SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE • FALL 2015 The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. - Job 1:21 he year 2015 will long be remembered in the annals of SIBI as a year of Tphenomenal gains, huge losses and blessings from God too numerous to count. Among the losses, if they can be called that, are the 2,000 more solar players. Perhaps most significant is our many faculty, alumni, missionaries, and significant donors first “foreign language” version of the solar player as 500 and partners in ministry who passed from this life to their are being prepared for Ethiopia in the Amharic language. eternal reward this year. Notable among those listed are We will soon be releasing a huge announcement about the Gerald Paden, Jo Iris Paden, Alex Strachan, Harvie Pruitt, Spanish language version which will be unveiled in 2016 Mike Dawidow, A.D. Smith, Reta Clark and Marguerite and the nations that will be included in that distribution. Gray, all of whom served in significant roles in various We will be asking for brotherhood involvement and SIBI programs. Added to that, we lost a larger than usual partnership in that exciting venture. number of alumni who were out faithfully preaching and Speaking of innovative technology, a brand new teaching God’s word. When a school is more than half e-Sword Bible program module will be released this month a century old, it may be expected that earlier graduates featuring the Sunset commentary series. A generous and faculty will begin to “go home” at a faster rate. Their donor made it possible for us to develop this program legacy lives on and their works are carried on admirably over a couple of years. It will be a great addition to your by recent graduates, new faculty members and a new Bible study tools. generation of supporters. Added to the success was the graduation of a large class Also among the losses in 2014 was the closing of one of preachers and missionaries who will serve in a number of our finest international schools, the Ukrainian Bible of stateside congregations and at least eight foreign Institute in Donetsk, Ukraine. The school was closed due countries. By God’s grace we have added two significant to the incursion of Russian separatists, turning Donetsk ministries to our roster, ministering both locally and into a war zone. This year we were able to reopen the around the world. We have also been blessed with a new school in Kiev, Ukraine, but the operations costs are greater faculty member who will greatly broaden our outreach because we had to leave behind in Donetsk our beautifully to a segment of our population that we have not been remodeled building with classrooms, dormitory space for effective in reaching. the students and offices for faculty. That building was Last but not least, our SIBI Foundation has set a goal to owned free and clear, but we have had to replace all that develop a $20 million endowment by the year 2020. The with rented facilities in Kiev. Thankfully our brotherhood Foundation staff will be offering estate planning seminars is rallying to help pay the difference. to facilitate those who would like to join our Legacy Circle One of the biggest stories of 2015 is the success of Solar by naming SIBI in their planned giving. Player Phase II. We have been told that it is very difficult You can read all of these stories and more in this edition to add a second year to a million dollar funding project of Lifeline. We look forward to seeing many of you at our like this. As this is written, we have almost reached our $1 Workshop in January. million funding goal and are 75% completed in distributing Lifeline is a publication of Sunset International Bible Institute. Publication and mailing address is 3723 34th Street, Lubbock, Texas USA 79410. Phones: 800 / 658-9553 or 806 / 788-3214. Editing: Brenda Swinford, Bob Jackson • Design & Layout: Jeff Rader, Linda Wagner Mailing: Diana Kretz, Janet Brumfield, Jeff Rader www.sibi.cc / www.extensionschool.com / www.aimsunset.org / www.sunsetonline.org Volume 38 • Number 1 Send address changes to the address above, attention Janet Brumfield or to [email protected]. •Worship Leader: Keith Lancaster •Early Bird Sessions: Jim McGuiggan •Classes on: •Keynote Speakers: C. L. Thomas Evangelism John Poole Church Growth David Wilson Missions Paul Dowell Leadership Billy McGuiggan The Minor Prophets Dr. Jesse Long and much more Doug Hamilton •Workshop Banquet: Ed Wharton (tickets $15 each) •Satellite School Administrator Training •Women’s Program •AIM Camp Adventure •Velocity Interactive Youth Program More Information & Registration Online http://www.sibi.cc/workshop erald S. Paden, age 90, long-time Lubbock one who knew Gerald believes he could have