In April, the dean of our Pastors College, Jeff Purswell, traveled to the Dominican Republic at the invitation of our friend Miguel Nuñez to teach a course for pastors. Miguel, whom you met in the 2011 Mission Video, is a pastor in Santo Domingo and has started a training institute called Instituto Integridad y Sabiduría to provide biblical training for laypeople, leaders, and pastors. Their vision is to expand the institute to include a full-time program for pastoral training patterned after the Pastors College. Jeff's trip marked their first distance learning course for pastors taught by an international instructor.

A few days ago, Miguel sent me the following account of Jeff's time with their leaders. His words left me thanking God once again for the gift that Jeff is to Sovereign Grace and the wider body of Christ and grateful to God for the opportunity to partner in gospel ministry with men like Miguel Nuñez.

We had a fantastic course on biblical theology by Jeff. About 110 people (pastors, seminary students, and leaders) sat under his teaching for four days. It felt more like sitting under the teaching of the Holy Spirit. His anointing over Jeff was so obvious as he opened the Word to all of us that many of the participants commented that God's presence was with us during those sessions in a very tangible way. Old passages of Scriptures became fresh, and for many, these passages took on a new meaning. We initially thought that 18 hours of classes over four days would be grueling, but they were not. Time went by so fast due to how alive God's Word was during those days.

Jeff's days among us were very short, but they were enough to leave an imprint in the hearts of many, including mine. He modeled humility and servanthood in such a way that many made that observation. It is the same spirit I have always found in all of you. We praise God for that.

We also thank God for the friendship and the relationship God has given to us with Sovereign Grace. Your ministry has been such a blessing to us from the very first day in so many ways that words cannot express how thankful we are for your sincere support, your caring heart, and your encouraging way of doing ministry. We could not have a better partner in the work of the Lord.

We are looking forward to our next event, Por Su Causa 2012; we are very eager to see C.J., Jeff, and Bob ministering among us once again. What a great blessing that will be.