Assistant Dean of Chinese Ministries, Rev. Ricky Poon shares his Easter Message of Hope. |
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People of the Living Hope
This Easter, as our hearts and prayers turn to the people of Ukraine, I am reminded of a letter the Apostle Peter wrote to the scattered and suffering people of another time.
After the initial greeting, Peter launched into a heartfelt praise of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pet. 1:3-5 ESV)
Peter reminded his readers that they have been born again to a living hope. This is a living hope because Christ has risen from the dead. This living hope would sustain them through trials and difficulties because they have the assurance of a future inheritance that is marvelous beyond description.
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El Vicedecano de Ministerios Chinos, Rev. Ricky Poon comparte su Mensaje de Esperanza de Pascua. |
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Pueblo de la Esperanza Viva
Esta Pascua, mientras nuestros corazones y oraciones se vuelven hacia el pueblo de Ucrania, recuerdo una carta que el Apóstol Pedro escribió a las personas dispersas y sufrientes de otro tiempo.
Después del saludo inicial, Pedro se lanzó a una sentida alabanza a Dios.
¡Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo! Según su gran misericordia, nos hizo renacer para una esperanza viva, por la resurrección de Jesucristo de entre los muertos, para una herencia incorruptible, incontaminada e inmarcesible, reservada en los cielos para vosotros, que por el poder de Dios siendo guardados por la fe para la salvación que está preparada para ser manifestada en el tiempo postrero. (1 Pedro 1:3-5 NVI)
Pedro recordó a sus lectores que habían nacido de nuevo para una esperanza viva. Esta es una esperanza viva porque Cristo ha resucitado de entre los muertos. Esta esperanza viva los sostendrá a través de pruebas y dificultades porque tienen la seguridad de una herencia futura que es maravillosa más allá de toda descripción.
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On March 27, 1959, as a young boy, I stepped onto American soil for the first time in Honolulu, Hawaii, as the ship I sailed on from Hong Kong to San Francisco docked there for a day. For the sake of their four children, the hope of my parents then was to pursue the American Dream. God, however, had other plans for me. |
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The ship that brought Rev. Poon's family to America
El barco que trajo a la familia del Reverendo Poon a América
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The itinerary for the SS President Wilson, 1959
El itinerario del SS President Wilson, 1959
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El 27 de marzo de 1959, cuando era niño, pisé suelo estadounidense por primera vez en Honolulu, Hawái, cuando el barco en el que navegué de Hong Kong a San Francisco atracó allí durante un día. Por el bien de sus cuatro hijos, la esperanza de mis padres entonces era perseguir el Sueño Americano. Dios, sin embargo, tiene otros planes para mí. |
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Many years later, by God’s mercy, my wife Irene and I pastored the Eugene Chinese Christian Church. We chose March 27, 2016, as the day we would step down from our full-time pastoral ministry. It was an Easter Sunday and also the 57th anniversary of my arrival in America.
That day was made even more special as our daughter Joanna and her husband Doug came down from Portland for the worship service with their two girls. Our oldest grandchild Grace sang in the children’s choir. She was about three at the time. When Joanna was pregnant, there was great concern that it was an ectopic pregnancy, but by the miracle of prayers and the help of skillful physicians, the baby was born normally. At her birth, Doug said there can only be one name for their baby girl, and that would be “Grace”.
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Muchos años después, por la misericordia de Dios, mi esposa Irene y yo pastoreamos la Iglesia Cristiana China de Eugene. Elegimos el 27 de marzo de 2016 como el día en que dejaríamos nuestro ministerio pastoral de tiempo completo. Era un domingo de Pascua y también el 57 aniversario de mi llegada a América.
Ese día se hizo aún más especial cuando nuestra hija Joanna y su esposo Doug vinieron de Portland para el servicio de adoración con sus dos hijas. Nuestra nieta mayor, Grace, cantó en el coro de niños. Ella tenía unos tres años en ese momento. Cuando Joanna estaba embarazada, había una gran preocupación de que fuera un embarazo ectópico, pero por el milagro de las oraciones y la ayuda de hábiles médicos, el bebé nació normalmente. En su nacimiento, Doug dijo que solo puede haber un nombre para su bebé, y ese sería "Grace".
