Jackson Campus

I am finishing up my last semester here at New Tribes Bible Institute. These past two years have been the most painful, stretching, growing, and transforming time of my entire life. The privilege that God has given me to study His Word for two years of my life, I can never thank Him enough. I would not have rather spent my time doing anything else.

As many of you know, I have a definite heart and interest in missions. The Lord has really opened my eyes to the need for the gospel to be brought to every tribe and tongue and nation. There is nothing that I would rather be a part of then having the privilege to tell others about the life that I have found in Christ and share with them the gospel that is so dear to my heart.

New Tribes focuses on unreached people groups in their missions endeavors. During my time here I have really been enlightened about the need there is for the light of Christ in places where they have never heard.

I feel like the last two years have been like drinking out of a fire hose. -- I can’t possibly soak it all up in two years. But the knowledge that I have gained, I wouldn’t trade for the world. God has blessed me beyond belief, and I am so excited to see how He will use me next.

Today I graduated from New Tribes Bible Institute. Without hesitation I can say these last two years at Bible School have been some of the best of my life.

So much has changed in my thinking in regard to God's Word. I mean, I can hardly recognize the guy who first walked through these doors 24 months ago. It was two years filled with failures, triumphs, foolish decisions and meaningful friendships. Looking back, although most times I did not realize it, the overarching theme was God's faithfulness.

I have been asked several times what I would change if I could do it all over again. My answer quite simply is, "I would do it all over again and I probably wouldn't change anything."

These failures that sometimes I want to change is where I saw God work the most. Indeed, the most growth I have seen take place in my life is through my failures. Perhaps I am beginning to realize more and more that my own inadequacy is the point, because God alone is adequate.

When my pride overcomes me, God is faithful. When I stumble yet again as I attempt to carry myself, God is faithful. When time after time I fail to learn my need for dependence, God is faithful.

So I can leave New Tribes Bible Institute confident, not in my own ability or wisdom, but in God's faithfulness -- that God will see me through.

So it’s been two and a half months that I’ve been studying at New Tribes Bible Institute in Michigan, USA. One word – Wow!

Classes have been unreal. Everyday I’m learning and understanding more of God’s word, which is incredible.

The teachers here are great, really down to earth and most of them have served out on the field as missionaries. They have a lot of experience and knowledge to share and they make a point of being involved in our growth and development both in our studies and as people. It’s such a privilege to have God using them to invest in our lives.

I didn’t come to New Tribes with a definite intention of going into tribal missions afterwards, but to gain a really solid Bible education – and now that I’m here it’s beyond how good I was expecting it to be.

Yet being here and learning about God and who He is, His heart for people – I can’t imagine doing anything else -- to be involved in God’s plan of sharing the Gospel to all nations – awesome. And that is not me being a good person, it’s simply me being obedient to God. And I cannot be obedient in my own strength. It’s not even about God giving me strength, but God showing His strength through me.

It is such an awesome opportunity to be over here, and I’m thanking God for His investment in my growth and training here at New Tribes Bible Institute.

Kate Wallace's testimony >>

Summer is over and this week our Student Leaders are trickling in. Tomorrow night we kick off our Training Program for them. This is an intense time of training for these men and women who will be asked to take on leadership roles within the student body.

As a student here at NTBI years ago, the Leadership Training week was a highlight of my two years here.

• Pray that their hearts and minds will be open to all that God has to teach them about servant leadership this coming week.
• Pray that we as staff would continue to draw near to Him as our Wisdom.

This is all new for me and I’m acutely aware of my neediness. I’m so thankful that it’s about a Person, my Jesus “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…” (Col 2:3-4 ESV)

Martha Hatton
blog: www.ntm.org/martha_hatton