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April 21, 2020

Tested, Not Tempted

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

—JAMES 1:13—

Laney Stroup: Japan Bible Academy | Japan

 

The pages of history are filled with stories of Christians who suffered for their faith. From the stoning of Stephen to the death of William Tyndale, the stories of these heroes call out to us and encourage us to keep our focus, to continue running, and to finish well (Heb. 12:1–2). In fact, as Paul promised Timothy, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Instead of giving thanks for our trials, we complain about the people or the circumstances around us. And in no case is this truer than in that of a missionary, as God often uses trials specifically to prepare them for His service (1 Thess. 2:1–4). The sad truth, however, is that most of us will never reach this level of suffering, nor more importantly, this level of service, because we fail to recognize God’s purposes in our life. Instead of giving thanks for our trials, we complain about the people or the circumstances around us. And since we know God is sovereign, then when we do that, we are falling into the same trap as Adam: blaming God for our sin (Gen. 3:12). As James reminds us in this verse, we must never blame God (or the circumstances He ordains) for our temptations. Yes, He tests us, but the temptations we feel and the sin that comes out when we are tested come from one source only: our internal sin nature (James 1:14–15). Let us “consider it all joy” when we fall into such trials (James 1:2), no matter what form they take. And may God raise up a new generation of servants who are tested and ready to do His work.

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Cherif Arif

Cherif Arif was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. He got an MBS from the National Theological College and Graduate School (NTCGS) in Cairo, Egypt; an MDiv. from Maranatha Baptist Seminary, Wisconsin; a ThM from TMS; and is now working on a PhD at TMS. He has served as a professor at NTCGS since 2011, both in Cairo and other locations: Jordan and Lebanon. He is now working on an exegetical/pastoral commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes in Arabic. He desires to continue serving by equipping pastors and leaders and writing exegetical/theological works in Arabic for the church in the Middle East. “My heart is that many in this area of the world come to the saving faith in our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rodney Andersen

Rodney Andersen is grateful to have grown up at Grace Community Church (GCC) under the ministry of John MacArthur. After working as an engineer for many years, Rodney left that career to pursue missions. After graduating from The Master’s Seminary in 2012, he and his family were sent by GCC to serve as missionaries in China until 2018 when he was called to return to GCC to train new missionaries. He currently serves as the Director for Grace Ministries International (GMI), the international missions department of Grace Community Church (GCC).  Rodney and his wife, Glenna, have two children.   

Aleksey Kolomiytsev

Over the last 30 years, Aleksey Kolomiytsev has been involved in pastoral ministry in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries. He has also led Word of Grace Bible Institute for 22 years and has served as senior pastor at Word of Grace Bible Church or the last 18 years. Aleksey’s focus in ministry is spreading the influence of expository preaching, as well as preparing preachers in the Russian-speaking world. His wife Tanya has been faithfully supporting him in ministry over the last 35 years.

Nick Kalena

Nick Kalena has been serving in Berlin, Germany, for six years. He moved with his wife, Jodi, and their six children from Mission Viejo, CA, in the summer of 2014 to work for the European Bible Training Center. Since then he has been serving in and is now the director of the EBTC’s Biblical Counseling Program. Alongside of EBTC ministry, he joined a church planting team in 2016 that started the Eckstein Gemeinde Berlin. One year later, Nick and the two church planters from the planting team were ordained as elders.  Nick’s ministry focus at the EBTC and at the Eckstein Gemeinde is counseling and discipleship. He enjoys bringing people to God’s Word to help them grow in their knowledge of the Son of God. 

Alexey Prokopenko

Alexey Prokopenko has served as a professor at Samara Center for Biblical Training since 2007 and as pastor of Transfiguration Baptist Church in Samara, Russia, since 2012. He has earned degrees from Medical University of Samara (MD) and The Master’s Seminary (PhD). Alexey has authored several books in the Russian language, including commentaries on Genesis and Ruth, as well as annotated translations of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. He currently serves as pastor of a new church plant in his home city. Alexey and his wife Kate have two beautiful children.

Joshua Mack

Joshua and his family recently moved back to the United States after serving for 14 years in South Africa, where they planted Living Hope Church, began the African Bible Training Center, and started the Muphamuzi Baby Home. He now serves as pastor at Cornerstone Bible Church in Fullerton, California, while continuing to mentor teachers at various African Bible Training Centers. He is particularly passionate about providing solid theological resources in under-resourced areas. He is the author of Compasssion: Seeing with Jesus Eyes and the co-author of several other books. He received his M.A. and M.Div from The Master’s University and Seminary, and D.Min from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Dave Beakley

Both David and his wife Carol were raised in Arizona, and after following David’s career in High Tech manufacturing, the Lord called David to ministry and he graduated from The Master’s Seminary in 2002. Six weeks after graduating, David, Carol, and their four children were sent out by Grace Community Church as missionaries to South Africa. David was eventually selected by South Africans to serve as the Academic Dean of Christ Seminary, as well as an elder at Christ Baptist Church. He then earned his PhD at the University of Potchefstroom in 2014. His wife Carol also serves in Christ Baptist Church teaching various women’s Bible Studies and discipling women. He also serves as the TMAI African Regional Coordinator and the GMI Regional Missions Shepherd for Africa. 

