FROM THETRENCHES

30 devotionals written by Dallas International Universitystudents, alumni, faculty, and staff fighting Bible poverty

“I have been fully vested in the work of Dallas International University, formerly the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL). I was a member of the SIL Board of Directors that voted to give permission to a fledging administration to formalize the academic programs of GIAL and pursue full accreditation and ‘independent institution’ status. That, in my opinion, was a landmark board decision that has borne world-wide fruit! I was a member of the school’s Board of Directors for a number of years, both in my role as SIL Vice President of Academic Affairs and as SIL CEO. I have been fully aware of the work, programs, and dreams of this great institution. I can testify that wherever I traveled in the world in my role as SIL CEO, I would regularly ask former students about the training they received at Dallas Int’l for the work they were involved in. Invariably, their faces would light up and respond with absolute conviction that the training they received was exactly what they needed to be successful! Those testimonies are undeniable endorsements of the high value of this institution. It is my pleasure to heartily recommend Dallas International University to donors, academics, and prospective students.”

Freddy BoswellSIL CEO/Executive Director, 2008-2016

“Dallas International University is America’s premier institution of higher learning focused on equipping people for intercultural work, particularly in the study of languages and cultures. Its faculty members are dedicated to professional excellence and to their students’ success, and have combined intellectual acumen with robust practical achievement. This powerful combination is rare in academia and affords a prime learning environment where students learn much and learn how to apply what they know. Dallas International’s community is unabashedly spiritual and zealously oriented to the cause of God’s Kingdom in this world. I would give Dallas International a warm recommendation both to students seeking to prepare for intercultural ministry and to donor-partners seeking a rich, eternal return on their investment.”

Larry B. JonesThe Seed Company, Senior Vice President emeritus

“Dallas International University certainly equips our personnel with the technical skills needed to engage effectively in the Bible translation movement. But the reason we keep sending our folks there is the community and vision building that comes from a sustained period of time with a bunch of people who have been similarly called by God to be sent into this unique type of work.”

Richard RudowskiLutheran Bible Translators, COO/Director for Program Ministries

Copyright © 2019 Dallas International University

development@diu.eduALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other – except

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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TMUsed by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover photo: David Hare, used by permission

FROM THETRENCHES

30 devotionals written by Dallas International Universitystudents, alumni, faculty, and staff fighting Bible poverty

www.diu.edu972.708.7340

development@diu.edu

BA in International

Studies

Distance Education(Online, Intensive, Synchronous, and

Practical Experience courses)

Tuition less than $6,000 / semester

7:1Student - Teacher

ratio

SACSCOCAccredited by

1999First students

enrolled in classes

98%of students applying for financial aid/scholarships

receive help with an average 25% tuition coverage

XPField experienced faculty

MA’s inApplied Linguistics

Language & Culture StudiesAbrahamic Studies

World Arts

PhD in World Arts

A record 209 students enrolled

in the 18-19 academic year

FOREWARD

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In 1999 Dallas International University, then the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, opened its doors to students. Since then we have helped to prepare over 1,600 students to take God’s Word across language and culture barriers. From our original two graduate degrees in Applied Linguistics and Language Development, we have expanded to a BA in International Service and MA’s in Applied Linguistics, Language & Culture Studies, Abrahamic Studies, and World Arts. We welcome our first PhD students in the fall of 2019. While our educational programs have expanded, our focus has remained the same – to prepare men and women to work among the Bibleless, marginalized, minority-language people groups of the world.

The need is still great. There are 2,163 languages still in need of a Bible translation program. Of the more than 7,300 languages in our world, less than ten percent have a complete Old and New Testament. There is still so much to do. While we do not directly translate the Scriptures into minority languages, we educate students who will do the linguistic, exegetical, and translation work and who will bring expertise to national translation teams. We equip those who will work with minority language groups to use appropriate artistic genres for evangelism, worship, and discipleship. We give students the tools they need to successfully work in Muslim dominated and/or minority cultures. In the last five years, we have been a part of the education of 600 students. Equipping 600 more students is not enough. We are committed to pouring 1,000 well educated experts into the Bible translation and Great Commission movements in the next five years. We call this commitment IMPACT2024. Details of IMPACT2024 can be found on page 37.

Your support over these past twenty years has been critical. Thank you. Please continue to pray for us and partner with us in the preparation of workers for God’s harvest field.

With gratitude for the past and excitement for the future,

Doug Tiffin, DMinPresident

Where Does My Help Come From?by Dr. Doug Tiffin, President

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My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

San Jose California is a city surrounded by hills on three sides and the San Francisco Bay on the north. Each morning as I left home, I would look up and see the hills. It was the only time in my life that I had not lived in a relatively flat area.

Psalm 121 starts “I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?” Why not write “I lift up my eyes to the seas” or “to the heavens”? For ancient Israel, there were enemy nations to the west by the ocean and to the north. The desert was to the south. The only safe place was in the hills.

But my help doesn’t come from the hills. It comes from the Lord. Look at how the Lord is described. He is maker of heaven and earth. He is the God who won’t let my foot slip. He never slumbers or sleeps. Nothing and no one is more powerful than God. Nothing catches him by surprise. This is the God who watches over me, keeping me from all harm.

This spring, I felt buffeted by the unexpected. Frustrations ranged from simply not having enough free Saturdays to get my home maintenance work done, to family health issues and a transmission failing on our car just three months after the warranty ended. None of those things came as a surprise to God even though they surprised me.

