In our efforts to cultivate “assiduous attentiveness” to the biblical text, the pursuit of a passage’s main point, the links between this text and the rest of the Bible, and then the application of that text for people today are never distant from the content of seminary classes at Bethlehem. Those skills form a foundation for much of ministry life, and seminary students put them into practice during their cross-cultural ministry trip.
Each summer, I have the privilege of observing that these students are capable of training people cross-culturally who would otherwise have little opportunity to study formally.
Alan Benham (M.Div. Class of 2026) and I traveled to Ambo, Ethiopia this June with Training Leaders International and participated in a graduation for over 100 trainees. We can praise the Lord for the work he is doing among the New Covenant Baptist Churches in Ethiopia. Over 100 trainees attended over three years and graduated from this informal course in reading and interpreting the Bible.
For this session, we studied 2 Timothy. The trainees work together to make observations about significant words and ideas and then distill those ideas into a main point. One student identified the main point of 2 Tim. 1:5-14 as that we were saved by grace, not by works—which the text says in verse nine. Although this may be the most important thing to know about salvation in Jesus, it may not be the main point of the text. For that, we need to ask, “Why did Paul choose to write this to Timothy?” When asked that way, the imperatives—Paul’s exhortations—point us to the main point. In this case, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (vs. 8) is the center of Paul’s discourse. That we were saved by grace supports that main point by telling us why we need not be ashamed.
Bethlehem believes strongly that close textual work leads us into a deeper understanding of God’s word and to fruitful teaching for the church. It is a joy to see that type of study come alive to students in Ethiopia, and then to see the joy of teaching come alive to aspiring pastors from our school.
The generous support of God’s people has allowed Bethlehem to tailor and substantially finance cross-cultural ministry trips for seminary students. In the last year, seminary students have taught in Ethiopia, Philippines, India, Vietnam, and Georgia. Please keep them in your prayers. And pray also for the training and discipleship happening in the global church.
Jon Hoglund, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Theology and Global Studies
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for our incoming students as they make final preparations to move and begin classes.
- Pray for our current students as they prepare to return.
- Pray for the speakers preparing for Godward Life.
- Pray for the full funding of the Alex Steddom International Student Fund.