One of Bethlehem College and Seminary’s seven core commitments is that it is “Missions-Minded.” I have been especially appreciative of this during my seven years teaching in the Seminary, for several reasons, the first and most important being that being “missions-minded” is a biblical command for all Christians.
Probably the most famous such command is in Jesus’s words in Matthew 28:19-20 (the so-called “Great Commission”): “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (NIV). The book of Acts amply shows the carrying out of this commission by the early apostles and others.
In the Old Testament, the book of Jonah stands out with its message that God’s people are to “Go!” to the nations—this, despite God’s messenger (Jonah) being unwilling to do so. Centuries earlier, the promises to Abraham contained this message, as well (Genesis 12:1-2): “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (ESV). Notice the emphasis here: God was going to do great things for Abraham, not simply to bless Abraham personally, but for the sake of his being a blessing on others: “so that you will be a blessing [on others].” God’s concern has always been for the entire world.
How does this play out at Bethlehem Seminary? For one thing, every Master of Divinity student must take a “Missions and the Local Church” class, which focuses on helping people in the local church look beyond themselves and their own culture to God’s worldwide perspective. For another, every M.Div. student is required to go on a cross-cultural trip somewhere in the world, to gain a wider perspective on God’s global church. For yet another thing, students can even major in a “Missions” concentration in their M.Div. degree, immersing themselves even more deeply in God’s plans for the world; many of these students do so in preparation for engaging in cross-cultural missions themselves.
I am privileged to have been invited to teach overseas in various places since 1998 (Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, mainly). Since I came to Bethlehem Seminary, I have been taking students with me on some of these trips. Here are some comments from some of these students:
A student about his experience in a large, closed country:
Dr. Howard allowed me to teach one of the lectures on Tuesday morning on the importance of accurate and thorough observation in the task of biblical exegesis. The students were sharp, attentive, and engaged in the discussion, asking insightful questions that helped refine my own understanding of the exegetical process. The rest of the week held more informal opportunities. For example, one of the students asked if I would be willing to walk him through the steps of doing a biblical word study using Bible software. It was a blessing to share with this brother a skill that I had been taught back in my first semester and which has been invaluable to me in ministry over the last several years.
Another student about his week in Vietnam:
I must thank God for the Christians of Vietnam, because I have seen their “faith in Christ Jesus” and their “love…for all the saints” (Col 1:3). Praise God for these true and earnest believers! During my time with them, I was continually blessed through their hospitality, encouragement and joy. The pastors (who comprised most of our students) displayed biblical aptitude and spiritual maturity yet were eager for further training. They displayed the great gain of godliness and contentment through their attitudes and actions.
As I look forward to future ministry, I hope it includes more trips like this one. It was a joy to see the faith, hope, and love of the believers on the other side of the world. I would be glad to return to the believers in Hai Phong again, if the Lord wills. I expect that this trip will better prepare me for leading a church or school in pursuing missions. Having real people that I met, worshipped alongside, and feasted with is no small thing. I have seen the work of God on the other side of the vineyard! I do not want this trip to become like a token that I can pull out and remember fondly. But I do want it to be a memorial or turning point towards a greater love and insight into the Church in all the world. May God increase my love for his global mission, even as he has increased my love for the believers of Vietnam.
And another (also from Vietnam):
I accompanied Dr. Howard on his recent trip to Vietnam, and it is hard to overstate the impact this trip had on me. I was very humbled by seeing the need of the Church in this part of the world. I so often take for granted the wealth of theological resources and teaching I have received in America. On the one hand, the pastors in Vietnam have received many blessings from God (two Bible colleges, visiting pastors and professors, networks of local pastors, online resources, etc.). On the other hand, there are still many challenges and such a great need to spread our own (American) embarrassment of riches. I praise God that there are faithful pastors in this place, and I trust that he will build up his Church in Vietnam. But one of my key takeaways was that the need is still very great.
Overall, I am incredibly grateful that I got this opportunity. It was a joy to travel with and learn from Dr. Howard. I am thankful to Bethlehem College and Seminary for helping me fund this trip. This glimpse of believers across the world has sufficiently impacted me and will have a lasting influence on my ministry.
I am thankful for Bethlehem Seminary’s core commitment to be “Missions-Minded.”
David Howard, Ph.D.
Professor of Old Testament
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for the students currently preparing for their cross-cultural trips.
- Pray for the students considering entering the mission field.
- Pray for our students as they approach midterms.
- Pray for the full funding of The Serious Joy Scholarships needed to support this year’s students.