Hello my friends and family!

Well today is my one year anniversary of living in Taiwan and I am amazed at the difference that God’s word has made in me over this year. I have been broken so many times this year as I have learned more about God and about myself. It’s absolutely awesome!

The more that I learn, the more I realize that I really am just a child that is barely barely beginning to understand the love of God, how to live with a biblical world view and what it means to be disciplined along with many other personal traits that Jesus is training me in. Studying 1 Timothy, I keep seeing new things that I did not see before because I was just not looking for it. It’s amazing what we miss when we aren’t looking for it.

The more questions we ask when we read the Bible, the more we can gain a deeper understanding. Questions like: Why did Paul write this?… What does this mean to Paul?… Why would this have been significant for the original audience that Paul wrote to?… What is the meaning of this passage/specific word?…
These types of questions are a few that will lead you to a fuller and deeper grasp of what is in the word and makes it come alive! (Of course, replacing “Paul” with each author of a particular book)

1 Timothy 4:7b – Train yourself for godliness;

I really don’t know what I am going to write on these updates until I begin them but as I am writing now, I am reminded of Acts 17:11. My mom has told me this many times as a child and I want to encourage you as well;
“Be like the Bereans”
The Bereans are spoken of in Acts 17:11 which says that they were noble because they received the word eagerly but they didn’t only receive it through word of mouth, they examined the scriptures daily to confirm the truth that was told to them. So..
“Be like the Bereans”

I want to continually be more and more impressed with the Gospel. More and more impressed with what Jesus did for me and for the world because then everything that I do will be because of the impression that he made on me. I hope that this is a personal desire of yourself as well.

It is so important to remember to keep our ministry focus on the testimony of what Jesus has done for us, not what we are doing for Jesus.
While doing ministry and preaching the gospel, you can start to get caught up with the volunteer work and ministries that “you” are doing and begin to want to start telling the story of all that you are doing, but really none of it would be happening at all if not for Jesus. It is a privilege to live a life following Jesus and He should always get all the credit.
He is amazing and I am so blessed to be a part of his plan.

I am blessed to have a wonderful family back in Canada and the US and around the world. Thank you all for standing with me in supporting the spread of Jesus great name and all that He has done! 2000 years ago, 200 years ago, 20 years ago and what he is doing today.

1 Timothy 2:4 – God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The picture attached is my certificate of completion of the Chinese language course that I have been taking here, Praise God for enabling me to understand such a beautiful language! Thank you for praying for my ability to retain the language!

I love you all and pray that you see the word and truth in a new way the next time that you open your Bible. Jesus is so good!

Love is the Answer!
Humility is the Key!
Jesus is the way!

Your brother and friend,
Jacob President