The Next Step

Since returning back home to Michigan, I have constantly been asked the classic question, "What is next?" Will you be going off to college in the fall, will you get a job and work, or will you be doing something else? I have been answering that question with a tentative answer up until recently. I found out officially on March 25 that I have been accepted to the Chronological School of Biblical Studies (CSBS).  This is a secondary school in YWAM. The CSBS is a nine month intensive course where students read and study every book of the Bible, starting in Genesis and ending in Revelation.

This September I will be returning to the place I call my second home: the lovely island of Oahu. I will be in Honolulu intensively studying the Bible for nine months. After the nine months is up, there is an optional outreach for students that I plan on attending. This is my next step before hopefully being able to staff the coming year. It brings me so much joy to finally be able to confidently announce this to everyone and share what my future plans are.

Here is a little more of an explanation as to what the school is all about. The CSBS (based on the inductive study method) teaches students about the context, culture, and history of each book of the Bible. After gaining an understanding of the historical context, students start to make observations and interpretations of the text based on the authors' original intent and the original reader's (and hearers') understanding. Students have around ten hours of lecture a week, which cover the historical and cultural background of the book being studied, as well as tackling difficult passages. These lectures are taught by a wide variety of Bible teachers, including Bible scholars, Old Testament archaeologists, New Testament historians, and leaders within YWAM - all of whom are passionate for seeing God's Word brought to the nations. The majority of this course is self study. Students typically spend forty (or more) hours per week individually studying the Scripture. Students also have the opportunity for field trips, community outreach, intercession, and worship as a way to enhance their nine months of study. The goal of the CSBS is to equip our students to study God's Word for  themselves and then help equip others to do the same. After the students complete nine months of intense study they have the opportunity to share with others the riches of God's Word. An optional eight to twelve week outreach is offered to all CSBS students who want to practice what they have learned. Most of our CSBS outreaches go to Asia or the South Pacific and focus on teaching the Bible and inductive Bible study skills to new believers, churches, pastors, and anyone else wanting to grow in their knowledge of the word. (Taken from ywamhonolulu.com)