A Whirlwind of Activity

IBP - Instituto Bíblico Patagónico

The few short weeks of our intensive terms pass by so quickly that we hardly realize there's been so much that has taken place. . .  so much learning, so much seeking, and so much ministry among other things.  No wonder that by the time the term ends, everyone is exhausted.

Spiritual Emphasis Week

Apart from a week set aside for special evening services where the students filled the altars hungry for God, there was also time set for learning and studying.  We had an interesting and eye opening ministry team visit us for our spiritual emphasis week this term.  It was a deaf ministry called MiSordos (My Deaf Ones).  We weren't sure how the students would receive this type of a spiritual emphasis week workshop, but it was heart warming to see the openness and eagerness with which the students embraced the ministry.  

Students were very engaged in all of the teaching and activities.  During this 4-day deaf ministry workshop, not only was the ministry and the need presented, but the team also taught beginning classes in sign language.  Many students picked it up quickly and some even felt called to be trained for ministry to the deaf.


The MiSordos team made all of us aware of this very large people group in Argentina (approximately 2 million) that is virtually unreached for Christ.  Not only is there a need to reach out to this group with the gospel, but there also exists a huge need for people who can help out in a practical way.  Such as teaching signing to the many deaf, who are ignored and left to live as second class citizens, and to their families.  
  

IBP Joven  (IBP Youth)

At the end of our Spiritual Emphasis week each year, we host our IBP Joven event, which is our annual IBP Open House evangelism inspirational training event, offered to the youth of the surrounding area.  This year there were over 233 registered guests who got to choose from several workshops that were offered primarily by the students of IBP. 

Later, there was an open air gathering where the young people were ministered to by an invited guest speaker, former IBP student, Esteban Gatica.  The evening closed with a talent show in which all of the guests were 

invited to participate.  It was a day of friendships and blessing and the Lord
blessed us with beautiful weather for the event.  The students worked so very hard both in the preparation for the event and during the event itself.  By the end of the evening, they were wiped out.  But I believe they were happy!

Ministry

Students have been involved in ministry trips throughout the semester.  Last weekend, Eddie took a group of 19 students 7 hours west in our minibus to the Andean foothill city of Esquel where they held a children’s outreach for a new church plant led by Pastor Carlos Pozas, an ’06 IBP graduate.  

They cut off one street in their neighborhood and rented a bounce house for the children.  Our students also ministered and preached in the evening service.  It was a tiring but fruitful 35-hour ministry trip.

Intimacy with God

2nd Year Students

One of the practices that has been instituted at IBP is to take one chapel time each week (Wednesdays) and to focus on a particular study that deals with an aspect of intimacy with God.  Our school is a 3-year school, so each class is doing a different study.  To make these sessions more intimate, the guys and girls are divided so there is more of a small group feel.

This term Eddie is with the 2nd year guys and I am with the 2nd year girls.  These are the same students we had in our Christian Home and Family class.  They are a great group of kids!

Latest Library Progress

Both, the floors and the drop ceiling of the new library are now done.  Even though the project isn't completely finished yet, it will be able to be used for our commencement ceremony on Friday evening, December 5th.  Just outside and in between the library and the academic center, a brick patio has been laid.  This will make graduation night a bit less stressful.  



In the past, our dining room has doubled as the auditorium for the graduation ceremony and then we have had to clear it out to set up for the reception which followed.  One less thing to prepare!  : )