Spring Term underway

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Last week, we finished up the last 2 classes of what we are calling our Winter Term. This term included 3 stand-alone classes in December, and 4 multi-week classes in January and February. We also offer two self-study courses. A total of 17 students completed at least one class, and most of these completed more than one. (One woman completed 6, and two others did 5!)  We have invited all completers to a special recognition event on March 20.

Here is a picture of some great after-class discussion at one of the classes just concluded.

This week we launched two new classes. I'm leading "Living Out Your Faith" on Wednesday evenings. Ten students attended, of the 14 who registered. This class will run for 4 weeks. On Thursdays Norm is leading "Life of Jesus - Harmony of the Gospels", which will go for 6 weeks. Five attended of the nine registered.

Meanwhile, our Tuesday evening discussion class keeps going. We haven't given as much attention to that class in these postings. This class is a study of a book of the Bible, led by Ray Pratt — we've been studying 1 Corinthians, and we're about to finish it up. We'll then move on to 2 Corinthians. We've had 3 regular students from the BEC who attend this class, as well as ecclesial members.

Another new class launches

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Last evening we launched another class: "Kingdom of God – Past, Present, Future". Initially registrations for this class were running pretty low. This has been something of a pattern. Topics that are going to clearly get into "content" have lower enrollment. We've seen higher enrollment & actual attendance for how to study, prophecy, and discipleship-related topics. (Of course, we've provided solid content in these as well.)

But as it turned out, we had 7 students attend, and only one no-show!  Definitely better than we've seen for other "content" classes. This class will run for 2 weeks. (Last night we covered the Old Testament foundations, and next week we'll look at the New Testament development.)

Besides the current classes, we're busy building our Spring schedule. Because of travel for the main instructors, it's going to work out that we need to take a "spring break", but this isn't a bad thing. During that break we'll try to offer a couple of stand-alone classes.

We've also started to look ahead to the summer, and instructor travel is going to be an even bigger issue then. We've been running at the maximum capacity of our two instructors, which gives no margin for either to get a break. Not sure how this is going to work out. Based on our experience from last fall, it seems that we can expect our biggest influx of new students in the fall, which means a major promotional push in August and then hitting the ground running in Sept. This timing is shaping up to be a challenge.

Anybody out there interested in coming for a month in Aug or Sept?  Or both?  We can provide housing, and plenty of fruitful work in the Lord!
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What every instructor loves to see

(posted by Norman Fadelle)

This is what an instructor lives for. One of our regular students (Brent) convinced a friend (Leslie) to take one of the classes we offer. She is glad she did, which is great in itself. But the really great thing is that, when Leslie had a question after class, it was Brent who jumped in to explain it. They dug into their Bibles, and they found the answer. All that was left for the instructor (me) to do was to take the picture.

Next round of winter classes begins

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Eight students completed the "Basic Discipleship" class, which was led by Norm Fadelle. This week he began his next class, "Bible Stories from an Adult Perspective" – a re-examination of some familiar Sunday School stories, and the lessons that grown-ups can take from them. Five students attended the first class.

Initially we thought that Tuesday vs Wednesday was not affecting registrations, so we are back to Wednesday night so we don't conflict with the ongoing Tuesday evening Bible study, which is currently studying 1 Corinthians. (We often have 3 of the BEC students in attendance on Tuesdays.)  What we've found is that a couple of people who signed up for Norm's new class (on Wednesdays) aren't going to make it because they attend a class at their own church that night. We will see what happens in March when our next Wednesday class starts.

Meanwhile, my "How to Study the Bible" class has had four faithful attendees. One who began the class had to drop due to a change in his work schedule. This week we had 3 people from the fall "How to Study" class join us. We're into using concordances and lexicons now, which was offered as a separate class last fall, and these 3 weren't able to attend then. This class will wrap up next week.

To encourage our growing list of contacts to sign up for one of the remaining winter classes, a newsletter went out today.

Unfortunately, no teens showed up for the first session of the Tuesday teen activity. For reasons we can't figure out, NO teens walked through the mall either last Thursday or this Tuesday. Strange, since there's usually a steady stream of them after school. But we aren't giving up!  Dana and Jennifer will be prepared to have games, snacks, and a devotion again next week.

Teen after-school program

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Dana Pratt is launching a weekly after-school program for teens at the BEC. The idea came to her before the holidays, as we would watch high school students walk through the mall on their way to home, the library, or wherever.

This week we started the advertising. Teens don't read newspapers, so reaching them may be a challenge. Dana tried standing on a corner near the school to hand out leaflets – but there were practically no kids walking (it was really cold). She set up a table in the mall, and about 20 kids did take fliers. We are doing the same the rest of the week. Dana has set next Tuesday as the start date for the activity.

