tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64931370405468663732024-03-05T20:00:33.149+01:00ICP Study CentreSimon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-17876160573500900902012-01-24T11:14:00.001+01:002012-01-24T11:14:44.844+01:00New Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv7kY7tbHjbQuQi2LGTM6h4jRkQ25Cm77Cu6E9DI8aUwFnFjujmFd4rI_r_7Vr1otYkR_GM8s0D7dO1AnL1bS2Ry53rlQx7NBz7GAFY3Ph0ma3rYLnFWK11lkKzFAuVdJGTFxnMbVaxxY/s1600/Dorit+and+Simon+Marshall_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwv7kY7tbHjbQuQi2LGTM6h4jRkQ25Cm77Cu6E9DI8aUwFnFjujmFd4rI_r_7Vr1otYkR_GM8s0D7dO1AnL1bS2Ry53rlQx7NBz7GAFY3Ph0ma3rYLnFWK11lkKzFAuVdJGTFxnMbVaxxY/s200/Dorit+and+Simon+Marshall_m.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I realised that I hadn't mentioned on this blog that we will no longer be using this for updates on our work. The title, "ICP Study Centre" is no longer relevant for the work we are now about to start in Motherwell at <a href="http://www.glo-europe.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=135&lang=en">Tilsley College</a>. For this reason, we have started a new blog at <a href="http://svedek.wordpress.com/">svedek.wordpress.com</a>. Thank you if you have been following here, hopefully you will join us over on our new blog!Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-42611935636391945942011-09-06T10:34:00.000+02:002011-09-06T10:34:08.660+02:00CoursesPlease pray for the two Study Centre courses which we are planning to run over the next few weeks. Even though we will be leaving Prague at the end of October, there is just time for Simon to run two courses, one on Sundays the other on Monday evenings. These are our introductory course to studying the Bible and one on the way the atonement is described. Please pray we will have the students we need to make these viable and that they will be useful to those who attend.<br />
Otherwise, we are travelling to the UK on September 18th and will be attending Kristina's graduation ceremony on Plymouth Hoe on 22nd and Simon will be at Trinity, Bristol on 23rd. We also plan to visit Beacon Heath Church on 25th September.<br />
Please pray for Simon's mother who had a fall a couple of weeks ago and broke both of her wrists. Please pray for a speedy recovery.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-91204976680521309352011-08-22T10:27:00.003+02:002011-08-22T10:39:47.530+02:00Latest from Prague<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp6dT-xk71w49SMODl8cgkPnE44PcJsWCeTH9uqm8AYcInF95zlA1FDNK0IA1oQLSFBvQztA0VN3jY4ekwG27e4ANn8q2N9OSb4eWqJ-H9CDfaJKarqMlwhuijl-kxFYBTh1UFaWCjW1s/s1600/IMG_0361_m.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp6dT-xk71w49SMODl8cgkPnE44PcJsWCeTH9uqm8AYcInF95zlA1FDNK0IA1oQLSFBvQztA0VN3jY4ekwG27e4ANn8q2N9OSb4eWqJ-H9CDfaJKarqMlwhuijl-kxFYBTh1UFaWCjW1s/s200/IMG_0361_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643596706082050226" /></a>
<br />As most of you who follow what we have been doing in Prague will know, we will be leaving the city and our work at ICP at the end of October. The church here were told this after the service yesterday. The latest news is that we have an interview for a new post at the end of September. Probably best not to say who this is with for the moment, but we would appreciate your prayers for us as we travel to the UK on September 18th. There are lots of practical issues for us to deal with before we can leave, so we would also appreciate your prayers for these.
<br />SImon is working on a small groups study about personal evangelism at the moment, the first draft is finished and he will be 'testing' this with our house group over the next few weeks before finalising it. He is also preaching at ICP this coming Sunday, so prayers for both of those would be welcome.
<br />On Saturday, we went with some friends, Jeff and Kathleen, to a castle to the north east of Prague for a Highland Games. A little bit surreal to be surrounded by people in kilts and other garments of tartan in 30+ degrees heat - and to hear all of them speaking Czech. It had the works, bagpipes, tossing the caber, highland dancing... A really enjoyable day out.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-89565711290331346632011-07-28T10:14:00.003+02:002011-07-28T10:23:00.387+02:00IBCM5<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMTE4NDExNjEwNDEmcHQ9MTMxMTg*MTE3MDI*OSZwPTY1OTQwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz1jN2I*NTEyMmQwM2E*ZTg2YjA1/YjMxM2E2YzY1YTlkZCZvZj*w.gif" /><object id="embededPhotosnackFlash_cd00487e7d6d698f6f36a722a1289543" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?v=3&hash_id=cd00487e7d6d698f6f36a722a1289543&t=1311841143" width="500" height="396"><param name="movie" value="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?v=3&hash_id=cd00487e7d6d698f6f36a722a1289543&t=1311841143"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="random=true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#787878"></object><noscript>To view this photo slideshow you need to have Flash Player 9 or newer installed and JavaScript enabled. This flash &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.photosnack.com/" title="PhotoSnack - Flash photo slideshow maker"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;photo slideshow&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; gallery was created with PhotoSnack in a couple of minutes.</noscript><div><!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?--> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:medium;">In June, we had the great privilege and joy of attending the fifth International Brethren Conference on Mission, which was held in Strasbourg. Some 480 delegates were there from about 90 countries. The theme was "I shall build my church" and with sermons from Acts, papers on church-planting and church work in various contexts and amongst different people, seminars on important challenges in church life, and brief reports on how God is truly at work building his church, we were truly challenged and encouraged. It was also good to be able to catch up with people we know from around the world and to hear what God has been doing in their lives.