Happy New Year!

We would like to wish you a very happy New Year!  It is hard to believe it is 2012!  I remember when the year 2000 came that it was just unbelievable. I thought for sure the Lord would come back before now!  But, here we are beginning 2012.

There have been so many changes for the Caribbean School of Theology in 2011.  We started the year with a staff of six and ending it with a staff of 14!  That just gives you an idea of how much we are growing.  It is exciting and challenging all at the same time.  When God opened the door for us at CST in 2008 we had no idea what was ahead.  The countries we serve are so grateful for the teaching and leadership of CST.  Without us they would not be able to continue their Biblical education or have the opportunity for special classes, such as Prison Ministries, Women in the Bible, or Teaching Techniques.

As 2011 ends, David and I would like to thanks all the churches and individuals who have supported us through their prayers and offerings.  We understand that in this economy it is  not easy.  We do not take your sacrificial giving lightly.  We also know that God has put us where we are for such a time as this.  The Lord did not come back by 2000, but He may come in 2012!  We plan to continue pressing on and doing what we feel we were born for… to connect, serve, and train…until our Lord does come!

In September CST held its first retreat

CST – You Are Looking Good!

Meetings, FB, and More

Seems like with all the travel that the staff at CST does we never get to have meetings.  So, when we are all together we try and get as much done with the administrative end of the ministry as possible, thus meetings.  These meetings are long and at some points overwhelming.  You see, we are experiencing growth in both missionaries coming on staff and courses being delivered.  This year we have doubled our staff, but it seems the work load has also doubled.

For example, David and I were at the office tonight.  I was working on MA records while he was testing video teaching possibilities in Suriname.  While a conference was going on in Suriname, David was connected through Skype.  There were issues.  So, now he will begin to research and figure out what the next step is.  You may wonder why this seems to be important.  Well, if we can get a good connection both with sound and video, then it will be possible to teach a class from Springfield to places like Suriname and Guyana.  Thus, cutting down on expenses and being able to offer possibly more courses in a year.  I hope I am painting a clear enough picture.  This is very important in helping students in the countries we go into get their Bible education much quicker.  We are talking 7 years versus 3!

Another issue we are facing is having enough support left in David’s travel account for him to be able to travel to the Bible schools for courses through next year.  We are facing budget crunch big time!  But, we know this is God’s business and so we put that in His hands.  In the mean time we are building a data base of teachers who are qualified to go and teach in some of the 7 countries we are responsible for.

CST has a Face Book group!  Yep, we are on FB!  So be sure and become our friend.  We post photos and I try to update the status often.  We want to connect with our students and supporters.  We even have some of the churches in other countries using it to post events.  It is great!!  I love social networking!  At least in this case.  :)

Another way we are trying to connect with you is through video.  We currently have a YouTube account.  You can type in Caribbean School of Theology and there are three videos that you can download.  I am currently working on another one.  Ok, so I am not really great at this, but I am trying.  It is a challenge, but I am enjoying doing these videos.  Pastors, please use them for your mission services.  We will try and highlight individual countries in the future.

I usually stay home while David travels and teaches.  (You know keep the home fires burning and all that stuff.)  Well, in February, 2012 I will be going for two weeks to Georgetown, Guyana.  I am so excited!!  (I won’t drink the Kool-Aid!)  :)  I will be working with the Bible school to help them digitize all their student records.  Then I will be teaching them how to use a program for record keeping of transcripts.  This will be a huge, huge help to them.  I feel blessed to be able to go and be of service in an area of need.  Looking forward to writing my next blog.  I know it will be filled with lots of good stuff that God is doing.  :)

Thanks for dropping in!

Shirley

 

 

WE WILL CONTINUE…YOU WILL TOO

As I sat in a staff meeting at CST last week I felt so blessed to be a part of this team.  God has called 6 couples from other mission fields to put together a team with passion and integrity.  Countries represented around the table were, India, Africa, Mexico, Lebanon, Republic of Georgia ( that is us) and soon to join us is ( Russia).  Each missionary comes with years of experience, degrees galore, and a passion.  It is for “such a time as this” that God has brought us together.

This year CST will be doubling its staff.  We are in the middle of reorganizing and development.  All this is challenging, but we are up for it!  We have seen how God brings you to a ministry and then begins to equip and create something absolutely phenomenal!  We have much administrative work ahead of us.  So, we need much prayer for wisdom…you know the kind only God can give?  Our mission is to connect – serve – train.  Connect with each national school and understand their needs.  Serve in ways that would be a blessing to each national school and church. Train pastors, teachers, missionaries, and laymen and women to fulfill the call has placed upon their lives.  None of this happens quickly.  David has traveled 11 months out of 15!

