A ministry is like a child it is both a gift and a daily opportunity to cooperate with God in the development of the gift. Beginning 'The Institute for Global Outreach Developments' was an idea that my visionary son suggested to me on multiple occasions. We had just returned from a trip to Africa and had seven young persons desire to stay with us in Nashville and become our first students. We began meeting in a small room around a big table. Over the next two years our full time student body would double each semester. Our ministry staff were also able to take classes as part time students. As our student body increased the need for new faculty members also grew. We were able to expand our facility and increase the number of classes we could teach at a single time.
Our students came from New Mexico, California, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Tennessee, Georgia and the list continues. Some came to us at the tender age of 18 and fresh out of High School. Others came to us with degrees in various disciplines including Biblical Studies. They all wanted to become a part of our school and ministry. I am pleased to say that, "We are not just a school, we are a ministry". Some of our students came with only their lives and a desire to be trained to serve God by serving his humanity. When they arrived in Nashville they found jobs, attended school, went on our summer immersion trips and never lacked for the necessities of life. Because we are a ministry and a community of friends, those persons with Biblical degrees from other institutions, still desired to attend our school and be trained further in a more intentional and community oriented setting.
As a Global Development Ministry our outreaches in other nations has increased due to the growth of the school. This past summer we sent immersion team members to Mexico, Guatemala, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, and India. In each of these nations we have began efforts to serve the people and involve them in our ministry. The people we minister to are not 'the natives' they are our friends.
At the school we have ongoing language classes in Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, and Tagalog. We have also experienced the need to develop classes in health care, child birthing, and third world building projects. Our health care department has developed an active immunization clinic so our students can receive their travel immunizations here at the school. We are also bringing the power of Christ's Kingdom to those persons that have been trafficked into the sex industry. Our programs continue to grow as the need to serve in a variety of fields becomes necessary.
At present we offer three Bachelor Degrees and a Master of Theological Studies Degree. We believe in learning so that we can serve. Our classes are filled with Spirit, passion, and faith.
Our students are developing lifetime friendships based upon a shared faith in Christ and their desire to bring life to the dying. Sometimes lifetime friendships are acknowledged as young men and women commit to one another in marriage. Children are a natural outcome of marriage and an ongoing part of our ministries experience. Incorporated into our ministry effort is the preparation of expectant mothers and fathers with child care and child birth education programs.
Phillip Michael Garner / Dean and Director / The Institute for G.O.D. International
