Ben,
I was in your shoe before. It was long story what I already been through it.
I would like to share with you of my testimony, I try my best as can to make story into brief.
In 1995, before I attend deaf baptist college, I am not a pretrib, I was pre-wrath(but now I am posttrib), I already know that college is pretribulational. Because I know almost every baptist colleges are pretribulational. I have no choice where college I attend. Also, in that time, there was the only one deaf bible college. I already know few baptist colleges have deaf programs like TTU, Liberty University, Hyles-Anderson, Northstar Bible Institute of First Bible Baptist Church from Rochester, NY. I already know few colleges with deaf programs, but I was not comfortable with them, because I already know their background, and bad reputation of them. I have no choice where college I decide to attend. But I decided to attend deaf bible college in Georgia. Askjo knows of that college well.
I was aware that I was facing risky to attend that college. And I do not want to share with any students, staffs of my real beliefs. In the first of two years at that college, I kept my beliefs secert, no person at college know my real beliefs. At the closing of the spring semester, I gave the report of Prophecy course to the teacher. I wrote the report to show of my real beliefs what I believe with verses from the Bible. The teacher was shocked and shaken. Then, teacher told to the president about me. So, they called me come in president's office. President asked me, that the teacher told him about my beliefs. He wants me go to be with the teacher and he will teaching me about rapture timing during summer time. I agree with him.
But, somehow, I rather not going to see the teacher and discuss or listening to his teaching on rapture timing during summer. Because I want to finish college, and go on the mission field to serve the Lord.
I haven't share with anyone in the next year till April, 1998. In the spring semester of 1998, I took Revelation class teaching by the President. At the beginning of the course, he told us, class' requirment, that we have to do project to make charts of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials, and also, make chart of dispensational too.
So, during spring semester, I spent many hours made a huge chart, put color papers, draw pictures, put verses on it. And make it into chronological order. That chart is familiar almost same as Marvin Rosenthal & Robert Kampen's. When I was done with it. I carried it to president's office. He was little bit shocked, and he was aware of my charts are familiar with Pre-wrath chart.
So, the president told me, he have to call his staffs and will have meeting with me. I told him, sure fine with me. Few days later. I faced with them in the president's office. Presdient asked me to explain to the staffs, why I believe we will go through tribulation. Then, I gave so many verses to the staffs like a machine gun for over a hour with many good points. Then, president told me to stop, and let staffs ask questions to me. They asked me questions, and I easily answered their questions with verses. The President told us, he's struck and out. But he said, he will get a professor from TTU and will challenge me. I told him, sure fine with me. Guess what? The professor never have a chance to come and challenge me, because he was so very busy.
A year later, the president was still trying to covince me that my beliefs of rapture timignwas wrong. Also, deaf bible college added its Statement of Faith. It requires every student to read the Statement of Faith, and to agree with it and to sign it. So, I did read Statement of Faith. I agreed with all, even include coming of Christ. It does not saying, "We believe in pretribulational coming of Christ". It said, "We believe in the coming of Christ"(I cannot remember the exactly sentence what it said, but I know 'pretribulational' was not there). I agreed with Statement of Faith, and I signed it. I was honest with it.
Many staffs were upset with me, that they told to the president that I broke college's statement of faith. I didn't break the statement of faith. It was LONG story. I faced a big staff meeting include ex-professor from TTU about debate on rapture timing. That meeting was took about 3 hours. We were debate on 2 Thess. 2:1-3.
I better send private message to Ben and explain everything, because it was so LONG story.
I did received a Degree from deaf bible college, and graduated it. Then a year later, they mailed to me, and they forced me to return my diploma back to them, because I did not follow the statement of faith.
I have another staff meeting again in 2001. I told to the president, that I want a staff to find my statement of faith form in my file, and show it to prove to the staffs that I didn't break the statement of faith, because it didn't saying, 'pretribulational'. So, he did told his staff to check my statement of faith form from my file in the office. They were struck, and I won it, and they gave diploma back to me.
And also, I have another situation with church. My ex-pastor told me, he does not want me to share with any member on rapture. So, I agree with him. I didn't tell to any members for long time. But, I had no choice, my ex-roommate at apt, he was curious and asked me, want to know about my beliefs of rapture timing. Because he already hear rumour on me while he was a student at that college. So, I have to told him everything with verses from the Bible with truth, because I care of him. Difficult for me to shut my mouth, not to share with anyone about rapture. Because pastor was fear if I might share with any member, might lead deaf church into split. I understands him, I respect him well.
Also, I have another situation with candidate for to become missionary at any missionary board. There are about over 95% of baptist missionary are pretribulaitonal in America. I was aware of all missionary board have their own statement of faith, they require every person have to sign and agree with their statement of faith before they become candidate. For example, if suppose I am on the mission field in other country, the board would send a spy to my missionary field, and to check up on me, see what I am teaching. If suppose a spy finds me that, I am teaching posttrib to the people. Then, a spy will report to the board, and they will forced me to resign or fired me.
See?
Also, I have another problem about to becoming teacher or deaf pastor, I would have to looking to find a right church with doctrine and statement of faith. Difficult to find a right church for me to agree with their belief. That why I am not yet become missionary or deaf pastor. Because, most baptist churches have their own statement of faith, even deacons are demand to expecting that a pastor have to agree with church's statement of faith, or deconds will force pastor to leave church, to be fired.
See?
That why, I am thinking of to start own deaf church instead of start deaf ministry at hearing church, because of statement of faith reason. Starting deaf church is more difficult than starting deaf ministry at hearing church. I think Askjo knows about the difference between deaf ministry and deaf church.
Please pray for me that God guides me to find a right church with doctrines that I can agree with it, and more easier for me to teaching or preach at that church with the right doctrines. Thanks.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!
