 Good morning and welcome to the monthly mentoring session. I want to thank Charles for joining in and Anita as well. Welcome this mentoring session and also to our faculty. Thank you for joining us. Before we begin our mentoring session, can we just pause for a word of prayer? Can I ask Anita to read us in prayer, please? Sure, Pastor. Thank you. Good morning, Father. Thank you for this day, Lord. Thank you for this beautiful morning, Lord. As we gather here to learn from your word, Lord, to ask the questions, Lord, please help us to understand Lord and I would like to give each one of us into your hand, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Anita. This time is open for you all to shoot out your questions. It can be anything regarding what you're studying in your courses. If you have any doubts, if you have any questions of what you've been studying from the courses of what you've already studied, you can ask those doubts and questions or also it can be questions and doubts pertaining to your life and ministry or to something that you have been reading in the Word of God. Some clarity you need, some more revelation through light that you need regarding scripture passages versus so you can ask that now. But before we take on your questions, last mentoring session, we had Samuel who had asked us two questions and we answered one of them and we did not have time to complete or answer the other questions, so we'll take that on. Samuel is here and also Divya's question, so she said, so we'll go with Samuel's question first. The first question is also realize that there are more seemingly complex topics out there that we have not covered in our semesters so far, at least not intentionally, such as charismatic versus non-charismatic, Calvinism, Lutheran. Yes, there are numerous dogmas that may not be in the scope of our BTH course, but having some sessions on some of the most prevalent ones might be helpful. So this is Samuel's query in his question, so I'll ask Pastashis to please help in answering this, please. Thank you. It's true that there are so many of these denominational-specific issues. Some would be, I guess, movement-specific, as the Church journeyed through the centuries, God raised up different men and through their lives different things were released and what is generally released through a man eventually becomes a movement and that movement eventually becomes some form of an organization or a denomination. So what we have attempted to do is to cover some of this in our second year course on, I mean, what's it called? Christian history admissions or something like that. It's called, I forget the exact name. It's a second year course and we use that book, Revivals, Visitations, Moves or Guns. So we kind of cover some of that history starting from the 1st century AD. We try to journey through the centuries all the way till the 21st century. And so in that journey, we could only, like you said, touch on a few things and we definitely did not get into the nitty-gritty of various movements. We mentioned a few, you know, but we didn't get into the details and neither did we do a comparative assessment of the movements that emerged or rather the organizations or denominations that emerged from the movements. We kind of, we spoke about the movements, you know, whether it's the holiness movement, John and Charles Visley, or prior to that, the Puritan movement. And then we talked about the Pentecostal, which of course was the Azuzastri Revival. Subsequent to that, we mentioned the later reign which then gave birth to the Charismatic movement. So we kind of touched on these movements, but we didn't really talk about the denominations that emerged from there. For example, from the Pentecostal movement or the outpouring, we, you know, there were the two major denominations, the Pentecostals, the Assemblies of God. From the later reign came the Charismatic or from, you know, Martin Luther came, emerged the Lutheran and from what John Calvin did, Calvinism and so on. So we didn't actually talk about the denominations per se. So, yeah, I guess those studying those details and looking at them in comparison, pros and cons, positives, negatives would be pretty exhaustive, like maybe a course by itself. So we intentionally avoided that, but our goal was to kind of give our students a good historical perspective, starting from the first century A.D. till the 21st. Like this is where the church is journeyed and hopefully with that as a foundation, those who are interested could, you know, do there an exploratory study or research on specific topics that might interest them. So, yeah, so what I would encourage is students who are interested in particular areas based on their background and so on, so forth, you know, definitely could do some self-study, self-research, exploration. And yeah, and then if there are things that need to be discussed, we could, but it's pretty vast because there are so many denominations and so many different streams that have emerged over the centuries. Yeah. Thank you, Pasha. Sashis, did that help answer your question, Sanu? Yes, it's possible. Thank you so much. Thank you. So we'll go on to the next question, which we could not answer in the last mentoring session. It was from Divya. Divya says that in John chapter 14 was 12. Jesus said, truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I'm going to the father. So Divya's question is, what are the greater works referred to here? So I'll just, you know, help answering this question and the other faculty can also add their inputs. So it'll be basically, you know, if organs have been surgically removed from our bodies and we pray for that person