</span></div>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-70367596116958242832011-05-26T16:44:00.001+02:002011-05-26T16:44:59.519+02:00WebsiteI have set up a basic website for the Groves Centre on Google sites. You can see it here: <a href="http://bit.ly/Grovescentre">http://bit.ly/Grovescentre</a>. It still needs work, and some of the information will need to be revised in the next few days, but the basics are all there. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested in studying in Prague during the next academic year.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-12656552004155698092011-05-23T12:03:00.003+02:002011-05-23T18:28:39.485+02:00Study Centre Latest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50UE00CpuWHqqFeNTmcps5vk99AoiM-C6G1kzK_NWR8qCRFRWKdqUWkJI7b7cs8L_Ood0N17FmW1v6thPlln-jEUTnxPV2bkzpQASjQHnqXl3iMNr3qa2KDAqOfJNXq1VW5JE56XM6P7L/s1600/Front+Page.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609851134928253378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50UE00CpuWHqqFeNTmcps5vk99AoiM-C6G1kzK_NWR8qCRFRWKdqUWkJI7b7cs8L_Ood0N17FmW1v6thPlln-jEUTnxPV2bkzpQASjQHnqXl3iMNr3qa2KDAqOfJNXq1VW5JE56XM6P7L/s200/Front+Page.jpeg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 142px;" /></a><br />
The last few months have been a bit up and down in many ways as we have sought the Lord's guidance concerning the year-long course at the ICP Study Centre. As most of you know, this has been the plan ever since we arrived in January 2009 but it is only in the last few weeks that we have received the final go-ahead from the church. Our revised plan is for us to rent office and teaching space in the centre of Prague which will allow us to offer a variety of courses, ranging from a year-long full-time one to part-time modules. The materials we intend to use are the same as originally planned - modules from Trinity College in Bristol. Please pray with us as we seek students fro the various courses and as we search for premises. The plan is to rent from the beginning of August, but this will only be the case if we have full-time students at that stage. The centre will be called "The Groves Centre" after Anthony Norris Groves (more information about him is on Wikipedia and in the brochure I mention below).<br />
We feel very much in the Lord's hands and are waiting upon him in terms of students. A brochure with more details of the course and our plans can be downloaded from here: <a href="http://bit.ly/ICPgc">http://bit.ly/ICPgc</a> (this is still being revised, so the final version will look a little different, though the main information is accurate). If you know of anyone who would be interested in studying here, then please pass this information on to them or ask them to contact us directly. Please continue to pray, we are extremely grateful for your faithful prayers over the past 2 1/2 years.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-55591467032867708802011-04-29T10:35:00.000+02:002011-04-29T10:35:18.492+02:00Sunday, Centre, GLO ZambiaThis coming Sunday, there will be a vote at ICP concerning the potential year-long course. Please pray with us that the Lord's will be done. We don't want to go ahead with this if the Lord is not leading us forward. If the vote is a 'yes' we will be looking for students to start in September. So, if you know anyone, get in touch!!<br />
The revised plan is for us to rent office and teaching space near the centre of Prague and to house students with host families or in nearby rented accommodation. There will be lots of practical things to sort out whatever the outcome of Sunday's meeting, so we would appreciate prayer for us in that.<br />
Dorit and I won't be in Prague for the meeting as I am off to Trinity for another week's lectures and Dorit is using the opportunity to go and visit the kids in Exeter.<br />
Some of you may have heard of the recent sad events in Zambia. Some of the people attached to the GLO Bible College were involved in an accident a couple of days ago. One Faroese girl was killed, another seriously injured and other people, including one of the lecturers, are still in hospital. Please pray for the family of Runa (the girl who died) and the other families at this time. If you are on Facebook, more details can be found on the GLO Zambia page.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-90457409709108278362011-03-16T10:36:00.000+01:002011-03-16T10:36:01.771+01:00Latest CoursesOur two most recent courses have started. On Sundays we are taking six weeks to look briefly at various ways in which the atonement is presented in the Bible, especially the New Testament. I say 'especially' because last week - our first session - we were looking at redemption and the Old Testament is just full of redemption! This week, we will look at reconciliation and adoption. Notes for this will be available once the course is finished.<br />
On Monday evenings, we are studying the Nicene Creed as a way to understand some of the basics of the Christian faith. The notes for this course can be seen on my Scribd page here: http://scr.bi/BelSCR<br />
More details can be found on the website: www.icpstudycentre.cz<br />
AT ICP at the moment, we are following a series in the book of Revelation, which is very exciting. And so, in our house group we have been discussing the passage looked at on Sundays. Great way to really get into some of the depths of what God is saying through this fascinating book. Last night, we were in Rev 1:9-20, what a wonderful vision of the power and glory of our saviour. A great reminder that in a world where there is political, religious and natural turmoil that our God is the First and the Last, the Living One.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-11810332385332223672011-03-08T09:50:00.003+01:002011-03-08T11:02:06.189+01:00Residential Centre Again!On Sunday 20th March, Simon will be presenting to the church at ICP a proposal about purchasing a property for the Study Centre residential course. The church will then meet again on April 10th to vote on whether to put our funds into such a building and raise the extra needed or not. Please do pray about this. You can find out a little more on our websites www.icpstudycentre..cz and http://bit.ly/SCBerea or on the new ICP website, www.icprague.czSimon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-12908172448986933112011-03-01T09:00:00.005+01:002011-03-01T09:03:46.388+01:00RevelationSome slides from the Revelation reading on Sunday.