Thank you to each church and individual for going with us with your prayers and support.  This ministry is growing and we are thankful that He has not only called us to it, but also you.   We will continue and we know you will too!

Catch ya later!

Belize

This was written in August.  David taught Isaiah to a wonderful class of students.

Caribbean School of Theology

Today begins my second week of classes in Belize City.  I wasn’t sure how many students to expect because last year I only had three.  So you can understand my excitement when I went to class the first night and found 14 students!  Belize is a very unique country.  It is best described as a bicycle ride on a very hot and sunny day.  Slow and easy!!  Take it as it comes.

There is a lot of work to do…so I need to roll up my sleeves and get back to it!  Blessings to my partners in missions.  Keep us in your prayers.  We cherish them!

David Swafford

Blogging

I am finding that blogging takes a lot of time and creativity.  Creativity I have, at least I think I do!  Time, well that is another thing.  David and I have come to a place in our lives when we truly are busier than we have ever been and we love it!  Busy working, teaching, taking care of the many tasks that are needed to do what we do.  The Caribbean School of Theology is growing and we are finding that most of our time is spent trying to stay ahead of the growth.  How are we doing?  Well, glad you asked!  We are doing pretty good.  There is always room for improvement, but we are giving it all we have.

We have struggled this year with funding.  Is that any surprise to anyone?  No, it is not considering that many churches are struggling as well.  We keep praying and God keeps meeting the needs.  The answer does not always come in the way we thought it would, but we are thankful for the opportunities that God opens to us.  It is an amazing life we live!

I began this blog by talking about how much time it takes.  I think the time is worth it.  So many have shared their lives with us in very special ways and we want to keep in contact.  We are thankful for each one of you (and there are many of you) who have walked this mission journey with us for the past 12 years.  Funding is not problem!!  Well, maybe it is, but we know that no matter what we will continue and be thankful.   Blogging continues…..

God Is Faithful

It is hard to believe it is the middle of October, already!  Where has the time gone?  One more trip to make in November.  We will be home in Springfield for the  month of December.  There is office work to do and finalizing a few classes for 2010.  It has been quite a year.  We are thankful for God’s faithfulness.  He has gone before us and His presence has been with us in each of the classes.

Each country we have taught in we added students to the school.  These students are pastors, teachers, young adults interested in ministry, and we have even had doctors and attorneys in our classes.  Classes are helping these students deepen their knowledge of God’s Word and a continual affirming of God’s calling on their lives.  Without our participation in the six schools we teach in, these students would not be able to receive their bachelor degrees.  These degrees give the churches in these countries credibility and open doors of ministry.

We have had requests from other countries asking us to help them with their schools.  It is our desire to do so, but we can only do what we have funding for.  This year has been rich in ministry, but poor in finances.  We are struggling to make ends meet just like so many people are these days.  We understand the economic crisis our country is in and we know that as missionaries we experience the same economic circumstances that our supporters experience.  That is why we are praying that God would bless our supporting churches abundantly. We know ass they are blessed they will remember God’s kingdom and His heart for this world.  Please pray for us as we are praying for you.  Remember, a dollar in the hand of God is multiplied. We need to get back to work!  Money is short, but God’s hand is not and there is so much to do.  By the way, check out our new website at cstonline.org!  Blessings to you!

Jamaica – 39 Students

I am in Jamaica teaching today.  It has been wonderful to get to know the students and the call God has placed on their lives.  My weeks here have been eventful.  We have had to wear masks at times because of the “Swine Flu” and then I have battled what they call the “Jamaican Runs”!  Know what I mean?

There are 39 students in class.  It is not easy to come and sit in a hot classroom for hours, but they are happy to do it.  God is raising up some dynamic ministers in this country, some of them with a call to missions.  It will be exciting to watch and see what God does with their lives in the near future.  Keep Jamaica in your prayers.

I will finish up here this week and then be home for three weeks to prepare for classes in Belize for three weeks.  With 6 Bible schools and the possibilities of a couple of others, we continue to flourish in the ministry that God has placed us in.  Please continue to pray for us as we are on the brink of something exciting and awesome happening in the Caribbean.  We can feel it!!

Can't get your food any fresher than this!

New CST students from Providence Island