Leader Letter

Interview with our Group Leader of the Month

2012-01-31T11:43:00.003-06:00

Carolyn White with her daughter

Carolyn White, from Plainfield, Iowa is the leader of the month for the month of January 2012. She shared with us about what she has learned through her experience as an INSTE group leader.

What have you learned while leading your INSTE group?

God has been working on teaching me humility for quite sometime...leading an INSTE group is not teaching. It is about directing, with nofocus on myself, which has been a wonderful life lesson. We are focused onChrist and that has been a life changing experience for me!

Why do you loveyour INSTE group?

Our group has believers from many different backgrounds. Thereare 12 of us! There are powerful testimonies and visible life changes - and wedefinitely have the "encourage one another" principle down! But mostof all, we have become family. I have never seen a group come together likethis before - totally loving and committed to each other.

Do you have any tips or suggestions to other group leaders abouthow they can be effective group leaders?

You have got to be real. If you struggle, admit it. Now, INSTEis not a confessional, I know that. However, the students have got to know thattheir leader is human, too. Admit when you don't know an answer, and then findsomeone who does. It's all about relationship building, letting them see Christin you, that's what encourages them to become disciples and to never give up!

If you are interested in learning more about Carolyn. You can check out her blog at: www.whitefarms.blogspot.com

Consumer Information Disclosure Form

2011-12-21T08:26:00.003-06:00

We hope that you learn something new and interesting about INSTE through this blog post!

GeneralInformation about INSTE:

Name of Institution: INSTE BIBLE COLLEGE

Address: 2302 SW 3^rd Street, Ankeny, Iowa, 50023

Year Founded: 1982 First Accredited: 2008 AccreditationExpires: 2012

CEO/President: Dr. Nicholas A. Venditti

Accreditation(s) and Agency E-mail: detc@detc.org

State Approval and E-mail Contact Information: Exempt status underIowa Code Chapter 261B.11 (8).

Mission &Description:

Institution Mission Statement: Our mission is to make disciples and develop leaders for the fulfillment of the GreatCommission through excellent and affordable distance education.

Areas of Special Focus: Discipleship and Leadership Development

Description ofInstitution: Inste Bible College combines rigorous academic study usingwell-designed curriculum materials with hands-on practical formation guided bypracticing church leaders. INSTE’s model is based on relationships, amodel that incorporates learning into the life rhythm of the church and thelearner. Each student is part of a small group led by a facilitator thatencourages practical and immediate application of learning.

Student Demographic Profile: The average age of an INSTEstudent is 37; the student body is 43% male and 57% female. Nearly two-thirds (63%) are married, and(28%) are single. English-speaking students comprise 73% of the student body,while 27% study in Spanish.

Courses/Programs/Degrees: Certificate in Christian Ministry
Diploma in Bible and Theology,
Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology

Average ProgramTuition/Cost per credit hour: Certificate: $19; Diploma and Degree: $50

SuccessIndicators:

Average Completion/Graduation Rate for Students: Coursecompletion rates average 89% for the certificate program and 99% in thediploma/degree program. Even though most certificate students enroll for justone or two courses, 32% complete the entire program. Those enrolling in thediploma program have a 58% graduation rate. Students enrolling in the degreeprogram average an 81 % graduation rate.

Percentage of students surveyed who responded that they—

Achieved their learning goals: 95%

Would recommend the institution to a friend: 99%

Were satisfied withtheir studies: 98%

New INSTE Video

2011-12-08T11:29:00.001-06:00

Check out our new INSTE promotional video! Please share this with those who might be interested in studying as INSTE students.

The Impact of INSTE on a Church

2011-08-23T15:46:00.000-05:00

INSTE students and leaders from New Life Christian Fellowship

INSTE has had a tremendous impact on New Life Christian Fellowship (NLCF) in Saginaw, MI. Below is an overview written by Jeffrey Langeneker, the INSTE coordinator of the church.

INSTE started in the fall of 2007 at NLCF
Over 60 students have taken at least one INSTE Level I class
Fall 2011 we have almost 20 students enrolled
15 students have graduated from Level I
3 students currently taking Level II. Completed 11 of 24 Level II classes
3 pastors have completed Level I
1 Level II student will pursue degree program
13 Level I Facilitators since 2007. 1 Level II Facilitator
One of our Level I graduates will become a cross cultural medical missionary to Africa. We are sending her off within the next couple of months.
Lord willing when our Level II students graduate at least one and maybe more in the original group will plant a church.

"INSTE is part of our strategical plan to make disciples and equip leaders.INSTE reflects our DNA to see disciples transformed into the image of Jesus,serve the Body of Christ based on spiritual gifts, and minister to our personalworld of unbelieving friends, neighbors, family, work associates andacquaintances.

We are on the move to build to last, grow and go! Thank you for yourpartnership through distance based education. We recognize that christianeducation is synonymous with discipleship. What a privilege to be involved inGod's vineyard and harvest."

Thank you very much Jeffrey for telling us about how INSTE has been a blessing in your church!

2011-08-08T11:43:00.002-05:00

Check out this video about how INSTE is making an impact in a church in New York City.

INSTE Graduation in Canada

2011-06-23T12:17:00.000-05:00

Level One graduation on June 12th in Canada

We want to congratulate all of the Certificate in Christian Ministry graduates from Bramalea Christian Fellowship in Ontario, Canada. We are thankful for your church and your commitment to make disciples.

Victory Rescue Mission

2011-05-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

Numida and Arlen Van Zee with Julia (one of the graduates from Clinton, IA)

Read the story by clicking on the link below:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/INSTE-May-Newsletter.html?soid=1104232498086&aid=vR4arM_iEJk

Open Bible Caribbean Summit

2011-04-18T11:25:00.001-05:00

Click here to see a video of a woman giving her testimony about Level Two

Nick and Leona Venditti are in Trinidad and Tobago for the Second Open Bible Caribbean Summit. Representatives from many islands of the Caribbean plus Latin America are present at the summit. This trip is especially meaningful to Leona, because she began her missionary service on that island during the '70s. Much has changed since then, she says, but the warmth and hospitality of the Trinidadians is still the same.

INSTE is having an impact in the Caribbean and Latin America. The great majority of the nations represented in the summit are involved with INSTE. An INSTE celebration service was held on Tuesday evening, led by the National Director of INSTE Trindad, Ann Marie Homer. The photo (above) is of graduates who received certificates in the Marabella church, pastored by Dr. Andy Homer.

Making Many Disciples

A group of INSTE students in Union City, California

We want to thank God for what He is doing in the Centro de Fe, Esperanza, y Amor (Center of Faith, Hope and Love) Church in Union City, CA. They currently have five Level One groups that are all studying at the same time with three different leaders. The leaders are: Fernando Vazquez (the pastor), Claudia Lima, and Martha Gonzalez. Through INSTE they are creating a culture where the study of God's Word is a priority and because of this we are glad and we bless them.

Heaven and Hell

This month we want to recommend a special resource for you. It is a message by pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in the Pacific Northwest. In this message he gives an excellent overview of Jesus' teaching about heaven and hell. He specifically addresses the question of whether or not Christ is the only way of salvation. Please take a look.

New Beginnings

2011-03-17T15:06:00.001-05:00

Justin Burtch being ordained

We want to congratulate one of our Level Two students, Justin Burtch, who was recently licensed as an ordained children's pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship in Saginaw, Michigan. Justin is also one of the elders in the church and he is involved in several other ministries including the men's ministry. We thank God for students like Justin that are discovering and using their gifts in their churches to edify the Body of Christ.

Life Long Learner

Bobbie Bauer

We also congratulate Bobbie Bauer, who became the pastor of Swea City Open Bible Church in Iowa in December 2010. She graduated with a diploma from INSTE in 2007 and now she has decided to begin the upgrade to degree program. After one year of study she will receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology. Bobbie is a great example of what it means to be a lifelong learner. We are looking forward to see how the Lord will continue to use her for His Kingdom.

An Update from Rhode Island

A few months ago we told you about an INSTE group in a prison in Rhode Island. Charlie Burns, the leader of the group of 10 inmates, has informed us that the group has grown through various conflicts and that they are about to finish Discipleship 1. We hope that they will continue on with Discipleship 2. All of the students have begun to share what they are learning by discipling other inmates. We praise God for this group! Please pray that the Lord would continue to reveal Himself to them.
We encourage you to contact our office with any questions you might have. Also feel free to share a story about INSTE in your church, or a prayer request. We pray daily for our students and leaders and we would love to pray for your specific needs. We look forward to hearing from you.

Mentor Evaluation of the Student

2011-03-17T14:58:00.000-05:00

We are very thankful for the army of dedicated ministry mentors who work hand in hand with our students to help them develop the potential that God has placed in them.

The question has arisen about the reason why the ministry mentor needs to fill out an evaluation after each course. There's an important reason we require that. INSTE Bible College needs the evaluation and the student's summary to be able to grant the Beyond Academics credit that accompanies the credit for the course.

The evaluation does not need to be extensive. However, for credit to be granted, the student must be working on at least one competency during a course. The competencies and the assessment sheets give direction to the mentor and student in the student's spiritual formation (being), ministry formation (doing the ministry) and strategic formation (values that underlie ministry).