<br /><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyOTg5NjY*NzUwNTkmcHQ9MTI5ODk2NjQ4MzMxNiZwPTY1OTQwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz*zYmM1OTM*ZDllNjA*OTEyOTVh/NGUyNDA*Y2M2NWFmMiZvZj*w.gif" /><object id="embededPhotosnackFlash_9ffe67ca64a239a81ff719faea600628" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?v=3&hash_id=9ffe67ca64a239a81ff719faea600628&watermark=true" width="400" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?v=3&hash_id=9ffe67ca64a239a81ff719faea600628&watermark=true"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="random=true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#787878"></object><noscript>To view this photo slideshow you need to have Flash Player 9 or newer installed and JavaScript enabled. Create professional <a href="http://www.photosnack.com/" title="PhotoSnack - Flash photo slideshow maker">MySpace slideshows</a> with PhotoSnack photo slideshow maker. </noscript>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-42861436176064646682011-02-28T16:36:00.003+01:002011-02-28T16:40:46.456+01:00Residential Course<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMoLc68bWfiHODilSZuqVHa-ZLRbdmgi3fBITZagBDLv-0ibTmSFCjM5bvtYULhjb-CeZHZj2WaQom-xIE4etX1tStKp05XexmQaealdf5hpOtug6MrCfQw2nR21vzI9ziTANGWOAjfUZ/s1600/Bibles11.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMoLc68bWfiHODilSZuqVHa-ZLRbdmgi3fBITZagBDLv-0ibTmSFCjM5bvtYULhjb-CeZHZj2WaQom-xIE4etX1tStKp05XexmQaealdf5hpOtug6MrCfQw2nR21vzI9ziTANGWOAjfUZ/s320/Bibles11.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578765782732290882" /></a><br />I know many of you have been praying about our residential course. Well, we will, God willing, be starting our course this September. We are not sure exactly where it will be housed (please continue to pray) but something will be happening. If you know of anyone who might like to be a student, please do contact us. Email: dorit.marshall@icprague.cz.<div>More information on the websites: www.icpstudycentre.cz and sites.google.com/site/bereaprague/</div><div>Please pray with us about this.</div>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-70983420177766291992011-02-28T12:10:00.005+01:002011-02-28T12:19:51.850+01:00Dramatic Reading of Revelation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_HwfPYZT5UY8u7D6_SLrlOEX373_TEunn3p7FdPwySVcxcdj8rF6JO6VJ3BR5T0pRO5vG6fcZRy-rQMN5jqujghbpTTDQ2N9sViT1H9xNWBKpPyN-ypqJeTA6Th6D8JCx-KnG0HSqqjw/s1600/Revelation.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_HwfPYZT5UY8u7D6_SLrlOEX373_TEunn3p7FdPwySVcxcdj8rF6JO6VJ3BR5T0pRO5vG6fcZRy-rQMN5jqujghbpTTDQ2N9sViT1H9xNWBKpPyN-ypqJeTA6Th6D8JCx-KnG0HSqqjw/s320/Revelation.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578697501538660642" /></a>Yesterday, we had a dramatic reading of Revelation as the main part of our service at ICP. Instead of a sermon, we shortened the first part of our service and then listened to the whole of the book. We broke it into three sections with congregational songs at the breaks; something which really drew us all into the worship of heaven.<div>Simon had taken the text of Revelation in the NIV and split it into parts. We had seven readers, one playing John (Trevor, Simon's brother) a narrator, someone reading the words of God and four angels. The text, with the parts, can be downloaded from <a href="http://bit.ly/REVsmtxt">here</a>. If you want to listen to the reading, you can download it <a href="http://bit.ly/ICPrevread">here</a>.</div><div>This all took a surprising amount of work and preparation on the part of all the readers, but was well worth it. The effect of hearing the whole of the book read in one go was wonderful. Very moving.</div>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-3206076215956787432011-02-04T10:12:00.004+01:002011-02-04T10:15:48.385+01:00Plans for our Residential CourseA few ideas of what our year-long course might look like. Any comments are welcome. Please pray for us in our preparation.<div><br /></div><div><div><b>Study Centre Residential Course</b></div><div>The vision for the ICP Study Centre is for the centre to be active in three basic areas. As mentioned in the report to the Church Council on January 16th, 2011, these are: Seminars, Courses and Residential. </div><div>So far, we have been successful in setting up and running various courses and by the end of this academic year, we plan to have written and run each course at least once. The aim is then to run these on a four-year rotating basis. This year is also one where we plan to hold three leadership seminars and to work on improving other areas where seminars will be beneficial, such as family and parenting. </div><div>This leaves us with the third, and important, part of our vision: the Residential Course. As discussed later, there is a need for premises to realise this part of the vision. The aim of this report is firstly, to explain in a little more detail what it is that we would hope to do through the residential course, and secondly, to request that the Council consider using some of ICP’s funds to purchase just such a property. </div><div>The aim behind the residential course can be described as providing:</div><div><ul><li>Solid theological training and equipping;</li><li>Missions and church-planting orientation;</li><li>Community;</li><li>Spiritual edification.</li></ul></div><div>This might be summarised as creating a Christian community that aims to encourage Christlike character, a heart for mission and a deeper knowledge of the faith. It thus is part of ICP’s vision to be a “radiating centre for the gospel.” The Residential Course would seek to equip students to be servants of God wherever he should place them. This would involve, good teaching materials, church and mission placements and mentoring.</div><div><b>General Principles</b></div><div>One of the important principles, I think, that we need to have at the heart of the course is flexibility. Perhaps most importantly, it needs to be flexible in the type of people we can accept onto the course. A basic requirement will be a knowledge of English that allows the student to make the most of the curriculum on offer, but beyond that there are a number of potential groups of students that we can cater for.