I am learning to stop looking at the hills (my calendar, my bank account, my doctor) and focus instead on God. He is the one who protects me.

Day 1

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The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

How important was it that Jesus was actually born among us? His mother didn’t have the prestigious medical care and fancy palace rooms available to royalty when it was time for her to give birth. Instead, she gave birth in dark, dirty, less-than-sanitary conditions that all the other women in that country experienced. Not a risk-free birth guarantee for Jesus, but a normal, ordinary, even more-uncomfortable-than-the-normal way to enter our world. That is what incarnation is all about. God lowering Himself to actually be among us, even as a tiny newborn, in the smelly dirtiness of our world.

Here in our location in SE Asia, I am asked daily where my boys were born. I never knew before I had children what a huge deal this was for the people here. When I was pregnant with our firstborn, it was definitely a step of bold faith to choose birthing him in our location. Most expatriate women fly to other countries with better medical care and facilities. But I knew God was calling us to stay put and experience what all the other women here experience: not a risk-free birth guarantee, but a normal, ordinary, even smelly and dirty birth.

Now when strangers on the street ask me where our sons were born, what a joy it is to be able to say, “right here!” What a blessing it is to see the happiness on people’s faces as they exclaim, “Oh, he’s a true boy from our country!” or “So that’s why he can speak our language so well!” How much more do we long for these people to realize that Jesus himself is a “true boy from our world” and that he can speak every language so perfectly well. May our sons be a picture of the incarnation and point people here in SE Asia to Jesus!

Born Among Usby Nathan and Carey Statezni, alumni

Day 2

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For two years in West Africa, I lived with a Wolof host family. My host mother once told me, “Fii mooy sa kër yaay ak sa kër baay.” (“This is your mother and father’s house.”)

Her wording struck me. I had seen the difference between living as a guest and as a child. When your parents own the house, you have responsibility but also freedom, privilege, and care. You can eat your fill. You can stretch out. I was moved that she wanted me to view my place in her home in those terms.

At the same time, I felt all the more like the American who will never be West African. How to make someone “feel at home” inevitably varies from culture to culture. I’d been learning to accept and even appreciate what I know is hospitality there, whether or not it felt like hospitality to me.

There’s eternal hope for the journey in John 14:1-3, where I recognized that same phrase in the Wolof translation: “Do not let your hearts be troubled...My Father’s house has many rooms...I am going there to prepare a place for you...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

The kër baay (Father’s house) that Jesus is preparing has a place for each of his follower-pilgrims. His house is big enough for every culture to feel at home, because we’ll all finally know ultimate identity, purpose, and rest in him. There are many rooms, though I don’t think each culture will be separate showing its own kind of hospitality. Something much more beautiful must go on there. I have trouble imagining it, but oh how I long to experience it!

My Father’s Houseby Kyria Baldwin, alumna

Day 3

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The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Genesis 41:52

I sometimes forget that I’m not invisible. Imagine my surprise when I was stopped one afternoon on campus by a kind-faced young man who asked if he could pray for me. What followed was one of those pivotal moments in my life. You see, I live with chronic pain—the kind that can change even basic tasks into Olympic events. I tend to see my pain as a limitation, as a detriment to “getting work done.” I feel embarrassed when I need help. On that day though, God used a “chance” meeting and a courageous prayer, to re-frame my view.

This young man prayed thanking God for sustaining me in my pain, and for my example of faithfulness and resilience. He thanked God for using my pain to bring glory to God. I was completely undone! There is eternal value in doing the next right thing, no matter how small, even on hard days. The reminder that my life is bearing fruit, that God is actively using even my physical pain for his glory, has given purpose to the battle.

He is big enough to make us fruitful, even in our weakest places, even in our suffering. What is the land of your suffering? I encourage you to look for ways God is making you fruitful even there.

Fruitful in Weaknessby CJ Searsy, faculty

Day 4

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Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:38

I am a part of the Student Services department at Dallas International. One of the things that applicants have to share with us on the application is how they find us. The ways are as varied as the people. Some find out about us through alumni, some through relatives or friends, some through a college school fair, some through an Internet search—and the list could go on. However they come, it is so evident that God brings us people of his choice, the ones he has been preparing to join us. He just says we are to ask.

As a part of my responsibilities in this department, I participate weekly in the admission committee meetings where we review the files of applicants. This meeting is the favorite part of my week. We get to hear the stories of the “workers” God is bringing to us.

I know that our school is praying for more workers, but I suspect that many of our friends and financial partners are joining us. We couldn’t be more grateful—to God who saves workers, gathers workers, prepares workers, and sends them out—and to YOU who are doing the asking. Thank you!

Askby Kelly Walter, staff

Day 5

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not

harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:13-15

How late is late for you? Five minutes? Fifteen? On the Micronesian island of Yap, it is common—polite, even—to show up two hours late to an event. Start and finish times are determined by whether everybody is ready, rather than by arbitrary points on a clock. Western culture, by contrast, is more “time oriented” in that life’s events and activities are coordinated by the clock.

Jesus waited two days when he learned that Lazarus was sick before responding (John 11), and he constantly warned his disciples that his return would be unannounced, refusing to give them a date.

