A Loyal Servant: Dr. Harold Hoehner

Dr. Harold Hoehner passed away this morning. So hard to see someone like him go. But we can rejoice that he is now with his Savior.

Dr. Hoehner was a renowned expert in many areas but his immensely resourceful work on the book of Ephesians will impact many for generations to come. Dr. Hoehner also left a legacy on the lives of his students who are spread out all over the world and continue to carry the message he imparted to them during their seminary days.

At Dallas Theological Seminary (http://www.dts.edu) I had the privilege of taking Dr. Hoehner's class on the book of Romans. It was an intensive class that met during the month of May almost every day for a few weeks. Dr. Hoehner exhibited grace, love, wisdom, and above all a passion for the Lord, his family, and his students.

At Grace Bible Church (http://www.gracebiblechurch.org) Dr. Hoehner was a man that demonstrated love and kindness to everyone that was around him. I say this jokingly, but the one notable exception was during ordination exams that he helped with at Grace. Dr. Hoehner demonstrated his passion for training Godly leaders at the seminary and at Grace Bible Church by asking difficult questions during ordination exams in order to ensure that if Grace Bible Church was going to approve someone for pastoral ministry that they really made sure they were prepared.

About a week ago, Lindsey and I ran into Dr. Hoehner and his wife at Fuddruckers where we talked for about 5-10 minutes. He seemed to be doing fine and I think he was. Little did we know that the Lord was going to take him home to heaven today, February 12, 2009.

Thank you Dr. Hoehner for your impact on my life, the countless other lives you impacted, your passion for serving your wife, family, and church, and most of all for the example you leave behind for the rest of us to follow as you devoted your life to Jesus Christ and making Him known.

Read Dallas Theological Seminary's tribute to Dr. Harold Hoehner by clicking here.

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Why Do We Suffer? by Timothy Warren

Suffering in life is certain. Did you know that? Maybe you know that all too well. Maybe it sounds like something that will occur later in life. Regardless of where you are at now, suffering is certain at some point.

For me, it is when life isn't easy that I have a very hard time navigating all the circumstances. Maybe you are like me in that when life gets tough, you tend to make many of the same mistakes over and over again. Perhaps your flaws manifest themselves when things are tough. I understand.

Yesterday I was watching a video of Dr. Timothy Warren where he spoke about "Why do we suffer?" After watching the first 5 minutes, I was hooked and ended up watching the entire thing.

Partner Profile - Aaron and Carrie Kraft

Did you know that one of the best ways to partner with Lindsey and I is to connect us with other people?

I'd like to introduce you to Aaron and Carrie Kraft (and their two little children Jonathan and Jackie [recently adopted from Guatemala, check out the video]). This past week, Aaron and Carrie connected us to all sorts of people from pastors, to Uruguayans who could teach us about Uruguay, to friends of theirs who wanted to learn more about missions.

Another way that they have partnered with us is to allow us to stay in their home and use it as our home base for when we are in Washington, D.C. They held a dessert night at their house one night for us to share about our ministry with the church they are serving in. We also got to know many of their close friends from that area and were encouraged by all of their questions, advice, and prayers.

Aaron and Carrie also welcomed Brad to preach during both of the church services at their church. Not only did this give us an opportunity to meet another church but also gave us an opportunity to serve the congregation. It is so helpful for churches to get to know real-life missionaries :) like ourselves and begin to connect what they read about in the bible with what God is doing in and through people around the world.

We are so lucky to know this couple and deepen our friendship with them. At DTS in Dallas, TX Aaron and I were able to encourage and counsel one another as we not only were classmates at DTS but also served in full-time ministry at CAM International together for the past few years.

If you get a chance, pray for Aaron and Carrie as they serve faithfully in DC. Also if you get a piece of mail with our Year End Letter for 2008 highlighting YOUR IMPACT, thank God for people like the Krafts who spent lots of time helping Lindsey and I to send the mailing out!

Thanks Aaron and Carrie for the impact you are making on so many people (including us!).

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Scofield

Nope we're not talking Prison Break's Scofield..... We're talking about C.I. Scofield. Many of you know of him because of the Scofield Reference Bible. He wrote the notes in that Bible. If you are from Dallas, you may know him from Scofield Memorial Church. But you may not know how much of an indirect influence C.I. Scofield has had directly on my life. I was thinking about it the other day and it's kinda weird how God works!



My first encounter with C.I. Scofield is probably one of the most important. For second grade to fourth grade, I went to Scofield Christian School.



It was at Scofield that I became a Christian. Through one of the talks during chapel, I heard the Gospel and realized what it really meant to become a Christian. In third grade, I realized that I was a sinner in need of a Savior to save me and clean me. Would I have heard the gospel somewhere else and become a Christian? Probably. But it was through a school at a church that C.I. Scofield started where my relationship with the Lord first began.

This church, originally known as First Congregational Church, also saw one of its earliest pastors, Lewis Sperry Chafer, begin a small seminary whose objective was to train men in expository preaching and teaching the scriptures. This seminary, originally called the Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1924, later became known as Dallas Theological Seminary (or DTS).

