For the past three years, I have been seeking God’s place to minister for Julianne and myself. We have looked into several opportunities, but never felt it was the next move for us. Through this time, God has provided for us financially in ways that is nothing short of a miracle. Julianne and I were both without work in June 2015, by August, she was working full-time and I had some part-time opportunities to continue teaching. Even before Clearwater Christian College’s closure, I began to feel an urge to connect my teaching more closely with education in the church. At the time I didn’t know what that could look like, but I knew that I wanted it to be global, ministry oriented, and connected with local church ministry.
I now have an opportunity that would bring these three together. My friend and fellow professor of many years Daniel Ebert has invited me to pray and explore a possibility to assist him in expanding a ministry in Asia. Dan’s family has invested their lives among the Filipinos, first through his dad’s Bible translation for a tribal people; then together with his sons, they established a Bible institute to train pastors. This school has trained hundreds of Filipino pastors. Now the Center for Biblical Studies is an accredited Bible college, awarding both undergraduate and master’s degrees.
The Christian Training and Missionary Fellowship (CTMF), the mission board of which the college is a part, desires to expand the current campus to include satellite campuses on neighboring islands. They are also seeking further accreditation to enable graduates greater opportunities. I have an opportunity to play a strategic teaching and administrative role in these promising initiatives.
I am making an exploratory trip to the Philippines July 27th through August 9th. I want to accomplish three things in visiting the ministry. First, I will sit in on the Asian Theological Association conference, which meets in Manila this year. Accreditation by this agency could be crucial moving forward. Second, I will travel with Dan to visit a potential satellite site on another island. Finally, while I have been serving on the CTMF board, I will have an opportunity to see the work in person.
I am asking you to pray with me over these next several months about this opportunity. It is something that has much potential, but I want to make sure the needs fit my skills and strengths. If you feel so inclined to assist me financially in exploring this possibility, I have provided a link below to the mission agency. My portion of the trip will cost about $2,500.00. You can contribute through the agency, any monies contributed will go to offset my costs. Designate your gifts to Anthony Abell.
Thank you for praying for Julianne and me; we will provide updates as we have them.
Many Blessings
Anthony Abell
To contribute - ctmfonline.com/giving
For more information on CTMF - ctmfonline.com
For personal updates - anthonylabell.com