and the organ is restored and functioning perfectly and well, that can be one of the greater works. The other thing can also be if you're born with just, you know, with an organ that's missing your body, for example, if you're born just with one kidney instead of two, you pray for somebody and, you know, their second kidney is restored in their body and it's working perfectly, functioning well. That can also be referred to greater works. Or if you have metal implants in your body and, you know, you just pray and it disappears and the body part is functioning perfectly without the metal implant. That can also be considered. And, you know, if you have limbs, for example, your hand, one hand is shorter or longer than the other or your leg, one hand leg is shorter or longer than the other and you pray and it all comes to perfect alignment. It could also be considered as greater works. Also, some people born with, you know, with no fingers with just, you know, and toes, you pray and then, you know, their fingers and toes grow out. And the other thing is now we, since we have internet and access to telephone and various other means communicating to people who are living far away and we're also listening to sermons or to, you know, preachers who are having their Sunday services or their Bible studies in different parts of the world and we just tune in and log in and we just listen to them and when they're praying, we just receive healing or we're ministered to. There's bondages that are broken, strongholds with delivered, you know, that could also be considered as greater works, okay? So any of our faculty would like to add in anything more on this, Divya's question, you could... I would like to add just a thought, Pastor Serena. Yes, please go ahead, Pastor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for that question, Divya. So I'll just share my thoughts. Here, when Jesus is talking about greater works, he's not only talking about... He's not talking about the sense or the essence of the Americans, but it's also in terms of volume. So for example, like after, you know, after the Apostle Peter, you know, he preaches his first sermon and there are about 3,000 people who, you know, accept Jesus. Now, if you look at it over three and a half years, what Jesus, the ministry that Jesus did, he did not probably reach three and a half thousand or people like... So if you look at it, it's... What he meant was the church would do more than what he alone did in his three and a half years ministry. So even if you look at now, you know, the church has just spread out so much and, you know, more in volumes with ministry, so much more in volume. Of course, the miracles that Jesus did also was, you know, raising the dead and walking on water. Those were wonderful miracles. But here I think the Lord Jesus is also emphasizing the aspect of volume and the works being more that as believers, we will do. And when we look at it, we see that, you know, what Jesus did in three and a half years. And we look at what the apostles did and what is going on now. The volume is greater than what Jesus did. So I just want to share that. Thank you so much. Thank you, Pastor Paul. Did help answer your question, Divya. Thank you. So time now is open for the others to ask your questions. You could unmute your mics and you can ask your question or you can post your question in the chat section and our faculty is here and we will try answering those questions. Time is open, so please ask your doubts, your questions, or you can even post in the chat section. Okay, even as we're waiting for people to ask your questions or to post it in the chat section, would you like to just share? Okay, Samuel says, a recommended journey for a Bible college graduate. Okay, I'd like to ask our faculty to answer this, please. Samuel's question is, he wants a recommended journey for a Bible college graduate. Right, it's that, so throw some more light on what you want exactly, Samuel. We'll help us. Sure, Pastor. So I'm in my final semester, I think the final semester, I'm just wondering, so, and probably some of us who already have a student, I think it will strengthen the course, but I think my thoughts are also, Sorry, Samuel, I'd just like to interrupt here. Sorry to interrupt you. I just couldn't catch what you're saying because I think there is, the internet connection is not really good, so I'm not able to catch what you said entirely. It was breaking in between. Did any of the other faculty hear clearly what he said would help in? I'll put it on the chat. I mean, oh, okay, okay. Yes, yes, that'll help us, Samuel. Yeah, I think I was trying to guess what Sam was wanting to, maybe like, what should the journey be from after the students graduate? What should they do? Well, let's see. I think Sam will type it in the chat. Sure, sure. Yes, in essence, yeah. Yeah, I can just share my thoughts and then, you know, so different students will take, you know, will of course make, take different parts in their journey after they graduate. It all depends on where they are in life and what they're going to do, what God's calling them to do after this, you know. So some, and I can just speak very practically from what has happened the last, since the time we started on Bible College here, some students will go back, who have come from existing ministries, will go back and serve in those ministries. So they may have, you know, they may already be serving in a local church or in some ministry setting. So they would continue there and they would take on, you know, more responsibilities and so on. So some would go back to those who came from those ministries. Some may go and start a new ministry, you