Testimonies from Cooperatives in Exodus Course

Last month, Institute for G.O.D. students at our Nashville campus and on campuses around the world wrapped up term 1 coursework and started term 2 courses. Our cooperatives in East Africa, along with cooperatives in each of our global headquarters, took Exodus during term 1 and are taking Deuteronomy during term 2. In the transition, we asked the cooperatives in Kenya and Uganda to share how the education has been for them. As always, their responses were full of gratitude and a humble reminder of the goodness in drawing near to God through his Word. Read them below and let God touch you again.

Cooperatives Irene and Simon, Ann and Reuben, and Simon’s son, Amos work through the Exodus course content together. They have been learning the Bible with G.O.D. for nearly two decades and continue to be among our best students the world over.

Simon Njeru, studying with his wife, son, brother, and sister-in-law in Kenya

We are now listening to Exodus class and we are enjoying it so much. It is teaching us how to be merciful and be a life-giver and not to be an oppressor, as well as being able to solve the problems affecting our community and still helping us to connect with God and many others. It also teaches us how to have good morals based upon God’s perspective, and to be God’s holy nation showing other people how godly life ought to be like. We as Kenyans are thanking God for helping us to go through Exodus classes and also thanking all the teachers, technical team, and the whole community of Nashville who contributed in every aspect for this to happen. We know it was a result of you giving your lives for this event, so may our Lord bless you all.

Peter Kimbugwe, studying with his wife in Uganda

Peter, a Bible teacher himself, was able to take a course on Wisdom Literature alongside his Exodus course last term. He is an incredible student of God’s Word and devotes himself to the effort. He is also a father of 7 and is raising them in the knowledge of their calling as a family to covenant with God.

I am thankful for the opportunity to study God’s Word in such a wonderful way, as being able to participate in this program is a real miracle. It has already exposed me to broader and deeper ways of understanding and interpreting God’s Word. Studying Exodus alongside Wisdom Literature has been very helpful in communicating with my family about our calling and vocational life. I have seen their continued desire to learn and their lives are changing drastically. Studying Exodus makes me feel connected to God’s people, a new nation that God redeemed with his strong hand to be a royal priesthood among the nations.

Francis Lubega, studying with his wife in Uganda

I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Lord gave me to be able to learn his Word this semester, and to be able to learn the book of Exodus with everyone who is in this class. The Lord is so good. I am thankful for everyone who arranged this class to happen, for the teachers and the organizing team, and for brother Brandon , for doing all these things in order to give us the opportunity to learn the Exodus.

I feel that learning Exodus is something that can help give you the whole understanding of the Bible, because everything you see elsewhere in the Bible is very much connected to what happens in the book of Exodus. It also gives me the opportunity to know this kind of God in particular. It is very easy to hear about God because everyone talks about him; in every corner of the world you will find God being talked about. But when you hear and learn the book of Exodus, you get to know the kind of God that is actually being talked about in the Bible. The God who is merciful, the God who is very kind, the God who keeps his promises, the God who is faithful to his covenant that he makes with his people. This kind of God is the God that everyone has to follow and stick to because he is the genuine God. He even shows mercy to the person who doesn’t deserve mercy (I’m talking about the Pharaoh), so he is a very kind God. Learning Exodus I get to know the character of God, as he is very connected to his people. He doesn’t leave his people to suffer forever, but he does whatever it takes to redeem them. This is the kind of God I want to follow; this is the kind of God I want to know more.

I am very thankful for this great opportunity, even though it is difficult to go through this learning process because of a number of challenges like finding the time to read and study amidst work and family. But I am also compelled because of the goodness of this Word to keep on going and pursue this kind of opportunity that has been made available to us. I am very thankful and I believe God is still opening up our ears to hear as he hears and eyes to see as he sees, to know his character and goodness and for us to keep following him. He gives us the proper sight that we can use to see the world today. I am learning how to be God treasured possession, his royal priesthood, God’s people. These passages give me courage, that God is active to deliver, he looks at me and saves me. So it is so interesting learning Exodus and I am very thankful for the opportunity. Thank you very much to all the teaching team, may God bless you in Jesus’ name. Lawrence Ssemakula, studying with his wife in Uganda

Lawrence and Josephine, along with their eldest daughter Quinn, a recent high school graduate, work diligently on their studies. They have learned that the most valuable education is one in God’s Word.

Josephine and I have experienced the nearness of the Lord during this time through our discussions concerning the Exodus class. Sharing our story of faith with our children in light of Exodus has helped us to connect with the narrative itself. We have continued to realize that just like the Lord God had mercy and compassion on the Israelites, even we are not far from that in any way. The class has allowed us to reflect on our past story with the Lord, and be able to connect with the spirit of the Lord. We are helping our children see and understand that it is because of the Lord’s presence that we are what we've become. We are grateful for the continued education process which is helping us to make decisions from God's perspective. We live life as though we are poor in the sight of the world, but we are rich with the knowledge of God that is informing us in all the right things we do. While taking the Exodus class these past few weeks, we are seeing ourselves on the path of life. As the psalmist said, “You lead me in the path of life, I experience absolute joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11). Thanks to you all the brethren for your obedience to the Lord who is continually guiding you on the path of his vision and making plans that have edified and sustained us. We love you.

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites” (Exodus 19:4-6).

To help scholarship our international students as they study God’s Word, Take Action today.