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Grace (center)
Gracia (centro)
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The challenges of my own diaspora experience were in no way nearly as difficult as those of many others in America and around the world. I learned recently that March 27, 1959, was a Good Friday. I was at sea on Easter Sunday and arrived in San Francisco on April 1, 1959. Without Good Friday, there would not be Easter. God’s grace is amazing. Peter wrote,
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pet. 2:11-12 ESV)
Regardless of our circumstances, this is how we should live as people of the living hope!
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Los desafíos de mi propia experiencia en la diáspora no fueron tan difíciles como los de muchos otros en Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo. Hace poco supe que el 27 de marzo de 1959 era Viernes Santo. Estuve en el mar el Domingo de Pascua y llegué a San Francisco el 1 de abril de 1959. Sin Viernes Santo, no habría Pascua. La gracia de Dios es asombrosa. Pedro escribió,
Amados, os exhorto como a extranjeros y exiliados a absteneros de las pasiones de la carne, que hacen guerra contra vuestra alma. Mantened honrada vuestra conducta entre los gentiles, para que cuando hablen contra vosotros como malhechores, vean vuestras buenas obras y glorifiquen a Dios en el día de la visitación. (1 Pedro 2:11-12 NVI)
Independientemente de nuestras circunstancias, ¡así es como debemos vivir como personas de la esperanza viva!
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A Call to United Prayer for Ukraine |
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ICYMI! We shared in March's newsletter this video from Open Bible Missionary to Ukraine and our INSTE European Director, Tammy Swailes.
Watch, Listen, and Pray, Pray, PRAY.
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Published March 3, 2022 | Publicado el 3 de marzo de 2022
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¡Un llamado a la oración unida por Ucrania! |
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¡En caso que te lo hayas perdido! Compartimos en el boletín de marzo este video de la misionera de la Biblia Abierta en Ucrania y nuestra directora europea de INSTE, Tammy Swailes.
Mira, Escucha y Ora, Ora, ORA.
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Upcoming Spring and Summer Online Classes |
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INSTE in the United States and Canada offers a selection of online courses for students in the Certificate and Diploma programs who would like to continue their studies with groups from across North America. Currently, all of our online courses are in English. If you are fluent in Spanish and would like to be an online facilitator, email our registrar at for the next steps! |
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Próximas Clases En Línea de
Primavera y Verano
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INSTE en los Estados Unidos y Canadá ofrece una selección de asignaturas en línea para estudiantes en los programas de Certificado y Diploma que deseen continuar sus estudios con grupos de toda América del Norte. Actualmente, todos nuestra asignaturas en línea son en inglés. Si habla español con fluides y le gustaría ser un facilitador en línea, envíe un correo electrónico a nuestro registrador para conocer los próximos pasos. |
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This certificate program is structured around four crucial discipleship habits: personal devotions, Bible study skills, relationships, and ministry. This program focuses on the character development of the disciple. Intensive discipleship (being) plus foundational Bible and theological input (knowing) lead to ministry (doing). Each believer has gifts, talents and skills that are to be used in the Kingdom of God. Through this program, maturing disciples find their places in the Body of Christ, in which they can serve the Lord with joy and effectiveness. The base price for a Level 1 course is $90. |
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Led by: Rev. Rodney Mike Neville
Language: English/Inglés
Start date: April 20, 2022
When: Wednesdays, 8:30 PM (Central Time)
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Led by: Rev. Rodney Mike Neville
Language: English/Inglés
Start date: June 16, 2022
When: Thursdays, 6:30 PM (Central Time)
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This option gives the student a complete online experience with online book and exams. All course material is studied and completed online in a digital format. We have implemented the pedagogical and didactic tools offered by modern distance education so that you will have a better online learning experience. Students still meet in groups online once a week to grow relationships with fellow believers and apply the information learned throughout the week. The base price for a Digital Course is $90. |
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Students must have completed their Certificate in Christian Ministry in order to be fully enrolled in this program. Visiting students can study up to three of these subjects without having completed Level 1 subjects previously. The focus of this program is leadership development. The base price for a Level 2 course is $240. |
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Led by: Sherryl James
Language: English/Inglés
Start date: May 5, 2022
When: Thursdays, 6:00 PM (Central Time)
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Led by: Keith Odoms
Language: English/Inglés
Start date: May 15, 2022
When: Sundays, 5:45 PM (Pacific Time)
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Inste Global Bible College| Website
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