Graduation

Last night was the graduation ceremony for our Equipping Servants Internship class. There are 15 ESI classes around the country, teaching men (and now one group of women!) important theological truths through studying the scripture and other texts that inform and equip us to become more effective and loving, Christ-like leaders. Not only does the class require quite a bit of time in the Word (Romans mostly) and meditation on it, but we share a time of transparency during each class with a small group- sharing our struggles and sins, how much our hearts are on fire for God, and how our relationship with our spouse is going. Scotty and I have both finished the first of 5 modules- each a semester long- and last night we joined 194 other ESI members and their families to receive our certificates. At first I thought it was kind of a silly idea, this graduation ceremony, since the majority of us had not finished the whole course yet. Plus, it was Sunday night and I just wanted to sit at home and watch a movie. But as I watched so many men, and a hand full of women, walk up to the front of the church with big smiles on their faces, I realized what a privilege it is to be a part of such an incredible training process. And to understand better the way God is working in these Bolivian Christians lives, deepening and strengthening their knowledge and understanding of who God is, knowing that they will directly impact the lives of others around the country. This class is seriously transforming and God has the power through it to transform a multitude of people.

Scotty enjoyed his last ESI class last week out at the house of one of his classmates. They studied in the morning and then grilled out at lunchtime. It's neat to see the relationships he has made with these pastors that are in his class, sharing years of godly wisdom with each other.