Humility

Excerpt from the Reading Corner:

The best definition of humility I've heard.

"Humility is always relational. To be humble, we need another person to serve. The humble person doesn't seek a low status just for the sake of groveling. In fact, he doesn't want a position at all. His goal is the betterment of the other person, the one who is better than himself."

From Dear Paul, Am I On The Right Track? by Ron Smith & Rob Penner

Meet The Staff Of 2009!

Jim Nizza

Campus Director/Founder

School Leader

Jacob Ainsworth

3rd Year on Staff

Wisconsin, USA

Anna Joy

2nd Year on Staff

Garden Valley, Texas

Vincent Humphrie

1st Year (YAY!)

Dallas, Texas

I Think I'm Being Followed ...

392 Miles

5 pieces of luggage

1 Carole King CD

And a Goodie Bag from Mom ... began my journey back to Ozark, AR.

One feeling followed me there: GRATEFULNESS.

For the two months I spent at home, I experienced God's pleasure.

There is no other way to put it.

It all began with a conversation. My friend shared a personal revelation about her relationship with God. She said, "It's not God's obligation to provide for me, it's His pleasure." This changed something in my heart --- I trusted Him.

The gifts God gave me this summer are literally too many to count, too precious to count.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that God wasn't pleased with me before this summer. But it was as if I was just sitting back and watching Him enjoy surprising me with gift after gift.

Just a few: a perfectly working car, a surprise pedicure from Mica, a dear friend, long talks sitting on the end of Mom's bed.

This feeling of gratefulness followed me to Ozark, AR ... "Gratefulness, please stay and make your home in me."

I Wasn't Expecting ... A MAC ATTACK!

A little more than a year ago, my good friend Elizabeth, while praying with me, enthusiastically said, "Anna, I feel like God wants you to keep a journal. This Ozark adventure is going to be filled with God-stories that you're going to want to remember!" I started journaling and I'm glad I did. Here's a peek into my journal of one such God-story ...

Elizabeth and I (Summer 2008)

The Crisis:

July 2, 2009 - My computer crashes - A MAC! You can imagine my shock! Not only was I facing the reality that I might not have a computer, stored on my computer was my "life's work" from the last two years. ALL my work as a student last year + ALL my work as a staff this year. (No, I did not back it up --- uggh). Thankfully, I had paper copies. But who wants to track down and re-type 30+ hours of lecture notes. HAVE MERCY!

The Climax:

Still July 2, 2009 (6 hours later) - STEVE McCormick is my hero! When I picture a "jack-of-all-trades," a few faces come to mind. One of those is Steve McCormick. He (and the many prayers that went up on his and my behalf) cured my computer. In other words, it turns on, and I have had no problems since. Praise God!

The Jack-of-ALL-Trades Himself, Steve McCormick

Though I was now grateful for a working computer, some important software was lost in the actual "crashing" of my computer. To name a few: Powerpoint and Excel. Two programs I utilize every day to teach, grade, and communicate.

The Clencher:

August 10, 2009 - Per my brother's suggest, I am surfing the web, looking for Microsoft Office 2004, for a deal! I run across a totally legal and legitimate website that offers a FREE download of the exact software I need. The price = a user's review of the software. I was expecting to have to pay at the most $150, at the least $40. Within fifteen minutes, I have downloaded and installed the software and am opening up my lecture powerpoints ... JESUS did it again! He gave me another opportunity to see HIM in action - providing for me good friends, with good advice, and good software.

The Wise Older Brother

Stayed tuned ... I know there's more to come.

Did Becoming Older Bring Me Closer to Jesus?

Excerpt from one of my favorite books, In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen: 

"After twenty years in the academic world as a teacher of pastoral psychology, pastoral theology, and Christian spirituality, I began to experience a deep inner threat. As I entered into my fifties and was able to realize the unlikelihood of doubling my years, I came face to face with the simple question, "Did becoming older bring me closer to Jesus?" After twenty-five years of priesthood, I found myself praying poorly, living somewhat isolated from other people, and very much preoccupied with burning issues. Everyone was saying that I was doing really well, but something inside was telling me that my success was putting my own soul in danger. I began to ask myself whether my lack of contemplative prayer, my loneliness, and my constantly changing involvement in what seemed most urgent were signs that the Spirit was gradually being suppressed. It was very hard for me to see clearly, and though I never spoke about hell or only jokingly so, I woke up one day with the realization that I was living in a very dark place and that the term "burnout" was a convenient psychological translation for a spiritual death. In the midst of this I kept praying, 'Lord, show me where you want me to go and I will follow you, but please be clear and unambiguous about it!"

Great book! Written by a priest, he records his reflections on servant leadership. Takes about an hour to read - real short. Definitely up there on the must-read list. 

SBS 2008/2009

A Letter From An SBSer

As taken from the SBS Int'l Website (www.sbsinternational.com): 

A Testimony Shared At the SBS Internationl Consultation in Hurlach, Germany

Donna Petter began her message at the consultation by reading a letter from one of her students, Jonathan Black, at Gordan-Conwell. His letter made such an impression, encouraging us to be good stewards of the wonderful gift we have been given in SBS, that we awanted to share it here...

'If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.' Proverbs 2:4

Herzliche GruBe aus Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary! Nearly 17 years ago I stood on these very grounds, experiencing YWAM for the first time. Who would have imagined the fire that would be enflamed during that DTS in this quaint kuh-dorf of Hurlach? One year later I travelled to the other side of the world to begin my SBS at a new school recently started by Thom and Donna Petter in Honolulu HI. Such is life in YWAM.

I still recall my first day of class: OBSERVE, INTERPRET, APPLY! "For the next 9 motnhs forget eating, sleeping and bathing. You will only OBSERVE, INTERPRET, and APPLY!" These weren't the only things I picked up in SBS however. I have a confession to make. As Providence would have it, there was a godly and very beautiful young woman in the DTS a few doors down while I was trying to observe, interpret ...and what was that? Oh yes, apply. Fortunately for my studies, Ginny went on outreach, and then on to the King's Lodge in Nuneaton to complete her own SBS. I survived SBS and so did she. And I am happy to report, a few years later we were married. Such is life in YWAM.

A few days ago I graduated from these hallowed halls of seminary. I am a husband. A father. An ordained minister. A Naval officer. A servant of Christ Jesus. I say this proudly and confidently: NOTHING in life has prepared me to serve in these roles like SBS. 

Observation, Interpretation and Application begin in the holy text of Scripture; but they do not end there. Every aspect of my life has been shaped by these basic core principles of SBS. And that is something no seminary in the world can boast of. 

It is such a blessing for my family and I to be members with you in the world-wide Body of Christ. And it is truly an honor to be counted one of the few, like you, who have known the life-changing experience that is SBS. 

May the God of all wisdom and grace grant you peace. 

Sincerely, 

Jonathan Black