July 2004 Hallowell Highlights

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0443f781egdyul.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Proclaim His Praise in the Islands - the Hallowells</B></FONT> <B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Proclaim His Praise in the Islands the "><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> July 2004 Hallowell Highlights</div> <div>  </div> <div> Jay (<A HREF="id50_jay_at_fatima_english_bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jay at BSOP"><U>click to see photo</U></A>) sits on the dormitory room floor to lead an evangelistic Bible study for students from Taiwan studying at a nearby university.  While we enjoy such extra ministry, they take a lot of additional energy on top of a full load of teaching.  </div> <bR> <div> Opportunities like these abound, but where are the laborers for the harvest? </div> <div>  </div> <div> Please continue to pray them in!</div> <bR> <div> --- Front page ---</div> <div> July 8, 2004</div> <bR> <div> Dear Friend,</div> <bR> <div> <I>Teaching in a seminary has been both more fulfilling and more relentless and lonelier than we expected. </I> Don't be alarmed.  We are still really glad to be here.  God is at work in interesting and exciting ways.  We are fine.  There is nothing else that we would rather be doing.  However, the hours of teaching and speaking done every week come at a price.  A good class does not happen by accident.  A lesson plan does not normally fall from heaven.  If, like Jay, you try to use visual aids like PowerPoint, you spend hours alone in the office preparing each day.  The preparation bears fruit.  Often, by some miracle, the students actually seem to learn what was intended.  It is encouraging, exhausting, humbling, lonely (only sometimes), exciting, and fulfilling. </div> <div>  </div> <div> <I>The steps taken by students often seem so small.</I>  Earlier this week Jay taught a student the value of understanding a verse in its original context in the Bible.  The student was trying to lead a Bible study.  Jay was there.  Finally the student gave up and asked Jay to help.  Jay was able to show him how to use the skills he had learned in class to study that passage for himself.  It was a really important lesson for that student.  However, it doesn't make for great drama in writing a newsletter like this one.  </div> <bR> <div> <I>It is mid-term.  </I>It has been<I> </I>two years since we arrived and we have two years to go this term before we return to the USA for our next Home Assignment.  The first part of a term is about beginnings, getting things started, meeting people, fitting in, and getting the ball rolling.  At mid-term one realizes that time is limited to finish things that need to be done.  There is a different pressure, a different rhythm, a different feeling in finishing than beginning.  It is complicated by growing levels of fatigue.  We are still fine.  By God's grace we have a lot of energy left.  But, it is mid-term energy, the stamina of summer, and not the enthusiasm of spring.  </div> <bR> <div> All of this is to say that things are going well, that we miss those of you far away, and that we realize how much more needs to be done here before we see you again.  We appreciate your prayers very, very much.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Because God is at work,</div> <div> Jay and Amor</div> <bR> <bR> <div> --- Page 2 ---</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Mentoring </B></div> <bR> <div> (While Jay teaches in the classrooms at the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines, Amor's ministry is mostly doing mentoring.  She writes below about this interesting and strategic ministry.)</div> <bR> <div> I did a lot of mentoring when I was with the IVCF (Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship) for 16 years.  I continue to enjoy being a spiritual mentor to young people these days.  I am now involved in three (3) of the different categories of mentoring mentioned by Paul Stanley and Robert Clinton in their book, <I>Connecting</I>.  I am a <B>spiritual guide, </B>a <B>coach-mentor,</B> and a <B>discipler-mentor</B>.</div> <bR> <div> Stanley and Clinton wrote: "The primary contributions of a <B>spiritual guide</B> are accountability, decisions, and insights concerning questions, commitments, and direction affecting spirituality (inner life motivations) and maturity (integrating truth with life)."  </div> <bR> <div> I am a spiritual guide to five young ladies.  I listen, discuss, interact, and pray with them in relation to spiritual disciplines, relationships, ministry and life goals, questions and doubts, etc.  I agonized with C and S when they went through a difficult conflict that strained their relationship as friends.  After weeks of listening, mediating and praying with and for them, they have come to accept their differences and have learned to relate better as sisters in the Lord.  </div> <bR> <div> "A <B>discipler-mentor</B> teaches and enables a mentoree in the basics of following Christ."   What does it mean to be a Christian?  How can I grow in my faith in Jesus? </div> <bR> <div> These are some of the questions that are dealt with when I meet with two young ladies, M1 and M2.  