Alumni News
By Brian Kenyon

One of the most valuable resources that any school has for recruiting students and raising support is its alumni. The Florida School of Preaching is no different. In order to harness this collective strength toward our work of training preachers, the Florida School of Preaching will host its first annual alumni banquet on Tuesday, March 12, 2002. This meeting will be held at Barnhill's Restaurant (5216 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland). Although the alumni often meet informally during our annual lectureship, we are usually rushed and are unable to devote focused time to serious discussion and contemplation of the tremendous part we can have in helping the school find students and raise needed support. This date has been chosen because it also coincides with our first Board of Directors meeting of the year, making it convenient for board members to be present also.

As most readers are aware, the current economic situation is difficult for everybody, especially for works, such as this, which rely upon contributions from churches and from individuals, who give above and beyond their usual Lord's Day contributions. When finances are strained, such works are usually among the first to be cut from people's budgets. Couple this with the ongoing spiritual decline amongst many Christians and churches, and it becomes evident as to why finding students and financial support is becoming so difficult. However, this trend can be overcome by brethren who still value the word of God and place a priority on preaching. All are needed, especially those who have directly benefitted from taking classes at the Florida School of Preaching. These are our alumni, and these can make a difference! We must constantly remember that sin is still humanity's number one problem, and the Gospel of Christ is still the only solution, but "how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14).

Graduates and former students, come join us for this first annual alumni banquet on March 12, 2002. Be prepared to discuss plans for finding students and support. Please contact the office today by phone, fax, or e-mail so we can know how many to expect.

Florida School of Preaching
Alumni Banquet

When

Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Where

Barnhill's Restaurant
5216 S. Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL

Representative Responses
From Internet Listeners
2002 Lectureship

My name is Micki Arnold. I am blessed to be a home schooling mom of a child, Adrienne Arnold age 10, and we are both listening and learning. Adrienne is very amazed about the broadcast of the internet. God bless you and we pray that your efforts here are fruitful.
-- Micki Arnold Adrienne Arnold, Fayetteville, NC

Michael Dykes, in Sebastian FL., I would be there but I am down with pneumonia. Sounding good here.

I am Jimmy Clark of Athens, Alabama. I made it home and am enjoying the lectures through this marvelous system. God bless all of you.
-- Jimmy Clark

I am Elbert Lewis and I live in Anniston, Alabama. Would like to commend you on a great job. Just like being there .... almost! Appreciate the School of Preaching and the good work being done. My regards to Gordon Methvin. He is a long time friend of mine. God Bless you as you serve Him.
-- Elbert Lewis

This is the first time we have listened to the lectures. We really enjoyed the lessons. All the speakers we heard were really great. We especially appreciate brother Jimmy Clark. He is our minister, he really studies and holds to the truth. May god bless you in your work.
In Christian love,
-- Gene and Ann Sims,
Bethel church of Christ
Athens, Alabama

William, have been listening and some of our members told me this evening that they have also been listening to some of the sessions. I have advertised the broadcasts on our web-site and emailed the link to those who receive our online bulletin and to my co-workers in Ghana. Keep up the good work.
-- Ted Wheeler
church of Christ of Venice, Florida

I just want to THANK YOU, for being able to hear this broadcast. Please continue to do this.
-- Dick Taylor,
Bethel church of Christ

Super idea to put the lectures on the internet. We were fortunate to be able to attend your lectureship one year when we were visiting Florida. Love to visit Florida in the winter time. Hi, enjoying the lectures now, as we find time to get on board. May God Bless the efforts being put forth from that place. Quality of your program here in Hagerstown, Maryland is very good.. Our best to all,
-- Bob & Grace Veil

Dear Brethren, As time has permitted, I have listened to some of your lectureship. I have really enjoyed it! The audio was very good. I was wondering if there are any plans to somehow archive the lectureship sessions online. This would be really nice! Several of the lessons I wanted to hear, but were unable due to pressing responsibilities. Again, I congratulate you on putting the lectureship online. I hope you can do it again next year. May the Lord bless you in every faithful work.
-- Bruce Ligon,
Plain Dealing, Louisiana

Thanks you for this wonderful lessons all this week! I’m a Christian from Montreal, Canada and I follow all the messages! God bless your works!
-- Guy Leroux