The tracking sheets serve as a journal of the student's progress through the program, and do NOT need to be sent to INSTE. These sheets will be the building block of the student's Ministry Portfolio at the end of his or her studies in Level Two.

We urge Level Two students to take full advantage of the mentoring relationship to learn all they can from their ministry mentors.

Click here to see the Beyond Academics Manual that describes in more detail the relationship between the mentor and the student in Level Two.

Victorious Through Struggles

2011-02-04T10:11:00.000-06:00

In January we started two pilot Level Two cyber groups. We are excited to take this big step towards INSTE Online and we are trusting God to help us in this process.

Story of the Month

Becky Barger and her prayer partner Crystal Stults

This month we want to celebrate a group from Bellbrook Community Church in Dayton, Ohio. In December 2010 the group of nine students finished Discipleship 2 with excellent grades. The group leaders, Paul and Donna Newman, told us that every member the group persevered and overcame many difficulties. Here are some of the issues that they faced during the semester. Crystal Stults, one of the group members, had emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder and she was out of work for two weeks recovering. Despite this, she dedicated herself to keep studying and she finished the class well. Shannon Tighe, another group member, lost her grandfather, whom she was very close to but she still finished well. Also, this group has a very special woman named Helen Hare. Helen is nearly 70 years old, uses a walker and must carry oxygen for respiratory problems wherever she goes. Although it is a struggle for her just to get to the INSTE meetings, she attends faithfully and has completed the first two books of the Certificate Program. Because of the support and encouragement of the rest of the group she has decided to continue this semester with Old Testament! We thank God for this group and we want to encourage you to follow their example.

Your Signature, Please!
It is very important that the student and the group leader sign the enrollment forms for every course. This enrollment form is a legal contract between INSTE and the student. Please, don't forget to sign it (Group Leaders and Students must sign it) for every course. Also, in the bottom right part of the form called "receipt" don't forget to indicate who is paying for the course (student, church, other). To see exactly where you need to sign click here: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1104232498086-9/01-ENGLISH+1st+Level+Application-Enrollment20100701.pdf

May the Lord keep blessing you this new year. Thank you for your commitment to studying and teaching the Word of God.

The Provision of the Lord

2010-12-09T12:26:00.000-06:00

Priscilla Matthews is the leader of a group in Thousand Palms, California that has recently completed Discipleship 1. Everyone who completed the classes finished with very good results. The students learned much and grew in many ways. One of the students put what he was learning into practice by giving his car to fellow student, Don Williamson. The husband of Lilly Lacey, another student in the class, needed a job badly. Lilly and her husband decided to fast and pray and put their need before the Lord. God answered their prayer and provided a job for Lilly’s husband! We give glory and honor to God for what he has been doing in the lives of these students.

Lilly Lacey

We want to recommend a program called SAINT. SAINT is an internet filtering software capable of analyzing the content of any website and filtering out undesirable information such as pornographic sexual content. SAINT can help to protect your family and also help those who are struggling with addiction to pornography. If you are interested, visit http://www.saintapp.com/ for more information.

Don’t forget that starting in January 2011, the monthly “Leader Letter” will be sent through e-mail only. Please send us your new or updated email address to inste@inste.edu. We will send a quarterly summary of our news through US mail for those of you who don’t have access to the Internet.

Greetings from Costa Rica!

2010-11-16T16:21:00.000-06:00

Nick and Leona Venditti send you greetings from Central America! They made a short video to greet you which you can watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6o35IKT6is

Samantha Reeves, a former INSTE student, is in her first year at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She is studying Elementary Education. Her INSTE studies helped her to have a solid foundation in the Word of God before entering college. Samantha took three Level One courses and Moody accepted all three, so she transferred in six credits. If you are planning to study in college, it may be possible for you to transfer your INSTE credits. Recently, three universities have accepted credits from INSTE: Moody Bible Institute, Grand View University and Faith Baptist Bible College. INSTE also has an articulation agreement with Life Pacific College and Eugene Bible College (now New Hope Christian College).

The daily devotional Daily Treasures from the Word of God, written by Nick and Leona Venditti, is being published through Logos Bible Software. If you are interested, you can pre-order an electronic copy for a discounted price at this webpage: http://www.logos.com/product/8099/daily-treasures-from-the-word-of-god. Also, you can receive a daily email of the Daily Treasures free of charge. Write to us at inste@inste.edu to subscribe.

In January 2011, we are launching a pilot Level Two group on ooVoo (a Skype like program). If you want to study Level Two, but do not have a group to study with, this is a great opportunity for you. Space for this group is very limited so please contact us immediately if you would like to join. Because the weekly group meetings will be on ooVoo, you must have a working webcam and a fast internet connection to join.

Visit us on Facebook. Search for “INSTE Bible College” to find our page, where you can share comments and photos from your INSTE group.

New Steps of Faith

2010-10-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

We have great news! We are moving forward towards INSTE Online! As the first step in this process, starting in January 2011, the monthly “Leader Letter” will be sent through e-mail only. This way, you will receive our news faster and it will help us reduce shipping costs. We will send a quarterly summary of our news through US mail for those of you who don’t have access to the Internet. Please send us your new or updated email address to inste@inste.edu.

Another step we are taking towards INSTE Online is starting a pilot Level Two group on ooVoo (a Skype like program). If you want to study Level Two, but do not have a group to study with, this is a great opportunity for you. We already have students who have committed to join this group and we only have room for three more students. Please contact us immediately if you would like to join this pilot group. Because the weekly group meetings will be on ooVoo, you must have a working webcam and a fast internet connection to join.

Some of the ministry mentors from Level Two have asked about the importance of filling out evaluations for students. It is very important that this is done after every course because we cannot give the student credit for Beyond Academics without these evaluations from his/her ministry mentor.

A student in Ohio wanted badly to study in a Level One group in her church, but she had no money. She decided to have a garage sale to raise the money she needed. She enrolled this semester! If you feel God is calling you to continue your studies in INSTE or to start more groups, we know that God will provide for you. Trust in Him and use your creativity and start with what you have.

There is a group of prisoners in Warwick, Rhode Island that are studying INSTE with their leader, Charlie Burns. They have agreed together to show the love of Christ to other prisoners in a very special way. Most of the new inmates in the prison have been rejected by their families and friends. As a result of this, they do not have funds in their accounts to purchase hygiene products. The INSTE students in the prison have decided to buy these necessary items for the new inmates using their own money. The new inmates cannot believe that there are no strings attached. Even though the students make only $2 a day they believe it is so important to show Christ’s love in a practical way. When they give these love offerings, they have an opportunity to share their testimonies. Some of the new prisoners have been so moved that they have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Praise God for what He is doing in Rhode Island through these men! We would like to have more prisoners studying God’s Word through INSTE. Every month we receive letters from inmates asking us about our materials. Unfortunately, we are unable to help them because of a lack of funding and leaders. If your church has a prison ministry we want to challenge you to consider using INSTE as a discipleship tool. We would love to have a scholarship fund to be able to help make INSTE available to prisoners. If God puts it on your heart to provide scholarships for prisoners to study, call us or write to us at inste@inste.edu.

“Keep on loving each other as brothers… Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:1,3)

Video Communication

2010-10-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

This month’s Leader Letter introduces three new ways to communicate with you: Video via YouTube, through Facebook and by way of Twitter. The information on the video is replicated below in print. Click here to watch this month’s video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvvGCzlKAgk&feature=related

Administrative Assistant Caleb Pahl is in charge of communications. He explains how to take advantage of these new communication tools:

All of our videos are uploaded to YouTube. If you search for “INSTEBibleCollege” you will find all of our uploaded videos. On Facebook you can visit our page by searching for Inste Bible College. On our Facebook page you can read updates and see photos, and videos. We encourage you to post your own comments or photos from your groups on our Facebook page so we can rejoice in what God is doing and pray for you. If you use Twitter you can follow us at twitter.com/INSTEBible. It is very important that we have your current email address. If your email address changes please notify us right away by emailing us at cpahl@inste.edu.

Level Two Brochure: “Are you ready for Level Two?”

Last month we sent a brochure about Level Two to Level One graduates (years 2007-2010). It’s available on our website at Resources/Catalog and Other Resources. I’d encourage you to look it over. Do your best to encourage your Level One graduates to enroll in Level Two. Level One is the appetizer; Level Two is the banquet.

Tour the INSTE Office

I encourage you to watch the video. I mentioned about two months ago that, because we moved our office from one side of the building to the other, we had to have a visit from DETC to approve our new abode. Sally Welch, Associate Director of DETC, visited on the 8^th of September. All went well. She will submit her report to the Accrediting Commission in January for their approval.

Half-Price Books Available

We have a small amount of Level One books that can be purchased at half price. Ask about them the next time you send in the Book Order and Enrollment forms for your group. They are available on a first-come basis.

Level One Certificates

From now on Requests for Level One Certificates will be processed at the end of the month. After you submit Requests for Certificates to the office, you should receive the Certificates the first week of the following month. Please keep in mind this change as you schedule your graduation celebration at your church.

