THERE IS A HUNGER FOR TRUTH on the campus of Free Will Baptist Bible College. The last several years have been times of intense growth, not only numerically, but in the number of students excited about doing the Lord’s work with a servant’s heart.
Christ shared His compassion for the multitudes when He said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38).
Because many have been faithful to pray for laborers, God is opening doors for those willing to obey His call to go. Christ said that His work was to do the will of His Father and to finish that work. When listeners claimed that there was yet time before the harvest, He admonished them, “Behold, …Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).
From Tennessee to Tajikistan
Thirty-five FWBBC students went to Mississippi during fall break in October 2005 to assist in Gulf Coast hurricane recovery efforts. In March 2006, two groups of FWBBC students gave up their spring break. One group went on a mission trip to New York City. The other, a group of nine FWBBC students and four faculty/staff members, traveled to Central Asia.
Why would FWBBC students, staff and faculty raise $3,300 each, give up their spring break, and travel halfway around the world? The answer is found in what is taught in classrooms and preached in chapel about lifting up our eyes and looking on the fields.
What our faculty teaches and what our students learn sends us into all the world, because we take what Jesus said seriously. We believe that the Great Commission is not just for pastors and missionaries—it’s also for laymen...like me.
In May 2004, I visited Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as part of a construction team. This group of men assisted in building educational space for teaching and training disciples. In 10 short days, many tasks were completed, but more than that, relationships were forged and the vision of the harvest field introduced. A group of college students led English camps during July that year and returned with the same vision.
During the spring of 2005, Free Will Baptist women from the United States attended the Women’s Prayer Conference in Kazakhstan. They came back with a burning vision. Students at FWBBC caught that vision and raised over $10,000 to help start churches in Tajikistan.
Harvest Prayers
My family and a group of FWBBC students conducted English camps last summer in Kazakhstan. During my second visit, individuals who remembered me told me how thankful they were to see me again and reminded me that they had prayed for me and for the Church in the United States. This region of the world is a praying region!
So, why would FWBBC students, staff and faculty raise $3,300 each, give up their spring break, and travel halfway around the world to Central Asia? The answer is that FWBBC classrooms echo Jesus’ words, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
We go because of the believers in the former Soviet Union who live in the Central Asia region (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan).
Every Student, Every Nation
The recent trip to Central Asia over spring break allowed those from FWBBC to see what can be done with money given to fulfill the Great Commission. While there were times of ministry and service during the trip, the primary purpose was to expand our vision for the Kingdom of God.
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Rev. 7:9).
That verse from Revelation drives FWBBC students, staff, and faculty to leave home, give up their spring break, and go to every nation. This is God’s place; this is God’s plan; we are God’s people.
What our faculty teaches and what our students learn sends us into all the world, because we take what Jesus said seriously. We believe that the Great Commission is not just for pastors and missionaries—it’s also for laymen like me.
Mike Walker chairs the business department at Free Will Baptist Bible College. For more information about Free Will Baptist Bible College, visit the website at www.fwbbc.edu.
PHOTO: (Row 1) Elijah Walker, Amanda Tackett, Heath Hubbard; (Row 2) Wendy Walker, Shane Brown; (Row 3) Michael Walker, Katherine Walker, Jeremy Skiles, Josh Detherage
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