God moved through international travel restrictions during this year of global pandemic to bring us an aspiring pastor from Jakarta, Indonesia, by way of Salem, Oregon. Benaya Ariel has just completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management at Corban University, a Christian school located in Oregon. We will welcome him to the seminary in August.
While in school in Oregon, Benaya Ariel served as a pastoral intern at Calvary Baptist Church in Salem. His responsibilities there included preaching, teaching adult classes, counseling, and administering the church budget. Benaya has a strong call to pastoral ministry. In his application for admissions he wrote, “It’s impossible for me to pastor God’s people if I am not grounded in joy (Hebrews 13:17). The only types of people who will be able to lead God’s people will be leaders who love God, and not idolaters. If this is truly embedded in Bethlehem’s heart as an institution, then Bethlehem and I will be a good fit.”
He also wrote, “I have a deep desire to feed God’s flock, to tend His sheep, and to protect them from erroneous doctrines/worldviews. The only way I can fulfill this desire is by serving as a pastor. Therefore, it would be very foolish of me not to pursue further theological training to equip me to be a godly and competent pastor.”