Christian Andresen

Christian and his wife Sheryl moved back to Germany over twenty years ago and started the European Bible Training Center (EBTC) in Berlin to train up nationals for pastoral and missionary work and strengthen the local churches. As president of the ever-growing EBTC, Christian oversees the school in Berlin and its extensions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as its publishing ministry. He also serves as one of the pastors at Eckstein Gemeinde Berlin, a four-year-old church plant at the heart of Berlin, and is eager to invest in church-planting ministries across Europe through his role as Regional Shepherd at Grace Ministries International. Christian and Sheryl have four wonderful grown-up children and several grandchildren.

 

Carlos Montoya  

Carlos Montoya is President of Ministerios Evangélicos de Las Americas (MEDA), a TMAI pastoral training center located in Siguatepeque, Honduras. MEDA’s main program is The Seminary for Expository Preaching (SEPE) where its motto is Training men to Preach Christ with Power, Passion and Precision. He also serves as a pastor at Iglesia Bautista Betania. 

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He then studied at Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving his MABS in 1989, and married his bride Lori the same year. After several years, Carlos felt the need to study the original languages, leading him to attend The Master’s Seminary, graduating in 1999. The Montoya family moved to Honduras in 2001. He and Lori have 7 children and 5 grandchildren. 

 

Faly Ravoahangy

Faly Ravoahangy, a graduate of The Master’s Seminary currently enrolled in their Doctor of Ministry program, is the founder and Managing Director of Madagascar 3M, a ministry started in 2017, aiming to come alongside the existing structures and to be involved in identifying, training and equipping men to study, obey and teach God’s Word. Ultimately, Madagascar 3M desires to open a Bible-teaching seminary, focusing on expository preaching, so to develop a new generation of godly church leaders in francophone Africa.

Faly is also part of the eldership team and a teaching pastor at Ankadivato Biblical Baptist Church in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. He is married to Lily and they are blessed with 5 children.

David Robles

David Robles serves as the teaching pastor of Iglesia Evangelica de Leon and is the founding president of Berea Seminary, Spain. He has a wide teaching and preaching ministry throughout Spain, Europe, Latin America and the USA. David is a graduate of Multnomah Biblical Seminary and The Master´s Seminary. He and his wife, Loida, have three daughters.

Ruben Videira

Ruben Videira graduated from The Master’s Seminary with his M.Div. in 2011 and Th.M. in 2014. The same year he moved to León, Spain, with his family, to serve at the Evangelical Church of Leon and the Berea Seminary. At the seminary he serves as the Academic Dean and professor of Hermeneutics, Bible Exposition and Theology, and at the church his ministry focuses on preaching and discipling. He has been married to Jenn since 2010, and the Lord has blessed them with Oliver (2013), Eden (2015), Caleb (2016), and Zoe (2018).

 

Greg White

Greg White was sent out by Grace Community Church in 1992 to serve the Evangelical churches of Ukraine. Over the past 28 years he has had the privilege to be a part of 2 church plants and the start and development of 2 seminaries. Greg is pastor of Grace Bible Church, Chief Academic Officer of Grace Bible Seminary in Kyiv, Ukraine, Regional Pastor of Eurasia for Grace Ministries International and Liaison & Consultant, Eurasia for The Master’s Academy International. Beside his administrative responsibilities, Greg also is a professor in the area of New Testament at Grace Bible Seminary and the European Bible Center, Berlin, Germany. Greg is married to Hue Chon and has 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren who live in Southern California.

Dave Beakley

Both David and his wife Carol were raised in Arizona, and after following David’s career in High Tech manufacturing, the Lord called David to ministry and he graduated from The Master’s Seminary in 2002. Just six weeks after graduating, David, Carol, and their four children were sent out by Grace Community Church as missionaries to South Africa, where David served as a lecturer at Christ Seminary in the city of Polokwane. During that time, David eventually was selected by the nationals to serve as the Academic Dean as well as an elder at Christ Baptist Church. He also earned his PhD at the University of Potchefstroom in 2014. His wife Carol also serves in Christ Baptist Church teaching various women’s Bible Studies and discipling women. The children were all raised in South Africa and are now living as adults in the USA. Currently, David is the Senior Pastor (teaching pastor) of Christ Baptist Church, the Academic Dean of Christ Seminary, teaches various courses in Christ Seminary, and he also serves as the TMAI African Regional Coordinator and the GMI Regional Missions Shepherd for Africa. He and his family have been serving in South Africa for over 18 years.

 

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