Alumni News

This is Josh and Melanie Dilly. They are both former INSTE students. Josh is a Level Two graduate. They have recently moved to Trinidad to serve as Assistant Directors of the School of Global Leadership. Our prayers and blessings are with them as they go.

INSTE Youth

In the past, INSTE was open only to students 16 years old and above. However, the Board has now approved youth 14 and 15 years of age to enroll as SPECIAL AUDIT students. They must do all the work of regular students, but they don’t receive academic credit until they reach age 16 at which time they may apply for an upgrade to regular student status. Contact us if you have questions about any of these changes.

Excellence in character, knowledge and ministry

Leaders That Leave a Legacy

2010-08-02T14:38:00.005-05:00

Have you ever looked at a friend and co-laborer and think of a Bible verse that reminds you of him? If your answer is yes, that is exactly what happened to me at the Rehoboth Open Bible Church in New York City. Dr. Dennis Campbell and Sister Esther Campbell celebrated what I call their moving-on party. The church was packed with friends and guests from near and far. The testimonies were many and moving. The constant theme was the faithfulness of the Campbells and God's hand on their lives. It is obvious the Lord is moving Pastor and Sister Campbell to a new adventure. They have trained and mentored at least two generations of leaders through INSTE in their tenure of 17 years. New York City is not the same, nor is Rehoboth because of the lives of this couple. They have impacted a community and discipled their leaders. The fruit is apparent. The church is stable and healthy. The Campbells rest on the fact that God has raised up capable leaders. Oh yes, the Bible verse, "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:2). Congratulations and much love from your INSTE family. Our Lord will continue to be with you.

Exciting News

2010-07-21T10:16:00.003-05:00

Expansion of the INSTE YOUTH program

Youth leaders have requested that we expand the INSTE Youth program to include ages 14 and 15. We’ve run some pilot groups and have been very pleased with the results. Last month the Board approved the following change:

Youth ages 14 and 15 may enroll in INSTE as “special audit” students. They will pay the audit fee. They will do all the work and take tests but will not receive academic credit. At the age of 16 they may apply for college credit. They will take an advanced placement exam over courses completed as special audit and pay a fee equivalent to the difference between the audit fee and regular student status for the courses for which they wish college credit. They will be given an evaluation of spiritual growth by their group leader or youth leader using the form provided by INSTE. Those passing the exam and the evaluation will receive college credit.

We are excited about the possibilities of this youth program. The older students (16+) would be great prayer partners and role models for the younger youth. We encourage youth leaders to form an INSTE group this Fall. Why?

· It’s a great relationship-building tool.

· It’s a Bible-centered, interactive study that develops spiritual habits.

· It’s accredited so students can transfer to many different colleges. Two recent colleges that have accepted our credits are Faith Baptist Bible College and Moody Bible Institute.

· It’s ready-made for youth leaders.

· Get in touch with us for more information.

Change in the Transfer of Credits Policy

The Board also approved a change to the Transfer of Credits policy. Heretofore, no transfer of credit was accepted for courses in Level Two. However, now that we offer the courses individually instead of in blocks of four courses, we have changed the policy to help those who want to complete their studies and have studied equivalent courses in an accredited school. For the degree program, the maximum number of courses that can be transferred is 96 hours; for the diploma program the maximum accepted is 36 hours. Check with the INSTE office for more information.

The President is calling you…!

Dr. Nick is going to be calling your pastor beginning this week. He’ll be encouraging your church in your effort to make disciples and develop leaders. Let us know how we can be of help to you. We have brand new brochures and posters for you to use in promoting INSTE. Check the YouTube channel (instebiblecollege) for a video you can use.

Announcing the new Director of Alumni

We are very pleased to announce that Linda Buehler, Class of 2010, is our new Director of Alumni. We’ll be working with her in these next weeks to develop communication tools to keep all alumni linked with their alma mater. We’ll be asking for your help in getting in touch with the many alumni throughout the nation.

You will love getting to know Linda. She is Educational Director at First Church of the Open Bible in Waterloo, Iowa. She is an exciting, gifted, leader with great ideas and energy. One little fact about her: The week before graduation she ran in the San Diego marathon! Yep. That’s energy!

How Good and Pleasant It Is For Sisters to Dwell Together In Unity

2010-07-20T13:21:00.004-05:00

Dr. Leona K. Venditti was invited to be the keynote speaker at a women's conference at the Pentecostal Church of the Open Bible in Sioux City, Iowa. Women attended from various Hispanic churches in the Sioux City area. In one of Dr. Leona's teachings she quoted William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army, "some of my best soldiers are women." This is so true when it comes to the conference. A number of the women are INSTE Bible College students and their stories are so moving. In the midst of having household responsibilities, raising up children and working, they shared that INSTE was their best time of the day to comune with God. We thank the Lord for the mighty army God is raising in Sioux City, Iowa. Congratulation on a superb retreat!

Reaching A People Group: Race Car Enthusiasts

2010-07-20T09:54:00.004-05:00

Leona and I had the privilege of being part of the ordination committee with David del Valle (assistant INSTE Academic Dean) for the Evangelical Church Alliance. David led the interview and ceremony. Pat Finder (left) is an INSTE Second Level graduate ( '03). He is also a full-time mechanic in his families' business, just north of Waterloo, Iowa. However, what captured our attention was his story.

Pat was asking God "What do I do now that I have finished INSTE?" The path the Lord made is for him to become a chaplain and minister to race car drivers, their pit mechanics and fans. This is his mission field. It was exhilarating to hear how God has prepared Pat to pray with drivers and have a Sunday worship service with many of them.

In INSTE Bible College we celebrate the way God uses all our talents, gifts and abilities. Our prayer is that the Lord continue to use Pat, his wife Shannon and the children as priests in the market place. Congratulations in your ministry and ordination!

It Takes A Community To Develop Leaders

2010-07-12T13:31:00.005-05:00

There is a saying which says "it takes a village to raise a child." In INSTE, we say "it takes a community to develop leaders." Leona and I had the privilege to celebrate with the class of 2010 in Celebration Church in Puyallup, Washington their graduation. Pastor Chris Hansler is the Senior Pastor and an INSTE facilitator and ministry mentor. Pastor David Pickles was the group leader and a ministry mentor. He graduated with the Bachelor of Christian Ministry degree in 2007. His wife, Brenda Pickles, graduated with this year's class.

Paul and Susan Becker are INSTE group leaders and the coordinators for the church. The Beckers are also INSTE Second Level graduates of the class of 2002. Paul plans to enroll in the upgrade to a degree in the upcoming year. Bryan and Heidi Wakeman, son-in-law and daughter of the Beckers graduated this year. Bryan is interested in the upgrade to a degree program.

Steve Holland and Cristal Johns also completed their studies and received diplomas in this class. Each one of these graduates is involved in ministry in Celebration Center.

We are very proud of the INSTE Bible College graduates of Puyallup, Washington. They model as a group and church "one anothering" biblical principles. Truly it does take a community to develop leaders. INSTE Bible College is part of the DNA of Celebration Center!

Leader Letter -- June 2010

2010-06-18T11:37:00.000-05:00

GRADUATION 2010

From Indianapolis, Indiana, Familia Cristiana (Foursquare):

Alfredo and Ruby López

Germán and Evangelista Myrian Godoy

José and Alba Monroy

Joanne VélezCollazo

From Dayton, Ohio, First Church of the Open Bible:

Angella Petersen

Jenni Johnson

Raymond Viers

From Waterloo, Iowa, First Church of the Open Bible:

Linda Buehler

Carrie Belt

Linda Wentz

Kevin Buol

Loren and Teresa Wakefield

From Iowa Falls, Iowa, First Church of the Open Bible

Jess and Jean Lindsay

From San Diego, California, Primera Iglesia

Hispana de la Biblia Abierta

Graciano and Leticia Atempa

Santiago y Francisca Flores

From Bend, Oregon, Christian Center

Keith Odoms

Ryan and Clarrisa Wentzel

Henry and Sharon Drewfs

From Puyallup, Washington, Celebration Center

Bryan and Heidi Wakeman

Brenda Pickles

Cristal Johns

Steven Holland

From Eugene, Oregon, Lighthouse Temple

Lukey Luther

Seth Magee

Of the thirty-four graduates, fifteen were able to attend the graduation celebration. We marveled at their testimonies, enjoyed wonderful fellowship and stimulating, anointed speaking.

Group leader Ron Dugger from Springfield, Missouri, was invited to present INSTE in a nearby church. A blind couple asked if it were possible to study INSTE. “Of course” replied Ron, remembering a blind couple we had featured in the May Leader Letter. He emailed me for more information. I called our newly minted graduates, Loren and Teresa, and asked if they would be interested in advising the couple in Springfield on how to get started in INSTE. They were delighted to help. What an open door!

The INSTE Board has named Board Member Rev. Ricky Poon, pastor of the Eugene Christian Chinese Church, Coordinator of the Chinese translation of INSTE. His church in Eugene, Oregon, has an amazing outreach to the 1,000 Chinese students at the University of Oregon. Pastor Poon is training his young leadership through INSTE. Pray for a great harvest of souls this year among these Chinese students.

