Archive for the ‘Ministry Updates’ Category
Early April Teaching Resources Ministry Update
Posted in Jim Ehrhard, Ministry Updates on April 4, 2011|
Wisdom (Needed!) March 2011
Posted in Jim Ehrhard, Ministry Updates on February 26, 2011|
Wisdom (Needed!)(March Update, 2011)
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NASB)
Ready to Teach… Again, and again, and again, and again, and again!
I am still working on lectures for my next class and it is fast approaching. The class is for the Talbot Master’s program, “The Theology and Practice of Prayer.” This is the first time I have taught this class so I am working very hard to get everything together. I am excited about a class that integrates both practice and theology. Be praying for me as I teach it and for the students in the class. Pray that we will all grow in our prayer lives through this course.
At the same time, I am also putting together an online-class World History class at KTS for some graduating students who need this class to be able to study in US and European programs. This is much more difficult that I imagined. I’m not the most computer-savvy person so my learning curve has been pretty steep! I have to get the online materials all posted before Wednesday (March 2) because we have an orientation meeting that day. Then I will be grading and interacting with this class for the next 6-8 weeks. Pray that I can be efficient in my use of time while teaching this class.
Finally, I am working on Contemporary Issues in Theology that I will be teaching in Belgium at the end of April and I will be working with one of my students in the Talbot program to co-teach the Critical Thinking and Writing 1 that I designed last year. We will be teaching this class in May at KTS. I also just learned that I am needed to teaching Critical Thinking and Writing 2 at the end of May too! So April and May and early June will be very busy!
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
The last few weeks have been a scramble to make some decisions about classes that I will teach. I am still in the decision making process because I am trying to teach less so I can work more on Russian. I missed about half of my lessons this year because of time conflicts and I’m trying to protect some of my time for language studies. I wanted to avoid teaching any new classes (which take 3 times as long to develop), but the need for teachers is also great. So I’m probably going to be teaching some new ones too.
Here is what I am tentatively looking at for next year … Exposition of Genesis (September; new class for me); Church History 1 (November) and World History (November). This will mean teaching back-to-back classes in November which is very tiring. Then in the spring, I will be teaching Theology and Spirituality (end of January; new course for me), Homiletics 2 (March; new class for me), Theology 4 (March; new class for me); and Critical Thinking and Writing 1 (May).
As you can see, there are a lot of needs. Please be praying for me as I make some decisions about these classes in the coming weeks. I’m also going to need to work on alternative ways to do Russian for the next few months. Because of my schedule, I will only be able to make 9 out of 32 lessons. So, Katya and I are going to work through some Russian textbooks together. Pray that I will stay disciplined so I can work on Russian.
Home in March … Short time, but I’m excited!
I have been praying about getting back to Arkansas this spring for a short visit. I really need to work on taxes (both personal and corporate) and I have a number of other Teaching Resources tasks that I cannot do from here. Johnnie Baker (The Bible Church of Cabot) has set up a VPN (I think) to my home computer so I am able to do a lot from Kiev (amazing—Thanks, Johnnie!). But there are still some things I need to set up while I’m there too. Also, Joy is working and needs someone to watch her kids during the day. So, I will get to come home, get some work done, pick up some books to bring back, and get to spend time with my grandchildren. The only negative is that Katya has to stay and work at the seminary—a reminder to me of how important she is to the seminary!
One concern was finances for the trip. But God supplies in amazing ways! A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from the Albrights and the International Church of Milan in Italy—they provided a gift to cover the cost of flying back for that week! Without us even asking! Wow! God’s people are so amazing!!!
I will be home the week of March 18-26. I will be teaching at the Men’s breakfast on March 19th at the Bible Church of Cabot and then with a group of men in North Little Rock at Jim Boles’s home on Saturday morning, March 26th. In both groups, we will be looking at theology and prayer (How Our View of God Affects our Prayer). Be praying for me as I teach these two times.
And on my flight through DC, I will get to spend the night with Joel, Alyssa and Lucas!
Prayer Needs
- Wisdom about time usage… Continue to pray for me about this.
- Class Preparations… I have five (!) classes that I am preparing for right now. I also have papers that I am grading from the last class in January and will soon have papers from the Talbot class and the World History class. Pray that I can complete everything quickly.
