Next up for Tue night: Ecclesiastes

(posted by Paul Zilmer & Ray Pratt)

For the past several months we've been studying Paul's letters to Corinth in our Tuesday evening Bible class. These studies are coming to an end — we plan to conclude on Aug 31. The next book we'll study will be Ecclesiastes, starting Sept 7.

We've had a few students express interest in this study. Not all of the calls and walk-ins resulting from our advertising have wanted to sign up for the classes offered on Wed & Thu nights. Some find the round-table discussion format more attractive. Plus, Ecclesiastes is just...well, interesting!  Nothing else quite like it. We have a few students who are already regular attenders on Tue, and we pray that we'll have some more soon.

Another wonderful development: another long-term student told us this morning that she wants to have some classes with some of our sisters, with an eye to baptism. She has been through our courses, and in fact was interviewed, but near the end of the interview she said she wasn't really ready. Since then it's been an emotional time for her. This morning, she said she knows what she needs to do, and wants to go forward again. God bless her, and draw her into His family!

Summer session done, gearing up for Fall

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Last night we concluded our summer session, which was a series that introduced one book of the Bible each week. (We concluded with "Introducing Malachi".) We knew that over the summer people would come & go, so this series worked well for many, since classes did not build on one another. We told the students that if they came to half the classes, they would get a completion certificate. The attendance really was spotty. Of the eleven people who signed up, five got completion certificates last night.

Preparations for the Fall Term are well underway. Besides handing out almost 4,000 fliers door-to-door, we have had a series of advertisements in the local newspaper, as well as signs in the windows of the shop. All three avenues have produced good interest. This week we signed up 6 new students, and we've had inquiries from several more, who may yet sign up. Besides the classes people sign up for, we've also had good interest in our Tuesday evening Bible class, which is more of a traditional Bible study.

Another wonderful development last evening was that one of our long-term students approached me and asked to start classes in preparation for baptism. Besides being a very faithful attender at the evening classes, she has been coming to our Sunday services (regularly to the adult SS class, sporadically to the worship service).

The Chicago ecclesia (a 2 hour drive away) is hosting a gathering in September, with the theme "The One Hope". Many of our ecclesia members will be going, and two of our regular students are also planning to go. Two more students are going to look into whether they can attend.

We are feeling very blessed with all of this!  We pray God will bless our efforts to support, encourage, and teach all of these people as they seek Him.

Looking back on the first year

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Last week we passed our one-year anniversary. Milestones like this make good times for reflection. We've learned quite a bit! A few things that come to mind:

1. At our BEC, the on-site, instructor-led classes are far and away what's most valued by the community we serve. We do have some interest in self-study courses, but not a great deal. Our new & used books (mostly Bibles and Bible study reference books) have had slow but steady sales. This is quite different from the experience Jane & I had in South Africa. We've shifted to featuring the classes as our primary service.
2. Over the year, we have had 80 students sign up for something. Almost half, 39, have completed at least one course. Of those, over two thirds have done multiple courses, and fully one third have done 4 or more courses.
3. We have to keep advertising. Foot traffic does bring people in, but many of those who actually sign up for courses come in because of an ad.
4. The largest influx of new students was in the fall last year. We are waiting & hoping that we'll see another group of new students this fall. Right after the first of the year was our next-largest time for gaining new students. During the late spring and through the summer it's been very slow, with practically no new students.
5. Over and over, people tell us they are so pleased we are offering the services we do. Even if they don't buy anything or sign up for anything. We are a welcome addition to the community, for many.
6. Something we knew already, but has been confirmed time and again: relationships are the thing. We have built relationships with the people who come in, including some people who have never taken a class, but who come in regularly. These relationships are gratifying in themselves, and also are the foundation for real teaching.
7. Less-than-wonderful things do happen. We've been challenged by the very loud church next door — and increasingly we find people who come in just assume we're connected with them. We've had struggles with some of the relationships mentioned before; sometimes it is a challenge to keep a positive outlook. We've had some long-time students who've become friends, but have now left us, and we grieve the lost friendships. We've had some internal differences, as ecclesias do. But none of these things outweigh the very positive experiences we've had. One baptism, others studying, many friendships, and a sense purpose and being valued. A "mission" in more ways than one!

We look forward to the upcoming year!  No doubt it too will bring us both challenges and satisfactions. We pray for our God's guidance, His blessing, and above all that His name will be glorified.
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Help with leafleting, one year celebration, need for prayer

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Sorry for the three-in-one posting!

Item 1:  We were disappointed not to have more volunteers to help us with distributing fliers advertising our upcoming Fall Term classes. And then our single out-of-town volunteer came down sick for much of last week! But in part the shortfall has been made up...from our students!  Two of our long term students asked if they could help, and of course we said yes!  They have been a big help, and they plan to do more. Another of our students has offered to help stuffing envelopes, for a mailing to all of our contacts from the past year.

Item 2:  This week we celebrate the first anniversary of our opening. To commemorate, and also to build relationships, we hosted an ice cream social last evening. All former and current students were invited, as well as the entire volunteer staff. We had a pretty good showing from the volunteers, but not very many of the students. This was a disappointment. But, as Bro Norm Fadelle pointed out, maybe the purpose of the event from the Lord's perspective was something else. As we were setting up, a family came by the BEC "by chance", stopped to look at the material on the table outside the door, and ended up very interested in our upcoming classes. They also purchased a book from our used book table. We pray that this family's interest will continue!

Finally, we ask the blog's readers to join us in prayer. One of our students has some very serious mental health issues. We have been working with her for months now, trying to help her find a way to a better frame of mind, with her security and her hope in God. This past week has been terrible for her, and has taken a real toll on our volunteers as well, as she has lashed out at us in ways that hurt very much, even though we know it is the "demon" (her illness) speaking. Please pray for her well-being, and for us to be able to be a help and a comfort for her.