Conference theme:  Overflowing with Grace: Expressing God’s Abundant Grace in our Lives, our Relationships, and our Ministries

Speakers' personal Introductions:

Dr. Tom Sappington

Dr. Tom Sappington was involved in pastoral ministry for 9 years before being called to ministry in the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia, where he and his wife served for 15 years in Central Java. During his years in Indonesia, he taught various courses in New Testament, Spiritual Conflict and Pastoral Ministry at 6 branches of the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Indonesia, where students are required to win a minimum of 15 people to the Lord and disciple them to the point of baptism before graduation. This is no easy task in the world’s largest Muslim-dominated nation! Since the seminary was founded in 1979 by Dr. Chris Marantika, students and affiliated church planters have established tens of thousands of new congregations in various parts of Indonesia. The vision of the seminary is One-One-One: To establish one new congregation in every (one) village in Indonesia in this (one) generation.

Dr. Sappington also founded Duta Pembaharuan (Ambassadors of Renewal), a ministry that brings renewal, inner healing and deliverance to pastors and other church leaders in Indonesia, and trains them to use these ministries in the context of their local church. Since Ambassadors of Renewal held their first public training in the year 2000, the ministry has trained hundreds of Christian leaders and others to minister to others in the context of their local churches and in other Christian ministries. He has spoken in numerous churches and in other settings in various parts of Indonesia, including preaching at a revival service in East Kalimantan to around 10,000 people.

In his teaching at Biola and Talbot, Dr. Sappington combines a strong background in biblical and theological studies with his years of pastoral ministry and cross-cultural experience. He has written four books and enjoys sharing his passion for missions with students in any part of the world. He also ministers to many students at Biola and Talbot, helping them overcome the issues that have been hindering both their growth in Christ and their effectiveness in Christian ministry. He is currently writing his next book on the biblical and theological basis for the ministry of deliverance in the context of the local church. He earned his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, CA, his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL and his Th.D. in New Testament studies from Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Canada.


Mrs. Katy Sappington

Mrs. Katy Sappington has been actively involved in Christian ministry since her university years when she was active in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. During the Sappington’s five years in Toronto, Katy led evangelistic visitation teams sent out by the inner-city church in which they were involved, and, together with her husband, Tom, led a ministry to college students and young adults. Later, during Tom’s tenure as pastor in the state of Kentucky, she ministered together with him, serving in various capacities as needed in addition to caring for three young children. When Tom and Katy were called to Indonesia, she helped teach children in a collective school for missionary kids, then later taught drama at both the elementary and high school levels in an international school focused on the needs missionary children. She also counseled many missionaries, national leaders and other believers during their years in Indonesia, and was active in helping her husband found Duta Pembaharuan (Ambassadors of Renewal) to meet the needs of the body of Christ in that country. Since returning to the United States, she has spent around 20 hours a week ministering inner healing and deliverance to believers from Biola and Talbot as well as to missionaries and Christians from various churches throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The Sappingtons have also recently started helping churches in Southern California develop healing and deliverance ministries in their local churches.

Mrs. Sappington earned a B.A. at University of California, San Diego, CA, and has almost finished her M.A. at Biola University, La Mirada, CA. She is currently working on a book that shows how Jesus can bring healing to the guilt and shame experienced by many Christian women today.

The Sappingtons live in La Mirada, CA, and have been blessed with three adult children—two sons, Chris and Joel, who is married to Tricia, and one daughter, Amanda.

Thanksgiving--
1. “Walk out of Greif” introduction video was completed. Please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKT9zIQSrH8 and forward it.
2. Jane delivered a sermon "Winner on doomsday" at Bread of Life Christian Church in Yilan on January 24. Many brothers and sisters had excellent feedback and felt thankful for God afterwards, and the Pastor’s wife said Jane preached was exactly needed in the church.
3. Bread of Life Christian Church in Yilan will hold “Walk out of Grief" workshop in the second half of this year.
4. “Overflowing with Grace” Conference promotion materials have been completed as scheduled.

 
Prayer Requests--
1. Please pray that seminaries and Christian institutions in Taiwan are willing to help promoting the “Letting God Be Judge” conference.
2. Please pray that God will use the conference to bless seminaries, pastors, and brothers and sisters serving the Christ in Taiwan.
3. Please pray that Living for Just One More Day, intended for people suffering with depression, can be published on time, and that God will use the book to help those in need.
4. Churches that have co-hosted the "Trauma, Crisis and Grief Counseling Part 1: Walk out of Grief" workshop can establish grief & loss of spouse ministries, and attendees can enter support and growth groups so that they can finish the grief journey with God's presence, healing and mercy. By doing this, they can further lead those who are grieving to Lord.
5. Please pray that the books and DVDs of Lifting Hands Network will become a blessing to brothers and sisters in various churches.