</div><div><ul><li>Students who come for the full academic year’s study</li><li>Students who follow part of a year</li><li>ICP, and other church, members who wish to follow courses part-time</li><li>Potential church-planters and/or pastors who are looking to plant international churches.</li></ul></div><div><b>Course Structure</b></div><div>Our aim would be to provide a 38-40 week course running from September to June with breaks for Christmas and Easter. This course would include a weekly placement with a mission in Prague - or nearby - as well as a two-week mission trip in February.</div><div>The year would be planned in such a way as to allow students who may not be able to gain a full visa the possibility of following a 90-day programme which would include some of the modules we discuss below. The intake for this would be in September and March. The week would be timetabled to allow part-time students to follow the courses along with those who are full-time, as well as allowing them to be involved in a missions placement.</div><div><b>Study Materials</b></div><div>The plan is that for the academic side of the course, we will use materials from Trinity College in Bristol . Students who successfully complete the whole programme of six modules receive a Certificate in Christian Studies from Trinity. The modules are being revised at the moment with the aim of offering 18, 12 of which would need to be completed to gain the certificate. It is not clear how long this process of revision will take, but I have been asked to be part of that if our course gets up and running.</div><div>At the moment, the nine modules are:</div><div><b>Old Testament</b></div><div>The Pentateuch</div><div>Historical Books</div><div>Prophecy</div><div><b>New Testament</b></div><div>Synoptic Gospels and Acts</div><div>Letters of Paul</div><div>Writings of John</div><div><b>Other</b></div><div>Introduction to Christian Doctrine</div><div>Introduction to Christian Ethics</div><div>Introduction to Church History</div><div>For the full year, students will be required to study six modules with at least ONE from each of these sections. The other three choices can be from any section. For the 90-day course, students will be required to study two modules with ONE choice from any two sections. The courses are designed for guided self-study which allows us to be quite flexible in what we offer. Three modules could be offered at any one time, so all the students do not need to follow exactly the same curriculum. For each of the studies, there would be time set aside for reading and research, some of this would also include teaching from me, or other approved lecturer, which would complement the materials. There would also be a tutorial where the actual course material and questions are reviewed and discussed. If we were to put these tutorials on Saturday and one evening, as in the sample timetable, the courses would be available to part-time students as well. Part-time students would then be able to gain the Trinity certificate over a period of 2-3 years.</div><div>Each course involves the writing of a very short (250 word) answer each week with a short essay (1500 words) and exam at the end. To begin with, the essays and exams will be marked in Bristol, but their medium-term aim is to have essays marked by the tutors and then for the marking to be moderated.</div><div>The Trinity certificate is recognised by Middlesex University, The London School of Theology (previously London Bible College) and Spurgeon’s College as the equivalent of a Certificate in Higher Education which would allow any students from our centre to follow theology degrees there with some reduction in time.</div><div>I am in the process of being formally accepted as a tutor and will be attending training when I am next in Bristol in May.</div><div><b>Post-Graduate</b></div><div>As part of ICP’s vision, we would offer places to pastors or others who are looking to plant international churches elsewhere in the world. For those with previous theological training, this would mean we would need to make post-graduate study possible and therefore, we would have to work together with another organisation, such as the Bucer Seminary. Students on this programme would benefit from - and be full members of - the community but would follow their own studies under guidance from outside the ICP centre. They would also bring experience and spiritual maturity to the community which would be of enormous benefit to the other students.</div><div><b>Spiritual Development</b></div><div>Spiritual development, growing more like Christ, is also part of what we would aim for at the centre. Part of this would be the daily time of worship - devotion, or chapel - which the students would be expected not only to attend but also lead. Students would also have a spiritual director, or mentor, who they would meet with regularly.</div><div><b>Mission</b></div><div>As part of ICP, the centre shares the church’s vision of bringing the gospel to Prague and beyond. The centre will, therefore, have missions at its heart and this will show itself in two ways.</div><div>Firstly, each student will have the opportunity to be involved in mission while on the course. This would mean a weekly placement where the student takes a full part in some aspect of mission in Prague or nearby. This could, for example, be working with the language centre at the Economics University, or with UCCF, or Logos. For Czech speakers, the opportunities are greater, but all students will have some mission experience during their time at the centre. This might be harder to organise for those who are here for a short period of time, but it is important that we make every effort to achieve it. The students will be expected to write a reflection on their placement and we would ask the mission agencies to complete brief reports on the students’ time with them.</div><div>Secondly, there will be a fortnight’s mission, in February, where students will travel to a church in Europe to work with that church in some kind of local mission. They would be involved in the normal outreach of the church but also plan and implement a short-term outreach work for the time that they are there. Once again, the planning, implementation and reflection on this mission will make up part of the course curriculum with students producing a written report.