Note: You can download a PDF version of this post here.
Hello once again, and happy May!
As I am writing to you today, Anna is graduating from BSSM, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Sara and Anna are in Redding, California, and I just watched Anna online, walking across the platform, receiving her diploma, and shaking hands with the leadership team. She has completed three years of Biblical and practical ministry training online. Sara and I are so “humbly grateful” for what the Lord has allowed her to do.
Anna actually started the program four years ago, right out of high school, but took a year off between the second and third years of study, because the third year wasn’t yet being offered online. But as soon as it opened up (in the fall of 2024), she enrolled again and has now successfully completed this wonderful training program.
For those who know nothing about it, Bethel’s program is similar, yet quite different, to a Bible school. The emphasis is more on the practical aspects of ministry training and cultivating revival. It starts with a strong emphasis on personal growth, both as an individual and discovering God and His Word. During the second year, the students continue to develop their relationship with the Lord, but even more emphasis is placed on practical ministry and deeper Bible teaching. Finally, the third year involves mentorship and practical involvement in ministry, much like an internship. Anna has been involved in leading small groups (connected with Bethel) online in various nations, from Europe to Colombia, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, and more. It has been a great experience for her. She even led an “online mission trip” to Canada in March!
We are so blessed to reap the fruit of this practical ministry experience. Anna has become a vital part of our church, taking leadership in several areas, including leading small groups, women’s ministry, youth activities, regularly leading worship and also teaching/preaching on certain occasions.
As many of you know, Anna also works for our online Bible School, doing course development, facilitating courses, and teaching. We celebrate Anna today! Congratulations!
Death and New Life
We have a bit of sad news to share with you. The entire pine forest around our area has been infected by a bark beetle which has destroyed a large percentage of the forest for many miles around our area. We lost a total of over 750 trees on our little piece of property, but the entire mountain is also affected. Because of the situation, the government encourages landowners to remove all infected trees, so there have been chainsaws working constantly for the last several months. We are thankful that we were able to sell most of the wood, but at the same time, we were very sad to see the trees go. Thankfully, we still have some nice large oak trees in some areas. In fact, many of those trees have begun to grow even more abundantly, now that they are out of the shade of all the pine trees.
We remember that the death of all those trees is an opportunity for new life and new growth! We look forward to planting new trees when the rainy season starts in a couple of months. We plan on planting hundreds of them.
I can see several symbolic things in this. First and foremost, the death and resurrection of Jesus is our opportunity for new life. We recently celebrated Good Friday and Easter, and the death of Jesus is our opportunity to live with our Father forever!
Second, we are in a new season. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but these last few years (since COVID), we have been in a time of transition. Transition with our church (moving to a new space), transition with the Advanced School of Ministry (different team members leaving, others joining, etc.). Our church remains and it continues to prosper. The Advanced School of Ministry continues forward in vision. However, there has been a certain “shift” in the spiritual atmosphere. Things are going to be different from now on, but this isn’t bad, it isn’t the end. Rather, it’s a new beginning, an opportunity for new life. Just as certain trees need to be pruned to produce more fruit, in a similar manner, we see the hand of the Lord pruning certain things in our lives and in the ministries we are part of. We are confident that this pruning process will have the effect of bringing in even more fruit for the Kingdom of God!
Ministry Update
Now that I’ve shared all this with you, I also want to let you know briefly about each aspect of ministry that we are currently involved in.
Our Local Church: Our congregation is doing well. Ever since that pandemic, we’ve taken on a different form and do things differently than we used to, but we see the hand of God on the congregation. People are growing, some are getting saved, discipled and planted as true disciples of Christ.
Advanced School of Ministry: As I shared in our last newsletter, we had an excellent conference in January in Cuernavaca with great speakers and a good turnout, both in person and online. Since January, we have been doing several online planning meetings with our team, making plans for the next steps and the next conferences.
Online Bible School: We currently have the largest number of students in the history of our online school, with over 240 enrolled. This in part is due to the fact that we offered a couple of new Diploma options this semester. Sara, Anna and I are all involved in facilitating classes. Anna manages two sizable groups, and both Sara and I also oversee quite a number of participants in our classes. There are another 7 course facilitators working on this as well. It is a lot of work, but we know that what each of us sows into the lives of our students will reap eternal reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, we are working on a couple of new courses we will soon be recording and offering, one on the Biblical Covenants and another on the Local Church.
Other News
Sara continues to be very active in the community school, which is basically a two-room elementary schoolhouse for the children in our community. She spends almost every Monday morning there teaching English, and the Lord has given her favor with the teachers and many of the parents. It has allowed her to be “light” and “salt” in our community.
Thank you!
We are so very grateful to every one of you who prays for us and gives to make what we do a reality. Thank you so much for being a part of our team!
In Christ,
David and Sara Lont with Anna