Sometimes it takes 15 years! This is walnut season in Central Southeast Europe. When you walk through the open markets, you find baskets filled with walnuts. The vast majority of the walnuts are from local trees that someone planted many years ago. When you consider that a walnut tree doesn't begin to produce it's best crop until 30 years after it is planted, the act of planting a walnut tree is an exercise in faith and hope for the future.
Some 15 years ago, Jim and Sherry Sabella, AGWM Area Directors, had a vision to start a Global University distance training program so that pastors could be better prepared for ministry. He had books translated, organized curriculum and dreamed of a time when the program would prepare pastors and future leaders in the Czech Republic. He says, “In essence we planted a tree that was an exercise in faith and hope for the future.”
Very recently, Jim received a photo from Milan Buban, the director of the program who also was there dreaming with Sabella those 15 years ago. Milan attached the following note to the photo.
" First fruits of the Czech bachelors. This is also your work, Jim and Sherry. Thank you for your vision, effort and huge sacrifice for the Global University ministry." Fifteen years is a long time to wait. But, sometimes that's what it takes. The journey is one of faith and hope for the future.
Sometimes it takes 15 years!
This is walnut season in Central Southeast Europe. When you walk through the open markets, you find baskets filled with walnuts. The vast majority of the walnuts are from local trees that someone planted many years ago. When you consider that a walnut tree doesn't begin to produce it's best crop until 30 years after it is planted, the act of planting a walnut tree is an exercise in faith and hope for the future.
Some 15 years ago, Jim and Sherry Sabella, AGWM Area Directors, had a vision to start a Global University distance training program so that pastors could be better prepared for ministry. He had books translated, organized curriculum and dreamed of a time when the program would prepare pastors and future leaders in the Czech Republic. He says, “In essence we planted a tree that was an exercise in faith and hope for the future.”
Very recently, Jim received a photo from Milan Buban, the director of the program who also was there dreaming with Sabella those 15 years ago. Milan attached the following note to the photo.
" First fruits of the Czech bachelors. This is also your work, Jim and Sherry. Thank you for your vision, effort and huge sacrifice for the Global University ministry."
Fifteen years is a long time to wait. But, sometimes that's what it takes. The journey is one of faith and hope for the future.
This past summer, a team from the Sam Houston State University, (SHSU) Huntsville, Texas Chi Alpha group was invited to help with a Creative/English Camp hosted by a church in the Czech Republic. The host Pastor, Stepan Hlavsa, and AGWM Personnel Steve Cuttino, helped the team to be prepared to honor the Lord with their work. The church used the camp as an evangelistic outreach tool by advertising in schools and buses that there would be native English speakers, music lessons, vocal lessons, and graphic design lessons as well.
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