We recently received a report from one of our CAAs here on the Asia-Pacific Region.

In January of 2008, there were fifteen students who attended the very first Nazarene course in the Course of Study (COS) for pastoral training.  At that time, preparation of the materials was long. The course itself was held with an interpreter and side-by-side translation in the upstairs of the District Superintendent’s home. It was a beginning.

Students studying in the new Nazarene Course of Study for pastoral training program.

Students studying in the new Nazarene Course of Study for pastoral training program.

At that time, the COS for countries within Southeast Asia included thirty-one college courses.  All of these courses needed a substantial amount of material translated in preparation as well as the participation of volunteer teachers.  The goal of bringing this group through to graduation seemed far away at best.

Praise be to God!  The thirty-first and final course of the first round of the COS was held in May of 2013, with sixteen participants completing.  This is an incredible milestone as several participants are anticipating ordination in the future and all are active in ministry.

We are so very grateful for the district team!  We covet your prayers for the District Superintendent and wife who have hosted the classes in their home, including arranging accommodations for the students who come from afar.  Pray for the many sisters who have served by cooking the meals for the classes. Continue to pray for the students who endure many long hours on buses; the translators, proofreaders and interpreters. Remember the administrators who schedule, meet, and host teachers, and yes the teachers who volunteer their time. 

Students reviewing their notes together in the simple classroom surroundings.

Students reviewing their notes together in the simple classroom surroundings.

We are praising God for His wonderful provision through it all and most incredibly that in June of 2013, we started the first course of the second round of another full class of students! 

Will you partner with us in lifting up this Creative Access Area in Prayer?  God knows who is there, He knows their names, He is asking us to do our part and pray!