3/20/2015 – Kalemyo Graduation

Kalemyo Friday Graduation Day 2015

Thirty-two graduates crossed the stage to receive their certificates in Hermeneutics (Interpretation of Scripture) today in Kalemyo, Myanmar. It was so gratifying to see these pastors , young men, and women complete a course of study that they probably never thought possible just a few weeks ago. These individuals simply have no access to legitimate study materials that rival the standard Bible college. What a joy to bring it to them!

Pastor David, of Kalemyo Baptist Church, wants a return visit next year and, like Pastor Mung, wants to extend this training up into the Chin Hills where scores of pastors labor among this large segment of people in the north districts. The Chin people are known as being very matter of fact, direct, and transparent in their demeanor. I look forward to being able to work among this group of people.

My translator this week has been a Chin by the name of Pastor Mura. He was delightful to work with, and I developed a good working relationship with him. He told me that he feels like he learned more than anyone else in the room this week because of the need to understand the concepts before he could communicate them to others. He is right. My prayer for them is that they would multiply the teaching!

I hope the pictures can do justice to the event and what this represents for Global Baptist Training Foundation. As I told Pastor David after the service today, the further requests mean that two trips a year is likely to become a necessity very soon. Tomorrow I will get some extra sleep, work on some much needed personal office details, and get ready to preach for Pastor David’s flock on Sunday. I will touch base with you again on Sunday as we get prepared to join Pete and Marta in action on Monday. They arrive tonight in Yangon. They are stoked to get started on Monday, and I am equally excited to have some American fellowship.
Let me ask that you continue to pray us as we conduct the third class in as many weeks next week. We depend on the prayers of God’s people who have a burden for GBTF!

In the work,
Bruce