TRANSFORMATIONS
My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.
The Apostle Paul
Following Jesus results in ongoing transformations. We are formed into His likeness as we follow Him. On multiple occasions, the Apostle Paul chooses variations of the Greek word morphe to describe this process: “morphed together with into the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29), “be metamorphized” (Rom 12:2), “are being metamorphized into the same image” (2 Cor 3:18), “Christ is morphed in you” (Gal 4:19). We, of course, get our English word morph from this Greek word. Merriam-Webster defines the active verb to morph this way, “to change the form or character of: transform” and in the passive “to undergo transformation.” God is actively concerned with morphing us into the image of His Son. Our role is to intentionally yield ourselves to the Master Potter’s hands so that He can morph us. The result is that we undergo transformation.
Such transformations into His likeness are the never-ending path of everyone who calls themself a Christian. And so, as a worldwide family committed to discipleship among university students, the community life of every Tyrannus and Lydia Hall is structured to facilitate such transformations into the likeness of Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul, we will collaboratively labor toward this end.
This past month two notable TLH “morphings” occurred: one in Chennai, India and the other in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh. The one in Chennai built into the lives of students, better equipping them to be servants of Christ in the marketplace. The one in the Chittagong Hills involved beautiful transformations of the physical facilities of their Tyrannus and Lydia Halls following last year’s flooding.
Chennai, India. For the first time ever, the Tyrannus Hall Educational Trust of India sponsored 16 Tyrannus and Lydia Hall students from all over India to gather in Chennai, India for a 3-day discipleship trip entitled National Integration Exposure Programme, a title chosen to both accurately reflect the main focus of equipping Christian students for their future careers but also chosen not to raise any eyebrows in the country’s anti-Christian milieu. Planned and led by Dr. Aby Alexandar (former Chennai Tyrannus Hall staff) and Ms. Atola Subong (current Shillong Lydia Hall staff), the students visited sites such as the Chennai Trade Center and Colossus Consulting in addition to St. Thomas Mount, Madras Christian College and Chennai Beach. On January 26th, Dr. Aby wrote,
One afternoon, the delegates had the opportunity to visit Colossus Consulting, the company owned by Chennai Tyrannus Hall Board Secretary Mr. Roney Jacob Mathew. He shared his testimony on how with God's grace he could move from building a start-up company from scratch to be the owner of multiple companies and even an investor in other start-up companies. He also arranged a career counseling session with an Anna University Professor for our students.
These students will never forget this trip. Their minds have been opened and their hearts inspired by godly men and women who are at work for Christ in a very Hindu-dominated culture. They now have “morphed” a little more into Kingdom citizens. Keep praying for them.
Chittagong Hills, Bangladesh. Due to generous contributions, TLH was able to help fund the restoration of the Chittagong Hills Tyrannus Hall and the Chittagong Hills Lydia Hall after floods devastated both of them. Here is a portion of Rev. Thimkhup Buiting’s January 22nd letter,
Because of your support and love we have implemented the Hall's needs somehow. As you know and seen the situations of our halls last year through my PowerPoint presentation in Nepal. But by the grace of Almighty God, and your love and support, this new year we can see both Halls totally in new creations.
1. Chittagong Hills Lydia Hall inside and outside painting work has been implemented.
2. Lydia Hall's 2 toilet rooms have been repaired and established with tiles.
3. Lydia Hall's hand/mouth washing place established with tiles also completed.
4. Chittagong Hills Tyrannus Hall inside and outside painting work has also been completed.
5. One side Tyrannus Hall 4 windows newly established.
6. Near Kitchen, public washing place also established with tiles.
7. Kitchen roof newly established with C I sheet Tin also has been done.
8. Tyrannus Hall also established half of C I sheet Tin. The rest of the work will continue next year.
They, too, have now been “morphed” or as Rev. Thimkhup says, they are “new creations.”
Thank you for your giving, which greatly encouraged our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh!
Sterling Heights, MI. I leave you with one family transformation. On December 24th, Andy and Taylor welcomed their daughter Ada Alice Olsen (7.0 lbs, 19 in.) into the world. Due to out-of-state travels and then a nasty flu, Julie was not able to hold Ada until January 31st. You can see everyone is thrilled, even big sister Nola 😊!
Until we all are formed into the likeness of Jesus,
Steve