ENROLL your Group BEFORE July 1^st and Save Money!

The following email is typical of what we are hearing from churches across the nation.

We are experiencing such a positive response to offering a real BIBLE COLLEGE to our people! We can’t put into words how your ministry is blessing us here already…remember all those years ago when you & Nick came to the church to present INSTE to our people?

We had several groups going and DISCIPLESHIP definitely happened, but this time it is like a “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” kind of feeling going on….It’s NEW, it’s FRESH, it’s AMAZING to be a part of what God is going to do before He comes back

We are expecting a great wave of God’s blessing in growing disciples and developing leaders as we begin this new school year. Tell your pastor to expect a call from the INSTE office soon.

Promotional materials available

We have a good supply of promotional materials to promote INSTE in your church. Just ask for them. We’ll be happy to send you what you need.

Excellence in character, knowledge and ministry

Meet Isaac Su

2010-05-31T19:48:00.002-05:00

When Leona and I travel to Taiwan, Isaac Su is our Aaron. He has interpreted for us at the Logos Seminary in Kaoushiung. Isaac has also led the translation team that translated the devotional Daily Treasures into Chinese. He is a gifted person who is deeply in love with Jesus Christ. His heart is for Chinese speaking people around the world. It is an honor and privilege to call him our friend and co-laborer in the Lord!

At $2 a day, how many days does it take?

2010-05-18T17:15:00.000-05:00

“They’ve already saved up their money,” he said, when speaking about the future INSTE students. I’m humbled by their dedication to save the money and their desire to study God’s Word – despite their circumstances. You see, the leader calling was chaplain at a Rhode Island penitentiary, and the future students are inmates in prison for life.

INSTE Cuba Graduation/English

2010-05-14T09:26:00.003-05:00

NEWS FLASH! INSTE's new team members

2010-05-10T12:56:00.010-05:00

INSTE Bible College is committed to providing high quality education and service. We have been praying for several months for a bilingual registrar and for a team that can help us get INSTE on-line, which has been our dream for several years. We believe the Lord has answered our prayers in the persons of Claudia Zelaya and Caleb Pahl.

Claudia is originally from El Salvador. She is graduating this summer from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, with an MA in Intercultural Studies. Her parents Jorge and Claudia Zelaya are missionaries to Panama. Claudia will be our new registrar. She also speaks French.

Caleb is from Chicago and also a graduate of Trinity International University. He holds a BA in Christian Ministries. After graduation, he spent a year in Kazakhstan teaching English. While there he also learned Russian. Both Claudia and Caleb speak Spanish. They will be getting married on July 31 in Panama. We welcome them to INSTE Bible College. Keep them in your prayers as we all work together with you in "making disciples and developing leaders."

LEADER LETTER -- APRIL

2010-04-17T15:36:00.015-05:00

THE TAX MAN COMETH

Yes, yes, taxes again. BUT WAIT! Let me tell you how to SAVE money! As I mentioned last month, prices will go up in July. However, any enrollment/book order received ON or BEFORE June 30 will be charged the current price. Look at this:

	Price per course BEFORE July 1	Price per course AFTER July 1
LEVEL ONE Certificate	$79	$84
LEVEL TWO Diploma	$143	$168
LEVEL TWO Degree	$183	$218

Yes, indeed! Enroll BEFORE July 1^st and you will save money!
While we’re on the subject, we ask you to help us save money. Help us by having the students in your group COMPLETE the enrollment forms including all signatures, date of birth, etc.
Substituting one student for another. When one student enrolls and then decides to drop before class starts, and another wants to take his place, there is a process to follow. It is not as simple as erasing one name and writing in another. The leaving student must be dis-enrolled—his file pulled, dropped from the database, all paperwork completed and filed, the refund calculated and the check prepared and mailed. Then the new student must be enrolled in the group, and all the paperwork completed, including finances, and paperwork and books mailed to the leader. The whole process takes one hour if all paperwork is complete. If the information we receive is incomplete, it can take up to 4 hours or more. We deduct the adm. fee of 20% of the tuition and enrollment fees (i.e., for Level 1--$8.60) from a refund to cover part of the expenses involved. (Shipping is not refunded).
So how can you help? In a case such as mentioned above, make sure the paperwork is complete; and keep in mind that there is a total process we must follow. We are responsible to the DETC to keep an accurate and complete paper trail of every enrollment, payment and refund. Thanks so much for helping us save money.

GRADUATION 2010

Friday, June 11
5:30 pm	Fellowship Time
6:00 pm	Banquet in honor of the Class of 2010.
8:00 pm	Doors of Opportunity--Missionary and INSTE Europe Director Tammy Swailes tells stories about open doors in Central and Eastern Europe.
Saturday, June 12
8:00 am	Targeted prayer for the INSTE family around the world. Prayer for the Class of 2010
9:00 am	Doors of Opportunity—Missionary and Board Member Paul Canfield shares stories about mission in Minneapolis. Missionary Mike and Pam Lumbard challenge us with training in Trinidad through the School of Global Leadership.
10: 00 am	Break
10:30 am	Doors of Opportunity—Pastor and Board Member Ricky Poon shares the vision of INSTE in Chinese.
11:00 am	INSTE Update: Just wait until you hear the good news!
11:30 am	Luncheon
12:30 pm	Class Picture and Rehearsal for Graduation
1:30 pm	COMMENCEMENT
3:30 pm	Reception for the Graduates

DETC

We returned yesterday from the annual conference of DETC, our accrediting association. As always, the conference gave us new ideas for moving INSTE forward. We are dreaming BIG dreams for the future.

INSTE Cuba

Nick Venditti will be going to Cuba next week. There are over 500 students in Cuba. The special event of that week will be the graduation ceremony. Approximately 20 students will receive their diplomas. Latin American Director Juan Cruz and Caribbean Director Ann Marie Homer will also participate in the graduation.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Read below what Nick Venditti writes about what happened one year ago this week. God is good to us!

The dates of April 14-16, 2009 are etched in our minds. It was a year ago when I was in Mercy Hospital. I had lost 7 of the 9 to 10 units of blood the human body has. My blood pressure was 60/40 and my hemoglobin was 7.2. Both numbers are at the point of coma or death.

On Thursday April 16, the surgeon came in and told us the doctors were going to operate in the morning due to all the blood I had lost. She said it was a mystery. The Holy Spirit spoke to us at the same time: "this is an attack of the enemy." We asked the surgeon to give us 24 hours so we could pray. To our amazement she said "it sounds like a good idea."

Leona and I contacted friends and family from all over the world. We received a call from a pastor of Miami who prayed with us. As he prayed, the Lord brought to my mind the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34). I read the passage and stopped at verse 29. It states "Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering." (NIV) After reading the verse I prayed "Lord, I know you did that for the woman, please touch me right now." Just as the verse says, immediately the bleeding ceased. The doctors are still amazed.

Since then, I have had no recurrences and have traveled tens of thousands of miles. The Bible is true when it says "by His stripes we are healed." We praise our God for his continuing touch. Thanks for all of your prayers during this past year.

No Excuses: Just Commitment to Jesus

2010-03-22T13:14:00.000-05:00

Loren and Theresa Wakefield are true overcomers in all sense of the word. They are courageous, persistent and soon to be Second Level graduates from Waterloo, Iowa. Both of them are visually impaired. However, this has not been an excuse for them to cop out of doing INSTE First and Second Level. They gave their testimony yesterday and the impact that INSTE has had on their lives. Loren and Theresa are models of persevering and finishing the race before them (Heb. 12:1-3).
While Theresa shared, she mentioned the fact of her bout with breat cancer. Not once but twice. Not even cancer could hold them back. Leona and I salute the Wakefields, their family members who helped and their church family. It is a community effort and the Wakefields gave glory to God and thanks to their church family.

Equipping the Next Generation

2010-03-22T11:21:00.000-05:00

It is so rewarding to see young men and women being equipped for their task of being witnesses to their generation using INSTE. Maddy (left) and Samantha Reeves (right) are committed to being Bible-centered believers. These sisters take God and His word seriously. Maddy is almost 16 and enjoys sports. She placed first in the uneven bars at the 2009 Junior Olympics in Des Moines,Iowa.
Samantha is 17. She did a missionary trip in the Summer of 2009 to Debrecen Hungary and worked with children during her time there. Samantha has been accepted to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She is finishing up First Level INSTE and is very happy to know that her INSTE First Level courses have been accepted by Moody. By the way, their mom Stephany is very proud of them and is their INSTE group leader. Here at INSTE we wish them God's best as they continue to prepare themselves through INSTE.

Leader Letter -- March

2010-03-18T13:37:00.010-05:00

On March 3rd I received two emails informing us of the graduation to heaven of two of our INSTE family, Thom Carlson and Thelma Kattan.

Thom Carlson was a staff pastor at Real Life Family Center in Puyallup, Wash. He was killed in a traffic accident on February 20th on his way home from a small group meeting. Pastor Thom was a gifted, dedicated INSTE student and group leader at RLFC. In fact, he had led 13 Level One courses and 19 Level Two courses. Hilda Bishuti writes: Thom was our Pastor of Ministries; his loss leaves a big hole in our church family. Thom was 43 years old and leaves behind his wife, Pastor Sheri, who was also an INSTE student. Your prayers will be much appreciated.