What should be our attitude toward time as followers of Christ? Of course we should have exemplary attendance records at work and at school “as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23), but “make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5) has far more to do with stopping our schedules and taking the opportunities God gives us to minister to others, even if it makes us late for our appointments from time to time.

The one thing we do need to be time-conscious about is reaching the world for Christ. His return is contingent on this (Hebrews 3:15; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 24:14). Just as Jesus waited for Lazarus’ death, so now he waits for the full measure of the redeemed to turn to him. As we work to share the Gospel with the unreached, we can be confident that he will return, and he will be right on time.

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Christ in Culture: Timeby Seth Johnston, alumnus

Day 6

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One of my students in the Middle East was able to take the online course, Dynamics of Religious Experience. Her answers for an assignment are indicative of the character and commitment of Dallas Int’l students.

Tell me about a time you felt the supernatural was communicating with you. This could be Creator God or other spiritual entities.

‘H‘ responded, “Just yesterday I was on my way to work in the bitter cold on the ice covered sidewalk. I was walking by the mosque and feeling hopeless. Furthermore, I was thinking about the constant threat of kidnapping in this city, and my helplessness as a young girl with weak language abilities. I said, “God, I know I read your Word this morning and it was good, but I need something more. I need a word from you just for me right now.” And then into my head popped, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). It seemed quite clear to me that he very clearly was saying, “You’re right about it all. Life is tough; risks are real; hope is a marathon. But hey, I’m with you. Cheer up!”

What kinds of devotional books do you read? Is there an image of God underlying these books?

‘H’ wrote, “My Utmost for His Highest; Streams in the Desert. In both of these God is simply love and the essence of my life must be returning the love I’ve so deeply received.”

Pray with me to make the essence of each of our lives to be giving to others the love of Christ.

Being Loved...Loving Othersby Dr. Shelley Ashdown, faculty

Day 7

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Do you have a life verse as a life guide? Mine is Psalm 47:7:

For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

I have been fascinated as I look back over the years at how God has led me. He is King, and as I see what has happened, I can praise Him with understanding.

When my wife and I were asked to take an assignment in Nairobi, Kenya, we were wondering what work we would do. We were asked to be the Director of the Translation Degree Program where students from across Africa could receive a BA or MA in Bible and Translation from the two local institutions. We had been teaching in public schools and Bible colleges for the previous thirty years, so it was a joy to see these students complete their training and return to their home countries in Africa and take responsibilities as Bible translators and consultants.

The interesting part is that our college training was in Bible and music (choral). Yet the understanding of God’s leading came together in 1997 when we were asked to be part of the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, now Dallas International University. All this training and experience culminated in the use of transferable skills in the present ministry as Director of Institutional Research and Services, overseeing the master plan and evaluation of the school.

How is your life verse working out in your life?

A Life Verse as a Life Guideby Dick Lynch, staff

Day 8

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My friend, *Mara, with me

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a

people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Mara* wiped her tears and thanked the nurse who brought in the breakfast tray. She had prayed for her ailing husband through the night and felt God’s reassuring presence. Though Mara left her beloved country to make a new life in this one, her dreams of marriage and family seemed to be melting away. Her mind wondered to the logistics of getting home to pay the bills that were all in her husband’s name. She had no bank account or identification of her own.

All she could do was receive the mercy God had given her.

“You are a chosen people…a holy nation.” Halfway around the world parents, cousins, and aunties interceded on her behalf. In this country, God rallied local brothers and sisters to envelope her with tangible love and kindness.

Mara has taught me that my first identity is in Jesus. I bear his name, I share his blood, I join the rest of us in his mercy. Before I belong to my family, my gym, or my church, I belong to the King of kings. Before I carry my citizenship in this country, I belong to the people of God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us out of darkness into Your wonderful light. Thank you for going to all that trouble on the cross and considering us as your special possession. As your holy people, help us to identify with you, to represent you well on this planet, and to declare the praises of the Name we bear.

* pseudonym

Belongingby Georgia Coats, alumna

Day 9

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...with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people Isaiah 28:11

In 1985 I contacted the last speaker of Chamicuro, an Amazonian language of Peru. He and another member of their village worked with me for a few months to analyze their language. The picture of them above was taken at the SIL center in Yarinacocha. I’m the one in the middle.

This speaker was old enough that there was no time to translate any Scriptures into his language. So why did we bother to study Chamicuro at all? Part of our contract with the Peruvian government was to help preserve all of their native languages. This has great value to those communities, and opens the door for us to work in other places. And sharing the responsibility of language documentation is what any serious academic organization should do. Furthermore, data from Chamicuro have provided insights into how neighboring languages work, as well as reconstructing the linguistic families of South America.

We published a small book of stories, vocabulary items, and grammatical notes. When we shared this with the Chamicuro people, the speaker cried as he reflected on the fact that the language would soon die with him, but at least some of the history and speech of his ancestors had been written down.

In 1999 the New York Times published an article on language extinction, focusing on Chamicuro. Of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, only about 1,000 will be left by the end of this century. That averages out to one language dying every two weeks.

How many other language groups will perish without hearing of God’s love for them?

We Got There too Late!by Dr. Steve Parker, faculty

Day 10

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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified

to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2

This verse is very familiar to me, as it was at the heart of the ministry of the campus group that shared the Good News with me when I was in college back in the 70’s. Members of this group demonstrated their commitment to this ministry pattern by faithfully helping me grow in knowing God’s Word and seeking to obey it. One thing I sought to obey was to entrust the things I had learned to others and to teach them to do the same.

