This September nearly 40 new students came to Jerusalem for the School of Biblical Hebrew. They joined others who are continuing their studies in master’s and certificate programs. This many students meant our facilities were stretched to the limits, requiring us to move some students to alternative housing, prepare more classrooms and get ready to juggle dining spaces for more than 70 people.

On the first day of classes for the new School of Biblical Hebrew, staff worked hard planning and preparing. All was going smoothly and the students were welcomed and happy until suddenly, all the electricity went off! There was a construction mishap next door and a cable was cut. While the teachers continued on in darkened classrooms, other staff scrambled to move perishable food and meals to the dormitory.

But at the end of the day when our staff gathered for prayer their voices were full of happiness and excitement. “The students were great,” they reported. “They had such good attitudes, took it all in stride and are just so happy to be here and learn. We are grateful for all the hard work put in and for the new staff that have joined us to make things go so smoothly.”  

Life in Jerusalem is never without its challenges, and as we expand in numbers of both staff and students in order to meet the need for full Bible translations, we ask for your prayers and support. We continue to trust in God’s faithfulness as we grow toward the goal of the whole Word for the whole world.  

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” –Isaiah 54:2-3