WALTRIPS ON MISSION
Preparing World Changers for the Global Harvest through International Education
Project #065-0132
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Angie, Noelle, and I wish you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving and Christmas season! In this very special season, we are so very grateful for your friendship, partnership, and support! We are able to impact the nations through education because of you. Thank you! | |
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TEACHING AT BTUC
In October, I was joined by Dr. Michael Reynolds, Dr. Jerry McNabb, and Scott McNabb to teach and do ministry at Berea Theological University College in Lusaka, Zambia. I taught Contemporary World Religions. The students were from Zambia, Congo, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Madagascar, Uganda, Central African Republic, Malawi, and China. Dr. Reynolds was my guest speaker to teach on Animism. Dr. Reynolds also taught the BTUC faculty on faculty and curriculum development. In the second week, Jerry and Scott McNabb taught on Islam, and Dr. Paul Schmidgall taught on Judaism via Zoom. On the weekend, Dr. Jerry McNabb taught Islam to the local pastors, while Scott McNabb (Jerry's son) taught organizational leadership to all the BTUC students. On Sunday, we did ministry in a couple of the local churches. It was an amazing two weeks of ministry! BTUC is making an impact in Africa!
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ETS 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
While Dr. Reynolds and I were in Zambia, we flew with BTUC President Scott Rains to Germany to attend the Graduation and 75th Anniversary Celebration of the European Theological Seminary. I was able to see my ETS students (my students from France and Spain in the picture above) and celebrate with those students that were graduating. Dr. Stephen Darnell and several leaders from throughout Europe came to celebrate. On Saturday, ETS showed an amazing documentary film on the history of the school. I was honored to be in the film. Dr. Mark Williams preached an inspiring message at the graduation on Sunday. ETS has had an impact in Europe!
While in Germany, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Mark Williams, and I were able to meet with the leaders from France and Belgium about a French translation project. After the event, I flew back to Zambia with Scott Rains to finish my course.
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THE PHILIPPINES
I joined Bishop Andrew Binda, Field Director of Asia-Pacific, for a week of mission work in the Philippines with the "365 Missions Team." It was truly a special time of ministry. We first did ministry at the Church of God Dasmariñas, Pastor Anthony Velasco. What an amazing church! Their ministry team is the best (see first picture)! Bishop Binda ministered both on Saturday at their satellite church, Church of God Jabez, and on Sunday at the main campus in Dasmariñas. At the Jabez church, they baptized over 500 people! Most of those baptized were young people, and they were so hungry for God. As we prayed for these young people at the altar, there would be puddles from their tears. God is doing something in the Philippines! Bishop Binda preached incredible messages. We also had a great time of fellowship with Pastors Anthony and Gigi Velasco and the team.
On Monday, we visited the Samaritan's Place orphanage, directed by Marilen and Marc Morris. They do amazing work! I fell in love with the children. I had the honor to speak in chapel at ASCM (see picture above) the next day and visited with my ASCM family (students, faculty and staff). ASCM is making an impact in Asia! Later in the week, the team did ministry among the Travelers Community in urban Manila. Afterwards, we went to Subic Bay to do ministry in the mountains among the indigenous people (the Zambales) in the mountains. They gave out food in both places. Lastly, we visited the ASCM extension in Subic. ASCM is active in preparing Zambales ministers. Dr. Jose Abraham, the Academic Dean, is the one leading these transformative ministries.
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Traveler Community in Manila | |
Ministry to the Indigenous People near Subic Bay | |
Church and ASCM extension at Subic Bay | |
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FINAL WORDS
It has been an incredible six weeks of ministry. As I wrote above, ASCM, BTUC and ETS are making an impact in their respective fields. Their ministries go beyond just the classroom. They are going out in communities and doing practical and transformative mission ministry. In addition, they are preparing the next generation of ministers and leaders. In the last few courses for these schools, I had students from the Philippines, Nepal, Myanmar, India, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal, Uganda, Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Malawi, Germany, France, Spain, Argentina, Czechia, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Austria, Romania and the USA. It is true! ASCM is impacting Asia-Pacific, BTUC is impacting Africa, and ETS is impacting Europe-Middle East. Together, they are making an impact for 86% of the world's population. Pray, and if possible, support these three schools!
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- In March of 2025, Angie and I will join Pastor Mike Franklin of the Torch in Georgia to go to Greece. We are exploring with Jamison Creel the possibility of bringing students from various schools to Greece to take courses on the steps of the Apostle Paul and his mission ministry. Students would also do practical mission ministry among Muslim refugees and Greeks.
- In April, I will be returning to ASCM for an accreditation site visit. After the visit, I will go on to Australia and New Zealand.
- In June, Angie and I will be going to ETS. Noelle is taking Dr. Jeff Sargent's Lee-ETS joint course.
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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 interconnect 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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