For the past 35 years, it has been my privilege to entrust God’s Word to women on college campuses, and in several countries, as well as with my own children. But last fall when the SIL Ladies Bible Study I belong to here decided to do the Beth Moore Study on 2 Timothy entitled Entrusted, I realized as the weeks went by that, at that point, I was not passing on the Word to anyone. I prayed God would bring someone along to whom I could begin entrusting his Word. Before long, a good friend asked me to help her plan the upcoming Encountering the World of Islam course she was going to be coordinating this spring. I had been a Coordinator twice before, so I was happy to help. The picture shows me with my hand on my friend’s shoulder, who has her hand on one of the student’s shoulders. That student has an unusual number of great relationships with Muslims whom God has just dropped in her lap. No doubt some of those one day will be sharing His Word with their own countrymen.

In February of 2019, the Lord led me to become the Chaplain of Dallas International University. What an incredible opportunity and responsibility to pass on to our students some of the riches of God’s Word that others have entrusted to me, so that they can entrust these things to others, in the language of their hearts!

Entrustedby Christine Harlan, Chaplain

Day 11

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Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises

the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9

One day I heard that someone needed a wheelchair. There was one in our office, so we took it and went to see Sabring. Her life was difficult.Her right leg had been paralyzed for ten years, then her arm also became paralyzed. She and her daughter are the only Christians in her family. Her drunken husband was often violent.

We pushed Sabring around in the wheelchair to cheer her up. But what can really cheer her? She was sent back to her village. Later when my friend went back to see her, she found Sabring lying on a dirty mat face down smelling like urine. It was clear no one wanted her to live. I was so sad that God’s child was left alone without anyone caring for her.

Many weeks passed. Suddenly, in a video on my friend’s Facebook page, I saw Sabring standing on her two legs and moving the leg that was dead for ten years. Her paralyzed arm was also moving! I could not believe what I was seeing. God healed her! We are all so encouraged by this amazing news. God did not leave her alone to die!

Our God is so kind. This is our God who hears our prayers! This is our God who does not leave us even when we have lost all hope! Praise you Lord!

This is Our Godby Mee-Sun Pawley , alumna

Day 12

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Washing sago in Papua New Guinea

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our

weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of

grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

One of the joys of my life is to listen to the beauty of the Kamasau language as I translate and subtitle the videos that show the language and culture of the people where we lived for twenty years. I am often overcome by my inadequacy to meet the task: my challenges with technology and the difficulties of expressing, in English, the full meaning from a Papua New Guinean language. What a privilege to know our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is able to help us in our weakness whenever we are in need.

O Lord, help me as I cry out to you, my Rock who is higher than I. Help me in the task that is at hand to see you at work. Lord, whether in my work, health, or relationships I ask that you might touch me for your eternal purposes to be fulfilled.

Help in Time of Needby Joy Sanders, faculty

Day 13

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Ebenezer - Stone of Helpby Meg Trihus, Dean of Students

Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12

After Greg and I spent the first year and a half of married life at the JAARS center in North Carolina, we decided to join Wycliffe and commit our lives to Bible Translation. Our next step was training. We embarked on a six week road trip ending with our arrival at the University of North Dakota where we would have to pay for the summer session. The problem was that we only had $200. We knew this was a bit crazy, but we had faith that God would provide. We arrived in North Dakota six weeks later and were able to pay expenses for the whole summer the day we arrived. How did it happen? We found $100 in a glasses case on the road in Boston. People we stayed with blessed us with gifts. But the funniest was the $1000 check we received from the IRS for a mistake Greg made four years earlier. They caught it, not Greg. We’ve often called this our Ebenezer moment, and gazed back in faith many times, knowing how God provided for us then, and He would be faithful to provide again. The Israelites in 1 Samuel 7 found themselves in a difficult situation. The Philistines were getting ready to attack them. They were afraid. Samuel prayed and God intervened. God sent the Philistines into such a panic that when the men of Israel came out, all they had to do was slaughter them. This was when Samuel took a stone and set it up. He named it Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” In my role as Dean of Students, I talk to students who are wondering how they are going to pay for the next semester. Often they are on the verge of dropping out because of finances. Knowing these students are going to be faith supported, I share my own Ebenezer moment with them, and together we ask the Lord to provide for their needs in such a way that they will be able to have an Ebenezer stone to stand on when things get tough in the future. What a joy when a couple of weeks later they come by to say “Meg, you won’t believe it, but I just received a gift from my church for $1000”, or “someone anonymously paid my bill.” And I rejoice with them knowing that they now have an Ebenezer to remember when things get tough again.

Day 14

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When Jesus prayed for us, for you and me, it should make us stop in our tracks and listen to his heart for us, as he pours it out before the Father. A short while before his betrayal and execution Jesus prays for us, for those who through his first generation of disciples and their testimony would later come to faith in him. That is us! One of the last sentences of his last will spoken here on earth to his Father in Heaven was:

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved

me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24

Jesus wants us to be where he is so we can see his glory—his greatness, power, and beauty! There’s a possibility, as believers, to be where he is not, and not see his glory. Seeing his glory comes with the ‘price tag’ of seeking God’s Kingdom first.

