Dear Friends and Family,
We made it home safely to Medellin after our time in the US and our homecoming has been quickly followed by the arrival of the students for the beginning of the new academic year. After a flurry of last-minute admissions interviews, we have a wonderful new crop of undergraduates, including an influx of young ladies big enough to require the seminary to open up a new apartment for the single female students. It is exciting not only to see our student body grow, but to see God calling more women into ministry.
I have been working away happily on the design of my new faith and science course, with the aid of a suit-case of new books I brought back from the US. (I may be over-preparing for this class!) The kids enjoyed a couple extra weeks of holiday back here before school started up, but now the boys have donned their uniforms and resumed their 4:30 am wake-up schedule. Zoe, however, is very much enjoying the extra time with Mom!
Next month's update should include news of the results of our grant application to fund continued work on the problem of forced internal displacement in Colombia. Please do be praying for the decision of the grant-making body!
Peace be with you all,
Christopher, Michelle, Judah, Asher, and Zoe Hays
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Student Profile
This is David Eduardo Osorio Quiroz and his wife Jennifer, although what the picture doesn't include (directly) is their three-week old son, Tomás. Born and raised in Medellín, David became a Christian at the age of 17; now he's 33 and is beginning his third year at FUSBC. He is an inspiring student: not only is he extremely smart and hard-working, but he also gave up a good career to pastor a church in a dangerous neighborhood.
"From the outset of my conversion", he says, "I felt a strong call to pastoral ministry. Initially, though, God gave me the opportunity to be trained as a chemical engineer at the UPB [one of the top universities in Medellín], all the while undertaking basic biblical studies at my church's Bible institute. When I was 27 years old, God gave me the opportunity to plant a church, which I currently pastor. The church is located in Medellín's Comuna 6, in the Barrio Picacho-Las Vegas. It is a poor neighborhood, dominated by drugs, alcohol, and criminal gangs."
"As a pastor I invest a great deal in helping families raise their children and manage domestic conflicts. Additionally, I place a lot of emphasis on the importance of every church member engaging in a process of discipleship to form themselves further as a follower of Christ."
"Because of my strong sense of calling to full-time ministry, I quit my job as a chemical engineer, and, with the support of my wife, decided to begin my training in Biblical Studies at FUSBC. I chose FUSBC for three reasons. First, it is the premier theological institution in Colombia. Second, it is an university institution accredited by the Colombian Ministry of Education. Third, the type of professors who teach there, like Dr. Hays, are men and women with high levels of academic training who have been called by God for the purpose of forming men and women for the service of God and humanity."
"Upon concluding my studies at FUSBC I intend to keep serving God by pastoring his church. I would also like to produce Christian literature to help form new believers. In brief, I hope to become a pastor-writer."
David is a compelling preacher, an insightful theologian, and an talented writer. He's precisely the sort of student we came to Colombia to train, and his testimony and wisdom continue to challenge me.
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Back to School
The beginning of our school year in Colombia happens at the end of January. Last week was the first day of classes for Judah and Asher. Judah is in sixth grade this year and Asher, who was homeschooled last year, is now in the third grade at the same school as Judah. Zoe misses her brothers when they are gone, but is also enjoying the extra one-on-one attention she now receives during the day.
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Praise God!
- For safe travels home to Colombia.
- For a new batch of seminarians at FUSBC.
- For a wonderful influx of end-of-year financial gifts which have helped us pay for the boys' tuition and compensated for our monthly shortfalls.
- For the renewed efforts of the team translating the BibleMesh software for our future Master's program.
Please Pray
- For the decision of the grant-making body meeting this month to evaluate whether or not to fund the seminary's work with displaced persons. This is such an enormous issue and the work of the seminary would be profoundly benefited by this grant, so please do intercede for us over the course of this month!
- For wisdom as I teach my class on faith and science, that I would be both effective and sensitive.
- For Asher's adjustment to his new school. Things are coming along, but the transition is still pretty challenging for him, so we'd be grateful for your prayers that he feel comfortable and that he find friends quickly.
- For God to provide us with new monthly supporters so that we can operate on a balanced budget. We have lacked for nothing, but we want to be as responsible as possible in ensuring regular funding for our continued work here.
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From Michelle
A couple of weeks ago we were just returning home to Colombia after a long visit in the US. In the taxi on the way home from the airport, I had the window rolled down as we twisted and turned down the mountains and into the valley where the seminary is located. After being in the Chicago winter air, the warm night breeze and the lush green mountainsides were such a welcome sight! Judah and I talked on the way down about some of the things we really enjoy about Medellín. I thought I might share of few of mine with you as we look forward to beginning our next year here.
15 things I love about living in Medellín:
The butterflies that I see everyday when I am hanging up laundry.
The dozens of yellow canaries hopping across the ground outside my kitchen window.
The fruit bats that delight the boys as they swoop past us on our way to the school bus.
Salsa dancing with Chris.
Our view of Medellín's green mountains.
The cool breezes in the early morning and late evening.
The spectacular community of FUSBC.
The countless tropical fruits.
The orange-scaled feet of the iguanas.
The guaranteed sunshine.
Having friends come for dinner.
A chilled glass of coconut lemonade.
A culture that is people-centered and more relaxed about time.
The tropical thunderstorms.
And best of all, the amazing ways I experience God as I hear how He is working in the lives of the students, faculty and staff here at the seminary.
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