WALTRIPS ON MISSION
Preparing World Changers for the Global Harvest through International Education
Project #065-0132
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International General Assembly |
During the DOE International Educators Luncheon |
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We recently attended the 79th International General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was an amazing time seeing friends and doing the business of the Church. It was my first General Assembly in my appointment as Dean of International Education. Consequently, I was very busy and had a lot to learn. On Monday, we attended the World Missions Missionary Celebration in the morning and the Missions Gala in the evening. We were able to spend time with our friends from around the world.
We had several breakfasts and luncheons. On Wednesday, DOE held the International Educators Luncheon. It was the first time being responsible, but the DOE team was amazing. We had 250 guests. Dr. Michael Reynolds, Director of Ministerial Development, was the keynote speaker, while Aber Lima and his wife did the music. DOE presented the Distinguished Educator Awards to Dr. Debbie Murray for Leadership and Dr. Yattenciy Bonilla for Faculty. We also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Dr. Oliver McMahan and a surprise Lifetime Achievement Award to our outgoing Executive Committee Liaison to Education, Dr. David Ramirez. All award winners were very deserving.
On Thursday evening, we attended the World Missions service. During the service, Angie, Noelle and I participated in the Parade of Nations along with the other missionaries. That is always a high moment for us at General Assemblies! Please see our picture below.
I am especially grateful to the Lord for several elections and appointments. First of all, I am so excited about the election of Gary Lewis as the Presiding Bishop (General Overseer). I was able to experience his ministry and heart for a move of God at the California Camp Meeting in June. I was very blessed.
I am also honored that I can continue working with several excellent leaders. My direct supervisor, Dr. Michael Reynolds, will continue as the Director of Ministerial Development in DOE. In addition, I will continue working with the same Field Directors: Andrew Binda in Asia-Pacific, Stephen Darnell in Europe-CIS-Middle East, Ishmael Charles in the Caribbean, and Peter Thomas in Africa. They are amazing leaders!
There were two special developments that also made me happy. Dr. Mark Williams was elected on the Executive Committee. After the General Assembly, I learned that he will be the new Liaison to Education! I can't wait to work with him! In addition to that, Dr. David Ramirez was elected to be Assistant Director of World Missions. I also learned that I will be working directly with him in World Missions. All these men are amazing and authentic leaders! They are all an answer to prayer.
THE PARADE OF NATIONS
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TEACHIG FOR ASCM AND ETS
I finished my ASCM course before the General Assembly. As you may remember, I lectured at ASCM in January, but the students continued their work throughout the semester.
I also taught an online course this semester for ETS. I taught Introduction to Missions online to the first-level students. The students were from Germany, Spain, Czechia, Poland, and the USA. A couple of the students have a call for missions. In fact, two of the German students are missionaries to Japan. I love all my students!
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SEMISUD
Just before the General Assembly, I attended the graduation of SEMISUD on behalf of DOE. I am so glad that I had this opportunity. I was able to stay with friends, Benson and Cathy Vaughan. I enjoyed being with Dr. Nelson Parra and Dr. Jenniffer Contreras. They are great leaders at SEMISUD. I was also able to be with my friends, Dr. Keith Ivester, Pastor Deena Query, Nicolas Marulla (Regional Superintendent of South America South), Carlos Labra, Samuel Vicente Carpio, and Dr. Victor Pagan. I also met Dr. Ana Cepera, the Academic Dean from UTC in Puerto Rico, and Bishop Ron Martin, Administrative Bishop of Ohio.
I was especially honored to attend the launching celebration of Dr. Yattenciy Bonilla's new translation of the New Testament from Greek to contemporary Spanish. What an achievement!
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International Education Alliances
We had an historic moment during the General Assembly on Monday, July 8. In 2011, I had the honor to attend the signing of the Latin American Education Alliance (ALEAL). This was the vision of Dr. David Ramirez. Since that time, ALEAL has grown in effectiveness as the schools in Latin America work together to advance education. After experiencing the signing and seeing what ALEAL has been able to accomplish, it has been my hope to see a global education alliance. It has been the vision of Dr. Ramirez as well. When I became Dean of International Education, I began working with Dr. Ramirez, Dr. Michael Reynolds, World Missions, and the schools to explore the possibility of a Global Education Theological Association (the GATE).