</div><div><b>Church Involvement</b></div><div>All students will attend a church while on the course, and generally this will be ICP. For some students, they may wish to be in a different fellowship; there seems no reason why this cannot happen, but some liaison between that fellowship and the centre’s leadership will need to take place. Students will be expected to become - as far as is possible - active participants in church activities and outreach, such as Youth Praha and Prague Kids - or the worship or anti-trafficking teams, for example.</div></div>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01043490661622707965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-716152409180245662010-09-13T12:40:00.000+02:002010-09-13T12:40:45.731+02:00UK in OctoberDuring October, we will be in the UK for a series of meetings. At some of these, we will be talking about our work in Prague, at others Simon will be preaching. Our basic itinerary is below. If you are able to join us for any of these, it would be great to see you.<br />
<br />
Sat Oct 2nd<br />
DUMO at Exmouth Chapel. 6.15 pm<br />
Sun Oct 3rd<br />
Beacon Heath Church, Exeter. 10.30 am<br />
King Street Chapel, Tiverton. 6.30 pm<br />
Mon Oct 4th<br />
DUMO in Braunton. 7.30 pm.<br />
Tue Oct 5th<br />
DUMO at Plymstock Chapel. 7.30 pm.<br />
Sun 10th Oct<br />
Grosvenor Chapel, Barnstaple. 9.30 am.<br />
Pinhoe Road Baptist Church, Exeter. 6.30 pm.<br />
Mon 11th Oct<br />
Blandford Forum Evangelical Church. 2.30 pm.<br />
Sat 16th Oct<br />
Youth Bible Academy, Belmont Chapel, Exeter. 1.45 pm.<br />
Sun 17th Oct<br />
Bradley Evangelical Church, Newton Abbott. 10.00 am and 6.30 pm.<br />
Monday 18th Oct<br />
West Down Chapel. 7.30 pm<br />
Sat Oct 23rd<br />
Echoes Conference (details <a href="http://www.echoes.org.uk/events.php">here</a>.)<br />
Please do pray for us during our time in the UK.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-13699945472280659642010-08-12T14:36:00.000+02:002010-08-12T14:36:26.432+02:00Berea College, Prague<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQiYHQW828qMhUilHZ0pZNaHlBQez2B0xxbCViPtzAOEs7W20abWBsd1KjqWcJ7enNe0Xt7sdaErnMiGeTv5TjZEYaNGKdmXe1RQ1WZ67tJitk9lEgxr28LGc-BH2t6DJoDJGQOjzDsa8/s1600/bible-study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQiYHQW828qMhUilHZ0pZNaHlBQez2B0xxbCViPtzAOEs7W20abWBsd1KjqWcJ7enNe0Xt7sdaErnMiGeTv5TjZEYaNGKdmXe1RQ1WZ67tJitk9lEgxr28LGc-BH2t6DJoDJGQOjzDsa8/s200/bible-study.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If you have been reading this blog you will know that one of the aims of the ICP Study Centre is to run a year-long residential course and that we are searching for properties at the moment. That search continues, but this blog entry is just to let you know that there is a small website I have just put up which gives a few more details of the project - including how to give. It can be found here: <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/bereaprague/">Berea</a>. I am also working on a leaflet, which I hope will be printed and ready for distribution after we return from holiday in a couple of weeks.<br />
If you know of people who might be willing to contribute to the purchase of property, please do point them in our direction!Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-77148056684361010152010-08-04T09:48:00.000+02:002010-08-04T09:48:03.714+02:00The Summer... so far!If you have been following this blog, you will know that a group from ICP went to China for a couple of weeks to work with the children of migrant workers in beijing. If you haven't followed their exploits or seen the pictures, access to their blog is in the side bar on this page under the title "ICP English Camp". Simon's brother, Trevor, and his family were some of those who went. They returned safely - tired and jet-lagged after a 30 hour trip - yesterday afternoon. That means that we can move back to our flat in town as we have been house - and dog - sitting while they have been away. During that time, Dorit's brother, Heðin, and his family visited. they had been on holiday in Italy and were on their way to Germany for Teenstreet - a young people's week of mission etc. organised by OM. Details can be found <a href="http://www.teenstreet.de/">here</a>. Dorit's sister, Guðrun, with her family were also at TeenStreet and they arrive, God willing, for a visit today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmMpGAlNU4UX2QoP7EqUf2KS__eG6rcH-diJYMbpXT10jbDL4UO0cnpJW-mYCfDnbYjecWEVtuDab0b5VTHPwjzLP2en5jsMh5RbKswT88wiqsc5pDMY1SdYMmbVpTLLv43hoZSbiEU9-/s1600/1+John.001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmMpGAlNU4UX2QoP7EqUf2KS__eG6rcH-diJYMbpXT10jbDL4UO0cnpJW-mYCfDnbYjecWEVtuDab0b5VTHPwjzLP2en5jsMh5RbKswT88wiqsc5pDMY1SdYMmbVpTLLv43hoZSbiEU9-/s200/1+John.001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We plan to go to Denmark on August 15th for a holiday, being joined by Stephen and Sarah Sowden and their boys. So we are looking forward to that. Until then, Simon is still working on various aspects of the Study Centre; the most important - or at least urgent - one at the moment is the question of property. Please do continue to pray with us about this. He is also putting together our latest prayer letter, so that should be coming out by the end of this week. Otherwise, he has been doing most of the preaching over the past couple of months while John Waldrop is in the US. He has been going through some of the themes in 1 John. If you want to download or listen to the sermons they can be found <a href="http://www.internationalchurchofprague.cz/worship/sermons">here</a>.<br />
