Greetings,

Most of you know our main work now is to organize a church leadership training program in locations around the US for former refugee pastors and church leaders from Burma.  Those of you that follow us on Facebook have likely seen numerous updates as these programs have taken place, but we are past due to provide an update in letter form.

We are partnering with Central Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS) to expand their FOUNDATIONS program to reach pastors and church leaders that have started churches among resettled refugees originally from Burma but now living all across the USA.  Most pastors have had theological training in Burma or Thailand before they come, but the levels vary and living in the US, they are in a very different situation than what their training anticipated.  Already, young people that came as refugees are finishing high school and moving on to college.  In a few more years the next generation of leaders will have their theological training in English.  But right now, current church leaders are not generally comfortable enough in the English language to be able to participate in established programs.  So the FOUNDATIONS program we are organizing is taught in the language the students are most comfortable speaking, reading and writing, which so far, means the Karen language.  Since the program is aimed at people from Burma  and the Judsons originally took the Gospel to that country 200 years ago, we call this program FOUNDATIONS Judson Communities.

We got started in Ft. Wayne, IN and last May, 24 people completed the program.  We were delighted to see that some drove as much as 8 hours to attend classes each time and one flew back and forth from California never missing a class. 

Just about one year ago in March, the second program got underway in Utica, NY.   Rev. Daniel Calvin San, the Karen pastor that helped organize the classes expected around 35 people to come.  When 60 came for the first session we were all surprised.  This past November, 54 were given certificates for completing the program there. 

Currently, the third FOUNDATIONS Judson Communities program is underway in New Bern, NC.  We expect 21 will complete the program and receive certificates on April 27th.  Some have already asked if a second program can be held in North Carolina.

Next on the schedule is to start a new program in Nashville, TN.  The first session will be held March 22 and all classes will be held at CBTS's Nashville base at the Scarritt-Bennett Center.  Dr. Hay Moo from California will be flying in to teach Systematic Theology.  As the previous classes, these will also be taught in the Karen language and we expect Karen to come from Nashville and Smyrna in TN, Owensboro, Louisville, and Bowling Green in KY and we're hopeful some will be able to come from Atlanta as well. 

Plans are also in the works to start classes in St. Paul, MN in May.  St. Paul is the largest Karen community in the US so we are preparing for two classes to run simultaneously in case we get a large number of students.

Our program has 14 classes of 8 hours each.  To accommodate work schedules as best we can, classes are held every other Saturday so the full program takes about 7 months to complete. Most pastors and church leaders are working meat processing or other factory jobs where working overtime is expected so it is difficult for them to get time off for study.  We are often asked by prospective students to write letters to the companies where they work so they can ask to be excused from overtime.  Some come to class after having worked most or all of the night yet they seem to be alert and engaged all day.  We admire the dedication of the students and their desire to learn and grow in their faith. 

We also admire the dedication of our instructors.  We draw from a small pool of highly trained native speaking Karen that have lived in the US for a long period.  They have no problem with the language and know where the people taking the class have come from, what is needed for the church in the US and what gaps in training the people may have.

We are mainly organizers, and we could not put on these programs without the help of the local Karen churches, the local churches hosting the programs and the instructors.  We also could not do it without you all and the prayers and the support you provide.  These days we need to raise our support and so far this year we are falling significantly behind our quota.  So we are praying for new supporters.  Can you help?

We are grateful for all the prayers and support you offer.  Please keep our new programs in Nashville and St. Paul in your prayers and pray for the remaining sessions and for an inspirational graduation program in New Bern, NC.

Blessings,

Duane & Marcia