Dear Brethren, Excellent! The broadcast came through clearly and with very little reverberation. If my connection were better, I'm sure it would have been perfect. Brother Clark's evening lesson was right on. Thanks for a much needed heads-up on things that threaten the unity and purity of the body.
Brotherly,
-- Steven T. Eddy,
Cape Coral, Florida

I'm listening right here in Lakeland. It's great to be able to listen and learn while at home with a little one!
-- Kathy Sweeney

Thank you–my husband and I are enjoying the lectureships “live” from our home in Tennessee!
-- Chris & Hannah Cox

We are listening to the Lectures from Bellefontaine, Ohio. Thanks so much.
-- Joy and Jim Taylor

I listened to the question and answer period. I have heard of this lectureship for some time and am glad it is being broadcast on the net. It is a wonderful thing you do. I attend the Southwest School of Bible Studies in Austin, TX. In fact Holly Kidwell, Tim's daughter, is a fellow student. I hope things are going well and continue to do so. My prayers are with you all in this work.
In Christ,
-- William Wortham

I am a member of Deltona Church of Christ. I would like to know if there are any courses for women on the women's role in the church. I know that a woman cannot teach to men or preach but I would like to know if there is any training available for teaching teenagers. I would also like to know at what age would a teenage boy be considered to old to be taught by a woman. If you do not have any courses there I would be interested to know of any books that you may know of that could help me. Thank you very much.
-- Kristi Trentham

Christopher and Loma Lowe from Miami, Florida. Soon to be attending the school. We are from the Miami Gardens church of Christ.

Just a note to let you know I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the lectureship this week. I only regret that we were unable to be there with you. Keep up the good work!
In Christian Love,
-- Bruce(alumni) and Lisa Harris
Garden City, Michigan

We have listened almost non-stop to the lectureship this year on the internet. What a great service--to have all these great speakers teaching while we work!!! Thanks so much for all the great information.
-- Carl & Nancy Chambers
Winter Haven, FL

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Excerpt From The

“KERUX NEWSLETTER”

[This Newsletter (January 2002) is edited by Joseph Worndle, Coral Springs, Florida. It is a report of the work in Haiti sponsored by the Beltline congregation in Decatur, Alabama. Brother Worndle has dedicated much of his life to the work in Haiti and is to be commended for his tireless energy and zeal for the Lord. We are printing this excerpt that those of you who are supporting our work at the Florida School of Preaching might know of your influence as we work together to train preachers of the gospel, Jackie.]

“ THE WORK “

“As I already pointed out above, God is responsible for a wonderful harvest in Haiti. Over 6,000 precious souls have been added to the Kingdom last year and many more are waiting for our teams to bring the Good News to them. As I already shared with you in precious newsletters, we have 6 teams which we call TIMOTHY TEAMS. [All emphasized statements are in the original, JMS.] Each team is composed of School of Preaching students, 6-8 men and women (yes, women who teach ladies and conduct ladies classes and forums), and their instructors. These teams go out on a monthly basis and teach and preach for denominational churches. So far, the teams are enjoying a 100% success rate, i.e., every denomination that invited them has been converted so far. God is great indeed!

SECOND SCHOOL OF PREACHING
TO BEGIN OPERATIONS

“One of my greatest desires for Haiti is to help them to help themselves. This is accomplished only if we teach them the truth. If they have a FIRM FOUNDATION to stand on then they will be able to teach others also. This is the 2-2-2- method. It is taken straight from the Bible (II Timothy 2:2) where Paul admonishes Timothy to teach others who will teach others also.

“Thus we are opening a second School of Preaching in the south of Haiti. We have already accepted 20 new students. Twenty students are preachers from the rural south. All are faithful men who have been preaching for many years but all lack education. Ten students are denominational preachers who desperately want to know the TRUTH MORE ACCURATELY! These 10 denominational preachers all have 10-15 churches each which they hope to convert in the near future. There are just so many opportunities for us in Haiti.

“The school will be based on the Florida School of Preaching (Lakeland) curriculum. It will be a two year course and diplomas will be awarded for those who qualify. Yes, there will be Greek and Homiletics, Church History, (Acts), the Pentateuch, Major and Minor Prophets, Life of Christ, etc.

“We feel that it is better to educate Haitian Christians in Haiti. Three well qualified men will teach at the South Haiti Campus and Oreste Antoine and Riviere Antoine, both educated at the Florida School of Preaching will help to oversee that work.”

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