In October, we will, God willing, be coming back to the UK. We will be speaking at the three DUMO rallies and one or two other places, as well as at the Echoes Day on October 23rd. If you know of any church or fellowship that would like to invite us to share something of what we are doing in Prague, please do email us, our address can be found on our <a href="http://www.icpstudycentre.cz/Home/contact-us">website</a>.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-23289400841063508972010-07-27T14:34:00.000+02:002010-07-27T14:34:49.215+02:00Property Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3YwxEAudPlH784R4JKoTO0yOOdLfp-ghXteDmQQIa8_LnGhhgMMffZioGCps_wj4RojDm6fpRsiq1f9yfziyPI-NrYKZo6iWiNEpKdVSJFYM0wRBlOAEG_u3N60M8-aZMgrhTM5gK9QT/s1600/Hostivice_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3YwxEAudPlH784R4JKoTO0yOOdLfp-ghXteDmQQIa8_LnGhhgMMffZioGCps_wj4RojDm6fpRsiq1f9yfziyPI-NrYKZo6iWiNEpKdVSJFYM0wRBlOAEG_u3N60M8-aZMgrhTM5gK9QT/s320/Hostivice_m.jpg" /></a></div>Please do continue to pray for us as we look for potential properties for the residential course. Dorit and I have looked at four promising places but have not been totally convinced by any of them!! This is mainly, I think, because any property we look at needs a fair amount of work to make it usable which adds to the already high cost of the property. The property which is most appealing is in a village just to the west of Prague, fairly close to the airport. This is an old farm with stables and other outbuildings which, with work, would make a wonderful site for a study centre. However, it is expensive - the old estate agent mantra of "Location, location, location" springs readily to mind.<br />
Please pray that as we seek to raise the finance for this project that the Lord will provide. And also that Dorit and I will know clearly which of the properties to pursue. Please pray also for potential students; that even now the Lord will be preparing the hearts and minds of those who will be attending next year.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-36009162818243332942010-07-07T16:59:00.000+02:002010-07-07T16:59:59.624+02:00Property<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72hyphenhyphen3OFgqL4-a0_6RBiH30TsP_lyhXdIjLS5Kc-wgjB8m0URP2UHjMSwbIMdUVabdVurfMhSnFMs6S12uuRhG9qCUTXZc3ERhuYRtvMatAtazPlAxQzKuRGAx9BPY_gKASMsN5ab9cpsS/s1600/P1030796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72hyphenhyphen3OFgqL4-a0_6RBiH30TsP_lyhXdIjLS5Kc-wgjB8m0URP2UHjMSwbIMdUVabdVurfMhSnFMs6S12uuRhG9qCUTXZc3ERhuYRtvMatAtazPlAxQzKuRGAx9BPY_gKASMsN5ab9cpsS/s200/P1030796.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This past week or so, we have looked at a couple of potential properties for our planned residential course. Please do pray about this. On Friday, Dorit and I are going to see another property just outside of Prague having spent most of the last two days driving around looking at various places. One of the major difficulties is, obviously, that of price. The nearer to Prague you go, the more the price rises. Even those we are looking at on the outskirts range in price for £350 000 to £750 000.<br />
We don't have that kind of money. In fact, at the moment, we don't have any money!! Please pray with us for wisdom in knowing which - if any - of the properties we have seen is the right one. And that the Lord will provide the necessary finance.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-45162259512794041892010-06-28T16:30:00.000+02:002010-06-28T16:30:38.115+02:00Two Graduations and a Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOfyhSo5BH_1oiFJ1SRmIcT_tDIZcgZm25cpPZuUo_bu34RalvjJo6CiKEKhQUmLrQAJdk4POtV8Qj9lvGzQ0ahcvY8xVdHoKDpRa9ykrdNNXLdwoGkA0UNQd0bX2ceErL0rAi_5tQRnw/s1600/CISP+Grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOfyhSo5BH_1oiFJ1SRmIcT_tDIZcgZm25cpPZuUo_bu34RalvjJo6CiKEKhQUmLrQAJdk4POtV8Qj9lvGzQ0ahcvY8xVdHoKDpRa9ykrdNNXLdwoGkA0UNQd0bX2ceErL0rAi_5tQRnw/s320/CISP+Grad.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The last month has seen the schools that most of ICP's young people attend come to the end of their year. And for final year students, that means graduations. Simon is on the board at <a href="http://www.cisprague.org/">CISP</a> so attended the graduation o there a couple of weeks ago. The <i>Christian International School of Prague</i> is not a large school, so there were only seven students graduating. It was very encouraging, though, to hear them speak of their time at the school and of the importance of their faith to them. Terry Chumbley, the High School Principal and deacon at ICP gave the address, using the life story of a US baseball coach as an encouragement to the young people to always place their faith first in their lives. The graduation ceremony was held in the same building that ICP uses every Sunday for its services.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC3Nj_8vi4w2pOe6ah8RyELI2xygzGNMZCBoY43L1ynEcWFsuhnNABPkWfwBvS7VydUTPEMwKtxzYmVNMO3zLRGCVawz1fwlLsNUKEJWQA3Dj5wBWhOdFh47VBY4BxP1cPrNdrOIgieYy/s1600/graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC3Nj_8vi4w2pOe6ah8RyELI2xygzGNMZCBoY43L1ynEcWFsuhnNABPkWfwBvS7VydUTPEMwKtxzYmVNMO3zLRGCVawz1fwlLsNUKEJWQA3Dj5wBWhOdFh47VBY4BxP1cPrNdrOIgieYy/s320/graduation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The second graduation was for <i><a href="http://www.riversideschool.cz/">Riverside School</a>. </i>As some of you will know, Simon's brother, Trevor and his wife, Ali, both work at Riverside and have done for the last 5 years. Ali had been form tutor for this year's graduates so was very involved in the graduation itself. Simon was asked to give the address, the first graduation speech he has ever done. It was great to be able to do it though. He took the school's motto "Come here, son, and learn to be wise", a quotation from the Czech educator and pastor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amos_Comenius">Jan Amos Komensky</a> as his starting point, reminding the students that true wisdom can only begin with a knowledge of God.<br />
Like CISP this year's final class was quite small;, only 11 graduating. But they came from at least 8 different countries, from the Czech Republic to Mongolia.<br />