That same day I received an email from Marlene Bernhard informing us of the death of INSTE student Thelma Kattan, member of the Amor Viviente in Metairie, Louisiana. Marlene writes that Thelma had prepared herself for her “true graduation” being a good example to all in her studies and her life. She was 73.

May we follow their faithful example so that we, too, will hear the Lord say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Price increase coming next school year
The Board of INSTE Bible College has approved the following price increase for the 2010-2011 school year. Level One will increase from $79 per course to $84. The Level Two Diploma program will increase from $143 per course to $163; the Degree program will increase from $183 per course to $218. These increases will take effect on July 1, 2010.

This is the first Level One tuition increase since 2003, from $18 per credit hour to $19. The increase includes $3 more for shipping, from $6 to $9. The Level Two increase is based on a $10 per credit hour increase in tuition, from $40 per credit hour to $50. It’s still the best bargain around. Compare it with EBC’s external studies cost of $85 per credit hour and Global University’s cost of $110 per credit hour.

Of course, any enrollment BEFORE the July 1 deadline will be charged the present rate.

Update on Graduation
See the website for a registration form for the graduation banquet on Friday, June 11th and the Saturday luncheon preceding the graduation at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa.

Why we do what we do
Recently I ran across a book from my college days. Goal Analysis by Robert Mager includes this cartoon on page 14. Knowing and doing have to do with what the student can do but attitude has to do with what he/she will do. Attitude isn’t a thing we can teach in a book and measure on a test—or with a dipstick.
It is, however, an indispensible component of what we do in INSTE. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus Paul writes in Philippians 2:5. The next verses describe the attitude of humility that should characterize us as followers of Jesus.

Attitudes are formed through relationships. That’s why we stress weekly meetings and prayer partners in Level One and Beyond Academics in Level Two. As leaders our task is to model the attitudes that mold the character of a minister/leader.

Take time to assess the attitude quotient of your group. Is it positive or negative? The attitude of the students will affect the way they approach their daily study. It will also determine the long-term benefit of their being in INSTE, because attitudes predict behavior. Knowing is important, but it’s not sufficient. Being—the attitude quotient—is what will make a difference in the lives of the people we touch.

Staff Search
We are searching for a bilingual registrar. He/she should have at least a bachelor’s degree, speak and write Spanish/English fluently, and be very computer literate. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact us.

Leader Letter -- February

2010-03-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
It has taken much longer to finish the promotional materials than I anticipated, but I’m glad to report that it’s now available! I’ve put PDF versions of the brochure and poster “Path to Excellence” plus a presentation guide on the website http://www.inste.edu/resources_catalog.aspx. The brochure and poster are being printed right now.

We will be calling many of you in the next few days to talk with you about new groups. As you know, INSTE groups can begin any time! We will send these promotional materials to you as you need them. Just ask! We’re producing additional materials for Level Two which will be available later on.

ENROLLMENTS
Help us speed the INSTE materials to you by double-checking the enrollment forms. It must be filled out and signed. As you see, it is a receipt for payment. Some churches allow students to make payments to them. If that is the case, check the box “student is paying.” If that student drops out before he/she pays the complete amount owed to the church, let us know what has been paid so we can refund the correct amount to the student and to the church. Why is this important? Because this is an integrity issue. If we receive money from someone and he/she is due a refund we must return it to that person according to the refund policy. The only way we can know is by looking at this receipt. Don’t forget to give a copy to the student. I suggest you write the agreed-upon payment plan on the back of the receipt.

HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE TO FORM A GROUP?
It takes 4 persons (Level One) or 2 persons (Level Two) plus a certified leader to begin a NEW group. If it is a CONTINUING group, 2 (Level One and Two) is the minimum. Also remember that if there is someone who can join the group as a reviewer or audit, they can help form the group. See the catalog http://www.inste.edu/resources_catalog.aspx for details or call us if you have questions.

GRADUATION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
We have an awesome graduating class this year! Of the 26 candidates for graduation, nine speak Spanish, the rest English. There are seven married couples in the graduating class! The Wakefields are our first visually impaired Level Two graduates. One graduate will be granted the Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology; Linda told me this morning that she worked harder in this degree program than she did for her Master’s in Education! The group leaders of the graduating class are also a cut above the norm. Of the seven, five are also graduates of INSTE Level Two.

2010-01-31T04:59:00.000-06:00

These are the nine INSTE graduates in Coimbatore, India. India has over a billion people and the church is preparing for the great harvest. It is an honor and privilege to partner in New Delhi and Coimbatore with our brethren in making disciples. Last Sunday we graduated 15 students. God is up to something and INSTE Global wants to be a part of it. Thanks Jesus for allowing to partner with your spirit in the Great Commission.

DECEMBER Leader Letter

2009-12-30T10:08:00.005-06:00

In my last letter to you I requested prayer for Honduras. Thank you for praying! I quote from Latin American Director Juan Cruz’s prayer letter that arrived yesterday from Tegucigalpa:

This flea of a nation in which we serve –Honduras–(because of its relative insignificance) has stood up to the whole world… and said it wanted to be free.

So what kind of Christmas greeting is this? Jesus came to set us free. [He] brings freedom, and light and wellness and laughter. That is what Christmas is all about. Please relish and savor the Lord’s blessings (freedom!) like the finest of delicacies. Please count them one by one. He has been good to us!

INSTE SPAIN

We are so pleased to announce the appointment of Javier Jimeno and his wife Manoli as National Directors of INSTE Spain. They pastor in Almería in southern Spain. They are well acquainted with INSTE. In fact, when we were all so very young, INSTE began in the church in Madrid where Javier was associate pastor. They have had much firsthand experience leading INSTE groups. Javier and Manoli are well known in the evangelical community in Spain.

One of my favorite things is meeting our INSTE students. The student pictured to the left is the first blind student to graduate in Spain. She is one amazing sister!

BOOK ORDER AND ENROLLMENT FORMS

You’ll find the current book order and enrollment forms for your next course in the materials we send you when you enroll a group. Please put them in a safe place to use when you begin your next course. We’ve just begun that procedure in the last two or three months, so it may be that you don’t have these new forms if you are just now enrolling a group to begin in the new year. If not, please go to the website and download the forms you need. We apologize for not getting these to you before; but from this point on you should have the forms you need to enroll your group in the next course.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

We’re working on a packet of promotional materials. If all works out, we’ll have it ready the third week of January. It will consist of a DVD, a poster, and brochures plus ideas on presentation. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at INSTE.

2009-10-15T10:54:00.005-05:00

Below is a letter recently mailed or emailed to level two leaders:
October 15, 2009

Dear level two leader:

Welcome to the new Level Two!

Need inserts?
As you have noticed, the books for Level Two have changed. What's different is that the syllabus is included at the front, and the final exam is at the back--all new questions. Also included are the forms and assessment sheets for Beyond Academics.
If you have Level Two books that do not have these pages in them, and you are laeding a Level Two course, send me an e-mail with the name(s) of the course(s) you are leading and I will e-mail you the PDF files of the new frount and back pages you can insert in your book.

A New Mailer for the Finals
You received a redesigned leader packet with the INSTE address on the back to make it easier for you to send in the final exams and forms for your group. At the end of the course, place the exams and required forms in the envelope, add postage and drop it in the mail.

Include enrollments and book order for the next course
As you send in the final exams, enclose the book order and enrollment forms for the next course.

Electronic exams
If at al possible, send the final exams on CDs. That will facilitate the correction of the exam and will get the grades back to your gorup as soon as possible. You may also collect the exams electronically form your group and send them as a group (not one by one) via e-mail to the Assistant Dean. The address is ddelvalle@inste.edu. If you do so, make a note about that on eh Register of Attendance and Exams.

The List
As a quick reminder, send us the following:

The Record of Attendance and Exams
Leader course evaluation

For each student:

Final exam (on CD or paper)
Summary Sheet for Beyond Academics
Evaluation of the student by the mentor
Student course evaluation
Final Step sheet

PLUS

Enrollment forms for any additional students for the next course
The book order form and payment

How to add a student to your group for the next course
If one or more members of your group enrolled for more than one course, you received a packet for each course. In that case, to add students for the next course, simply have those who have not already enrolled in the next course fill out an enrollment form. You will fill out the book order form to add them to the next course. Look for the class ID number on the Register of attendance and exams and write that number on the book order fomr at the top of the sheet to the right of the Church ID. Then write ADD-ON clearly on the book order. That will alert us to the fact that these new students will be joining the next course.

Got e-mail?
If at all possible, please provide us wht an email address so that we can keep in contact with you throughout the semester. We'd also like to hear from you.

Thanks!
We appreciate you! In our staff prayer time every morning we pray for you and your group. We pray for your requests and praise the Lord for your victories. It's a privilege to have you on the INSTE team. The Lord bless you!

