A testimony from Kenya on forgiveness

I just received the following email from Obed Magoko, one of ECLEA-Kenya's regional coordinators:

"Today in church I had a meeting with one of my elders, bro. John.
Yesterday in Church I was teaching on Forgiveness and Reconciliation from the Manual.

Bro. John came to me immediately after the teachings and asked me to allow him the manual; he bought a copy.

Today he asked for a meeting and he said that he has been absent from Church since his daughter was impregnated by a young man from Church, and when he followed the issue the boy's parents became defensive, forcing him to technically withdraw from Church.

He says yesterday during the Teachings, he was able to Forgive.
He went home and applied the REACH model, and for the first time in 5 months he was able to pray and sleep the night through.

Thank you for these Teachings, Pastor Obed"

Nothing need be said, but praise the Lord!

Testimony from Kenya

Lucas Odero was one of the participants at the Forgiveness & Reconciliation TOT I did 2 1/2 weeks ago in Nairobi for ECLEA's regional leaders. I recently received an email from him in which he stated, "Bless you for the discussion we had on forgiveness. I have taught it as a series now for 2 Sundays."

This is an example of why ECLEA exists: to equip the church leaders of East Africa so they can equip others. Thank you, Lucas!

Testimony from Nairobi

I concluded my recent 3 weeks in Kenya with a training session on Forgiveness & Reconciliation for over 30 of ECLEA's Kenya regional leaders. Here is an email I received from Herman Timona, one of the participants:

"It was a wonderful moment of teachings by you under ECLEA on Forgiveness & Reconciliation at Nairobi. This is a true recovery manual that every serious, committed learner should appreciate. Surely you cannot heal a wound by saying it is not there (Jer 6:14). We must come out of denial and be ourselves.

Since forgiveness is integral to the nature and character of God, the essence of the mission of Christ, and maintained by the apostles, we must follow the example in our Christian life.We must apply on daily basis, principles of conviction, conversion, restitution, prayer, quiet time, witnessing, and helping one another. We shall be able to restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God. Theological school is of vital to the ones identified to have a call."

Thank you, Herman. And thank those of you who support the work of ECLEA. As you can see, we are making a difference. God bless you.

ECLEA courses in Congo!

While I was in Kenya recently, I received an email from a bishop in Democratic Republic of Congo. Here is some of what he had to say:

"I am very thankful for courses you have been sent to us. Just to inform you that I have a college and  university which we started in D. R. Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, and we have been teaching your different courses which are adapted to our programme.Today,we have 250 students in six Centres with 12 Teachers."

May God bless you. Yours in Christ, Bishop Muganza Bukongo BARTHELEMY

From Global Union of Churches, General Director

I am always amazed at what God is doing. 

Jonathan leaving for Kenya + Biblical Theology is now in Kiswahili!

I am leaving this Saturday morning for 3 weeks in Kenya. I will be in various places, doing TOTs in 1 Timothy, Biblical Stewardship, and Forgiveness & Reconciliation. Please hold this trip in your prayers.

I am also happy to say that the translation into Kiswahili of ECLEA's teaching book, Biblical Theology, has been completed! I have posted the book to the ECLEA website (www.eclea.net/courses.html) where it may be downloaded. I want to thank Deograstius Uhwello of TZ for his fine work.

Biblical Eschatology quoted and cited in new article!

My book, Biblical Eschatology, was quoted from and cited several times (in the text and at footnotes 3, 11, 16, 24, 29, 47, and 49) in the article "Amillennialism: The Now and Coming Kingdom" by Moses Flores. The article was posted on the website of True Declination Ministries on February 17, 2015 and may be accessed here: http://www.truedeclination.com/semper-reformanda-journal/amillennialism-the-now-and-coming-kingdom

Biblical Eschatology cited in 2 recent theological journal articles!

My book, Biblical Eschatology, has been cited in two recent theological journal articles:

Matt Waymeyer, "The Binding of Satan in Revelation 20," Master's Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (Spring 2015): 19-46 (cited at footnotes 16, 29, 60, 98, 105). This article may be accessed online at: http://www.tms.edu/m/msj26c.pdf

Abner Hernandez, "Adventist Eschatological Identity and the Interpretation of the Time Periods of Daniel 12:11-12," Andrews University Seminary Student Journal 1, no. 1 (2015): 65-84 (cited at footnote 72). This article may be accessed online at: https://www.andrews.edu/openjournal/index.php/aussj/article/viewFile/3/3

In both cases the book was cited as one of several authorities for different propositions, as opposed to being quoted from--but it's a start!