February 2025 MAP Update

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At the end of the year, we engage in a time of reflection and anticipation for the coming year.

Following are 2024 end-of-year updates from several ministry programs.

THE PLOWMAN’S ACADEMY

by Alex Lyakhovets

In September, I joined MAP full-time and became the director of the Plowman’s Academy. I began by becoming familiar with students and trying to gauge where they are spiritually. My goal is to come alongside each student by challenging and encouraging them.

One way I challenge students is by asking pointed questions when what they say does not align with the Scriptures. For example, we have a student who believes she is going to heaven because she had water poured on her head while on bended knee. This idea does not align with how the Bible declares justification and righteousness.

Since many of our students come from a setting where the Word is twisted to justify man’s traditions, we must remove the faulty foundation and establish the teaching of God’s Word. I pointed her towards Scriptures that would show her that righteousness is accomplished by God and appropriated to us by faith (Rm 4:5, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, etc.).

During the summer, we started an incentive program for Plowmans Academy. When a student sends us 15 addresses, we will send them a study Bible and three books to help them grow in their faith. We have received 45 new addresses and sent three reward packages to these students. Please continue to pray that we will get more students and have more opportunities to teach about our wonderful God!

We also have a student who has left the Amish culture. He was a consistent student, and then, some months later, he decided to be part of the Amish system no longer. Pray for him as he continues his journey.

With 238 lessons sent out in 2024, we are blessed to have been able to bring others to the scriptures and to expound them more perfectly. We trust that God will allow us the opportunity to increase even more.

GROWING IN CHRIST ACADEMY

by Jonas Brenneman

Growing in Christ Academy has been such a joy over this past year as we all grew deeper in our walk with Jesus, and  also continued to expand the academy. We are now developing the 5th course. Twelve students have taken at least one course, and some of these have taken every course and are excited for more! 

Walking with students who are eager to grow in their faith and daily walk with Jesus is the best part. It is easy to tell they don’t just have a desire for knowledge, but for a deeper understanding so they can serve even more! One of the students recently went on a short-term mission trip where she was able to use her new skills in another culture and share her love for Jesus. Another is daily discipling new believers, as well as leading a weekly Bible study group.

Most of the students are parents who have full-time jobs, so it is very challenging for them to find the time to study, but they see the value in it, so they make the commitment. We are continuing to innovate to make the courses as flexible and accommodating to the time people have to invest in studying. We want to remove as many hindrances as we can so that everyone who wants to study and grow in their faith and service to Jesus is able to. 

SPOTLIGHT—25 Years in Ministry

by Joe Keim

This month, Esther and I would like to celebrate our board members. They love the Lord and MAP. They are actively involved in a home church. They care about you and the ministries God has led us to. They are the cream of the crop. Thank you, William, Jerry, Darlene, Mary, Tobe, and Jim. We are so grateful for your passion and the many hours you put into the ministry. Psst! They had their 100^th board meeting at the very end of 2024.

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By the time you get this update, we will be less than a few weeks away from having our 5^th Step Out of the Boat Conference. Have you registered yet? If not, I would like to personally invite you, your whole family, and all your friends to come and hear what great things the Lord is doing in the lives of HIS people. 

If there's one thing we all experience and discuss, it is that we are living in turbulent and troubling times. Through conversations with others, it has become evident that the core of our faith is under vigorous attack. Yet, faith remains the key that opens the door to pleasing God.

This is why I would like you to seriously consider and pray about coming to the conference in March. You will not only hear stories of great faith but your faith will also be strengthened.

For three days, we will talk faith, preach faith, and live faith. I am confident that when you leave the conference on Saturday at noon, your faith will lead you to the places God wants you to go and cause you to do the things God wants you to do.

God is looking and searching for someone to stand in the gap.

While putting on a conference costs the ministry a minimum of $12,000, God always provides! I do not recall ever coming up short. God has always provided the funds, and this year is no different.

If you say, “Joe, I do not have enough money to pay the registration and lodging costs,” I will say, “If you can get here, we will provide a place for you to lay your head at night and food for you to eat. It is our gift to you. More than anything in the world, I want your faith to be increased and overflowing toward God.”