Heroes of the Faith

2009-10-05T09:14:00.006-05:00

We had the immense privilege of hosting the INSTE National Directors of Cuba. The economic situation in Cuba is very difficult. However, God has raised up Armando and Deborah Benítez. Both are doing a wonderful job in INSTE where almost 500 students are studying and being discipled in that wonderful Caribbean island.

The challenges are many but in spite of it, the joy of the Lord is their strength. Hearing about the hunger for God's word and the role of INSTE in making disciples, we were ALL grateful to our Lord for His mercy. Chapter 11 in the Book of Hebrews mentions many persons who were faithful in the midst of adversity. Although Hebrews was written almost two millenea ago, the names of Armando and Deborah need to be included. They are living testimonies to God's faithfulness.

INSTE Bible College Goes to Omaha

2009-10-01T18:09:00.000-05:00

It is always such a joy to see pastors and leaders desirous of equipping the saints for the work of service. For two hours today I had the privilege of meeting with representatives of 4 Hispanic congregations that are situated along the I-80 corridor. These churches are located in Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa. We had an informational and testimonial meeting regarding INSTE Bible College. Two of the four churches are new to INSTE. It was so encouraging to see the testimonies of the other two churches that are using INSTE. Truly we are seeing INSTE make disciples and develop leaders throughout our land.
We encourage you to visit the INSTE website and sign up for a free daily devotional. Go to www.inste.edu and click on Daily Treasures of the Word of God. Fill out the information and you will receive the devotional. Let your friends and family know. PTL!

Free Daily Devotional Sent to You

2009-09-24T07:56:00.002-05:00

Nick and Leona have developed a daily devotional which can be a tool in the hands of our Lord. You will be able to study His word and mature in your relationship with God. Just click here to receive your thought and teaching for the day through email. http://www.inste.edu/subscribe.aspx

2009-09-18T11:03:00.004-05:00

There is a saying: a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to Islam in the post 9/11 world we live in, the issues and opinions are complex and diverse. One of the outstanding reports we have seen in the most recent months is the webcast Inside the Revolution by Joel C. Rosenberg. He is a Messianic Jew. The town meeting took place at a Calvary Chapel Church in Pennsylvania. You can view the webcast at insidetherevolution.org. It lasts for two hours and is free. We dare say it is a must see. There is a book by the same title and DVD.

The webcast is divided into three parts. The first part is on Radical Islam. Next, it is the moderates in Islam that are discussed. The final part is on what is happening in the Muslim world and how God is bringing millions to the knowledge of Jesus Christ through dreams and visions. It is exciting to see Jesus Christ continues to be the Savior of the world. There are no closed doors to God's love.

Raising Up Youth, Youth and More Youth

2009-09-16T14:19:00.002-05:00

I had the wonderful privilege to be at a three day consultation in Kansas City, MO. More than 70 national young emerging leaders were present. It was invigorating and eye opening to see the passion and motivation of many of the younger leaders. One of the key questions in the break out groups was how do we train our younger leaders. Here are 10 reasons for our churches and leaders to use Level One.

1. Discipleship is for ALL including youth. Discipleship is not only for a special group (Mt. 28:18-20)
2. Discipleship brings growth. This is both individually and corporately.
3. Discipleship is part of God's armor for youth (Eph. 6:13-15).
4. Discipleship has long term benefits. Many slip and fall in today's world because they have not been effectively discipled.
5. Discipleship is both to equip and be equipped. Everyone learns from each other in the INSTE small groups.
6. Students will receive college credit.
7. For about $.70 a day (less than McDonald’s dollar menu) your youth can get 8 credit hours after finishing INSTE First Level.
8. Your students will have skills that can be developed during their entire lifetime (prayer, Bible study, mentoring, interpersonal relationship, discovering their gifts and much more)
9. It will provide a holistic model that incorporates being, doing and knowing in your local church. It is transformation not just information.
10. Your students will be able to know your heart and passion.

We are all aware of the statistics of the great number of youth dropping out from God when they go off to college. As I listened and learned at the consultation, my spirit kept on saying "it does not have to be this way." Let us work together and disciple 16 and 17 year olds (juniors and seniors) before they go off to college!

If you think INSTE Youth First Level is for you and your church, please let us know. Check out our website: http://www.inste.edu/.

Mentoring and Being Mentored

2009-09-04T10:07:00.001-05:00

In INSTE Bible College, we have always made an emphasis on mentoring in the context of the local church and the small group. It was very rewarding to be in the Consultation of Young Emerging Leaders at Desperation Church in Liberty, MO. There were more than 70 growing and maturing young leaders. The reward for me was to see former students now leading churches and training others. This does not mean that we have arrived. However, we are advancing.
The younger leaders had some major concerns regarding ministry. They expressed them for the most part in a very caring manner and yet firmly. The training and equipping of the younger generation is more essential than ever. I was reminded of the apostle Paul's words to his protege Timothy: "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." (1 Tim. 4:12)
What became clear to me was that discipleship and leadership is a two-way street. The younger leaders are not to be ignored or treated as children. They have much to say. At the same time, they as Timothy to Paul should model the character of Christ to the older generation and others. In INSTE we say "ministry flows from being." This is what I saw. In other words, I mentored some but also was mentored by them.

Fellowship, Food and Fun: Latino Style

2009-08-31T09:42:00.000-05:00

It is so wonderful to know that as Christians, we are members of a greater family. This was the experience we had this weekend with the Latino Evangelical Free Church. Reverend Luis Martinez and his wife Susan invited Leona and me to present INSTE Bible College.
It was such a joy to be with our brothers and sisters from five different states. The food was excellent but the fellowship was the best. The author of Hebrews is so right "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not farsaking our own assembling together..." ¡Viva la fiesta!

God's Laborers for the Harvest in Miami

2009-08-21T09:28:00.014-05:00

One of the most rewarding aspects of INSTE are the graduates and their testimonies. We are proud of the quality and commitment of our graduates. Leona and I attended a Graduation Ceremony in Miami of 5 Second Level graduates. They are from Puerta de Esperanza Open Bible Church pastored by Pastors Angel and Rosa Gonzalez from Cuba.

We want to highlight just one of the 5 spectacular testimonies we heard from our graduates. His name is José Manuel Castro. He was born in Cuba. Pastor Castro is receiving his ordination certificate from Reverend Jim Beaird who is the SE Regional Director of Open Bible Churches. José Manuel planted a church in Homestead, FL last year and we celebrated their first anniversary. Homestead was hit by hurricane Andrew in 1992 which caused more than 25 billion dollars worth of damage. The area is still recovering from the hurricane. However, in the midst of all the pain we honor the commitment of members of the class of 2009 who take on the challenges and needs of their communities. Good job Pastor José Manuel Castro!

Mentoring the Next Generation

2009-08-19T14:16:00.011-05:00

There are times when we wonder if truly it is all worth it. ALL the effort and hard work. It is as if no one listens. However, let us not forget that the Lord has His ways of reminding us of His faithfulness and that our work is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58)

Nelson and Tirsa Gaitan are the pioneering pastors of Open Bible Churches in Nicaragua. Leona and I met them in the Fall of 1990. For the next 5 years, we were their INSTE group leaders. They graduated from Second Level in 1995. Their heart and passion was to go back to their country of Nicaragua to start a new work.

Well 14 years later we are together in Managua, Nicaragua. And seeing the fruit of their toil. The Gaitans had one of their mentorees with them. Nelson said: Nick and his wife are our spiritual parents. When we were ready to give up, they encouraged and stood by us. You cannot imagine the unexpected blessing it was to hear those words. Nelson and Tirsa are pastoring a church of more than 200 and established 3 new works. They have 30 persons studying INSTE and mentoring their leaders. Truly the words of the apostle Paul summarize our feelings "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Tim. 2:2)

AUGUST LEADER LETTER

2009-08-19T12:02:00.008-05:00

John Huang and Don Bryan

CHINESE TRANSLATION SUMMIT
I’m writing this at the Chicago airport on the way home from an excellent meeting of the Chinese Translation team this past weekend. Nick and I flew to Eugene, Oregon, to celebrate with the very FIRST Chinese graduates of Level One at the Eugene Chinese Christian Church pastored by Rev. Ricky Poon, who is also a member of the INSTE Bible College board. This is an amazing church with a mission that reaches out to the Chinese students at the nearby university and beyond to China itself. This church is the center of the translation process, both in translation and pilot groups.

John showed us the translation. What amazes me is how much more one can say in so little space with Chinese characters!

Sunday night we gathered with guests from the Eugene area churches for a thanksgiving celebration of the Chinese project. As we recounted the events that have led us to this point, we marveled at the guiding hand of our Lord. Surely God is in this!

Present at the summit hosted by Ricky and Irene Poon were the pastors of the Rosemead (CA) Open Bible Fellowship Chinese Church, David and Christina Yua, Dr. and Mrs. Donald R. Bryan, board member and “father” of the Chinese project, and John and Jane Huang, translators of Discipleship 2.

We met at Eugene Bible College in Oregon on Monday and Tuesday to evaluate and strategize. We are projecting a 2011 finish date for the Level One courses. Hallelujah!

FIVE OF THE FIRST EIGHT CHINESE INSTE GRADUATES! Pastor Ricky Poon (left) and his wife Irene (third from right) lead by example.

