What the Bakers have been doing 

 
We can finally breathe! We feel like we have had a marathon swim and can only now put our feet on the bottom and rest.

We have had our fair share of challenges with the students this year, with a few making some rather unfortunate choices. However, life goes on. It has been a good school overall. Good speakers. Good relationships. Good students who are open and ready to change and align with what the Father speaks to them. We have seen an amazing influx of finances for the students and staff. Our fellowship here gave so much to us, some of the students have dug very very deep, whilst speakers have given, visitors too! They still require a lot, but they are all well on their way to getting what they need.

As for us, we can now rest and hopefully save a few pennies. Catch up with friends and write letters. Whilst this year the school has done well in terms of support, it has been a challenging year for us as a family so far in terms of finances. Mark has 2 weeks before he flies to Penang for a staff conference, joining some of our staff and one of the teams. After that we will have no further travelling except maybe a family trip to KL and Ayer Tawar if we can save enough! We are looking at getting a local credit card or a debit card, as the teams are using ours to book tickets and then we get surprise bills at the end of the month for large amounts. We have found one that you can only withdraw on if you put money in, which is the best, so we will look into that! The children continue to do well at school, Bethany got quite a few As in her last lot of tests, so we decided to reward her with a handphone she had been eyeing for her recent birthday. She had to contribute towards it as well, as we wouldn't have been able to afford the kind of phone she wanted. Unfortunately she will need to wait for credit! Ha! Ha!

A thought 

What's been happening..

Since we last wrote, and since successful completion of another DTS, we have continued to be busy. As we write, our staff are beginning a one-week break between two three-week seminars, which will be followed by a two week practical. In the meantime, we have been busy trying to catch up on paperwork, accounts, and communication, as well as setting up the next event, MAC at the end of the year and DTS next year. Watch this space...

DTS 2009! 

This year's DTS graduated on the 26th of June 2009. We are still in touch with many of the students, and would appreciate your prayers for them as they ease back into the various next steps they are taking. Some will be returning to help out as staff on this year's MAC at the end of the year!

Bethany & David's Skribbels 

Click on our page to find out what we've been up to!! As of now, Bethany will take over Skribbels, Mummy will no longer be ghostwriting!

Thank you 

 
We often think about what we do and the things and people who make it possible, and we are so thankful to the Lord for you. Different ones of you have blessed us so much in so many ways, sometimes it's a word in season, at times it's just a message to let us know you're praying for us, some of you give so freely and generously to the work that we do, and also to our daily needs. We cannot begin to express the gratitude we feel for all of you, you are all truly God's blessings and a treasure to us. For those of you who communicate, can we just say that even though we are busy, we always appreciate your communications and do read them, even though sometimes it takes us an age to respond. We thank our Lord for you!

Where authority comes from 
Ezra 7:10

Ezra’s life exemplifies three important steps of good spiritual leadership. He dedicated himself to studying the Scriptures, he applied its truths to his own life, and then he began teaching it to others. Authority comes from a life lived on the principles of God’s Word. Matthew 7:28-29 records that “the crowds were amazed at [Jesus’] teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."

Bible study is a little like building a house. We start by building the foundation (reading and observing the text.). Next we put up the walls and the roof (interpreting and seeking to understand what the text meant to the original hearers.). Then we move in and make it our own (by applying its truths to our lives).

Application must be a primary goal of all Bible study. To study the Word and not livee it is like building a house and not moving into it. Only when we are living by the Scriptures ourselves can we pass on to others, with authority, what we have learned.

How devoted are you to studying and applying the Word? Make it a daily habit!

Read on: Phil. 3:17; 4:8-9; 1 Thes. 1:4-10; 2 Tim. 3:14-17