know. So they've got this training and they may start a new ministry with, say, their existing church or denomination. They go and plant a church. Some may, you know, we would, some may work with us and go and start a work. So they would choose to say, you know, we'd like to work with all people's church and we'd like to start an APC church in our region, in our place. So some have done that. And that's how many of our outreach churches have done. Some may even go into a professional place of work. So it's not that everyone who graduates from Bible college goes into what we call as full-time ministry. They go into professional work. But the spiritual learning that they have gained is going to help them be effective to continue the professional journey and at the same time be useful for the kingdom of God, you know, in whatever way they've called. And a few have gone to study further. So it's kind of different, you know, each one is, people have taken different parts depending on what God has called them to do, what opportunities are available. What we are doing is, at least one more thought before I close, is that we will be sending out, we did this towards the end of last year before students graduated, but we'll be sending out another one, another email where we want to proactively help people start, help our Bible college graduates start ministries. Those who have a vision to do that. Some people may have a vision. They want to start a ministry somewhere which were part of the world. And so we want to work with them, facilitate that process, and assist them at least, you know, for an initial number of years so that they could build and then become self-sustaining. So we called it the church plan to accelerate a program that is to help them plan church. It doesn't have to be exclusively church planting. It could be some related ministry, you know, church planting plus. So we'll send an email out. We'll have the forms for students to fill before they graduate. And we can help facilitate that process as well. Thank you. Thank you, Parashish. So basically, Sam, just knowing what is your calling in life, where God has called you, what He has purposed you to do. If you kind of, you know, you're not have much clarity on that, then you can pray and ask for the leading of the Holy Spirit. And once you know the area where God has called you to, minister, whether it's children, youth, or it's evangelism, being sorry, whether it's being an evangelist or a missionary or a pastor, you know, just pursue that call. And the next thing is you would just wait on God and He will just open doors for you and just step into the right place where God has, you know, ordained that God has ordained for you and served there. And even as you do God just give you the, enable you with the skills that you need, the grace, the strength, just knowing that, you know, even if things are challenging and difficult, you know, if God has called you to be in that place, ministry is not a matter of convenience, but it's a command and God will strengthen you with the grace. But if it's also, you have a calling to work in the professional world, in the business world, then, you know, you could continue doing that, but also God will open doors in ways that you can minister to people. So it's important for us to know our calling and just pursue it. And even as we do that, you know, obedience, God will just open doors and it will just be a wonderful journey and you will see how God orchestrates things for you and how He enables you, strengthens you, and it will be a good journey and a good learning experience. Did that help? Yeah, Pastor, would you like to add one more thing? Yes, go ahead, Pastor. Okay. That's just one more thought. We're also setting up what we're calling as Pastors and Ministers Fellowship International, so P-A-M-F-I. Again, we'll send you information out on that. Basically, that is to provide a place for fellowship for those who are in the ministry. And we're doing it especially for our Bible College graduates. Of course, it will be open to others as well, but we're doing it especially for our Bible College graduates so that after they graduate, there'll be some platform, some place where we can continue to provide spiritual input, fellowship, and as well as support them in their journey, in the ministry. So we'll announce that as well before the semester's over. Thank you, Pastor. Did that help, Sam? See your thumbs up so I hope that answered your question. Yes. Thank you, Samu. Thank you. Thank you, Samu. We'll go on with the next question from Divya. She says in John chapter 20 verses 21 to 23 when Jesus appeared to his disciples and Jesus said to them, peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Verse 22. And with that, he breathed on them and said, receive the Holy Spirit. Verse 23, if you forgive anyone since their sins are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Can you please explain verse 23? So again, one of our faculty, please take up that Divya's question and help answering that question, please. Pastor Nancy, can you help? Yes. Thank you, Pastor Selena. Good morning, everyone. So nice to connect with you on this call. I'll just share my thoughts. But I'm, you know, they're very, very few. So if my other colleagues can help, that would also be great. From verse 20, this, actually the couple of verses from verse 19 onwards is when Jesus is actually commissioning the disciples. And, you know, he's speaking to them, encouraging them to step out and, you know, go minister and, you know, reach out to people. And this is after his resurrection. So my understanding is, you know, he is just encouraging and empowering them. So