LEVEL ONE IS FOR EVERYONE!
We have a reformatted enrollment form for Level One! If you are sending in a book order form by fax with the student enrollment forms, you only need to fax us the FRONT side of the enrollment forms UNLESS the student is new to INSTE, OR there is a change in status. In that case you would need to fax both sides.

ONE COURSE AT A TIME AT LEVEL TWO!
INSTE costs less than one-half of what it would cost at comparable accredited colleges. More good news! Students can enroll in and pay for ONE COURSE at a time! One course (for example, Prophets) costs only $143 (diploma level) and $183 (degree level)—that includes everything! The cost of that same course at other colleges ranges from $341 to $874. Another reason to enroll: The individual accelerated 6-week courses fit your students’ busy schedule. Schedule a course around the needs of your church. Then do another. Before you know it, your group will be done.

EMAIL ADDRESSES
Remember to keep us up-dated on your email address. Have the students also give us their email addresses, too, so that we can send information to them that way.

CHECKING GRADES ON-LINE
Our tech guy is working on a way to make it possible for the students to check their grades ON-LINE! Stay tuned.

RESOURCES
Check the web-site (http://www.inste.edu/) under “resources/catalog and other resources” for materials to promote INSTE at your church. We also have the info-folders available (call us) and other resources you can use for a display table.
We’re on our way to Miami tomorrow to celebrate the graduation of five Level Two grads.

JULY LEADER LETTER

2009-07-16T10:41:00.020-05:00

Our new school year officially began on July 1st and we’re excited!

We have made some really cool changes to Level Two.

The New Level Two
To help you get started, I’ll walk you through those changes.

From a Semester Focus to a Course Focus
Each course is now a stand-alone 5 to 6 week course. The syllabus will be in each book. The course starts with an overview, then the four lessons and the final week the students prepare their take-home exam—on CDs if at all possible. The leader packet envelope has been redesigned to be used to send the tests and all paperwork to INSTE immediately after the course.

The New Enrollment Process
Your students may enroll in (and pay for) one to four courses each semester.
Let’s look at an example.

ADAM APPLE fills out the application form and the enrollment form for Church Leadership, Ecclesiology, Church History 1 and Church History 2 as a diploma student. Since he is the recently certified group leader, he has all four books for this semester. He writes a check to the church for $472 ($572 minus 4 x $25 for the four books he already has.)

MARGE JONES only enrolls for Church Leadership. She just wants to “taste” Level Two to see if she can do it. That’s fine. Of course, she’ll have to fill out the application form AND the enrollment form. Her husband SARGE JONES is also beginning Level Two. Marge gives a check to the group leader (made out to the church) for $123 for the diploma course ($143 minus the married student discount of $20).

TIM YOUNGER is a continuing student who has already been admitted to Level Two. He does not fill out another application form, but he does fill out an enrollment form. He enrolls for Church Leadership, Ecclesiology, Church History 1 and Church History 2 as a diploma student. He gives the completed enrollment form and a check for $572 to the group leader.

SARGE JONES is beginning Level Two as a degree student. He enrolls for Church Leadership and Ecclesiology. Since his wife, Marge, has enrolled for Church Leadership, he may deduct $30 from his payment, but since she is not enrolling for Ecclesiology, he cannot deduct the discount for that course. Sarge fills out the application form, buys the Logos Bible Software directly from Logos, has his transcripts forwarded to INSTE from his previous colleges, and fills out the enrollment form. He gives the group leader a check for $331 along with his application and enrollment form. (Calculation: $286 two courses plus $75 transcript evaluation minus $30 married student discount = $331.) This is what Sarge’s enrollment form looks like.

Leader: Please double check to make sure the student has filled out the enrollment form completely and accurately. This is the most important form so it must be filled out completely. Note that we have redesigned this form so that if you fax us the enrollment form, you only have to fax this side.

The New Book Order Form
The group leader collects the money from the students, signs and gives the students a photocopy of the receipt on the enrollment forms, and gets a check or a credit card number from the church.

He then fills out the book order form which summarizes the enrollment forms which accompany it. The top part of the form has not changed. The students’ names and ID numbers placed on the form. Below is the book order form for the sample group.

That’s it! You will find the new forms (application, enrollment, book order) on the website at http://www.inste.edu/resources_two.aspx , or if you wish, contact us and we’ll be glad to send you a quantity of these forms.

You will receive a Leader’s Packet for each course. At the end of the course, just place all the paperwork for the course in that same envelope, put postage on it and send it back to INSTE.

Adding Students to a Group
In our sample group, the student/leader and one other student have enrolled in all four courses. Another student has enrolled in two courses and the other, only one. As the group reaches the end of each course–it would be best to do so in the 4th week of the course—the leader may fax or mail the paperwork for any add-ons for the group. For example, if Marge decides to continue with Ecclesiology, she will fill out the enrollment form and the leader will fill out the book order form and mail or fax it to INSTE with payment. Be sure to write the Class ID number in the space indicated at the top of the book order form for any add-ons. You will find that number on the Register of Attendance and Exams for that course.

Q and A Time
If a student wants to study all four courses in the semester, but can’t pay for all of them up front, are there payment plans?

That’s one reason we’ve switched to the course approach. The student may enroll and pay for one course, and during that month save money for the next course. The week before finishing the course, the student should fill out the enrollment form for the next course and give the leader the money for the course. The leader fills out the book order form and sends all three items (student’s enrollment, book order form for an add-on to an already formed group, and the payment.) We’ll ship the materials to you for the added student. Remember, no student may join a group after the first lesson.

The thought of signing up for a whole semester is daunting. Can a student sign up for a course at a time and just “try it out?”

Of course! Have them try just one course at a time and before they know it, they’ll be finished!

What about final exams? Does each course have a final?

Yes. We’ve changed the semester final to a course final at the end of each book. Encourage the students to submit their final exam on a CD following the instructions in the book.

How does this change affect Beyond Academics?

The student will receive ½ credit for Beyond Academics with each course, based on the student’s summary and the mentor’s evaluation at the end of the course.

With this new system, will it take longer to finish Level Two?

Not necessarily. Most groups finish all six semesters in an average of three years and seven months. Groups should try to finish eight courses per year.

The new Level Two will mean a closer and more effective communication with you and your group. We want to use electronic communication as much as possible. You can send us an e-mail through the web site or directly to inste@inste.edu. We’d like to have your e-mail address too, as well as the address of each student.

It’s a joy to work with you. If you have any questions, we are just an e-mail or phone call away.

We are now INSTE Bible College!

2009-06-11T08:55:00.005-05:00

We are happy to announce that the Board of Directors has approved the name change to INSTE Bible College.

This news is so new, the ink still isn't dry on the logo! Our accrediting association, DETC (Distance Education and Training Council), gave us permission to announce the new name at commencement.

The name was changed for several reasons.

The new name reflects the high quality of education afforded by INSTE.
INSTE what? That question arises frequently. INSTE Bible College says who we are.
The new name facilitates transfer of credit. "College" carries more weight than "Institute."
Among our colleagues in DETC, college indicates that we are a degree-granting institution.

We have a new name and a new logo, but we have the same commitment to excellence in discipleship and leadership development.

GRADUATION 2009

2009-06-10T12:23:00.009-05:00

We celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2009 on June 5 and 6 at Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa. See the slideshow at the right. Click on a photo to go to the album and download any of the photos.

Graduation Banquet
The festivities began with a sumptuous candle ight banquet followed by a delightful program of interviews and fun. After a time of worship, Dr. Nicholas Venditti previewed the session on "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for Today."

Saturday Morning Activities

We began the morning with an exciting DVD about INSTE in Honduras. The Concert of Prayer was accentuated by prayer in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and English for INSTE around the world.
We announced our new name in the Town Meeting. See more about this exciting news in the next post.

Dr. Nicolas Venditti spoke on the theme "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for Today."

We enjoyed a delicious lunch and fellowship.

Commencement

Five new master leaders were presented with medallions and certificates: Rev. Carl Packett has led 46 Level Two classes, Rev. Gilman Sorto has led 22 Level One classes and Rev. Larry Janda, 12 Level One classes. Two others, Jerry and Liliane Wood were not able to attend.

The ceremony was interrupted to celebrate Dr. Leona Venditti's 40th year of ministry. Dr. Nick Venditti presented a slideshow; flowers and gifts followed. (Thank you, one and all. LKV)

The speaker this year was our very own President, Nicholas Venditti, who spoke on God's Final Word, Jesus Christ!

Five of the graduates this year received degrees. One of those graduates, Orlando de Jesús Ramírez, was the first graduate to receive the degree in Spanish! Another graduate, Roger Skierka, was the first graduate to complete the Upgrade to a Degree program.

A reception followed the graduation ceremony.

This commencement was brought to you by Ron and Wanda Vicker who headed up the planning and organization of a wonderful time of celebration.

Anointed Application Forms

2009-05-20T09:48:00.003-05:00

A group leader called to say that an applicant for Discipleship 1 accepted the Lord as his Savior as a result of filling out the application form. When he got to the part that says "Please give a brief description of your salvation experience" he realized he had not had that experience. His wife, who had already studied Discipleship 1 and 2 led him to the Lord. They will be studying INSTE together.