The ceremony was held in one of Prague's many fantastic old churches, <a href="http://www.prague-guide.co.uk/articles/church-of-st-simon-and-st-jude.html">Saint Simon and St Jude</a>. But, like many other churches in Prague, this is no longer used as a church but as a concert hall! Still, there were some very impressive paintings and statues around making it a fitting venue for a graduation. Definitely better than the old Leas Cliff Hall were the Harvey Grammar School used to have its prize giving!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlKFvufVLOLMahSZzj36wNVoHpa_4H_ngw15s1iQ_CCY0Ns16n5e9r-soWz3a7dUyW5SnP3XqBXACNTG_HBHiVnefUnbzDKJ3z_u8dMd3wqkKdehiK54CkXi5hoW_I93Z2CBfqArVb2q9/s1600/P1030730_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlKFvufVLOLMahSZzj36wNVoHpa_4H_ngw15s1iQ_CCY0Ns16n5e9r-soWz3a7dUyW5SnP3XqBXACNTG_HBHiVnefUnbzDKJ3z_u8dMd3wqkKdehiK54CkXi5hoW_I93Z2CBfqArVb2q9/s320/P1030730_m.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Riverside graduation was last Thursday (June 24th). The day after, Dorit and Simon were in the town of Lysa nad Labem to the north-east of Prague for a wedding. Two young people from ICP, Manny (a Greek-Canadian) and Sarka (a Czech) were married in this small town where she, Sarka, grew up. Simon had the joy of being able to conduct the service which was held in both Czech and English (though Simon only did the English bit!!).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6Sx6g2T3We7vG6kfL-CoY77Ot_2mvM52NyOerz7JSVAXXz_SUFb1VWUvavdTcvNEpNU2QT0VJD5cqZ97v1L5h81F8DA7sNo2xwHYoDfrfIIx3P-REAAoHOmnRXkoP_TGYhbcHrNB_tAa/s1600/P1030737_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6Sx6g2T3We7vG6kfL-CoY77Ot_2mvM52NyOerz7JSVAXXz_SUFb1VWUvavdTcvNEpNU2QT0VJD5cqZ97v1L5h81F8DA7sNo2xwHYoDfrfIIx3P-REAAoHOmnRXkoP_TGYhbcHrNB_tAa/s320/P1030737_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The church was a small, Hussite church next door to a small school and the pastor's house. To reach it you had to go through the garden of the manse! We had fantastic weather and I think everyone enjoyed the occasion. Dorit and Simon were then invited to the family reception immediately afterwards which was a great honour. As Manny's parents had been unable to make the trip to the Czech Republic, we ended up on the top table as his parents for the day!<br />
Please pray for Manny and Sarka as they start their new life together. Sarka became a Christian through Manny and was baptised at ICP last November. It has been a joy to see her grow in her faith over the past year.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-76827115348565352622010-06-11T13:34:00.000+02:002010-06-11T13:34:46.200+02:00Courses, summer...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn5WymwyPwgRTqzLx15upurFKC5EsYTgEmUSMetD7ypJCxKvoH84RfZVX6iwkIHFDbD-umJihYpQXy6Urvv5yTABthqoOo4YLbgPGDyU2dnHICkQNppj98nvio5bqxndse_ufnjZQYe7y/s1600/What+is+the+Church%3F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn5WymwyPwgRTqzLx15upurFKC5EsYTgEmUSMetD7ypJCxKvoH84RfZVX6iwkIHFDbD-umJihYpQXy6Urvv5yTABthqoOo4YLbgPGDyU2dnHICkQNppj98nvio5bqxndse_ufnjZQYe7y/s200/What+is+the+Church%3F.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>This coming Sunday sees the last session of the Study Centre's course, "What is the Church?" During this course, we have looked at some of the biblical images used to describe the church; what God expects the church to be doing now; as well as look at three of the important eras in the church's history: the first three centuries, the Reformation and the rise of modern Evangelicalism. We finish this Sunday with a look at the future of the church. This has been an interesting course to be part of, with the historical part being led by Jim Barnes, an American missionary in Prague who runs the <a href="http://www.christianlibrary.cz/">Christian Library</a> here.<br />
Simon will also be preaching at ICP on Sunday, the first in a series on 1 John. The reason for this is that John Waldrop, the senior pastor, is on leave and then taking a short sabbatical. During that time, Simon will be acting a senior pastor. Please do pray for him over this period as he not only performs ordinary church tasks but also prepares for next year's Study Centre courses.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-46464572629790105652010-06-07T09:46:00.003+02:002010-06-07T09:52:53.523+02:00Dubuque<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFgpuJuo8lkXqdubSomxvqC7JXOYrySeVeJutmZz5crQhaflG_5ad4heI76sPoWakPzHO66A67lCZXvwq1OH5ANlm23-zqCLswBOXlHTq52_gRHkjHsXLqmVSMLzWj81tZKTh8unjxv8g/s1600/Emmaus_Bible_College_Sign_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFgpuJuo8lkXqdubSomxvqC7JXOYrySeVeJutmZz5crQhaflG_5ad4heI76sPoWakPzHO66A67lCZXvwq1OH5ANlm23-zqCLswBOXlHTq52_gRHkjHsXLqmVSMLzWj81tZKTh8unjxv8g/s320/Emmaus_Bible_College_Sign_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have just got back from a week in Dubuque, Iowa on a conference organised by <a href="http://www.emmaus.edu/">Emmaus Bible College</a> and <a href="http://www.glo-europe.org/tilsley.html">Tilsley College</a>, Motherwell about setting up and running small scale training centres.<br />
Emmaus are probably best known in the UK and the rest of the world for their correspondence courses, the head office being on the site of the college. The college itself has about 250 students who study a range of subjects but with an emphasis on Biblical Studies.<br />
There were about 60 of us at the conference, from countries as far apart as Zambia, Peru and Papua New Guinea; to say nothing of the Czech Republic!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iUCs_XhEx9KBCyuaQerwEQMEN_n9p_2L7KMiOEHIYbDoQ2Yd9MrHVFeKrmJKAdQT34UHSgLBgvZ2v9eZlNh6OrdLECJASRXFErAaOqh1Ojv1TAGTMBPvCXsyYPMPs_GuNQd132KD3VVm/s1600/Photo_060110_003_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iUCs_XhEx9KBCyuaQerwEQMEN_n9p_2L7KMiOEHIYbDoQ2Yd9MrHVFeKrmJKAdQT34UHSgLBgvZ2v9eZlNh6OrdLECJASRXFErAaOqh1Ojv1TAGTMBPvCXsyYPMPs_GuNQd132KD3VVm/s320/Photo_060110_003_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was an excellent time. The people at Emmaus were wonderfully hospitable, running the conference for free for all participants. The campus was built in the 1950s by the Catholics as a seminary but sold to Emmaus in the 1980s. This means that the main building has at its heart a large, marble-clad church with stained glass windows of various saints!! Not quite what you expect from a Brethren-based college!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWrsuYxIj2eZgyyprPQ5uMafwYf6prcVEA2KulbGLfHzxC9u8Q7CtwK-s9hFmmnGQPooOpeDYBUrt1SYvDEnwMSiwsrkLJrdyqYP1BpOOj63yUsWePcm2U9IJ1fAJ8USuHWvgItPAb3cr/s1600/emmaus_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWrsuYxIj2eZgyyprPQ5uMafwYf6prcVEA2KulbGLfHzxC9u8Q7CtwK-s9hFmmnGQPooOpeDYBUrt1SYvDEnwMSiwsrkLJrdyqYP1BpOOj63yUsWePcm2U9IJ1fAJ8USuHWvgItPAb3cr/s320/emmaus_lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I expect for anyone not involved in training and equipping Christians for service, most of the week would have seemed remarkably tiresome with workshops and papers on curriculum development, accreditation of courses and funding of centres. However, I found it not only interesting but also very helpful for the situation we find ourselves in here. Most of the participants are further along the line in setting up and running their centres than we are so it was good to be able to hear of their experiences and - hopefully! - learn from their mistakes. Perhaps the most exciting - because it has been running only a few years but seen real growth in that time - is the GLO centre in Zambia. <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SxwDGWaLWs4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SxwDGWaLWs4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="329"></embed></object> There is a video here which gives some idea of what they are doing - made even more interesting for us as a couple of Faroese girls are on it.<br />
