A New Chapter

This summer has been one of transition. Recently, the BBS board voted to make a change. We’d like to share with you, with much joy, this news.

From its inception BBS has desired to be involved in sending missionaries cross-culturally. However, the economic climate, and widespread misconceptions regarding the security situation in Mexico have created quite a challenging climate for recruiting students. Recently, BBS was given the opportunity to partner with a missions training center, Radius International. Endorsed by Francis Chan (author of Erasing Hell, Forgotten God, and Crazy Love), Radius' mission is consistent with that of BBS, and their program is designed to utilize the opportunities a campus like ours offers for preparing missionaries. The location that has been a liability to BBS will be an asset to Radius.

After prayer and consideration, the BBS board unanimously agreed to allow Radius to take over the Castillo property for its program. Classes will begin July 2012. Stephanie and I will serve on campus as mentors to participants in the program. BBS will suspend academic operations this year but continue hosting guests and visitors. For this interim year, Stephanie and I will continue living on campus and work on our Spanish. The reason for this is that one of Radius’s core values is excellence in language and culture. While Steph and I have a good working knowledge of Spanish, we need to practice what we will be preaching to future missionaries. We plan to stay in Tijuana and put 40 hours/week into practice and study.

Who is Radius and how did they know about El Castillo?

Radius seeks to carry the gospel to every point around the globe through training pioneer cross-cultural church planters among the least evangelized peoples of the world. The founding members are friends of ours, Dave Burdette and Brad Buser. We have worked closely with Dave since BBS’s beginning. In fact, my time at Caravan Ministries is what started this journey in Tijuana and Dave’s connection to the Castillo is what led us to this specific location. Steph and I believe what Radius seeks to accomplish is a necessary part of sending workers cross-culturally and we are excited and humbled to be a small part of this great task. For more information on Radius and its goals, see their website.

Thank you for following us on this journey. This blog was started 5 years ago as we expectantly awaited the opening of BBS classes. And now as this new chapter opens and we focus on Spanish study, we’ll close this blog. We do want to keep up with those interested so please email us at rs_sorensen@yahoo.com.

Blessings to you in Christ our Lord,

Ryan & Stephanie

Graduation Week

There is a unique energy that comes with the close of a school year--excitement, nostalgia, regret at goals not accomplished and the feeling of satisfaction at those reached. Last week was full of all these emotions plus the added excitement of families and guests staying on campus and an impactful teaching week on the book of Matthew with Pastor Colin McDougall. The culmination of this week was a beautiful graduation ceremony attended by family and friends from Tijuana.

Ryan opened with a charge for our three graduates to continue to be set apart like Daniel's three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Pastor Colin shared a "graduation blessing" from Ephesians 1: that students would remember the amazement of their original calling into Christ's body, that they would live in the hope of expectation of making disciples and hearing the Lord say, "well done", and that they would recognize their inheritance in the saints and their part in increasing it. We get to participate in growing the inheritance by sharing with those who've not yet heard!

Students then had the opportunity to share lessons learned from the year. All were grateful for time to study under godly men and to share community life with those on campus.

What better way to end the ceremony than with authentic Mexican food prepared by our friend Chuy?!

Congratulations to the second graduating class of Baja Bible School!