May Leader Letter

2009-05-18T12:53:00.008-05:00

SPAIN MEMORIES

The First Graduation
Last Sunday, May 11th, we were in Barcelona, Spain, for some meetings. In the church, Nueva Vida, pastored by Juan José Vazquez, we had the joy of reuniting with INSTE graduates and students from our years in Spain. That night I mentioned that of the very first Level Two graduating class (1989), three of the eleven graduates were present--Olga Giner, Miguel Mirelles, and … Nick Venditti! What fun!

The First Final Exam
After the service we reunited with other students and graduates. We laughed about the very first final exam in Level One. The pastor of one of the INSTE groups suggested we go up to a house he had in the mountains to take the final exam, and then have a picnic and fellowship.

So up the mountain we went in a caravan of eight cars. But Miguel forgot the key! Soon the clouds rolled in and the rain started falling. We had the bright idea that, to take the exam, the students would go to their respective cars and if they had a question, they would turn on the car lights, and I, armed with an umbrella, would come to them to resolve their questions. By this time it was steadily raining, and there were many questions. Later we left the mountain and went to one of the churches to continue the celebration. Ah, the wonderful memories we have!

Twenty years later, the graduation of the class of 2009
Don’t forget that the graduation of this class is coming up on the 6th of June. We will celebrate all activities at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa.

IDEA MAN
We spent quality time with Juan Diego Vallejos, INSTE Director in Spain. I picked up some great ideas, like the INSTE minute, book binding techniques, and an idea on how to help students save money for the next course. Thanks, Juan Diego. Those ideas will see the light of day on this side of the pond.

SURVIVAL IN THE RECESSION
On our trip Nick and I read a very good book by David Wilkerson, God’s Plan to Protect His People in the Coming Depression. It was written in 1998, but its message is very appropriate for today.

Wilkerson warns that God will and is, in fact, judging America for her reliance on the god of mammon and for turning her back on God. “The global economic breakdown is happening for a very specific purpose: God is about to take his church into a wilderness of testing, to strip away our human resources and make us wholly dependent on him.”

Whether or not the world will recover from the present recession, the point is clear: If God is shaking all things so that the only thing that cannot be shaken is left standing, it is time for us to seek those unshakeable things and get on solid ground.

Our preparation for any and all storms is primarily preparation for the heart, not the body, advises Wilkerson. If our hearts are not right, all preparations for physical survival are in vain. Seek first the kingdom of God. We are to saturate our minds and hearts with His Word, and crave His presence above all else.

Every foolish and frivolous thing in our lives must go. Every ungodly ambition, covetous desire, selfish dream, root of bitterness, worldly attachment—everything that has corrupted or hindered our communion with the Lord—has to change, Wilkerson states. If we are to endure, our walk with the Lord must be vastly different from the way it is today.

That’s why in this recession it is more important than ever for us as believers to study the Word. INSTE is survival gear for believers. It will build us up spiritually by feeding our souls on His promises and by guiding us to times of intimacy with Him. INSTE helps us as believers to digest God’s Word daily, hiding it in our hearts. Then when all human resources fail, we will be spiritually strong to face the storm.

God has made a covenant to keep and protect those who stay passionately in love with Him, writes Wilkerson. That does not mean that we will be exempt from all suffering, but that whatever comes, we will face adversity with peace and joy because we have been in the presence of the Lord. The key is His presence!

GRADUATION 2009

2009-04-28T09:50:00.006-05:00

Dates: June 5-6, 2009
Location: Airport Holiday Inn
6111 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321

Telephone: 800-345-8082 or
800-248-4013

Cost: $84 per night if reservation made by May 15th. Ask for the INSTE Graduation price.

All activities will be held at the Holiday Inn.

See Resources, Catalog and Other Resources for a registration form for all activities. Hotel registration must be made separately.

Mini-Schedule
Friday Night 6:00 pm: Graduation Banquet
Saturday Activities
- Prayer Concert and Town Meeting
- Session 1 – God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
- Lunch
- Graduation Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.
All activities are free with the exception of the banquet and lunch.

Prayer Works!

2009-04-24T13:48:00.004-05:00

Dr. Nick Venditti was released from the hospital last Sunday! He's a walking miracle. Nick had lost over half his blood. They transfused him with seven units of blood. After numerous tests, the doctors still could not pinpoint the source of the hemmoraghing. Thursday evening when the surgeon came in to talk with us, she said "we don't understand; it's a mystery." We realized this was an attack of the enemy. We asked her to postpone surgery for 24 hours so we could pray. She agreed.

We called numerous people to pray. As one brother prayed for us over the phone, the Lord brought to Nick's mind the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5. After we finished praying, he read that passage. He said, "Lord, you healed that woman. I know you can heal me." At that moment he knew God had touched him!

From that moment on, there was no more bleeding. Finally on Sunday the doctor announced that the consensus was that he did not need surgery and that he would be discharged from the hospital. Prayer works!

Welcome to the Leader Letter Blog

2009-04-18T13:36:00.001-05:00

We have (finally!) entered the blogosphere. We will use this mode to communicate with you, our INSTE family. We invite you to share also by posting your comments and news of your group. You can also send us photos of the activities of your group. This means of communication will give us the opportunity to post news with more frequency, not only from the central office, but also news from you and other members of INSTE. We encourage you to visit this blog frequently, because we'll be posting to it often.

To be able to comment, you’ll need to join as a MEMBER. (Google calls them followers.) You’ll need to create a Google account if you don’t already have one. You may use any email address you have for the account or you may create a “gmail” account. It’s all free.

If you subscribe to the posts (we hope you will), you will receive a notice immediately of anything we post on the blog. We'll all learn how to take advantage of this tool.

Our New Website

2009-04-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

Hey, what do you think? Nice, right? Be patient as we work out the bugs (even Microsoft has to do that!). We want the website to inform you, resource you, and provide inspiration (check out the Daily Treasures). Although we’ll be launching the website now, the next few weeks we'll be working on fine tuning our website. So be patient as we get there, okay?

DETC Conference

2009-04-18T13:29:00.001-05:00

Nick and I were in San Diego, California last week to attend the DETC conference, our accrediting association. The conference went well. Some day (we hope not too long from now) we hope to offer INSTE on-line! The good thing about being a part of DETC is that people there have experience in that area and can give us counsel.

A Bump in the Road

2009-04-18T12:57:00.005-05:00

We had plans to start blogging this month. It is part of our brand-new website. The launching date we were targeting was April 15. However, on Tuesday the 14th, Nick was admitted to the hospital. I quote from the International Ministries Hotline newsflash:

This is an urgent prayer request.

DES MOINES, IOWA: Dr. Nick Venditti, president of INSTE International, is in the hospital in Des Moines with internal bleeding. After several tests, the doctors have not yet found the source of the bleeding. Pray that God will not only stop the bleeding but also heal the cause of the bleeding. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and medical staff, and for Nick to be restored to complete health.

We believe that this is an attack of the enemy. Since the beginning of the year, three of our staff members have had to be hospitalized; first was Ron Vicker, Business Administrator, then David del Valle, Assistant Dean, and now Nick Venditti, President. At this moment (Friday morning, April 17th) Nick is still in the hospital, but we are believing for a touch from our Lord. Please pray with us.

Leader Letter

Interview with our Group Leader of the Month

Consumer Information Disclosure Form

New INSTE Video

The Impact of INSTE on a Church

INSTE Graduation in Canada

Victory Rescue Mission

Open Bible Caribbean Summit

New Beginnings

Mentor Evaluation of the Student

Victorious Through Struggles

The Provision of the Lord

Greetings from Costa Rica!

New Steps of Faith

Video Communication

Leaders That Leave a Legacy

Exciting News

How Good and Pleasant It Is For Sisters to Dwell Together In Unity

Reaching A People Group: Race Car Enthusiasts

It Takes A Community To Develop Leaders

Leader Letter -- June 2010

ENROLL your Group BEFORE July 1st and Save Money!

Promotional materials available

Meet Isaac Su

At $2 a day, how many days does it take?

INSTE Cuba Graduation/English

NEWS FLASH! INSTE's new team members

LEADER LETTER -- APRIL

No Excuses: Just Commitment to Jesus

Equipping the Next Generation

Leader Letter -- March

Leader Letter -- February

DECEMBER Leader Letter

Heroes of the Faith

INSTE Bible College Goes to Omaha

Free Daily Devotional Sent to You

Raising Up Youth, Youth and More Youth

Mentoring and Being Mentored

Fellowship, Food and Fun: Latino Style

God's Laborers for the Harvest in Miami

Mentoring the Next Generation

AUGUST LEADER LETTER

JULY LEADER LETTER

We are now INSTE Bible College!

GRADUATION 2009

Anointed Application Forms

May Leader Letter

GRADUATION 2009

Prayer Works!

Welcome to the Leader Letter Blog

Our New Website

DETC Conference

A Bump in the Road

ENROLL your Group BEFORE July 1^st and Save Money!