Jesus modeled how to empty ourselves of self-glory, to walk in dependent weakness, and to proclaim truth that bears persecution and death. When we follow his model, we are walking with him...like Peter and John. On trial, they astonished the authorities and were recognized as those who “had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Am I recognized as one who is with Jesus? I pray I am. I pray Jesus’ desire becomes our desire.

Jesus’ Heart For Youby T. Osman, alumna

Day 15

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Interns putting plants in presses

Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you

have raised up for yourself. Psalm 80:14-15

Many of the horticulture illustrations from scripture speak clearly to the people of Santa Cruz Island, Solomon Islands, South Pacific. In fact, they often understand these analogies better than many westerners. But just like the Israelites, the Natqgu speakers and we westerners also need the Lord’s care and nurturing, especially after we’ve been trimmed so we can bear more fruit.

The team I took to the Solomon Islands in 2015 was like a bunch of cuttings needing to be nurtured. And I had to lean on the Lord as I nurtured them, because whenever I depended on my own wisdom for nurturing, I saw inevitable failure. But when things were returned to the Lord’s hands, all of us could flourish—the leader and the interns. The Natqgu men were eager to take team members deep into the bush to teach them about the trees and what they are good for. Together they collected two sets of samples of tree parts. These samples were then pressed and dried to remove the liquid, so they wouldn’t rot. One set was donated to the Solomon Islands National Herbarium and the other to a US herbarium.

When was the last time that the Lord squeezed you to remove the things that would make you rotten? Have you also been the recipient of his tender care in a fragile state? Let’s thank him, together, that he knows when to be firm and when to be gentle, and pray that we too have that wisdom.

Horticulture Lessonsby Dr. Brenda H. Boerger, faculty

Day 16

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Do Not Fearby Tricia Reiman, staff

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

October 23, 2017 was a Monday like any other. I was at work when I received a text from my youngest son, “You need to come home. Dad’s on the phone with someone. It’s about Micah.” So many thoughts ran through my head—he’s in the hospital or maybe jail. What I wasn’t prepared to hear when I arrived home was that a friend had found my oldest son unresponsive. Paramedics who had been called said there was nothing they could do. He was gone.

Time stopped...and was forever divided into before and after.

The days after were lived in a haze of shock where just eating and sleeping seemed more than I could handle. When faced with the monumental task of moving forward with my life, I knew I had a choice to make—to trust God and believe that, even in this, he was good or to turn my back on him. I chose to trust him. I dove headfirst into his word desperate to find comfort and strength to persevere. I was not disappointed.

I claimed the truth of Isaiah 41:10 multiple times each day.

Grief will forever be a part of my story, but so will God’s faithfulness in the midst of that grief. I’m so thankful for God’s Word in my language. Without it, I would be lost.

Day 17

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Straight Streetby Miranda K, student and staff

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from

Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Acts 9:10-12

I never expected my first meeting with Rama* people this year to begin with a knock on the door of the religious leader of the community. But three months later, his family has become part of mine. We visit over tea and fruit, work through logistics when medical emergencies arise, and laugh at inside jokes (just like anyone else would). Doors like this can only be opened by God.

These friends of mine often pray to see God, ask to understand him better, and beg for his mercy. But they lack the understanding of the true Way, Truth, and Life. What God asks of those who carry Jesus is our willingness to walk down Straight Street to find them. Through relationship, over time, we pray that they will see Jesus, understand that he is Messiah, and receive God’s mercy through his Son.

Where is your Straight Street? Is there someone near you who has been praying to see? Someone who needs the message of Hope that you carry? Let’s pray together for these friends, for the Rama, for the boldness to say “Yes, Lord,” and the gentleness to be the hands of Hope in their lives.

*pseudonym

Day 18

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Story of All Storiesby Dr. Jeffrey Feinberg and Pat Feinberg, faculty

I will tell you everything the LORD says and will keep nothing back from you. Jeremiah 42:4b

Dallas International University houses an inter-generational community of linguists and translators. Students walk in dreams to serve populations that have never heard or read God’s Word. One student of ours coming from the field and then from some additional training in oral storying approached us to speak about a set of stories being prepared to tell the “Story of All Stories” to a vast people group spanning several continents. This people group did not understand the words “covenant” and “Ten Commandments” in the same way as it is commonly understood in western society.

How would you respond? What stories would you select? Here are some essential stories to connect humankind to the redemptive plan God has promised:

Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:8-19)After eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam is told that each generation will be conflicted over listening to God’s Voice or another’s voice. Eventually, One from his seed will crush the head of the deceiver.

Days of Noah (Genesis 6:5-22)People continue to listen to voices other than God’s. In the days of

Day 19

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Noah, evil multiplies upon the earth until God regrets that he ever made humans. Then God makes a covenant to begin again with Noah, the father of all humankind.

The Patriarchs (Genesis 12:1-9; 26:1-5; 28:1-4; 35:9-13)God personally directs Abram to leave his home, kinfolk, and birthplace to journey to a land God will show him. God promises to make him into a nation to reach the nations of the world. God makes the same covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Patriarchs of God’s nation, to change the destiny of humankind.

The Scepter (Genesis 49:8-12)From his deathbed, Jacob blesses each of his twelve sons. Jacob, also called Israel, bestows the mantle of leadership upon the tribe of Judah.

God Speaks at Sinai (Exodus 20:1ff; Deuteronomy 5:1ff)Moses and his generation hear God’s living Voice at Sinai: “I AM THE LORD.” As promised to Abraham, God had brought all Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Though everyone over 20 died in the wilderness, the retelling in Deuteronomy directs each new generation to tell its children what they had heard and seen.