Please continue to pray that we will be given the wisdom we need as we seek to plan and then start our first residential course in September 2011.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-66688916464155161072010-04-12T12:30:00.003+02:002010-04-12T12:33:45.194+02:00Pictures from Terezin<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzEwNjgxODg*MjUmcHQ9MTI3MTA2ODE5NDY*MiZwPTY1OTQwMSZkPSZnPTEmb2Y9MA==.gif" /><object id="embededPhotosnackFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?hash_id=d3839a2a8c5bc1d4c1601bd63a149607&watermark=true" width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?hash_id=d3839a2a8c5bc1d4c1601bd63a149607&watermark=true"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#141414"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><noscript><a href="http://www.photosnack.com/" title="Photo sharing">Photo slideshow</a></noscript>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-21838491812612731462010-04-12T12:11:00.000+02:002010-04-12T12:11:18.889+02:00TerezinDorit and I have been on holiday this past week and went one day to Terezin (perhaps better known as Theresienstadt). This is just an hour's bus ride north of Prague and was used by the Nazis during WW2 as a ghetto for Jews from throughout Europe. The vast majority of them were later transferred to Auschwitz. The town was originally built as a garrison town and prison in the late 18th century and is laid out in straight streets and regimented blocks. (More details can be found on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresienstadt_concentration_camp.) <br />
We went on a coldish but clear day to find the town almost deserted of visitors which gave everything a slightly surreal feel. Visiting the museum and other buildings was very sobering, especially the section where drawings by some of the children in the ghetto of life before and during their time at Terezin. Reading the detailed lists of names, home towns, ages, destinations of the people who went through this camp was almost overwhelming. Over and over again, the question kept coming back "Why?". Why so much detail? Why the need to know everything? Why record all this? And yet, in the midst of the horror of the camp, there were moments where something of the human spirit of the people came through. The drawings by the children; the newssheets produced on typewriters and distributed in very few (sometimes solitary) copies; the music and drama performances and the self-sacrificial care given by nurses and doctors to the sick and the dying.<br />
Perhaps it was all the more poignant a visit as it came just a few days after we celebrated the resurrection. Here was evidence, if ever it was needed, of the reason for the cross. Humanity's innate capacity for hatred and evil, exemplified by the cross and the holocaust, never ceases to astound. But perhaps it should also warn. The people who ran the camps, who logged the arrivals and the departures were human just like us. And if we are encouraged by the strength of the humanity shown in the drama and music of the camp we need also to be challenged by the fact that the inhumanity shown is something that we are as capable of as anyone. Evil will be overcome only through the work of Jesus on the cross. It is only through the cross that we can cry, in the face of horror, "Death, where is your victory?"Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-28174768844502675502010-03-05T16:07:00.000+01:002010-03-05T16:07:54.718+01:00To the UK and the FaroesThe Monday evening course, "Introduction to the Old Testament" is halfway through and we are taking a break until April. The Sunday course, "We Believe..." ends this coming Sunday. On 14th March a new course starts, "Questions People Ask" which is being led by Angelo Franklin, an ICP member. Information can be found on the Study Centre's website.<br />
The courses have been very encouraging this term, with 12 people attending the Monday course and four at the Sunday one.<br />
Meanwhile, I am off to the UK on Sunday for three weeks at Trinity College in Bristol as part of my master's studies. I have two weeks on the early letters of Paul and a week on hermeneutics. For part of that time, Dorit is going up to see her family in the Faroes; she leaves a week on Saturday.Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493137040546866373.post-51350267343522890742010-02-12T13:43:00.005+01:002010-04-12T15:34:42.292+02:00Mum and Dad's Golden Wedding<img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjU5Nzg1NDc5OTAmcHQ9MTI2NTk3ODU3MDQ3OCZwPTY1OTQwMSZkPSZnPTEmbz*2ZGNlZDM5MmUyZmU*YmJkYWRj/MDk1NmYzM2Q3ZjM*MiZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><object data="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?hash_id=55210be148f8afc68d368786ca117241&watermark=true" height="300" id="embededPhotosnackFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://files.photosnack.net/app/swf/EmbedCanvas.swf?hash_id=55210be148f8afc68d368786ca117241&watermark=true"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#141414"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><noscript>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.photosnack.com/" title="Photo sharing"&amp;amp;gt;Photo slideshows&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</noscript>Simon Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059226461754849105noreply@blogger.com