Where have you been using the word hope? Many of us have been using it lately in relation to the pandemic. “I hope we can get together soon. I hope ______ doesn’t get sick. I hope the next announcement allows us to do _____. I hope we can travel soon. I hope the vaccine ends all this. ” At the end of a long February with no real change in public health measures and the coldest weeks of the year we keep having to face reality. Constantly going through this cycle of putting our hope in our circumstances is proving to be a sure way to be disappointed.
Last week we asked students some questions and gave them a chance to reflect on the year so far. Here are some of their responses.
It is so important and noticed when it is lacking. It's hard with COVID but you can still connect and grow in community. Making the best of it together is beautiful. - Teigan
The most challenging thing for me has been disciplining myself to do my reading and assignments and all the daily spiritual disciplines we learn in Christian Life class. - Rendell
This year is different because of the pandemic. Its changed the way we live and interact. What have you learned about connection and community?
It is so important and noticed when it is lacking. It's hard with COVID but you can still connect and grow in community. Making the best of it together is beautiful. - Teigan
I came into the year with a lot of really hard and big questions. It has been challenging to fight through finding and accepting the answers.Through my constant questioning in class I finally got answers I was looking for. They are the same questions my non-Christian friends ask me first and I have some answers now so yay! - AC
I have learned a lot more about who God is and just how he made everything work together. It's pretty incredible. - Austin
What would you say to someone who is considering Mount Carmel?
If they are looking for a place to grow in faith and set a foundation for their life then Mount Carmel is a great place to do that with a community of people who want the same thing. - Trinity
Where have you been using the word hope? Many of us have been using it lately in relation to the pandemic. “I hope we can get together soon. I hope ______ doesn’t get sick. I hope the next announcement allows us to do _____. I hope we can travel soon. I hope the vaccine ends all this. ” At the end of a long February with no real change in public health measures and the coldest weeks of the year we keep having to face reality. Constantly going through this cycle of putting our hope in our circumstances is proving to be a sure way to be disappointed.
Pastor John Mark Comer said in a recent devotional that disappointment is our friend. It is an emotional signal from our body that our hope has been misplaced. It is a reminder that our hope isn’t just that bad things won’t happen, or that things will get better. That isn’t what Jesus promised. Hope is not just positivity, or denial, or wishful thinking. Hope is the absolute expectation of coming good based on the person and promises of God.
Our disappointment, pain and suffering are a training ground for developing the virtue of hope. For centuries hope has been one of the marks of followers of Jesus. This time is a great opportunity to evaluate and practice correctly placing our hope. And so as Paul said in Romans 15:5 a few thousand years ago we commision you with this verse and reminder.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit.
Our hope is in his presence with us now in our troubles. We rest on a deep confidence in his wisdom, love and involvement in our life and world.
Our hope is that God uses our trouble to form us into people who are like Jesus. Challenging circumstances are the training ground where Christlikeness is formed.
Our hope is in the return of Jesus and that he will make all things new. We surrender to God’s future over our own plans and control.
In Christ, Ken Marshman
President Mount Carmel Bible College
After over a decade of amazing work at Mount Carmel, Clint Porrit is moving on to a ministry position in another organization. Stay tuned to our next Short Report to hear more of what is next for Clint. In the mean time visit the careers section of the website if you are interested in learning more and applying for a staff position starting fall 2021.
This semester we have still been doing classes in person with no online classes to date. That has been a huge blessing. Even though other areas like trips and service opportunities have been a challenge, having that foundation of teaching time in person with students has allowed us to connect with them and to see them grow. We are working hard to be creative within the health measures to build community. Unable to have our regular offsite relationships retreat, we transformed our building into a socially distanced ski lodge and hosted the course here. It was a great week for students and staff.
Do you know a student who could use a nudge toward a year of Bible study, service, and Christian community within a local discipleship program? Help them keep their faith moving forward! We have a limited number of $1000 scholarships available for students who enroll this fall.
Visit mountcarmel.net/scholarship or contact the office for more details on how to nominate a student.
Early Bird Application Deadline (free textbooks!): March 15th
Open House: April 6th (Sign up here)
Scholarship Application Deadline: April 15th
Graduation: April 24th
