ENGLISH CORNER BEGINS: Great Expectations

Last semester English corner started with about 20 people. My hope this semester was that we would meet and exceed that number - at 6:15 the students started coming... and they kept coming... and coming... and coming. The waiting room was at capacity. The final count was 40 students! But that was not the greatest part of the night. The students were excited - the teachers were excited: The atmosphere was electric. All of the students worked their way trough the stations, until ending up in the large group area that more resembled a pep-rally than an English class.
What was different this year? As we walked in the southern most part of Fielder hall, we walked in past a bulletin board that was filled with prayer cards for English Corner - Our church is committed to prayer for this ministry. International people came in with crinkled, worn brochures...ones that were passed out by our church family. Our teachers came out in force...some came in from work, some from work and then errands... but they were here and they were ready. The difference: the Lord was at work in and through his church and as a result, He was there!
As I think back over all of the preparation that has gone into this, I am reminded that "spiritual fruit requires spiritual preparation." Prayer must be the "boiler in the basement." You don't see it as you walk around the building, but without it, it makes for a cold lifeless structure. Prayer connects us in spirit to the Lord who saved us, and gives us the warmth and power that we need to do the "spiritual" works he has called us to.

Let's continue to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God!

For the Prize,
James Biesiadecki
Mission Pastor, Southern Hills Baptist Church