It was good to be at the EMF open day in Welwyn today at the end of the year for their School of Biblical Studies, where I have recently taught a course on the cults.
Daniel Webber chaired the morning meeting where we were given an overview of the School by Martin Leech and a lecturer's perspective by Stan Evers of Potton. After lunch Martin chaired. We had a student's perspective from Slava Malafeev and the sermon from the opening verses of Hebrews was by Steven Bowers an Ulsterman now pastoring in Brighouse, Yorkshire.
In both sessions Daniel Webber briefly interviewed 5 of the 10 students (half are from Eastern Europe, the others are a Nigerian from the UK, a Russian from Tuva on the Mongolian border, a Brazilian soon to work in Portugal, an Israeli born in Russia and a Pakistani). In the afternoon they received their hard earned certificates, having completed the 30 week course and done the 26 essays and other assignments. Martin was telling us that around 260 have gone through the course since it came to Welwyn (there was a school in the sixties based in Watford). Some 37 of the 88 EMF missionaries currently serving have gone through the school. One or two of the current crop are thinking about further theological studies but most will return to their churches to carry on where they left off, but now with a better understanding of the Word.
It's always good to see old friends at these affairs too and meet some new ones too. God's kingdom is advancing - slowly perhaps but surely.
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