David, Father of the King to Come (2 Samuel 7:8-29)Through Nathan God promises David, the first king from the line of Judah, a Son to sit on God’s throne and rule in justice and righteousness.

Jesus (Luke 3:23-38)Luke records that the line of Jesus came through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David—exactly as God had promised to each person who had lived and walked with God in years past.

We prayed together and asked God to help us “hear his Voice.” More importantly, we prayed for God to make his Name known to other people groups who have never heard his Name or his Voice or the Name of his Son. Those prayers are being answered—even as this is being penned.

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Neighbor girl drawing water from a well in Campo Cameroon, 2015.

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted

me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that

his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:1-4

Jesus told His disciples: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). As a fellow traveler in this walk with the Lord, I can attest: we do have troubles. Sometimes, you may be surprised by the actual source of those troubles, but do not be surprised at their presence. Peter warns: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9). When the enemy strikes, keep these words in mind: “The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2b). When you remember that vengeance and vindication are the Lord’s, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

Are you needing to be encouraged through a trial, today? Drink deeply from his Word, draw near to him (James 4:8), “taste and see that [he] is good” (Psalm 34:8). He will bless and strengthen you to persevere so that, in the end, you may “proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:4b).

My Strength and My Defenseby Wendy Gale, alumna

Day 20

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“If my life is all about my great faith in God, I have missed the point.”

I heard this statement on the radio, and it has deeply resonated with me over the last few months.

Translation: It’s not about me, my faith, or my work. It’s all about God and his great love for us.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other

generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. Ephesians 3:4-5

We like to think we’ll never be forgotten, but most of us don’t even know the names of our great-great-grandparents, let alone anything about them. No one will remember me after a few generations. And that’s okay. My prayer is that my life and legacy will point to God.

But how can I do that? How do we point those around us to the Lord and show them his great love? The answer depends on our circumstances. How I interact with my children, my husband, and my parents is critical for my situation. So are my day-to-day interactions with my students. Am I drawing them toward Jesus?

Right now, I’m creating an on-line class that will help people working overseas who struggle with language learning. It’s tough work, but I try to keep the end goal in mind. What a privilege to help these students cross language boundaries even as they are working to bring the message of God’s great love to every corner of the globe!

His Great Loveby Carol Long, alumna and faculty

Day 21

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Our Providerby Ferne Weimer, librarian

Library work study student

In anticipation of the approval of the PhD program in World Arts, the Center for Excellence in World Arts (CEWA) transferred a significant collection to the Dallas International Library. Such a transfer could be overwhelming for a small, mostly volunteer staff, especially as librarians resonate with Ecclesiastes 8:6, “For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.”

So … how does a small staff handle hundreds of donated resources and process fifty percent more books than in a normal year? We rely on the Lord’s provision! The Lord “knew the plan he had for us” (Jeremiah 29:11) and “supplied every need according to his riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The Lord called a student to the MA in Applied Linguistics program. He had used the same library software we use when working in an international library. Because work study funds had been provided by donors, this student could be hired into the critical position of Special Cataloger for CEWA resources.

After hundreds of books arrived, all four librarians worked quickly to prioritize materials and collect catalog records. The Special Cataloger prepared every copy for the Head Cataloger to review and finalize.

The Lord also unexpectedly sent a returning “snowbird” volunteer and a furloughing missionary to help process materials for the shelves with labels and date due slips.

Library staff can only thank “him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Day 22

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There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22b-24

Far from us should be any attitude that we are super spiritual. It doesn’t matter who we are—we all fall short of God’s standard. None of us has arrived at perfection, but despite our failures, God can still bless us. However, he wants us to serve him with our whole hearts.

Abijah (2 Chronicles 11-14; 1 Kings 15) was complacent about Judah keeping up outward ceremonies and forms of worship. However, his heart was not completely devoted to the Lord. Even though he dedicated some treasures to the house of the Lord, the theme of his life was still not one of being pleasing to God.

What about the blessings that God gave Abijah? Doesn’t that prove that he was right with God? Granted, in the battle with Jeroboam, God did give him a measure of blessing. God, in his mercy, can show his blessing even to backsliders who do right sometimes.

Evidence of God’s blessing on our lives and ministry may not mean that our hearts are completely devoted to God. He can choose to bless dirty vessels who preach his Word because those blessings might be the result of others’ laborers that we are entering into.

God wants our whole hearts, not just our outward sacrifices. The Christian life is more about being than doing. Anyone can go through certain rituals, but only a Spirit-filled, surrendered, obedient Christian can please God. Furthermore, the things that we do will have more meaning as an act of worship and love rather than just a ritual done strictly out of duty or tradition. Let us strive to honor God with both our actions and our whole, devoted hearts.

God Wants Our Whole Heartsby Lloyd Hamman, alumnus

Day 23

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Singing the Songs of the Lordby Dr. Rob McKee, faculty

How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4

To answer, briefly, the exiled-to-Babylon psalmist’s whining question: We sing them by recognizing, “Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge” (Psalm 119: 54).

I have been teaching cultural anthropology at Dallas International since 2010. Previously, my wife and I were nineteen years in Africa with SIL International—six as linguist-translators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, twelve in various other capacities in Kenya. Our last three years in Kenya, I did anthropology consulting full-time.

