Thank you for a great year!
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| class of 2012 |
Subscribe in a readerWe began our last book today (Matthew), and the students will turn in their final assignment next Thursday. Graduation is next Saturday!
Being the season for nostalgia, I'll say that I can't believe we've now seen 6 ESBS schools through to the end. Im so blown away by what God has done this year, and in the previous 5 years. Im thankful for the vibrant life the school has taken on, and the rich ministry that has taken place in the lives of everyone involved.
Im also thankful for your support. Thank you for being interested in the school, for praying for it, and for supporting the students and staff. I know that this program was part of what Jesus had in mind when he told his disciples to "go and make disciples of the nations." I'm proud to be a part of a program that has grown to be solid and excellent beyond anything that any of us can fully take credit for. God has given us an awesome gift in the ESBS, and Im thankful for your partnership in stewarding it.
Let's prayerfully look forward to many more years!
Tom
AUDIO FILES ONLINE
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Just a reminder to visit our website and check out some of this year's audio files now online. We've got HUNDREDS of hours of totally free live classroom lectures on our website...ready for you to enjoy.
http://www.esbsonline.org/audio-2011-12/
Step 1: pick a book you want to learn more about
Step 2: download the lectures for that book
Step 3: listen to them on the commute to and from work (NPR is over-rated anyway)
enjoy!
Ellen Stark Joins ESBS Staff!
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| Ellen Stark joins ESBS staff!!! |
Subscribe in a readerWe're pleased to announce that Ellen Stark will be joining our staff beginning this fall. Ellen is a current ESBS student and has been tearing this program to pieces (a good thing...:) since day one. She's a fantastic writer, she's got a huge heart for discipleship, and she's GREAT at inductive Bible Study.
Ellen has spent the better part of the last decade back and forth between Colorado and Mexico as she and her family have served in missions. She did a DTS with YWAM Brisbane, she speaks fluent spanish, she loves sewing (for real) and long walks on the beach (ok I made that one up).
Get to know Ellen a little by reading her weekly updates on our student blog (esbsblog.com)
Nathan Hughes guest teaching
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| Nathan Hughes: Montana dodgeball champion |
Subscribe in a readerWe're pleased to have one of Montana's finest with us for the week. Nathan Hughes, a full-time SBS staff member with the Montana SBS is here teaching Ezra and Nehemiah. Nathan is also a Canadian, which means currently there are 4 Canadians on campus at the ESBS. They're taking over: quick, throw snowballs.
We've got 5 more weeks before graduation, and everyone is in a great place. It's been an amazing year and I for one don't want it to end. I'm gonna lose two great climbing partners and 12 amazing students. Already though Im getting excited for next year. Pray with us that God will put just the right school together for this fall.
Tom
Ron and Judy Smith visit.
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| Ron and Judy Smith with Caleb Hartzler last winter (Byron and Eileen's son) |
We're so pleased to have Ron and Judy Smith with us for the next two weeks. Ron and Judy started the SBS program within YWAM in 1981, and they were hugely instrumental in helping plant the ESBS here at Camp Lurecrest in 2006.
Having Ron and Judy with us now is nothing short of miraculous, given where they've been and what they've experienced over the past 6 months:
While teaching last fall in Asia Ron was hospitalized with severe hemophilia. When Ron was admitted to the hospital his red blood cell counts were so low that doctors feared he was close to death.
After several days of recuperation and blood transfusions Ron was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer. The past 6 months have been entirely devoted to Ron's recovery. He's undergone multiple transfusions and several rounds of chemotherapy. Ron's body has responded really well to the treatment and Ron and Judy are encouraged that the cancer cells are decreasing and his body is generating blood on its own again.
Their visit here this week is their first journey out since the diagnosis. You can imagine how good that feels for all of us!
Please continue to pray for Ron and Judy. Pray with us that God removes all the cancer cells, and that Ron's bone marrow continues to produce red blood as it should.