November 2011

Thanksgiving: Looking Back, Pressing Forward

 

Thanksgiving Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the myriad blessings that God has bestowed upon us and say, “Thank you.”  In order to do this, memory is essential.  Being thankful necessitates remembering past events, circumstances, and relationships and seeing God’s hand of blessing throughout them.  But it also means looking forward.  Because God has guided, protected, restored, saved, and sustained us in the past, He will continue to guide and be with us in the future.  We can be thankful in anticipation, knowing that God is unchangeably faithful and unceasingly good.

 

In light of this truth that gives thanks at “all times”, we reflect on God’s blessing at ABTS and look forward to how God will sustain, provide, and grow ABTS in the future.

 

 

 

Looking Back

 

HLC VISIT

In our last prayer letter, we asked for your prayers regarding the 10 year accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  The visit was made by Dr. Michael Westerfield, the team leader for the Cornerstone University accreditation site visit.  Dr. Westerfield came for two days at the end of August to assess ABTS in terms of our educational procedures and overall quality of education. 

 

The highlight of the visit was the organized lunch with our Chiang Mai students.  When asked to explain why they chose ABTS, our students gave amazing testimonies of how ABTS has changed their thinking, enhanced their ministries, and drawn them closer to the Lord.  We praise God for the work of ABTS in the lives of our students, and we are thankful for the very positive report that we received from the HLC.  Overall, Dr. Westerfield was very impressed that we could do so much with so little and reinforced that ABTS is doing a very strategic and necessary work in this region.

 

SINGAPORE CLASS

Jim travelled to Singapore from September 26—October 7 to teach Systematic Theology 2.  We started out with six students, but two had to leave midway when the father of one of the students died unexpectedly.  The class went very well as we discussed the doctrines of angels, man, sin, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  Thanks for your prayers.

 

FAMILY

With sickness taking its toll on many people around us, we praise God that all three of us have experienced relatively good health.  Ella is immensely enjoying second grade and loves to learn.  In fact, she is very fond of quizzing her parents about the parts of the body or arithmetic.  Thankfully, she can’t seem to switch off “learning mode.”  Karen is more active than ever.  She is serving on the fellowship committee at church, the “parent-link” committee at school, and is our alumni director at ABTS. 

 

 

Pressing Forward

 

NEW ROLE

If you remember, in December 2010 our former Dean, Dr. Robert Rapa, resigned from ABTS.  Jim was then asked to serve as Interim Dean while our board and Cornerstone University made decisions regarding the future of ABTS and its leadership.  In September, Jim was formally asked by the Provost of Cornerstone University to serve fully as Dean of ABTS.  After a time of prayer, consideration of his gifts, and seeking advice from colleagues and friends, Jim decided to accept this new position.  He will still be teaching 1-3 times per year, but his primary role will now be leading ABTS educationally and strategically.  Please pray for him as he assumes this new role. 

 

Here is the email sent by the Provost regarding Jim’s appointment:

 

Dear Asia Biblical Theological Seminary students and community,

 

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr. James Blumenstock as Dean of Asia Biblical Theological Seminary.  As Interim Dean, Jim has shown himself to be a capable administrator, a trusted colleague, and a visionary leader who can move ABTS forward in today’s globalized society.  As part of Cornerstone University’s vision for global influence, Asia Biblical Theological Seminary serves a vital role in strengthening the global church in Asia through the education of church leaders.  I look forward to supporting Jim as he leads ABTS into an exciting new phase of institutional development.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Rick Ostrander

Provost | Cornerstone University

 

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, ASIA

 

In our April prayer letter, we were praising God for a new Director of Development in the US, my Dad.  Now, we are welcoming a new Director of Development in Asia, Anton Chan.  Anton is a Singaporean who has a heart for missions and leadership training.  He is very interested in promoting ABTS in Singapore and has a desire to help in the fundraising efforts for our scholarship program.  ABTS works in very poor nations, so we look forward to how God will use Anton to help raise the necessary funds for us to continue to offer quality leadership training in these very needy areas.

 

 

Prayer Requests

1. Jim’s education: continue to pray for Jim as he balances his research with work and family responsibilities.

2. ABTS: praise for a very positive HLC accreditation visit.  Pray for Anton as he helps raise funds in Singapore.  Pray that we will have the resources to hire a Director of Academic Affairs.

3. Family: pray for Jim as he assumes his new role as Dean.  Pray for our second adoption as we have been waiting for over 4 years now.

 

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