In Cambria, CA

We just returned home from a vacation trip to Cambria where we stayed at the home of supporters and house sat for them while they were on vacation. When they returned we were able to catch up with them and all in all it was a fantastic time. We spent lots of time at the beaches in Cambria, Morro Bay and hiking around Cambria and the Big Sur area. There was time as a family to talk and have devotions on the character of God and play games or listen to the boys play guitar. There were numerous moments to hear from Kaitlyn and Broden about stories from their life in the orphanage and also answer their many questions about God. They are really eager to know more and to talk about spiritual matters from the Bible. Please pray we'll have more opportunities to talk with them about faith in Christ. (if you click on this picture you should get a better view of it)

The Plight of "Theology" in South African Academia

In a recent email from Darryl Meekins, director of Baptist Bible College, he reports on a conference recently held for Theological Educators...

Thirteen theological societies in South Africa gathered at a conference, which convened in June at the University of Stellenbosch (a city east of Cape Town). Some 350 scholars were present and approximately 200 presentations were made. Although there were a few shining lights in the darkness, the state and plight of "theology" in academia was all too clear. By and large, those present have lost faith that the Scriptures are the Word of God. There were presentations by a Sangoma (an African shaman), a Hindu, and a radical Feminist, among others,. The goal of theology has changed from training pastors and evangelists to raising up "agents for social change". One entire plenary session explored the origin of religion (assuming it is a man-made phenomenon) in terms of "dog psychology". Another plenary speaker declared that the cross is a symbol of God's limited strength because "He was unable to save Jesus from crucifixion". The only "religion" that was maligned, and for which the majority of speakers expressed a lack of tolerance, was toward anyone who maintains faith in the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. For one delegate, Dr Kevin Smith, "this underlined once again the fact that we live in an age that is hostile to the exclusive claims of Christ that are recorded in the sacred pages of Scripture. It also drove home once again the importance of unshakable faith in the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and sound evangelical approaches to interpretation that allow the original Author's intent to shine through the pages of Scripture, via us as channels and agents of truth, into the darkness of this present age."

Please continue to pray for the light and truth of Christ to penetrate and expose people to the power of God's Word.  2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  The Word of God points us to Christ, who is the focal point of the Bible, of all of history and the end times as well.  We should pray that the influence of false teachers and cults will be trumped by the light and truth of the Word of God.  Colossians 2:6-8 tells us, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Pray that the Lord will place us in ministry with BBC and others in Durban to effectively strengthen the brothers and sisters in Christ there.   We intend to work with the Baptist Bible College to prepare them for church planting ministry to effect Durban, all of South Africa and potentially the 10/40 window nations that are more resistant to American missionaries, but possibly have a more open door to other nationalities coming in from South Africa.  

Durban Survey Trip Update!

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

It has been a few short weeks since we began to inform you of the survey trip and the need to raise the funds to go on that trip. In that time the Lord has provided us with essentially all that we need.  Since a supporting church decided to cover my flight, all the funds that have come in ($1,750 as of  6/26) will allow us to send our son Jason on the trip with me.  We're really looking forward to this trip together.  The same church covering my flight is trying to find an elder or ministry leader that has time to go on this trip with us.  In addition, an ABWE Durban team member has a second car available for any driving around Durban that we need to do.  Praise the Lord with us for His ample provision for this trip.

Our trip is now scheduled for August 23-31.  August is a big birthday month for the Clark's and so it was tough to arrange.  Since Broden's birthday is on August 22nd, we decided the last of August would be best.  We've been in contact with Darryl and Casey Meekins and at this point Jason and I will stay in their home which sits on the north side of Durban.  Pray that the Lord will open up an opportunity for an elder or ministry leader to go with us.  Also, that we'll be able to glean as much as possible during our week there to help us enhance our ministry vision for Durban.  Finally, please ask the Lord to continue to provide for our financial needs.  

Please Pray for these men from the Durban Team!

One of the joys and goals of my trip to the Theological Education in Action conference was to connect with the men attending from the Durban Team.  I really sensed that this took place.  We had serious conversations as well as moments of dry sense of humor and hilarity.  We would ask you to pray for these men as they continue in ministry in Durban and that the Lord will bless their many efforts and the folks that they work alongside in the Baptist Bible College-KZN and their churches.

Darryl Meekins is the only full time leader with the college and has been working hard to solve recent accreditation requirement changes.  He also has been working at arranging the BBC-KZN online so that first year students can take a number of their courses through distance education, which is set up to be interactive as well as academic.  I'll be learning more about this in the future and there is probably more to it, but it appears that some students have the obstacles of travel to take their courses and the online courses will help them.  Pray for Darryl and Casey's involvement in ministry efforts with The Phoenix Fellowship.  They are involved with assisting this church with ministries related to mentoring and training men for ministry, producing small group materials and HIV/AIDS abstinence training and ministry development.

Selvan Govender is lead pastor of Phoenix Fellowship.  Selvan is a third generation South African of Indian descent and told me his parents were led to saving faith and that he has been raised in a Christian home and church environment.  Selvan is a graduate of Baptist Bible College - KZN and has a great concern for discipleship/evangelism and the training of men and women for ministry.  Selvan has given some of his time to teaching courses for the college.  The Phoenix Fellowship began 10 years ago in a section of the city where people of Indian origin were forced to live as "non-whites".  Today this section of Durban has a largely Indian population with Hinduism being the predominant religion in the community.  They are presently in the middle of a building project as well and we hope to be able to arrange teams to serve alongside them to further this project.  Pray for Selvan as he leads the Phoenix Fellowship congregation to reach out to their community with the true gospel message of life in Jesus Christ.

