Preparing Students for High School and Beyond

Dear Friends,

 

Greetings from the Rockies. Hope you are doing well.

 

Frank and I did not become missionaries or church workers by vocation, but we use our education and talents to serve God for his glory. It is our prayer that in our small way of sharing the gospel to others we had a part in sowing the seed which is the WORD of God.

 

When I (Flor) graduated from the bible college in 1970, I was hired to work at the same school and was assigned in the office. As the years went by, I became discontented working behind a desk. As I prayed for God’s guidance, He led me to take a course in Library Science and Technology. Stepping out from my comfort zone, I experienced God’s provision and the joy of helping others. With my library science degree, I had closer contact with students to help with their studies. I had opportunities to travel in the country to train librarians with no formal training in library science working in small bible schools. In 1989, I was invited to attend a conference of the Association of Christian Librarians in Portland, Oregon, USA. ACL holds conferences every year and I had opportunities to attend many of their conferences in different states until I retired. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4-5

 

It was through the ministry of the Rev. & Mrs. Lyle York, SEND missionaries who came to the Philippines in 1964 that led us to know Jesus as our personal Savior. The couple did not have biological offsprings, but many spiritual children including us. We had a special relationship, and they considered us family. Our children called them grandpa and grandma. When they retired and went back to the states, we prayed for the possibility to assist them in their old age. In our Filipino culture, children are bound to take care of their parents who are aging and we wished to do that because of their love to us. [1 Timothy 5:4 … Children should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.]

 

By God’s providence and grace, I got a job as a librarian at MAP (Medical Assistance Program) International, a Christian NGO based in Brunswick, Georgia. This was the door whereby our family had the privilege and opportunity to migrate to America. It was through my membership with the Association of Christian Librarians that this opportunity took place in 1990. Few years later, the Yorks decided to move to Georgia from Texas so they can be closer. They came to check the place and ready to move. However, things did not happen the way we planned and anticipated. Mr. York became ill and had an extremely high fever. He had cancer and chemotherapy during that time. We took him to the emergency room at a nearby hospital where he was sedated and never woken up in 48 hours. We were shocked and saddened that he died on our watch. Unfortunately, the Lord took him home at the age of seventy-four. We were responsible in putting him to rest and was buried in Brunswick, GA, our first home-based. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” God’s ultimate purpose will succeed even when we have many plans.

 

Although it was tragic and sad incident, we believe God made a way for us to be with them when they needed help. Mrs. York moved to a nursing home in Oklahoma and died at the age of eighty. Flor was there during her last days.

 

After eight years working at MAP International, we moved to Columbia, South Carolina where I became one of the librarians at Columbia International University from 1998-2015. CIU is a Christian university that focused on the training of pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers. Frank joined me later and worked at the physical plant. We both retired in 2015. Samuel 12:24 - “Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 

 

While others think we are retired and enjoying life just for ourselves, it is far from the truth. Our involvement with Ben Lippen Christian Learning School Foundation is a continuation of our commitment to serve the Lord in any ability and capacity we have. Our passion is to see BCLSF thrives to reach and teach the Word of God to the younger generation. It is far from our imagination that it would expand from eighteen preschoolers to the current enrollment of one hundred. The school is now made up of preschool to grade six. It is our joy to see young children grow and develop to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Lord blesses us more years to live, working at the school is the most rewarding, that is why we go home every year since we retire and stay there several months.

 

BCLS Foundation was started with a step of faith, believing that if this is God’s will, He will supply its needs. In its 17 years of operation, God has been faithful in providing every need and we are forever grateful to our partners who are trusting God with us. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14. This ministry would not succeed without God’s children sharing their resources to fulfill God’s command in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Thank you so much for all your prayers and financial support as we build God’s kingdom on earth. We plant the seed, and God will do the harvest. May God bless us all.

 

Until Jesus our Savior returns,

 

Frank and Flor

Address: 8732 Hotchkiss St., Littleton, CO 80125

CP # 803-767-0279

Email: mom.oamil@gmail.com​