From Byron Barret: December 2019

CCU Doctoral Student, Missionary To China

We have had protests in Hong Kong that have turned violent. In a previous update, I made a comment that they are slowing. On the contrary, last week we had some of the most extremes of demonstrations. A couple of the university campuses had become ground zero for clashes between demonstrators and police. The campuses were vandalized, and the public transport system was disrupted.
 
With the disruption of transport, I have been scrambling for transport to and from work; waking up early, walking more and praying more for Hong Kong.
 
The other morning while making my trek I found the bus terminus in Sheung Shui along with the area destroyed from a night of vandalism. The streets were covered with guard railings, boulders, and bricks that were taken up from the walkways. It was troublesome for the traffic to move around the area.
 
I decided that I would not make it to work and began my walk back home. On the way back, some of the local residents were cleaning up the mess. I did what any good Samaritan would do, I joined them.  We began kicking the bricks to the side of the road, rolling boulders and lifting the heavy guardrails out of the way. I guessed it to be at least a quarter-mile of mess on both sides of the road. It was amazing to see more and more people join us as we neared the end of our task.
 
As I was leaving a small group of young protesters had been watching us. For some reason, they did not challenge us or come to stop us. We must have had angels surrounding us or the sight of an extra-large size American helping may have steered away from any thoughts they may have had of stopping the clean-up. I like to stick with the fact that our protection comes from God. The situation is serious, recently a man had been killed for arguing with the protesters in this same area. Praise the Lord, our duty was accomplished with no hindrance. I was amazed at what we accomplished with some caring residence and hard work.
 
While making my way home I was approached by a young man in his early twenties. He was one of the protesters, one of the people who made the mess we just cleaned up. He was so interested in me. Why did you clean up, who are you, what are you doing here? He was filled with questions. Obviously, I had his attention. Because of the violence going on I gave him a pat-down before I continued my talk with him. I asked him about his home life if he is being loved at home. He said he is being taken care of but not really shown love or have any expression of affection in the home. No hugs, no affirmations, or “I love you” while heading out the door for school. I told him that I love him, I care about him and concerned for him and the others that have been warring. Right there and then I gave him a hug and invited him to have a coffee with me.
 
It was more than just coffee; I spent a couple of hours with him sharing my life story and how God intervened in my life. God’s love, grace, and mercy through Christ is the major point of change in my life. I told him that Jesus died for everyone that we may all inherit eternity. He listened and listened and listened. I laid hands on him praying for him. He told me he had attended a Christian primary school. I made sure he knew that his curiosity in me helping to clean up was the spirit of the living God drawing him back. It was an amazing moment, and I believe that God is moving in this time of turmoil. It is time for the believers in Christ to rise up, do the work of an evangelist and engage in the ministry God has for us. Please pray for the young man that I met, believing that God’s work in his heart will continue.
 
Please pray for my protection as God has used me more than once in these situations. Pray that I use God’s wisdom and judgment as I go around Hong Kong. Also, pray for us as we have been passing out Chinese gospel tracks in the Sheung Shui and Fanling area.

We are pleased to be writing to you to highlight God’s faithfulness, filled with gratefulness for your prayers, especially during these troubled times here in Hong Kong. From the headlines in the news lately, I can see that Hong Kong is not the only one experiencing troubled times. Peace has become the world’s fight.

This Bible verse comes to mind in Luke 12:29 – 30

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after and your Father knoweth that ye need these things.

In other words, do not worry your father knows what you need.

Byron & Emily Barrett

Whether you are pursuing a Biblical Certificate, Bachelor or Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, or Master of Divinity, we have a new resource worth a gander – E.C. Bragg Digital Library. Part of the college experience is developing a love for lifelong learning, and who better to learn from than a veteran professor of Theology – Dr. Ervene C. Bragg. 

The E.C. Bragg Digital Library at Trinity College of Florida consists of an online digital collection of the lectures, notes and writings of Dr. E.C. Bragg. This online library allows researchers access to re-mastered audio lectures on a variety of theological topics including Systematic Theology, Pauline Theology, Prophecy, Christian Apologetics, History of Missions, Christian Psychology, Hermeneutics, Harmony of the Gospels, and Comparative Religions. The E.C. Bragg Digital Library also features Dr. Bragg’s full-length text, Pauline Theology book, which takes a deep dive into the biblical teachings of the Apostle Paul.  

Dr. Bragg taught at Trinity for 55 plus years and was the only professor to teach on all five campuses of the school. People have recognized him as the longest standing professor of theology anywhere in the United States and he estimated that he taught around 23,000 students. Dr. Bragg also served as Vice-President of Trinity College and was on the Board of Trustees from 1949 until his death.

For more library resources, visit the CCU Online Library Page

James Travis

Senior Pastor, Saar Fellowship

Bahrain

Graduating Class of 2019

My name is James Travis and I pastor an international church in the Kingdom of Bahrain1. I have been studying with CCU for four years now, and am eight weeks away from submitting my last piece of work in the M.Div. program.CCU has been, and continues to be, a huge blessing for me as I have walked the path from pastoral intern to senior pastor, and God has consistently used the classes I have taken to impact my ministry life, and personal life too.The ordering of classes has been something so providential that it could not have been planned. Early on I took lots of Biblical Leadership classes, and these helped tremendously as a pastoral intern when dealing with people and all that comes with our fallen human condition. Someone once told me that people are the best and worst part of the ministry, but having taken Biblical Leadership classes I was better prepared to deal with that!As I began to serve as assistant pastor, God ordered my study to focus on the -ologies; Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. Becoming more pastoral and didactic in my role at church came with the need to truly understand what I was expositing and teaching to those God had put under my care, and the classes I took could not have prepared me any better, both practically and academically.As I then transitioned into the senior pastor role, my classes covered topics like Church History, multiple Counseling areas, and two classes of Greek. These again came at the time I really needed them. On the one hand my exegetical study was going deeper each week and the need to understand the original languages became more evident, and at the same time I was spending more time with people in both formal and informal counseling situations. The Divine timing of taking classes was just incredible and truly shows what a personal interest our awesome God takes in our individual lives.CCU has been a faithful friend with whom I have walked the last four years during my transition from pastoral intern to senior pastor. I have been challenged, convicted, and comforted exactly when those things were needed, and there is no doubt in my mind that God works through CCU, its staff, its students, and the classes that are offered here.