- Russian … Continue to pray that I can find more time for my Russian.
- Our Church … Open Hearts Church in Kiev is really a wonderful blessing for us. We love the worship, the teaching and the small groups! Pray for Pastor Sergy Bochko and his wife, Natasha, as they led this new church. We have ESL clubs on Sunday mornings before church that have over 40 non-believers coming! Pray for these to build relationships and to hear the gospel.
- Finances … It is amazing how being a missionary teaches you dependence and gratitude! We are so grateful for each of you who support us each month! Please pray that a few more can join our support team. We have all we need but things are tight financially here. Also, pray for the Seminary itself. Finances are the lowest they have ever been and we have about one month’s worth of operating funds. Ukraine has had nearly double inflation in the past few years and this has had an impact on the school’s finances.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support … we could not be here doing this ministry without your help!
So Much to Do … So Little Time (February Update, 2011)
Posted in Jim Ehrhard, Ministry Updates on February 5, 2011|
So Much to Do … So Little Time (February Update, 2011) PDF
Class Completed! (Whew…)
Last Friday, I finished teaching the Critical Thinking and Writing II class! It was a lot of work but I think it benefited the students greatly. The class involved analyzing short stories for characters, settings, plots, etc. Every day, we examined a different short story, looked at biblical applications and then students had to write a critical essay. This was a class I designed so that we could meet accreditation requirements for US and European schools and it went very well! Many of the students said it will be a great help in developing a biblical worldview and in understanding for biblical interpretation. Thank you for praying.
Preparations! (Ugh…)
I am currently working on another new class, “The Theology and Practice of Prayer” that I will teach at KTS in March for our Talbot Masters Degree program. I am working about 4-6 hours a day getting together notes and Powerpoint presentations for this class. I am excited about teaching it and I am praying that the class will benefit all of us (teacher included) in deepening our prayer lives. Also, at the end of February and into April, I will be teaching an online-class World History class at KTS for some graduating students who need this class to be able to study in US and European programs. Additionally, I am working on Contemporary Issues in Theology that I will be teaching in Belgium at the end of April. Finally, I will be working with one of my students in the Talbot program to co-teach the Critical Thinking and Writing 1 that I designed last year. We will be teaching this class in May at KTS.
As you can see, I am slightly overwhelmed with all the classes I am preparing and teaching this semester. In twelve months, I will have taught 5 new courses! Usually a new course takes 3-4 times as much preparation as teaching a class that you have taught before. One professor said that this is way beyond the normal teaching load. And I have been trying to take Russian classes also. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now and I am committed to not teaching any new classes until I have completed my Russian studies.
Grateful for so much!
January has been a wonderful time being back here in Kiev. Our church and small group continue to be a real blessing to us. Last Sunday, the church celebrated its five year anniversary. It was wonderful… great worship, great message and a full house (pictures on Facebook). Also, I will be preaching at two churches this month. Pray that the messages will be helpful to the believers here.
Also, the weather has been much warmer than normal (but that may not last long). We have also been able to use or apartment for hosting a number of people overnight that last few weeks. Finally, Katya and I were able to take some time to go to see the Nutcracker Ballet in Kiev for only about $8 a ticket… it was wonderful!… One of those small pleasure s that mean so much when you need a break. And Monday night, Katya and I will be getting together with some other missionaries here to watch a replay of the Super Bowl. It will be great fellowship and also a chance to reconnect with one of my great loves—American football .
Prayer Needs
- Wisdom about time usage… “There is so little to do and so much time! Stop, reverse that!” (Willy Wonka). I need to say “no” more often so I can have a reasonable work load. Pray for wisdom and a willingness to say no.
- Class Preparations… I have four (!) classes that I am preparing for right now. I also have papers that I am grading from the last two classes. Pray that I can complete everything quickly.
- Russian … Please pray that I can find more time for my Russian. When I should be spending 6 hours a day, I am doing good to find 6 a week. I hope this will change after I finish teaching my class in March.
- Finances … Pray that God will supply all our needs. We would like to continue to come to America to visit but finances are tight. Also, our General Fund is a little low right now.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support … we could not be here doing this ministry without your help!
