A Thriving Church For Every People                                      January, 2018

 

The Tribal Schaibles

 

WOW!!!

Since our last update a lot has sure happened but first of all Cheryl and I want to thank you for the part you all have had in our lives over the years.  All the meetings with people, churches, colleges, students, supporters and everyone the Lord has put in our path to be a blessing to us have done just that.  Blessed us.  Thanks for all your encouragement and faithfulness in our lives.  We have not wasted our time with your investment.

November

At the beginning of December I (Doug) had a pretty strong bout with vertigo and it kind of knocked me for a loop and I had to cancel a trip to Kansas State University which I regretted very much but the Lord knows what is best for each of us.  I was able afterwards to go and visit students at the University of Kansas and teach four Perspectives classes in Dallas.

December

Then I traveled to the University of Missouri and the University of Arkansas.  All of these college campuses were very welcoming and wanted to know more about what Ethnos360 is trying to accomplish as a mission organization.  It was my privilege to inform them and share my heart with them.

We ended up the month with Christmas and having family around which is always a blessing to us.

I did not feel the best during December although I wasn’t sick, I think that the vertigo had some longer lasting effects than I had anticipated.  I went to an ENT doctor but I am going to another one in a few days who specializes in vertigo and hope to get a more insight from him.  Appreciate your prayers.  Nothing major but I just want to be proactive.

January

Half of January has already been taken up on the road.  I went to Waukesha, WI to the Ethnos360 Bible Institute and was the speaker for the semester opening.  Right after I got there, I got the flu that everyone else has been getting and one day I spent 19 hours in bed.  I was glad that I did not feel nauseous but just wasted.  I was scheduled to go to Chicago to visit Logos Baptist Church and School and share with them but I called them and thought I would be wise for me to just rest and recuperate and they agreed.  I really see the Lord’s hand in that in that I got to know the students so much better and and the staff and we had some mobilization meetings that were very profitable for me in what I do and helped me to think in new ways about informing folks about tribal church-planting.  Thanks to all those who help older folks like me to think like younger folks like them.

A Challenge

In a post on my Facebook page I wrote this:

Here it is, 6:30 am on Saturday morning at Ethnos360 Bible Institute in Waukesha, WI and I walk down to the cafeteria to check on what time breakfast might be starting. On my way down there and back, I notice all the doors of sleeping students, both single and families who have decided to leave all to pursue a career of reaching people in remote areas of the world who would never have a chance of hearing this good news that we hold unless someone goes and tells them.

I can’t help but get choked up. Even as I write this I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that people who I know and even more whom I have never met are here and at other training institutions of ours getting ready, getting prepared to do the impossible, except for God.

We have been privileged to see teams form, even while in the training, and head to other countries and not only start a work but are on the cusp of preparing lessons to teach people to read and write their own language and prepare Bible lessons for the people to hear of God’s gracious love for them through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now, I am seeing possible new teams form and it is like deja vu to me. Seeing these quality, young singles and families form into good servants of Jesus Christ gives me a glimpse of Heaven this side of death. All I can say is, “Thanks, Lord! You really do know what you are doing.”

The Lord uses those who will agree with Him that He knows best how to do His work.  Please pray for all these students that they would count the cost and find the cost worth it.  Pray for us who have been there and done it that we also would count the cost of what we are doing and pass on that contentment to the younger generation.  He is worth it after all, isn’t He?  Makes me think of the song, “It Will Be Worth It All.”  We used to sing this a lot in the training.

It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus.
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face
All sorrows will erase.
Let’s bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.

One last thing.  By now, you all know that I have started a podcast to inform and help young folks who would like to know more about the Lord and what is important to Him.  I have started a blog which can be reached at either tribalschaible.com or tribalschaible.org.  Feel free to search it and if you would like, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts or Google Play Music.  Just search for them at “The Premature Bible Institute.”  You will find it. Look for this logo:

 

 

Take care.  We love you all and thank you for your ministry in our lives so that we can do the same for others.

 

Yours for His name’s sake,

 

Doug & Cheryl