The plan is to be very low key – just provide a wholesome place where kids can hang out, play some games, have some snacks, plus a short Bible-based devotion. Jane and I have a ping-pong table just taking up space in our garage, so we're donating that.

We've been looking for additional ways we can serve our community, and hope that this proves to be something valued by both the teens and their parents.

Basic Discipleship class - week 2

(posted by Norm Fadelle)

Here are some illustrative photos taken at session #2 of the class on Basic Discipleship; a Chinese fellow -- Caleb Joshua in the front row -- was a walk-in at 7:15 that night, and is scheduled to do the makeup of session #1 with me today; Jerry (man in striped shirt) is the husband who came with wife-student Evelyn to the recognition dinner in Nov, and they both signed up for the Jan classes; she took 2 extra flyers last week to give to her friends (telling me they really needed to come and it was never too late to join in); Edna - the Baptist SS teacher -- takes great notes and shared her thoughts with the class; they were so excellent that I asked her if she would type them up and let copies be given to her classmates -- and she agreed to do so. The participation is so encouraging.  I told them all that I loved to discuss this Bible teaching with them.  The week before, Liz said that the class was just what she needed to address a challenge she was having in the work place.  Lamonte (he is a former Pentecostal; he told me he was a member for years, but learned nothing from the Bible -- it was all feeling and singing etc.; he got disgusted with the dreadful behavior of the pastor) had dropped by the BEC one afternoon and we had a chat for over an hour.  Nancy (woman with pile of  books in front of her, in the front row) hangs out at the BEC a couple of days each week - she has completed the GMP course).  Liane had called in sick, saying she would not be attending that night.  She was keen to have a makeup session, which is planned for this afternoon.  Observation: coming to the BEC has become part of the normal weekly activity for these students. Isn't this great!  Thank you, God. 

 

Other exciting events: (1) this past Sunday, a young man (Max - 2nd year student at community college) came in at 12:30 p.m. to the open shop (while we are having luncheon after meeting in the back); I was on door duty; he was looking for a Bible to read, feeling that he needed to get into the Book; after 20 minutes [due to his eagerness, not my salesmanship] , he had signed up for 2 classes, and bought an ESV for himself, and understood that he could drop in any time for any of the current evening classes.  (2) about noon, an older man had stuck his head in the door of the meeting area, informing us that he had just put his hat and coat on one of the chairs in the BEC; he was doing his fitness walk.  I told him that the risk was entirely his (since we have no one posted in the shop during that time, and we would be closing up in about an hour); he had no problem with that condition.  So just as I was finishing up with Max, the older man waltzed in, got his coat, and left.  Observation: just being there, with an open door to the public, is an opportunity to attract seekers of God's word or to simply provide what is seen to be a haven/service by a passerby. 

(3) the last photo is about the weekly Tuesday night Bible class; it is designed for anyone to "drop in" without any commitment to continue; it is currently led by Ray Pratt (top middle of photo - wife Dana is on his right) and the topic is 1Corinthians;  student James and his wife Teresa (right side of photo) have been constant attenders (offering to pick them up for the class and then drive them home, has been a big help) and have come to a point of asking Paul Zilmer (front left in photo) for some private classes, with intention on becoming members.  So this past Sunday, they came to meeting & SS & luncheon & had their first private session that afternoon with Paul and his wife Jane.  To me, this is exciting stuff.

Delayed start for How to Study class

(posted by Paul Zilmer)

Last Thursday, the scheduled start date for our winter offering of "How to Study the Bible", was forecast to begin with an overnight snowstorm, and get worse from there. And so it happened. By early afternoon it was clear that it would be unwise to try to hold the class. I called all of the registered students I could reach, and they all said, "Oh good" when I told them we would postpone.

Last evening, one week late, we began the class. Five of the eight registered students attended. (One had called saying she had to cancel.)

We talked about how to make up the missed session. There was no evening or weekend time that would work for everyone. They suggested we run a little late each time, and get the six sessions of material into five classes. So that's what we will do.

The couple on the left has been attending our Tuesday night discussion class, and they have now requested private classes as well. The gent in back is also a regular at the Tue night class. At the table on the right, the older man has attended some previous classes, and the younger one is a first-time student who just signed up that day. Perhaps out of the snowstorm our Lord enabled a connection?

The opening class seemed to go well, and two of the students remarked as they were leaving that they were surprised to learn more than they expected from the class. They, and I, are looking forward to the weeks ahead!