Through my years of teaching at Dallas International and in relation to psalms that I have been memorizing and meditating on (especially, 47, 87, 96, 100, 119, 137, 138), I have come to see my own and the school’s role in preparing most of our students for their future work as equipping them to “sing the songs of the LORD,” the one living God, while in a foreign land.

They get to that foreign land by crossing any language or cultural barrier. They find it’s not Kansas anymore; that it’s virtually impossible to “sing the songs of the LORD” there joyfully and with communicative effectiveness.

I’m glad to be part of the team, at Dallas International, that does its best to provide students needed academic and spiritual preparation, to the end that, “As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you’” (Psalm 87: 7).

Day 24

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Missing the Pointby Jeffrey Hansen, Student Body President

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The

Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days

of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he

also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-28

“I wonder why the pharisees were hanging out in a field?” The community consultants for the translation of Mark 2:23-28 were surprisingly sensitive to the details of the text, picking up on small details of the translation, remarking on Jesus’ authority and God’s goodness in giving humankind the Sabbath.

But what surprised me most was how much more tender they were to the meaning of the passage than I had been when I was translating it with the help of a co-translator. Of course, I had done significant exegesis and had read a number of commentaries on the passage, even looking up ancient agricultural practices to make sure I understood what was going on. I had a task to accomplish, and I had to worry about translating the passage accurately, understandably, with the correct number of syllables and syllable stress, not to mention the rhyming (imagine trying to do this with the phrase ‘High-Priest Abiathar’).

But I missed the point, in a way not unlike the pharisees. They were acquainted enough with scriptures to catch Jesus’ allusion to a relatively minor Davidic episode, but failed to really engage the heart of the Scriptures. They had “known” the Word of God, but completely missed The Word of God when he met them in the flesh. It is easy to think we are serving God, but at the same time serve another master because we are caught up in the service itself rather than God. Thus, in God’s excellent humor, the slightly-learned translator-in-training has been humbled through the testimony of the intended audience who has received the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Day 25

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From Strength to Strengthby Dr. Glenn C. Lafitte, faculty

Bonnie and I met on the mission field in Ecuador, fell in love, and were married May 7, 1983. Early on the Lord led us to Psalm 84.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a

place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7

On January 16, 2018, I spent all day at Starbucks thinking about the journey the Lord has led Bonnie and me on and the opportunities the Lord has given us. I thought about our passion for ministry, music, and writing. I thought about the years to come, as I am now in my mid-60s. When the Lord allowed me to pursue a PhD from 2012 to 2017, in addition to my full-time ministry responsibilities, it was with the vision of “giving back” to the next generation going into ministry.

On May 31, 2018, I met with Dr. Doug Tiffin, President of Dallas International University, to discuss possibilities with the university. It has been gratifying to design an introductory course in statistics for the College of International Studies and teach it for the first time in the fall of 2019 to young people going into cross-cultural ministry.

It is my prayer I may be used of the Lord to impart the truths Bonnie and I have discovered from Psalm 84 to my students.

Day 26

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A Gift that Won’t Rustby Seth Johnston, alumnus

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

During one of my first village trips, some men gathered around me to reminisce about the first missionary who lived among them thirty years before and how generous he had been. This man, they told me, had landed a helicopter and handed out machetes as gifts to everyone.

“Where are those machetes now?” I asked them. “They’re gone, aren’t they? Broken, rusted away?” They assented.

“This man didn’t come to give you gifts that you could enjoy for a short time before they would disappear. He wanted to give you something that would last forever, that would never rust or get lost. I also don’t want to come and give you gifts that you’ll quickly lose. I want to help offer you something that will last: God’s Word in your own language. It is a treasure that is worth so much more than anything else I could give you. This gift is worth more than machetes or money or fish hooks or food. This gift is to know God and have eternal life. This is a gift that won’t ever rust or get lost, and in fact, the blessing grows as you share it!

That is why I’ve come here. I could be quite rich if I stayed in my own country, but I don’t want stuff that will rust and get lost; I want to know God and to share him with others.”

“You speak well,” they said.

Let’s live for treasures that last, and let’s strive to share them.

Day 27

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Fruitful in Old Age by Dr. Brenda H. Boerger, faculty

Couple who returned to the Solomons and are now leading the translation group

Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and

green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Psalm 92:13-15

Over ten years ago, in 2008, as the dedication of the Natqgu NT and Psalms was approaching, I took a day’s retreat to listen to what the Lord might say. I was praying for direction for the future now that we had completed our assignment in the Solomon Islands. Should I focus on translation or linguistics? Would my husband and I live overseas again or be US-based? Where would the Lord’s path lead us next?

His answer was to prompt me to pick up a half green and half brown leaf. I asked, “OK, what does this mean?” He showed me that even though I was half dead—so to speak—I still had some life in me and that my mission was to speak into the lives of the green leaves, the younger ones, whose adult lives were just beginning. I was going to “bear fruit in old age!”

In fact, my husband and I did that almost immediately, because later in 2008 we took a team of students with us to the Solomon Islands, in conjunction with the Natqgu scripture dedication. The students learned how to present SALT course lessons (Scripture Application and Leadership Training) in Solomon Islands Pijin, the language of wider communication. They presented their lessons twice—once in the national capital and once on Santa Cruz Island.