he's telling them that they have the authority. So it does not necessarily mean that they are above God because here it sounds like if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. So it may sound like, you know, they are sort of functioning in that position like God, you know, but then that's not what it is because we know that in the rest of scripture, it's ultimately God who is the judge. However, the essence would be that they can go out with authority. So that is my understanding. But yes, I leave it open for my colleagues to add or even correct me. Thank you. Thank you pastor Nancy. Anyone else like to add on what Nancy has said or help answering this question? Yeah, I'll just add a few thoughts here. So verse 23, it doesn't mean, of course, like Nancy was saying, it doesn't mean that we as human beings forgive or not forgive people. I mean, we don't hold people. We don't determine that that's there's only one who can forgive and that's God. But so that's because now we have to interpret that verse in the light of the entirety of scripture. There's only one who can forgive and that's God. So then the question is, what role do we play as Christ's messengers in enabling others to experience forgiveness or keeping them from experiencing forgiveness? What role do we play? It's not in, we don't pay the price for it. It's Christ who paid the price for it. We don't make the decision on it. It's God who makes the decision on it. But what role do we play? In the light of all that we know in scripture, the role that we play is in bringing the message of forgiveness. That is the gospel. So when we bring the gospel to people, we're actually enabling them to receive forgiveness for their sins. We're giving them the opportunity to receive forgiveness. But if we do not bring the gospel to them in one sense, we're keeping them from receiving forgiveness for their sins. So that's how we should understand verse 23. Thank you, Pastor Ashish. And thank you, Pastor Nancy. Did that help answer your question, Divya? Okay. Thank you for your question, Divya. And thank you, Pastor Nancy and Pastor Ashish, for answering that question. We'll move on to Elisha's question. Elisha's question is what is happening in Turkey and Syria? The earthquakes have anything to do with the end times? Yes, we read in scripture that the end times, you will hear of all of these things, rumors of war, persecution, and earthquakes, famine, will be widespread. So, yes, it's pointing towards the end times. That's what we read in scripture. And we also know that these things are what is going to proceed at the end time. So, yes, it could be an indicator. Any of our other faculty would like to add on that, please? Anyone else? Thank you, Pastor Nancy. Matthew chapter 24 verse 7. Okay. Did that help answering your question, Elisha? Thank you. Any more questions, doubts you have regarding what you're studying? Anything pertaining to life and ministry? Please feel free to unmute your mics and ask or post them on the chat section. Okay. If there are no questions, then till people ask questions or post their questions in the chat section, would any of you like to share something exciting about your ministry, what God has been doing, some of the greater works that He has been doing in your ministry, in and through you? Greater works means not just really super great, but even something that is small, but can be considered as great because it's the work of God, it's the work of the Holy Spirit. You would like to share that. Some answer to prayer, somebody you prayed for, something that God has been leading you and doing things through your life. Some encouragement that you have brought into somebody's life has just changed the course of their life or given them meaning and purpose, like to just share some of your testimonies about your life and ministry, anyone? I'm sure the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, so there's a lot that He's been doing. You'd like to share something? Yes, Pastor Selena. I'm excited about one testimony, so I'll share that. So just this Sunday right after service, one of the students who worships at our location had come asking for prayer and he has taken up some freelance projects while he's studying and then he was sharing how, though he's done the work, the payment hasn't come through, like it was put on hold, put on hold and then, you know, it was, now he was sounding very discouraged that he finished the work, but then they didn't keep their promise and so we just prayed about that matter together and from what he was sharing, there have been several delays. So even when I was going to pray, I was so, very honestly, I was in the natural, I was thinking, oh, how is this going to come through fast? But then I told him, okay, let's believe God, let's trust God, let's pray, let's ask God for a miracle for that money to come into your bank account. So, you know, I just extended my faith and so did he and it's amazing. Last night, somewhere around 10 o'clock or something, he sent me a message with great excitement. He's like, I'm amazed. I got the money. It's coming to my bank account. So I'm really blessed. It's amazing how God works and answers prayers. So I'm sure he's happy about it, but I'm feeling so blessed and excited to see how God answers prayer. So yeah, I praise God for that. Yes, please God. Thank you, Pastor Nancy. It's wonderful to hear that, Destiny. Thank you for sharing. We have a question from Elisha. It says, how should a Christian lady who has never been married, 47 now, has been depressed and discouraged by her circumstance be helped? Okay, so what you could do, how you could help her is basically connect