Bobby Hile is serving with his family in Ballito, South Africa to church plant and to connect in ministry efforts in the community.  Their church plant has a strong focus on ministry to men and women in small group Bible studies.  They also have a ministry called True Love Waits (TLW), which presents abstinence till marriage to students.  Last year they spoke in 9 schools and have some members in the church involved in follow up as well as training for members of other churches who desire to begin this kind of ministry.  Bobby is also a teacher with BBC.  The Hile family is presently in the US on home assignment. Pray for their many travels and the many churches they will be speaking at.  

Dale Marshfield served with his family in Durban since 1982 where he led church planting efforts and helped to establish the Baptist Bible College and The Phoenix Fellowship.  In 2007 they returned to Harrisburg, PA in order to head up ABWE's International Theological Education network, which is a service- based ministry responsible for ensuring that all ABWE related Bible colleges, seminaries and ministry training programs provide theological education and ministry training of the highest quality.  I will be working with a team that Dale is forming to prepare for the next Theological Education in Action conference and also on a task force that Dale is preparing to investigate further the options and barriers to accreditation for Bible colleges, institutes and seminaries that ABWE is involved with around the world.  

You can find a link the Meekins' and Hile's websites and Dale Marshfield's ITE network on the sidebar. 

Update on Survey Trip Plans

During last week's conference I found the long hours to be quite taxing and each night I found it hard to find words to post with.   There was so much good coming from attending this conference though and I will hopefully summarize some highlights.  

However, now that I'm back home in California it seems best to share what is happening now with the Durban trip first.  Support for this specific trip has been coming in from supporters and so my flight + another $1,250 has been pledged for it.  Since there will be extra, Kim and I have taken the advice of a supporter.  Jason, our 16 year old,  will go on this trip with me.  It has seemed the answer to a prayer of getting father and son time with Jason and as the oldest of our children who will go to Durban when we actually go there for ministry, he'll have an opportunity to see it first hand.  He is very excited about the trip and even more so when I asked him to be our official photographer for the trip.  Believe it or not he also wants to check out the bowling alleys in Durban.  Jason has become a good bowler and just last week he bowled a game of 234, his second score of 200 or more!   The church we are at in Murrieta, Faith Bible Church, is presently working out details to send another man, possibly an elder, with us.  

We are presently planning this trip for August 23 - 31.  Since Tiffany's birthday is August 15th and Broden's is August 22nd, it's best to go after that.  Please be in prayer for the remaining funds to come in to cover the costs of all flights, a rental car for the week and meals.  We'll most likely be staying with Darryl Meekins' family or Selvan Govender's family. (or some of us at both)

Pray too for the Lord to use it to enhance our vision of the ministry possibilities and specific needs of this country.  Already, the time I spent with Darryl, Selvan, Bobby Hile and Dale Marshfield at the conference last week has helped.  We'll be able to meet students of the college, see the ministries of a number of the church plants and meet the ABWE Durban team members. In addition, we want to hear first hand the heart's desire of the people who are serving there so we can cast a vision for partnering together in ministry.  Please pray for Laura McLain, who just today, June 3rd,  should be arriving in Durban to work with youth alongside fellow team members.  If you care to catch up on her journey to ministry in South Africa, go to www.myjourneytodurban.blogspot.com where you will find information and prayer requests.  

Blessings in Christ, the Clarks

Day 1 - Theological Education in Action Conference

It was a very challenging day here in Harrisburg, PA.  Approximately 50 attendees listened to some great lectures from Dr. Jim Plueddemann about theological education and the integrating of academic teaching with practical, spirit-led and heartfelt ministry.  There was plenty of opportunity for us all to interact in small group discussion on the subject.  

I especially have enjoyed getting time to talk with Darryl Meekins, Selvan Govender and Bobby Hile, who are ABWE Durban Team members. Darryl is South African and married to Casey, a former single ABWE missionary.  Darryl was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Cape Town.  He is a former student of Baptist Bible College-KZN and now he is the director.  Pray for Darryl and the other men and women on the Durban team.  Pray for safety for their families while they are away.  Pray for the Lord to continue to open the doors for ministry opportunities.  

Tonight there was a fantastic message by Dr. Michael Loftis about our role as theological educators and the importance of knowing that there is a greater dynamic involved in this ministry than just the academics of teaching.  He must have posed well over 50 questions that we should ask ourselves related to serving, teaching, mentoring and entrusting the Word of God to those who are being trained for the ministry.  Once I know the address for this link of the message, I'll post it.

Please continue to pray for this conference to enhance our connection to the ministry in Durban and our vision for theological education, so that "the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17)

Blessings in Christ

New Prayer Cards on Order!

Just a quick post to tell you that our new prayer cards are on order and will be available soon.  If you'd like to receive our prayer card, please let us know by writing us at this blog or at Robert.Clark@abwe.cc  We'll be sure to send you one of them when they arrive.  Also, our latest prayer letter update was recently sent out.  If you didn't receive it then let us know and we'll send it to you by email.  Another prayer letter "By His Sovereign Grace" will be going out very soon as well.  Finally, our new brochure is available which spells out our ministry vision for Durban, South Africa.  If you would like to receive it, then let us know by email.   If you would like to know more about the Baptist Bible College in Durban, you can go to www.bbckzn.org

Thank you for your prayers.  Blessings in Christ, the Clarks