More Venezuelans and a Neurotheologian? 🧐

As we enter into the Fall season in Canada, new rhythms begin with new expectations and relationships. We’re excited to share about our summer adventures with God and what is happening this weekend.

For those of you who just like to look at the pictures, there are more pictures at the bottom

What did God do?

God brought new coworkers to help pioneer the SBS

God has brought some new coworkers (and now friends) into our lives to help start the School of Biblical Studies. A couple who have worked in YWAM Togo for the last few years moved to Quebec and joined YWAM Dunham. Another couple that has been working in YWAM Norway also moved to join us. It’s a great answer to prayer as we knew that we needed the help to get this school started, especially in a language (French) that we are not yet fluent.

God has given unexpected friendships

One weekend our family went to the waterslides. As Cy and Elias were standing in line to get into multi-person tube a kid behind them asked if he could join them. The slide was for groups of 2-4 people in a tube and he was by himself. Of course they invited the 7-year-old boy to join them. After going down the slide together, the boys decided to spend the rest of the day together in the water park. It was a special blessing for Elias.

At the end of the day when it was time to go home we were chatting with the boy, Juan Pablo, and we discovered that he’s from Venezuela! Cy got to meet his mom and a new friendship began. We were able to share many moments throughout the summer with our new friends.

God gives a fruitful education

Since January 2021 Rob has been doing an Executive Masters in Global Pioneering Leadership through YWAM’s University of the Nations.

In Cambodia the curriculum was centered around Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We dealt with issues of racism, socio-economic classism, and gender issues that leaders around the world have to work through. We looked at Paul’s instructions for leadership in his letter to Titus, putting much of our attention on the requirement of being hospitable (philoxenos), which means “loving those who are different from you“. As a cohort with great diversity in these areas, we learned the pains of those who are different from us and how to respond the way Jesus would. There were powerful times of being taught by the Spirit of God. All of our relationships deepened as our hearts connected in profound ways.

In Costa Rica, our curriculum centered around personal leadership development and multiplication of leadership. This intensive we focused on the Greek word meno, which means “to abide, remain” which appears numerous times in John 15. We learned about brain science and how the our brains were designed to function in communion with God, which prevents trauma and enhances identity and being Christ-like. It was fascinating to know how the brain works and what it means in our daily actions and thought processes.

During the time in Costa Rica, our cohort partnered with God and Homes of Hope International and helped to build 3 homes for local families.

God really touched this family. The lady and her children had an encounter with God, turning their hearts toward Him, repenting of their evil ways, and asking Jesus to lead them forward. “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4) We were able to leave them with the keys to the house, gifts from the nations, and God’s word (the Bible). What a privilege to join with what God is doing in the lives of people all over the world!

What is God doing?

God has been forming Rob’s leadership through the master’s degree

God has been doing a beautiful work in my (Rob) life through the Master’s degree. I have learned so much about God-led leadership in a global world. I have recognized errors in my leadership of the past, grown with other leaders through our mutual development, and come to know the heart of God more.

I’m working on my thesis for the Master’s degree, which is due November 15th. My thesis is looking at how intentionally observing God’s actions in the Scriptures empower us (God’s children made in His image) to imitate God as we were created to. I’ve had the privilege of learning from different interviews, literature, and in-person teachings. I’m excited to do the thesis, even though it’s a big challenge for me personally. I trust that it will bear fruit beyond my own life as well.

One highlight of the thesis work was being able to interview Dr. Jim Wilder, a neurotheologian (I didn’t know what that was either ). His focus is on helping discipleship ministries understand the role that the brain plays in character development and healthy living. I’ll share my thesis with anyone who is interested when I’m done .

Starting the School of Biblical Studies

On September 25th we began our first Bible school in Quebec since moving here. We’ve been planning for the last year and now we have started. It’s wonderful to have staff and students from so many nations. There are people from Canada , Holland , France , and Togo .

One of the beautiful things is that as we pioneer this Bible school, Rob has been able to implement so much of what he has learned in the Master’s degree that he is doing, bringing in new ways of leading, new ways of studying the Bible, and a new emphasis that will facilitate us all to move toward deeper knowledge and relationship with God in the School of Biblical Studies. We see the wisdom of God in His leading Rob to do the Master’s degree at the time that he has.

God is leading us down this path of knowing Him more and sharing Him with others through the SBS. He’s bringing together the nations, making us into His people, and revealing Himself to us and through us to others.

How can we join in with God?

This is how we’re joining God

I, Rob, iam working on his thesis, finishing the master’s degree that he began almost 2 years ago. This higher education has been a gift from God’s hand and I believe that my own development will serve others that I influence, both through my leadership and through my researched writing (thesis).

Both Cy and I are excited to join God in establishing the French/English SBS in Quebec. We have learned that it’s the only school of its kind in French this year in the entire world. This breaks our heart because of the great need there is in the francophone world. But it also excites us to know that God is passionate about seeing it established and multiplied. We are working together with God to see the francophone world come to know him through engagement with his word.

Ways that you can join with God

• PRAY: talking to God and bringing our requests before Him, knowing that He hears and responds to our cries, is vital to joining with God. If you’d like to have specific prayer requests for the SBS staff/students and/or our personal lives, please contact us.
• SUPPORT US: We are currently trusting God for more supporters who will financially give so that we can continue to end Bible poverty in Quebec and around the world. Click here to donate.
• HELP US GO TO ROB’S GRADUATION: The final week of Rob’s master’s degree is in Kona, Hawaii at the University of the Nations campus. There Rob will be giving an oral presentation of his thesis and graduating with his class. We’d like to go as a family for this special event. The cost for this trip is $4,000 USD ($5,500 CAD). It’s also a special opportunity for Cy to be able to say a proper goodbye to our friends from Hawaii. Click here to donate.
• SEND A TEAM TO YWAM QUEBEC: Our YWAM base in Quebec is always interested in hosting teams. We need those who can give of their time and skills to build, repair, and upgrade our facilities. We also run youth camps in the summer that could use some help.