Greetings,                                                                                                                                           November 2014

A chill might be in the air but our hearts are warmed as we come into the Thanksgiving season followed so soon by Christmas.  In this spirit of gratitude for all that the Lord has given us, we’d like to share some of what has occurred over the past few months that makes us very thankful.

 We are blessed to have completed the FOUNDATIONS Judson Communities course in four locations.  Our most recent graduation service was in Nashville, TN on November 2^nd where certificates were issued to 34 students.  It is an inspiration for us to work with people so dedicated to their faith that they give so much of their time, money and effort to attend classes.  As former refugees just recently arrived in the US, most of those taking our classes are working entry level factory or meat processing jobs where even a day off every other week is a luxury.  That they choose to spend their time off at our classes is an honor.  More have expressed regret that their employers won’t let them off work so that they could come too.

Our classes are conducted in the Karen language so we were impressed that Khang Awm, a Chin who speaks no Karen completed the Nashville program. Burmese-speaking Karen in the class helped him understand what was being said and he also has a good command of English.  Khang Awm views the completion of the program as providing a “foundation” and legitimacy for being an evangelist in Nashville. He wrote, “Once I have a certificate I can spread the Gospel with satisfaction.  I will be looking for the lost sheep to send to the Lord.”

Moo Ler Paw leads the Karen church in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  The church regularly meets in her apartment on Sunday mornings.  Having lost her husband to cancer in 2010, we are grateful that she could come to Nashville and attend classes and also grateful that the National American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) could supply a scholarship enabling her to come. Growing up in Burma, Moo Ler Paw had only a 2^nd grade education.  Her village was attacked by the army and she was subjected to forced labor so her family fled to Thailand in 1987.  After 20 years in camps in Thailand, she came to the US in 2007.  Moo Ler Paw is motivated for further study to better understand God’s word so she can lead her church more effectively. The ABWM also supplied a scholarship for Jess Htoo helping to build up both current and future leaders.  Jess (whose full name in Karen is Jesus), was born in the refugee camp and has been in the US for 5 years.  She just finished high school and is now in college with dreams of becoming a missionary and nurse.

At each class session in Nashville, the front table was always full with several young women from the Tennessee Christian Karen Baptist Church.  They were eager to participate in class, contribute to discussions and were always helping with logistics like driving to pick up food and water for the classes.  They make us grateful for the interest that young Karen have for their church and for seeking education.  We hope these classes will give them an appetite for further theological study.

Each of the 34 that received a certificate in Nashville has a unique story and we’re grateful for them all.  We are impressed that we get students of all ages.  Some have not yet completed high school while others are in their 60s or beyond.  We also get a mix of men and women.  In Nashville, the number of men and women were about even.  With the 14 class program now complete in 4 locations (Ft. Wayne, IN; Utica, NY; New Bern, NC; and Nashville, TN) a total of 133 have completed the course.  With another 77 or so set for graduation in St. Paul on December 20, we anticipate that 210 from 16 states and 36 communities and cities will have received certificates by the end of 2014.  Praise God!  We’re still getting requests for more classes, so next year we anticipate taking the program further west and also starting a program in the Burmese language.

The longer we are involved in mission work, the more we realize how little we do by our own strength.  These classes are only possible because of the efforts of the students and those who help us with logistical arrangements at each location.  That Central Baptist Theological Seminary is allowing us to conduct the classes in their name is essential, along with the endorsement of the Karen Baptist Churches, USA.  Of course, there are also all of you who are praying for us and providing financial support.  Without all the pieces working together under the Lord’s leadership, nothing would happen. We give thanks to the Lord and to you as our partners!   All of you have truly given us much for which we can be grateful! 

Blessings to you and your loved ones during this Holiday Season and in the New Year ahead,

Duane & Marcia Binkley