Dear Friends,
Over the past six months BTC has seen many
changes, both national and local, external and
internal, some good and welcome, and some
disturbing and perplexing. What a wonderful
comfort and assurance it is to know in the midst
of changes and uncertainty that God never
changes. He is still the same, the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How much they
depended on Him and His faithfulness. How truly
thankful we are that we can know Him, His
faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy, His
sovereign control in these days of change. He is
working His purposes out.
National Changes
The transfer of power to the UNP
government of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe in
December and the subsequent ceasefire
agreement between the government and the
LTTE, which came into effect on February 22nd,
has brought about many changes to Trincomalee
and the Northeast. The absence of checkpoints
means free and easy travel 24 hours a day as
opposed to the tortuously slow, check point-
restricted journeys
which limited travel to work-time hours. Local
and foreign tourists are now coming to Trinco in
their hundreds filling the local hotels to over-
flowing and giving the local economy a welcome
boost, but also denuding the local Pigeon Island
of precious coral and leaving the roadsides and
beaches strewn with garbage. The LTTE have now
come on the scene and have opened their Trinco
office. They are very much in evidence as part of
the local administration alongside the local
government, issuing taxes to local businesses and
freely entering schools to show their videos. All
local schools, offices and shops in the town had
to close on March 19th so that everyone could
participate in their Pongu Tamil (Tamil Upsurge)
celebration, which began with crowds marching
round the town and then assembling for their
massive rally. The 9th June Sunday papers carry
the ominous news that they will open their own
LTTE Police Station in Trinco this month! One
wonders what the future holds!
Internal Changes:
Academic Team
Changes have also occurred within BTC.
In December we said goodbye to Napoleon, who
had decided to return to Colombo with his family.
Contrary to our hopes (stated in our last
newsletter) Sureshkumar has not been able to
teach due to the demands of his churchwork,
hence the first term of our third year was tough
going with our two full-time faculty members,
Charles and Newton working flat-out. Sadly, due
to our faculty constraints, coupled with a lack of
Sinhala student applications, we had to
temporarily change the Sinhala programme from
full-time to part-time, consisting of periodic
modulars. On June 1st we had the joy of
welcoming Priya back onto the faculty. Despite
his busy schedule with other work and church
commitments, he agreed to teach a course using
six hours every other Saturday to fit in the
necessary hours. Next term he will be teaching
two courses.
Administrative Team
After just over 1 1/2 years with us our
administrator, Shreeraj, is leaving. Rex, who is
also a Board member, has come to head up the
administrative team, with the task of
streamlining our administrative system. He also
hopes to take a few courses to complete his B.Th.
which he began in CTS, thus he has the
unenviable privilege of being our first Board
member, staff member and student! His wife and
three children live in Colombo, but hope to soon
relocate to Trinco.
Student Body
Having said `Goodbye' to Morias and
Mary in December, we said `Hello' to another five
students from the same area of Mannar in
January, almost all of whom have already taken
courses at our Manner extension centre. Julie
(mentioned in Sept. 01 newsletter) came with his
young family of 6, along with Ravi and Sutharsini
(who has taken over the library work from Mary)
all of whom come from Gospel Grace Church.
Their Pastor, Mano, who is a gifted teacher and
has already published about 3 books in Tamil,
teaches regularly at the extension center. Amala
is from My Saviour's Church and Aruntha from
Philadelphia Church. Pradeepkaran, a local boy
from Grace Faith Tabernacle, also joined in
January. More recently in May, another four
joined BTC for the beginning of the second term,
including Selvaraj (mentioned many times
previously), Navaratnam and his wife, Kalajothy
from Vauvuniya and Dayan, yet another Mannar
boy! Their arrival brings our number of full-time
students to 15, 7 of whom are from Mannar
(could it be the future Bible-belt of Sri Lanka?)
Hostels
Recently a large furniture business situated
about 2 minutes walk from the college, decided
to close rather than pay the exorbitant tax
issued by the LTTE. With a few renovations and
partitions installed the `shop' has now replaced
our dilapidated, beachside male hostel and the
main building accommodates two student families
and our two Colombo-based staff members,
Newton and Rex, with space left to spare! The
whole premises has potential to accommodate
more students and families with careful planning.
Being so close to the college, this is a real gift
from the Lord.
Changes in another body
While our student body has increased
our Principal's body has reduced a couple of sizes
due to a debilitating bout of typhoid in May.
However the strong medicine prescribed by a
local doctor proved to be even more debilitating,
leaving him unable to walk for another couple of
weeks! The joys and trials of life in Trinco!
Highlights of the past six months:
Our Second Anniversary
It was a real joy to see such a large
number of local pastors, local officials, past
students and friends join with our BTC family to
celebrate the second anniversary of the college
on Friday, February 1st. Pastor Terrence from
Trincomalee Methodist Church shared an
encouraging and challenging message in the
service of thanksgiving. This was followed by a
special programme put on by the students and a
fellowship meal. It was truly a happy and
encouraging occasion, especially seeing so many
with whom we have had contact in different
capacities. A valuable opportunity for building
and affirming relationships
A door opens in Vavuniya
Following a request from the Vavuniya
Pastor's Fellowship, a fellowship of 16 different
churches, Charles went to teach BTC's first
modular course in Vavuniya from 11-15th March.
Two churches, Gospel Missionary Church and
Jesus Saves Church played host to Charles and
the eleven students from BTC. It was a good
exposure trip for all and a chance to build up
relationships with churches and pastors from
further afield in the Northeast, including the
LTTE held Vanni. Altogether forty students
registered for the course which was taught at
the Gospel Missionary Church in Thandikulam,
Vavuniya just on the border of the Vanni.
Local Outreach
After a gap of 25 years Every Home
Crusade came to Trinco during the first week of
May to distribute tracts and Bibles to homes
throughout the district. The local churches
chose BTC as the main facilitator for the event.
The local volunteers were joined by others, Tamil
and Sinhalese, from all over the island, many of
whom were students of South Asia Institute of
Theology, in Norton Bridge. BTC played host to
these students accommodating them in our
student hostel. For BTC it was a great privilege
to be involved with the local churches in
evangelistic outreach. So far about 300 response
cards requesting further contact and information
have been received.
Thank you for your continued prayer and
support for BTC and your patience during our
last months of silence. Please keeping praying
for our students, staff and that the Lord would
continue to mould BTC, that we would be
enabled to serve Him and His Church better in
this war torn area of Sri Lanka.
|
|
|
|