January Update (2011) – Back in Ukraine by Jim Ehrhard
Posted in Ministry Updates on January 16, 2011|
Back in Ukraine
We arrived back in Ukraine in time for Christmas here with Katya’s family. But after that, my time has been consumed with getting things ready for my class next week. I had to compile lecture notes, powerpoints and handouts so that they can be translated. I’ve finished enough for the first week but I will still be working on the second week while I’m teaching week 1.
Be praying for me as I teach this class. It is a writing and critical thinking class that we have not taught before. So I have had to design it from the beginning. This has been very time-consuming but it is the only way to do a new course. The class teaches students how to interpret and analyze literature make biblical applications. It teaches critical thinking skills that will help pastors in biblical exegesis and exposition. I try to have a biblical connection in every day’s lectures. There is always a bit of trepidation whenever I teach a new class – I have a lot with this one! Thanks for praying!
Christmas in the US
We had a wonderful time over Christmas in the United States. We began by arriving in New York. We spent one whirlwind day in the city seeing the trees, lights, and major sights (Katya’s first time ever!) before heading by train to visit friends and supporters in Connecticut. Connecticut was wonderful! We had three receptions with friends while there … at the MacKenzie’s, the Ong’s, and the Elovecky’s. Each was different but all we very precious to both of us. We also were able to worship at Shepaug Valley Bible Church in Roxbury and were blessed to see Rebecca Stinson home for the holidays from Cambodia.
Then we headed to Arkansas to be home in time for Christmas with my family. It was wonderful having all my children and grandchildren together for nearly two weeks! We ate, played games, watched a couple of movies, talked (and talked) and ate (way too much). It was great.
On the weekends, we were able to worship at my two favorite churches in Arkansas. The Sunday after Christmas, we worshipped at the Bible Church of Cabot and the Sunday after New Years, we worshipped at Cornerstone Bible Fellowship (in North Little Rock). We loved seeing everyone and only wish we could have spent more time with every person we saw.
Grateful for so much!
As we started the new year, we talked about the things we were grateful for from this past year. There are far too many to mention in this brief update… Friends and family are at the top of the list. The apartment we were able to get here in Kiev has been a wonderful blessing (we not only got a great location with lots of space, but we were able to buy all the furniture and appliances from the previous tenant for only $400.00!). Katya and I have often talked about how amazing it has been that our relationship has grown to the point of marriage. Neither of us expected to be married at this point and we still cannot believe all the ways God put things together for us! Most of all, we are thankful for Jesus: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Thank you too for your prayers and support … we could not be here doing this ministry without your help!
Christmas 2010 by Jim Ehrhard
Posted in Ministry Updates on January 16, 2011|
It is a trustworthy statement,
deserving full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners! 1 Timothy 1:15
Greetings in the Name of our Great God and Savior!
As we near the end of 2010, I wanted to take an opportunity to thank you for your continued generosity and faithfulness in being a partner with us in the ministry of Teaching Resources.
This past year has been a year of many changes in my life and ministry. In August (2009), I resigned as pastor of the Bible Church of Cabot and that resignation took effect on January 1, 2010. That was the beginning of a changed-filled 2010!
In the winter, I began to consider moving to Ukraine to increase my ministry there. I also started spending time with Katya Makhnovets, the Registrar of the Seminary, and, in April, we began to talk about marriage. In October, we were married here in Kiev!
This year, I have also taught a number of classes: Church History, Research and Writing (twice), World History, The Life of Christ, American History and Reformation and Modern Theology. This Fall, I taught Christology and Soteriology, and in December I will be teaching World History again. Next year will be equally as busy! And I began taking Russian classes this fall also! I look forward to getting back to the states for a little break over Christmas!
There is no way that I can say thank you enough for all your support and prayers through these years. Through you, God has touched many lives, including mine! Your prayers have sustained me and your gifts have encouraged me many times. This past year, you have been a special life-line for me and the ministry here in Kiev! We could not do this ministry without your prayers and support!
As a small thanks, I have enclosed an excellent book by C. J. Mahaney entitled, The Cross-Centerd Life. In his book, Mahaney reminds us about the priority of the cross. We all have a tendency to get so involved in life and even ministry that we forgot that the cross of Jesus is our life and our joy. In Him, we have all that we need. As you begin this new year, may you keep the cross at the center of all that you do!
Yours for His Glory!
Jim Ehrhard
Teaching Resources International 