Dear Prayer Partners,
Just over a month ago, the storm, Helene, came through Greenville. It may have been the most destructive event I have experienced in the area since I arrive in 1968. We are deeply thankful to the Lord for keeping the campus during the high winds and rain. Despite numerous massive trees falling, there was no damage to the buildings and no one was hurt. Power was out for eight days, but we were able to work around that and are back on schedule. Thank you for your concern and prayers.
Just a short distance north of us in North Carolina, the damage was overwhelming. Students were able to take a day and assist Samaritan’s Purse in helping clear debris and mud at home sites. It was definitely an eye-opening experience for them.
The fall semester is well past the halfway mark. Despite the disruption, we are now settled back into the school routine. Please focus prayer on this year’s group. Every day, our students are exposed to a great deal of truth. Only the Spirit of God can direct their attention to the particular part that He wants to use to deepen them into a life of love for and trust in Jesus Christ. Please keep them daily before the Lord.
Next week, we will host teenagers interested in seeing what we do at EI. These Teen Training days remind us of the need to focus on recruiting students. We are thankful for each student who is here, but we could easily double the size of the school without straining the system. At present, we are making serious efforts to broaden our exposure. Staffing decisions are being made with a bigger group in mind. Doubling the student body does not require an enormous number of recruits. Please pray with us that the Lord will prosper our efforts, so that there is an increased number who can become laborers in the work of the Lord.
Those who have been familiar with the work of EI know the name Ed Ellis. Ed was a student in the early 80’s. Later, he taught at the school and then, for the past twenty-five years, served on our board of directors. On October 8th, Ed went home to be with the Lord. Ed’s activity on our behalf will be hard to replace. Please pray for his family and for us, as we seek God’s way to fill the gap.
Again, as always, thank you for praying for us. May the Lord bless you with His joy and peace as you serve Him in these unsettled days.
In Our Lord,
Art Nuernberg