done resident and lifelong teacher and preacher, this without the love, support and encouragement of Gdied on July 20, 2015. On August 17, 1924, his beloved wife and co-laborer, Miss Bobbie. Along Gerald was born alongside his twin sister Geraldine with her, he leaves behind his younger sister, Patsy to Oscar and Lona Paden in Commerce, Texas. He Paden Whitson; his three children Joe Michael Paden joined a family of older siblings, Mildred, Ivan, Cline, and wife Lynn, Cynthia Paden Jennings and husband and Harold, then welcomed younger sister Patsy. Mack, Ted Paden and wife Lura; grandchildren, The family moved to Lubbock County where he Joshua, Scott, Lindsey, Andrew, Danny, Nick, Gabriel, graduated from Idalou High School. During those and six great-grandchildren. lean Dust Bowl years, the family regularly competed To say that Gerald was important to Sunset would in declamation competitions, practicing their pieces be a grand understatement. His character was while hoeing on the farm thus paving the way, years woven into its fabric and has helped to make the later, to a life-time love of teaching and preaching. school what it is today. His mission heart and love for Gerald enlisted in the Navy in 1943, serving aboard the lost of every nation continues to be passed on to the aircraft carrier USS Shipley Bay, CVE 85. He students who come to the school. Most of the current was honorably discharged in 1946, after which he instructors in the residential school and in many of married Bobbie Rhea Johnson. After their marriage, the international schools sat at the feet of this master Gerald attended and graduated from Abilene teacher. His legacy of teaching will continue for Christian College and became a preacher for the many generations. His students will never forget Church of Christ in Meadow (1951 - 1953) and later how he taught of the forgiveness and love of God in New Home (1960 - 1963). In 1953, Gerald followed from the Letters of John or his in-depth teaching of his brothers Cline and Harold into overseas mission the shadow and reality of the Sacrificial System and work, serving in Rome and Pisa, Italy, and planted sacrifice of Christ on the cross. small churches in the surrounding cities. Gerald It would be wrong to say that Sunset will never taught himself to be an eloquent speaker of the Italian be the same without Gerald Paden. Sunset is what language, and with his Bible study, research, and it is today and will continue to be what it is in the many publications, became a sought-after lecturer Kingdom because of the integral part that Gerald in Italy and other European cities. Returning to Paden had helping us be who we are. Sunset is Lubbock in 1971, Gerald joined the faculty of Sunset grateful to God for blessing us with a “workman that School of Preaching (now Sunset International Bible needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word School), where he remained until his last days. No of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, ASV) 4 • Sunset International Bible Institute n 2014, Sunset launched a bold The next challenge was in the new challenge for the church: distribution of these solar players. Isend 2,000 solar-powered audio The goal was to place each player players loaded with 400 hours of into the hands of Christian leaders the Bible and biblical teaching. within each nation. These leaders The vision was to provide would then use these devices comprehensive biblical training for for the growth of the Kingdom those who have no access to such through both their own personal resources. It seems that it was just study and enrichment and in the right time for such an initiative. sharing the messages contained The technology was mature and with those around them so that stable; the material was complete the Kingdom would grow by and proven through years of use; providing deeper knowledge and and the distribution system was developing more leaders. in place through a groundwork Tim Burow, dean of International of mission efforts through Sunset Studies, made the first of many TWO and many other churches and trips in April 2014 to the Mutare institutions. The Solar Event was School of Preaching in Zimbabwe, a bold new idea that had not been one of Sunset’s international YEARS OF attempted to such a scale by such a associate schools. With the help of group of people. the leaders there, Tim was able to Truitt Adair, president of Sunset place solar players in the hands of GROWTH International Bible Institute, graduates of the school and began began working towards this effort to hear of new and inventive ways a few years prior to the official that these Gospel preachers were FROM THE Solar Event. Lifeline readers may dreaming of using this new tool.