Well, today we wrapped up the training. It was awesome! We prayed for the guys and they prayed for us. Tomorrow we will do a little shopping and some sigh seeing before our 30 journey home. That sounds like a long time...
We appreciate all of your prayers and really look forward to sharing with you more when we get back! Thanks for following the blog!
Pray for safe travels....
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday's Preaching Seminar by Brian Agovino
This is Paul Stolwyk from First EFC in St. Louis...
Yesterday, Brian Agovino preached during our worship service from the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. He did a great job unfolding the text and reminding us of the triumphant news that we are Jesus' treasure. He also helped us see how all our worries actually reveal our unbelief that we are his treasure and show us where are heart actually is despite what we say.
After tea, Brian did a preaching seminar for the church planters, modeling how he approached teaching the sermon on the mount at Redeemer, how he broke up the text, why it is good to teach through a section of Scripture at a time. They appreciated having his teaching segments and the big idea of each segment.
The Lord really used Brian to encourage these men and give them not only something they could take and use right away but also modeled how to think through preparing to teach. He did a great job as well of thinking contextually to the culture where these men work and live. In the west, we have vast resources to help us prepare - sermons, books, commentaries, etc. But these brothers have only the the Word, the Spirit and their own minds. Not a bad threesome but they do not have access to the 4th tool - the thoughts of others within their culture.
Yesterday, Brian Agovino preached during our worship service from the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. He did a great job unfolding the text and reminding us of the triumphant news that we are Jesus' treasure. He also helped us see how all our worries actually reveal our unbelief that we are his treasure and show us where are heart actually is despite what we say.
After tea, Brian did a preaching seminar for the church planters, modeling how he approached teaching the sermon on the mount at Redeemer, how he broke up the text, why it is good to teach through a section of Scripture at a time. They appreciated having his teaching segments and the big idea of each segment.
The Lord really used Brian to encourage these men and give them not only something they could take and use right away but also modeled how to think through preparing to teach. He did a great job as well of thinking contextually to the culture where these men work and live. In the west, we have vast resources to help us prepare - sermons, books, commentaries, etc. But these brothers have only the the Word, the Spirit and their own minds. Not a bad threesome but they do not have access to the 4th tool - the thoughts of others within their culture.
The Home Stretch
We had a great weekend. Church and some training on Sunday but then we were able to rest Sunday afternoon. We have 2 1/2 days of training to go. We are all a little tired but having a great time!
I posted a new video on http://www.youtube.com/user/bagovino888 of what it is like driving in Ahmenabad. The video still does not do it justice.
We are thinking of you all. We missed the Superbowl because we were asleep when it was on.
Go Saints!
I posted a new video on http://www.youtube.com/user/bagovino888 of what it is like driving in Ahmenabad. The video still does not do it justice.
We are thinking of you all. We missed the Superbowl because we were asleep when it was on.
Go Saints!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Persecution
Sorry we didn't update yesterday, the internet was down all day... We are good though...
We have a new video from the day before you can watch at
http://www.youtube.com/bagovino888
We are learning so much from these pastors. Their love for Jesus and their commitment to Him is challenging and inspiring. We continue to hear stories of men who have experienced some real and intense persecution. We are not able to show you pictures of the training and the men we are meeting so that we can protect them.
Today (Saturday) we are at the half-way point of the training. We are doing section 4 of Ephesians and Acts. Tomorrow we will have church and then we are going to do a preaching seminar.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Please pray for Randy he is still having some struggles sleeping. God has been faithful to give him strength to teach though as his training sessions have been great.
We hope that you enjoyed the snow in St. Louis. We were enjoying the 90 degree weather.
We miss you all....
We have a new video from the day before you can watch at
http://www.youtube.com/bagovino888
We are learning so much from these pastors. Their love for Jesus and their commitment to Him is challenging and inspiring. We continue to hear stories of men who have experienced some real and intense persecution. We are not able to show you pictures of the training and the men we are meeting so that we can protect them.
Today (Saturday) we are at the half-way point of the training. We are doing section 4 of Ephesians and Acts. Tomorrow we will have church and then we are going to do a preaching seminar.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Please pray for Randy he is still having some struggles sleeping. God has been faithful to give him strength to teach though as his training sessions have been great.
We hope that you enjoyed the snow in St. Louis. We were enjoying the 90 degree weather.
We miss you all....
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day 2
Well, we made it through the second day! The first day of teaching was awesome. Most of the men who are being trained are here by now. Some of them are late because the train that they take was delayed for over 8 hours because of fog.
Last night we just hung out at the hotel. Today, day 3 we are going to spend the evening with the guys who are here for training.
I put another video on http://www.youtube.com/user/bagovino888. We'll try and put one up everyday that talks about our experience here.
Last night we just hung out at the hotel. Today, day 3 we are going to spend the evening with the guys who are here for training.
I put another video on http://www.youtube.com/user/bagovino888. We'll try and put one up everyday that talks about our experience here.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
First Day Video
If you go to http://www.youtube.com/bagovino888 you can watch our first day video.
I'll try and post a video every day or so.
I'll try and post a video every day or so.
Day 2 - The Teaching Begins
We arrived at Logos Wholistic Ministries this morning around 9. It was wonderful to walk in as the group was singing praise songs. We had idea what they were singing but were drawn into the presence of God very quickly.
After some introductions Randy did the first session. He did an introduction of the book of Ephesians. We just enjoyed some tea and are about to start the next session.
Last night, our second night, in India went well. I slept through the night - 8pm-5am. Ohh the blessings of Ambien. Randy was up at 2:45am and Paul 4. We are all really energized.
I am hoping to get a video up on youtube.com in a minute. I'll post the site if it works.
Thanks for the prayers....
After some introductions Randy did the first session. He did an introduction of the book of Ephesians. We just enjoyed some tea and are about to start the next session.
Last night, our second night, in India went well. I slept through the night - 8pm-5am. Ohh the blessings of Ambien. Randy was up at 2:45am and Paul 4. We are all really energized.
I am hoping to get a video up on youtube.com in a minute. I'll post the site if it works.
Thanks for the prayers....
Monday, February 1, 2010
We Made It!
We're here! What a great trip. Everything went totally smooth.
India is amazing and beautiful!
Today it will be 89 degrees!
We are off to go have dinner with Wilson (the head of the ministry here) and spend the afternoon with his family. We start training tomorrow.
India is amazing and beautiful!
Today it will be 89 degrees!
We are off to go have dinner with Wilson (the head of the ministry here) and spend the afternoon with his family. We start training tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
5 Days Till Departure
Well, the time is fast approaching. All of the visa's are here, Imodium has been purchased and the packing process is in full effect. We will be arriving in Ahmedabad on Tuesday the 2nd. They are officially 11 and 1/2 hours ahead of St. Louis time.
Ahmedabad is about 350 miles north of Mumbai which is on the west side of India. It is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, with a population of approximately 5.2 million people. Tomorrow the weather outlook is partly sunny with a high around 87 and a low of 60. Not bad...
Ahmedabad is about 350 miles north of Mumbai which is on the west side of India. It is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, with a population of approximately 5.2 million people. Tomorrow the weather outlook is partly sunny with a high around 87 and a low of 60. Not bad...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
First Post
Everything is in motion... Paul, Randy and I had our first meeting to plan, pray and prepare for our 12 day trip to Ahmadabad India (see picture to the right). We'll be leaving on Feb. 1st to train and equip church planters in India by studying the book of Acts and Ephesians. We hope that you'll come back regularly to check for updates.
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