourselves to God. (James 4:6-7)  

    Pastor Innocent shared a Nigerian proverb with us.  When you climb a ladder, leave the ladder in place so someone else can climb up after you.  He shared how this is particularly applicable in mentoring and discipling in church leadership.  We need to care for and train those who come after us just as those who have gone before us have cared for and trained us.  

Primer Construction Instruction Continues

Rev. Carey Jo Johnson (LEI-Canada) continues to explain the many facets of primer construction.

Those who have participated on a primer construction team will recognize this letter count 

chart and remember how tedious and necessary this foundational work is.

Students listen attentively to understand every step.

They know they may prepare a primer publication one day 
that will greatly impact the people they serve.

Lori Martin begins another phase of instruction.

Chapel Today

 Our very own and very talented Patty Hickman started us off with worship.

    Lori Martin (LEI-Canada) did double duty on Tuesday as she taught part of the Primer Construction Workshop and shared her testimony of God's faithfulness in chapel.  Lori was not raised in a Christian home.  In fact, she did not receive God's gift of eternal salvation until she was an adult.  Her husband, Ken, became a follower of Jesus first.  He did not push his new found faith upon Lori, and this was a good thing, because Lori did not yet trust the change she had seen in him.  But Ken did leave a Bible, open and visible, out where she might read it.  Lori did pick up this open book and read it.  When she read, she realized that she was reading pure truth for the first time.  One night she decided, "I want this God of the Bible."  The next morning she discovered the world was a little brighter, though it took her a while to tell others about the decision she had made.  Life has been a roller coaster since that time.  One night a Bible reference came to her so clearly that it woke her up.  Romans 12:12 ( NIV) "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  This verse prepared her for what was ahead, a mysterious illness, the loss of her house in a fire, and other struggles in her life that taught her to depend on God and others more fully.  
    Though at the time Lori did not know what a missionary was, one of her childhood dreams was to go to Africa.  This dream became a reality just a few years ago when she got to travel to Sierra Leone, Africa, to work on an LEI primer construction team and then again as she traveled to Ghana for an LEI Teacher Training Workshop.  
     Lori said, "Coming back to ILTI this year is like coming home."  During her illness all Lori could do, physically, was read God's word and pray.  The ministry of Literacy & Evangelism International is very near and dear to her heart since she became a follower of Jesus through Bible reading and in reading the Bible she found hope and truth to carry her through the difficult times in her life.  We praise God for each and every life that has been and will be effected through the reading of God's Word and the work of LEI missionaries throughout the world.  


Thank you, Sunny Farrish, from Christ Presbyterian Church, for providing lunch for our students today.


posted by Christa