her with, you know, somebody who could just pray with her, somebody who can give her professional counseling help, maybe another lady, an older lady who can, you know, give her some professional counseling help to help overcome her depression, help her to see things in more clarity and more light with regard to that God has a plan for her, you know, and his plans are always good and, you know, his delays are not denials. Delays could be something that, you know, has happened from our end. So some things that can help her set right things in her own life. And also maybe as, you know, the elders in the church, you know, you could get her connected to some potential people who are looking for marriage proposals if a person is interested in getting married now, you know, could help her find some good match or, you know, suggest some good Christian matrimonial sites which can help her find a good partner. But basically just help her deal with her own situation first before she jumps into another relationship, just help her to see things in more clarity, you know, maybe just totally trust and depend on God. That's very important, because once we trust and depend on God, our relationship with God is strong, you know, there's more clarity about what is happening in our life, why things are happening, because when we go to God, he does speak, he does answer the Holy Spirit, he does, you know, help us out. He's our helper, he's our guide, he's our counselor. So they need to, you know, get connected back in their relationship with God stronger and deeper so that they have a better perspective, you know, about what is happening in their life. Also the word of God that we just minister, break through the strongholds, the bondages, the depression, the weirdness that is there, and just knowing that, you know, God has a plan, he will do things, he will orchestrate things in their lives. So some of these things can be done and can be, you know, helpful for the person. I think Divya says we have been praying for an end, okay, that's another question. Okay, so yeah, this is what you could do. Anyone else would like to add what I've said? Would please add your thoughts and insights under the other faculty? Okay, I'll share a few thoughts past Selena. Thank you, Laisha, for that question. As past Selena shared, if she can connect with people who can guide her and particularly guide her through God's word, that will be wonderful and of course doing practical things like looking out if she desires to get married. That would be helpful as well. But two key things that I want to share is that, you know, hopefully as she starts from the word, it will help her also find her security and identity in God, you know, that way. Yes, there is a delay, but then as past Selena said, being strong in our faith and being strong in the Lord, that is a very important thing. It's a very key thing that will help her in this journey and particularly overcome depression and discouragement at this time. Yeah, and also just being obedient to God's call in this phase of her life and giving herself to the things that God is calling her to do. So that way what happens is you're focusing your attention on, you know, serving God, serving his people and there's a joy and a satisfaction which comes through that as well, which is helpful. So then, you know, the mind doesn't wonder and she wouldn't focus on thoughts that cause discouragement. So I think being active and serving the Lord is also a very helpful thing that one can do while waiting. I just wanted to add these thoughts. Thank you. Thank you, Pastor Nancy. Did that help, Elisha? Thank you for your question and Elisha, did it help? Okay. Divya has shared a testimony. She says, you know, we had been praying for an elderly couple who were asking prayers for cancer relapse. What happened to them and small signs of it in their body? But by God's grace, the biopsy results turned negative. Praise God. So this is greater works that he's been doing through you, Divya. So praise God for what he's been doing. Yes. Thank you for sharing. Anyone else? Anyone else would like to share testimonies? You could ask questions, doubts. Anyone would like to share your testimony that God has been doing? Anything that you've been learning, any insights? Any questions you all have? Okay. Please feel free to share. It can be something very simple, but something that God has been doing, something that God has been teaching you all, impacting your lives. Or you can even share something that God has been doing in and through your church, how he's been leading you through the Bible study, family, any questions anyone else has or any doubts? Maybe we can wrap up if there are no questions. Yes, Pastor. Okay. If there are no further questions or doubts, we'll bring this mentoring session to an end. Thank you all for joining the call today. The session, can I just ask one of you to please lead us in prayer, please? Anyone can lead us in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you that we're able to gather tonight. Lord, you see the many questions we have and unanswered questions, Father, that take our mind and the world. But we thank you, Lord, that we're able to have a safe peace for days to be answered. We thank you that we're able to share. We thank you so much for the different faculty members, pastors, Lord, we thank you for them. We thank you for the student body and we pray that we will continue to grow in your name and in love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Amen. Thank you so much, Taisha. Thank you all for joining the call today and have a blessed day ahead and a blessed week as well. Thank you, everyone. God bless.