So what fruit did it bear? Two of the students met on the trip, later married, and eventually returned to the Solomon Islands to do Bible translation. Not only that, but the husband is now the director of the Wycliffe teams working in the country, and I answer to him if I want to return for ministry.

Day 28

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Close to Our Heartsby Jeffrey Hansen, Student Body President

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love,

it would be utterly scorned. Song of Songs 8:6-7

Growing up, I received a significant amount of training and instruction regarding the Bible through the church. Not only was I taught how to read Scripture, but also to interpret it and apply its precepts. I quickly developed a good understanding of the contents of the Bible as a whole. And through this learned reverence toward the Word, I gained a reverence for The Word.

However, despite being able to recite a few passages because of sheer frequent exposure, I had never really fostered the discipline of memorizing Scripture. So, when I became a World Arts and Linguistics student at Dallas International and was exposed to the concept of internalization, I was surprised by how intentional memorization could function as a way of engaging with a text on a more intimate level. In many cultures where written forms of communication are not strongly emphasized, memorized stories, passages, songs, and proverbs often play an exceedingly important role in everyday communication and, because of the depth of familiarity required to memorize a text, this can deeply affect those who have internalized such messages.

In Song of Songs 8:6-7 a poetic characterization of the intensity and power of love is given. One element of this description is the idea of keeping things you love dearly on your heart and your arm as a seal. By memorizing and internalizing Scriptures, we are placing the Word of God close to our hearts, and this ought to drive us to love The Word of God with everything. And because of this love, we are spurred on to obey the commandments through the acts carried out by our arms and hands, which in turn reminds us of how God’s great love has acted on our behalf in sending both the Word and The Word.

Day 29

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Keep on Prayingby Dr. Doug Tiffin, President

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all

the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

Last year, over the Easter weekend, we invited students living in the guest house to our place for dinner and the evening.

One student said he would go in the pool but only if he was not alone. I told him that if he went in, the dog would be delighted to join him. Excuse gone, he went into the frigid waters as did the dog. Youth!

After supper, we sat around and talked. Someone in the group mentioned that a recent Dallas Int’l graduate was working in a refugee camp in southern Europe that was being overrun with new refugees on a daily basis. Since this grad was responsible for new refugee orientation, he was feeling pressure and asking for prayer. So, the group stopped right then, in the middle of this social event, and prayed for him. I was in awe at the spiritual maturity being shown.

I am so proud of our students. They are not only incredibly smart and dedicated, they are committed to the Lord. And they believe in and practice the things God has instructed us to do—specifically prayer. I was challenged not to just say that I would pray for someone but to stop and pray with them when the request comes.

Day 30

At Dallas International University we want to pour 1,000 well educated workers into the Bible translation and Great Commission movements in the next five years. Training 1,000 students in that time span will require us to double the size of the school from last year’s enrollment of 209. This is a huge undertaking as it requires our infrastructure to grow significantly. We have identified five areas that we must address if IMPACT2024 is to be achieved:

1. Program growth – We want to add either an MA or a PhD in translation consulting and a new MA or MA concentration in Human Migration. In 2020 we will begin a 9-week summer term. With the SIL program at the University of North Dakota closing after 67 years, we will pick up that legacy.

2. Provide students the facilities and technology to enhance their education – A growing number of students attend class virtually. They may physically be on a different continent, but through modern technology they can attend and participate in class as if they were in the room. This year the Hillcrest foundation gave us a large grant to upgrade the technology in all our classrooms so more courses can be offered online. For students on campus, additional casual space is needed. A new student life center is currently being created in the old Pioneer Bible Translators building on campus.

3. Increased student-aid – With more students comes an increasing need for scholarship and work-study funds. Our goal is to add $50,000 a year to our endowed scholarship funds as well as to raise an additional $50,000 each year for immediate use. This year we have a matching fund campaign to endow the Alekseyev Scholarship for World Arts. If we can match it, $30,000 has been offered. To date we are over halfway there.

4. Additional faculty and staff – Our faculty and many of our staff members are faith supported missionaries. Their work in raising their own salary allows us to keep our tuition low—close to the cost of public universities in Texas and about one-third of local faith-based private schools. We need to grow our faculty and

IMPACT 2024

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staff in order to serve more students. Raising support is often a challenge for them as many donors don’t see the benefit to the Kingdom of supporting those who prepare others to be effective.

5. Additional office space for faculty and staff – With the need for more faculty and staff comes the need for more office space. We already have four or five people working in one office. Trying to add more in the same space is just not feasible.

How Can You Help?

Pray. Nothing of significance is going to happen without prayer. Please join us in praying.• Ask God to send 228 students for the 19-20 academic year.• Pray for the new PhD program as it gets under way.• Petition God for the additional faculty and staff needed to

accommodate growth.

Partner with us. • Give to our general fund needs, scholarships, or to one of our

faculty or staff members. • Create an endowed scholarship ($25,000 minimum) or

contribute to an existing endowed scholarship fund to benefit students for years to come.

• Sponsor a room in the new student life center. • Come to Dallas for a few weeks or a few years and work with

us. I guarantee we will have meaningful work for you to do in preparing men and women for the task of ending Bible poverty.

For further information on IMPACT2024 and how you can be involved, please contact the school at development@diu.edu or 972-708-7552.

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7500 W Camp Wisdom RoadDallas, TX 75236

972.708.7340 • www.diu.edu

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Dallas International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Dallas International University.