These teen-agers are young believers who became Christians during my Bible studies with them.  My role as a discipler overlaps with being a <B>spiritual coach </B>when I "impart skills" such as <I>how to share your faith with others.</I> </div> <bR> <div> More than a year ago when I first met G who is from another country, she did not know enough English.    I did not understand a lot of what she was trying to communicate. It is common to see her consult her dictionary whenever she did not understand an English word.   She is an enthusiastic and patient learner.  </div> <bR> <div> She asked me to be her <B>coach </B>who will practice conversing with her on a regular basis.  There were times when we sat together for lunch and she practiced conversing in English with me.  There were also many times that I could not meet her because of the demands of my load as a graduate student.  However, she persevered by attending English conversation classes.   </div> <bR> <div> Now, I can understand her English, though she is far from being a fluent speaker.  She even prays with me in English!  How I wish I could pray with her in her language too.   She claims that I have encouraged her a lot, but I am also blessed by her friendship. I am very encouraged most of all, by her passion for God and for the lost.  I will miss her when she goes back to her own country.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> --- Page 3 ---</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Pray, Pray, Pray</div> <bR> <div> Jay gets so many opportunities for outside speaking that he has to say “no” fairly frequently.  However, one opportunity recently came his way to which he could not say “no”.</div> <bR> <div> It is difficult to reach the Chinese living in the Philippines for Jesus Christ.  One way that helps is for believers to invite their non-Christian friends to evangelistic events.  But, the events need to be excellent in quality and held in comfortable surroundings.</div> <bR> <div> So, a group of Filipino and Chinese young people have formed a Christian theater group.  They put on different plays.  One play they do is called <I>Rahab, The Harlot</I>.  It is based on a drama written by Kevin Stone, called “Lifeline: The Story of a Harlot Named Rahab”.  It is based mostly from the book of Judges, though, of course, not ignoring what James and the writer of Hebrews say about her.  The sets, performers, sound, and lights are very professional.  The story is interesting and powerful.  Different churches sponsor the play, encouraging their members to invite their non-Christian relatives and friends.  After the play a speaker gives a short evangelistic message and invitation.  The church works hard to prepare follow-up.</div> <bR> <div> So, a large Chinese Church invited Jay to give the evangelistic message at a showing of <I>Rahab, The Harlot</I> on July 31.  The church's building is relatively small, so they have rented a theater seating over a thousand people.  This week, the church called Jay with a problem.  With four weeks to go, all 1,000 tickets were gone.  What should they do?  The answer: they will put on a matinee performance on the afternoon of July 31.  This way they have the opportunity to distribute another thousand tickets.  Is Jay willing to give the evangelistic invitation at both shows?</div> <bR> <div> The answer, of course, is YES!  What missionary or pastor would ever say “no” to such an opportunity?  Yet, we realize it is not words which save people.  It is the power of God. </div> <bR> <div> So, may we ask you pray on July 31 (and before), that:</div> <div> God will fill the matinee showing</div> <div> God will prepare the hearts of the non-Christians who attend</div> <div> God will help Jay to be clear in his message and completely dependent on the Lord</div> <div> God will move many to accept Jesus that afternoon and evening.</div> <div> God will help the church to follow-up those who will be converted.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The New, Advertisement-Free Hallowell Web Site is now up</B></div> <bR> <div> BSOP recently upgraded their web site and invited faculty to put up their web pages there.  We are the first to do so.  So, point your browsers to:  <B>www.bsop.ph/faculty/hallowell</B> </div> <bR> <div> --- Page 4 ---</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Thank You!</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Thank you very much for listening to the Lord and letting Him use you as partners in our ministry.  Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, your gifts, your support, and your cards, letters, e-mails, etc.  </I></div> <div> If you sense the Lord leading you to support us, please contact us, our church, or:  </div> <div> OMF, 10 W. Dry Creek Circle</div> <div> Littleton, CO  80120-4424</div> <div> www.us.omf.org, 1-800-422-5330</div> <bR> <div> Any gifts designated for our ministry are tax-deductible.  Personal gifts (such as for birthdays or Christmas) may also be channeled through OMF at the address above, clearly marked as a personal gift.  Personal gifts are not tax-deductible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> By Jay and Amor Hallowell</div> <div> Last update, July 15, 2004</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>