On Monday, July 8, we signed two regional education alliances similar to ALEAL. The first alliance comes directly out of the findings of the Task Force on education last year. Dr. Ramirez, Dr. Thomas Propes (General Director of World Missions), Stephen Darnell, Andrew Binda, Peter Thomas, Manuel Martin-Arroyo, Marc Morris, Scott Rains, Juergen Rudolph and I signed a Memorandum of Agreement between ASCM, BTUC, and ETS. The new alliance is called the "Three-Fields Education Alliance" that provides the mechanism for our field schools in the three major mission fields (Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-CIS-Middle East) to collaborate on sharing resources, faculty, training, promotion, etc. We are also establishing a Great Commission Research Centre that will be shared by the three schools. These three major fields represent 86% of the world's population.
In addition, education leaders from the Caribbean signed a MOA to establish the Inter-Caribbean Education Alliance that will be the mechanism for our schools in the Caribbean to collaborate, including Bethel Bible College of the Caribbean in Jamaica and throughout the islands, UTC in Puerto Rico, SEBID in the Dominican Republic, and STEDH in Haiti. Along with the Field Director, Bishop Ishmael Charles, Dr. Earlmont Williams, Dr. Darin Mohammed, Dr. Francisco Ortiz, Dr. Joel Vibert, the National Overseer of the Dominican Republic and I signed. Drs. Williams and Mohammed were especially significant in helping this education alliance to happen.
The two signings were an historical event, like the signing of ALEAL that I witnessed in 2011. I am confident that the two new education alliances will grow and develop as ALEAL has since 2011. The stage is set for international collaboration in education in all the mission fields outside of North America. I am grateful to my leaders whose support made these alliances possible: Dr. Ramirez, Dr. Propes, Dr. Reynolds, and the four Field Directors (Andrew Binda, Ishmael Charles, Stephen Darnell, and Peter Thomas).
Our schools are stronger together! We must be ready to work together for the preparation of leaders and ministers for the great Harvest around the world before Jesus returns.
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- I will be teaching courses this fall for ASCM, Patten University, and PTS. Teaching is my passion.
- In October, I am taking a team that includes Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Jerry McNabb, Dr. David Gibson, and Scott McNabb, to Zambia. Drs. Reynolds and McNabb will help me teach a Contemporary World Religions course for BTUC. Dr. Gibson and Scott McNabb will do training for pastors and Dr. Reynolds will do faculty development for BTUC.
- Dr. Reynolds, Scott Rains (President of BTUC), and I will travel to ETS on the weekend to participate in the 75th Anniversary of ETS and their graduation. It will be a busy two weeks, so please keep us in prayer.
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Please keep Angie, Noelle and Blayne in prayer. Continue to pray for Noelle as she studies at Lee University. Please remember to pray for their family, especially Angie's mom as she recovers from cancer.
Please continue to pray for Angie and Blayne as they partner with you to teach leaders, pastors, church planters, and missionaries around the world. They are responsible for raising their budget. Please pray for the funds necessary to travel to the schools and do international education.
Please continue to pray for the COG Bible schools and seminaries around the world. In particular, please pray for ETS in Europe, ASCM in Asia-Pacific, BTUC in Africa, SEMISUD in South America, SEBIPCA in Central America, SEBIME in Mexico, SEID (and CTM) in Brazil, UTC in Puerto Rico, Bethel Bible College of the Caribbean in Jamaica, Patten University in California, PTS and Lee University in Tennessee, and SFTB in Belgium.
Pray for the new education alliances (Inter-Caribbean Education Alliance and the Three Fields Education Alliance), along with ALEAL. Pray that our schools will be able to do more together. Pray for the successful development of the GATE.
Pray for Blayne as he works with international education for DOE and World Missions. He continues to work with the 117 schools in the COG outside of North America. In addition to teaching and certifying schools, Blayne works with leadership to develop education systems that will strengthen and integrate education at every level.
Please continue to pray for the Harvest around the world. Pray that a Great Awakening emerges soon as the Holy Spirit moves on the hearts of people of every nation, city, people group and family around the world. Pray that authentic revival comes to our churches to protect, heal, deliver, and prepare all of us for such as a time as this!
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Thank you for partnering with us in prayer, friendship and financial support as we serve in international education! | |
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DONATION INFORMATION
Checks to your local Church of God or send by mail to Church of God World Missions, P.O. Box 8016, Cleveland, TN 37320-8016. If you do give, please make sure that you designate on the memo line of your check that the offering is for Blayne and Angie Waltrip, Project #065-0132.
You can also give online on the COGWM website. Link:
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blaynewal@hotmail.com
bwaltrip@churchofgod.org
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