Greetings from Arizona,
We’ve experienced wonderful blessings during the beginning of our 25-26 school year at Indigenous Bible College (IBC).
Connecting with Reliant Ministry Partners
Thank you for praying for my support raising time from mid-July to mid-August. The Colorado trip allowed for a number of beautiful opportunities to connect with donors and retrace areas while driving through Northern Arizona and Southern Colorado. The last time I was in that area was back in 1984 while cycling Coast-to-Coast. It was special to be there again.
4-week statistics while on the support raising trail:
- 3,750+ miles driven, which included driving from Indiana to Arizona in a Penske moving truck which contained my belongings that had been in storage since I had moved to the Netherlands in 2003.
- 33 appointments with 43 donors
- 13 different places to lay my head. I’m so grateful for all the folks who hosted me.
- 5 Reliant-partnered churches where I spoke on 2 Sundays and 2 Wednesdays in Indiana – God is good! • 2 new Reliant regular giving donors, plus a number of special gifts
- 1 flight (AZ to IN) and 1 borrowed vehicle for my 17 days of traveling all over Indiana
- Priceless: to cross paths with long-time friends and ministry partners, as well as meeting new folks along the way
IBC Student Body
’25-’26 Freshman Class
Thank you for praying along with us for admissions and fall enrollment. God blessed us with a freshman class of 10 new students along with 2 re-admitted students (those who began their degree-seeking between 2 and 3 years ago) and 16 returning students, which has given us the largest full-time on-campus student body since before the pandemic in 2020.
The 28 students are having a fantastic start to the school year, building relationships and friendships, diving deep with one another in their spiritual formation groups and growing as the Body of Christ. It’s a blessing to witness God moving in their lives. What a joy!
Fitness Center
It had been 3 years since the vision was cast to have a Fitness Center on campus, which involved transforming an old storage building into a space where the students could enjoy exercising.
We had our ribbon-cutting in early September and it’s been in full use ever since. We praise God for His goodness in providing the donated funds to buy all new equipment and the volunteer teams over several summers to complete the renovations. The design the Lord gave me turned out very well for outfitting the approximately 475 square feet with different types of equipment, mirrors and spaces for stretching, free-weights, medicine balls, weights, as well as, a treadmill and bike for cardiovascular health.
My roles in ministry
The class I’m teaching this semester is Principles of Verbal Communication for sophomore students. The students are learning and excelling. Related to Financial Aid, I have assisted all of our students in pursuing Federal Student Aid through a Pell Grant as well as helping students seek tribal scholarships. It’s a joy to help them in striving for the goal of graduating debt free. In addition, I am Life Coaching a freshman woman who has already proven herself in the classroom through steady and dedicated study habits as well as wonderful management of her time. Each week she’s glowing with excitement for all the Lord is doing in her life.
Personal
In September my family got together here in Arizona for my dad’s Celebration of Life. It was wonderful to rejoice in the man he was and tremendous life he lived for over 90 years.
Regarding my health, I’m very thankful to share that I have had normal calcium labs for about 18 months and my kidney function has been slowly improving. I will have an in-hospital sleep study in November to determine if there is something that might assist with controlling my fatigue, stamina and voice hoarseness. Your prayers are deeply appreciated. Lord willing, after 4.5 years I’d like to be able to return to full health.
Please join me in praying for:
- Serve Day on November 7th – that the IBC students will make an impact in the neighborhood where our school is located by serving our neighbors in practical ways.
- Friendships and kingdom conversations that will result from the Trunk or Treat event hosted on campus (10/31) that over 150 neighbors in our immediate area were invited to.
- For students who are applying for tribal scholarships to meet all the deadlines to receive a spring scholarship. • For the students to do their best in the final 6 weeks of the semester as they continue to grow in their faith and experience life transformation.
I am so grateful for your prayers and financial support. God growing His Kingdom and changing lives is possible because of all of you.
Please let me know how I can be praying for you.
Thank you and God bless,
Linda
Give securely online: http://www.reliant.org/linda.kitchen
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