Brad and I have had the privilege to spend the past four years at DTS. Due to C.I. Scofield's influence in the life of Lewis Sperry Chafer, we were trained in how to study, understand, and share the truths of the Bible with others.

During our time at DTS, Brad and I began our ministry with CAM International.



CAM was started by C.I. Scofield in 1891 because he had a heart to reach Central America, so he started Central American Mission (now known as CAM International). Because of C.I. Scofield, we now have an established missions organization that will be our sending agency as we head out to the mission field.

How awesome is the impact that this man had on my life...through three institutions: Scofield Memorial Church, Dallas Theological Seminary, and CAM International. It's amazing how God could accomplish all this through the heart he had to preach the Word of God and go out and reach Spanish speakers! Who knows what other impact Scofield will have on our lives in the years to come...but we're ready to see what that might be!

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Goodbyes are hard to do...

Unfortunately, graduation time is a bittersweet time. On one hand, it's exciting to see how the Lord has brought us through our time of seminary and prepared us to the point of graduation from DTS! He has unique and special things in store for our ministry.

On the otherhand, all our friends who graduated have their own ministries and plans ahead of them. While we are excited for each of them, we don't like to say goodbye and have them move!

Within the past week, we have had to say goodbye to a couple of our closest friends at seminary -- the Turners and the Gautiers -- who are moving out of Dallas.











The Turners headed out to Alabama last week to being a ministry position as an Associate Pastor. We are thrilled for this opportunity for them, as it's a great fit and the Lord will use them both mightily to reach out to this growing community; however, they will be missed dearly.













The Gautiers head out tomorrow for Colorado where they will be teaching high school students at a new and developing Christian school. As our "across the hall neighbors" (literally!) we have had the opportunity to see them every day, stop by just to chat, borrow eggs and milk, share life, and play with their adorable boys! We are going to miss them so much and are sad that they have to leave.














The Turners and the Gautiers were some of the first couples we got to meet at seminary through our spiritual formation group. For two years, five couples met together on Sunday afternoon each week and poured into each others lives. Here's our group about 4 years ago...my how we have all changed (and we have added 6 little ones to the picture and Amber's expecting #2!) Amber and Curtis move in a few weeks too! Then we'll be the only ones from our group still in Dallas (for the time being...)













Unfortunately goodbyes are a part of life. They are never fun and they are never easy, but there will always be more goodbyes. We are thankful for our good friends and the impact they have had on our lives. We love you guys!!!!

Thank You, Commissioning Party, & Remaining Support Needed

Lindsey works with cool people (she just shook her head no). Hmmmm. Let me correct that, really cool people (now she shakes her head yes). Since her last day of work at Dallas Theological Seminary is Wednesday, they decided to celebrate her four years working there with a thank you and commissioning party as Lindsey and I move towards serving in Spain as missionaries.



Lindsey and I were greeted with an incredible LEI from GUAM. Fun, you might think. Then you take a look at it more closely and realize that our leis were made out of chocolate and Lindsey's was full of $5, $10, and $20 bills. Thank You Team Admissions.

Their Donations got us even closer to what we need for our trip we are taking to Spain in 2 Days. We still need right at about $1000 and can't wait to see how God will provide by working through YOU!~~~ Thanks for your prayers and your donations.

You can go to www.caminternational.org/give to donate to CAM's work that we are serving with in Spain during the 2 week trip coming up. Remember to include our name and account number 060288.

Spain in March + Israel in May

Spain Team: March 13-25 (Total Need Left $3100)

Lindsey and I are leading a team from CAM International to Spain in March. This team is composed of Mexican believers, CAM Missionaries from Mexico, and some Americans that are also committed to learning about Spain, serving there for 2 weeks, and getting some great plans made regarding future church planting efforts in Spain that Lindsey and I would like to be a part of.

With the following conversion rate: 1 Euro = $1.48 US, our financial need for this trip has gone up. Our total need now for Spain is $3100.

Please consider making a contribution by sending checks to:

CAM International
8625 La Prada Drive
Dallas, TX 75228
PLEASE PUT IN THE MEMO LINE: Account #060288

Israel Team: May 12-June 3 (Total Remaining Need: $3990)

As the capstone of our seminary studies and an opportunity to further prepare for ministry, Lindsey and I are going to Israel with Dallas Theological Seminary. We hope to come away closer to our Lord, with a better understanding of Biblical lands, and also more prepared to describe the Bible to those we serve in ministry now and in the future.

Currently our financial need is: $1495 (Brad) + $2495 (Lindsey). Many of you have already given and we simply ask that those that are able and feel called would consider this opportunity to join us in ministry. Our total need for Israel is: $3990 which is less than the total because we've already paid some and also received a scholarship that brought the price down.

Would you consider helping us with the cost of this time in Israel? Your donation is not tax-deductible but know that we promise to be good stewards of our time there by studying, taking pictures, growing closer to Christ, and also planning ways that we can take what we learn and apply it to ministry. You can send a check directly to:

Brad and Lindsey Bridges
3909 Swiss Ave. #228
Dallas, TX 75204

Thanks for your support and know that even if you are not able to give financially, we'd ask that you keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord's provision!

Brad and Lindsey