Greetings from a Winter Wonderland!

Hey All!

The snow has arrived in Montana, it has become a daily routine for me to sweep and scrape snow off of my car so that it does not get buried completely :) The last week the weather has been sitting comfortably around 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which feels like tropical weather compared to the blistering temperatures Thanksgiving week which at night would drop into the negatives, and during the day holding strong between 5-7 degrees. You cant wear enough layers for that kind of weather :)

Last week was Thanksgiving and I was truly blessed to be able to spend it with good friends here, as well as some students that did not return home for the break. There was 16 people in total enjoying the festivities of Thanksgiving, and like all thanksgivings the food was awesome. After the four day weekend for thanksgiving the students were in class bright and early Morning with their noses deep into Hebrews. We all got the privilege this week to hear Ron Smith, the founder of the School of Biblical Studies, teach on Hebrews. And like always, it was very challenging, and awesome to see God move throughout Ron's teaching and the students individual studies as well.

God continues to teach, and bring revelation about his word and his character to the students, as well as us staff :) It has been an awesome first quarter. There are just four books left for the students this quarter, one of which I will be teaching. On December 8th i will be teaching 1 Timothy, and I have a mix of emotions about it because there is some very challenging verses in there, but it is also such a powerful book that challenges believers to stand strong in Sound Doctrine of Jesus, and what he teaches. God has really blessed my study times as well as made certain things very clear that he wants to communicate to this group of students. I am really looking forward to teaching again, after teaching Philippians I realized it is not as scary as I once thought. I really enjoy it, and it has been nice to see that it is also something that God has gifted me in.

It has been a joy to be walking in the things that the Lord has planned for me, he has called me to this place in life, and I very blessed and privileged to be used by him in any way that he asks. YWAM Montana has been a place that challenges me and blesses me all at the same time. Daily I am learning more about God, and more about myself and how much I need God. I am surrounded by people that daily challenge me in my own walk with the Lord, and daily I am able to challenge others in their walks with the Lord. Days can be hard, busy, and challenging but I know God is with me, and I am genuinely filled with joy for the things that I get to do and take part in.

Thanks to all of you who pray for and support me in the ministry that God has called me too.

Here are some current prayer needs that you can be praying for:

I am still in need of Monthly Support I am about half way to my goal.
We have students that do not have all of their finances, pray for them :)
My travels home for Christmas, I will be going over 3 total mountain passes.
Health, its that time of year where people get sick.
Teaching 1 Timothy Dec. 8, that i would be an empty vessel to be used by God.

Thanks so much for your prayers! And taking the time to read this update.

Blessings,
Sally Jo

November 2010

November 2010 Update from Sally Jo on Vimeo.

4 books down...62 to go

Hey Everyone!!!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, the last month has been a very crazy one indeed.

The students have arrived and they have hit the ground running. The first 3 weeks of SBS have been spent learning the method of Inductive Bible Study. The students are learning how to observe the text one book at a time so that they can get the text in its proper context then from the observations they see, they learn how to get inside the mind of the original reader and authors by learning about the history of the culture at that time so they can really get a healthy interpretation of the text. From their observations and interpretations they can then find the timeless truths that will speak to us today as the contemporary reader.



The overall attitude of the students is excitement.
They are excited to learn how to study the bible inductively so they can then take it back to their home towns and countries to teach others that are in desperate need of solid biblical truth, the only truth that can transform lives. There are many nations represented here in SBS, such as South Korea, Nepal, Kosovo, Ukraine, England, Canada, Norway and of course many places from all over the US. Its awesome to be around people from all these different places and have God that brings us all together as His children studying His word.



So far the students have studied Philemon, Titus, Ephesians and Galatians. I have really enjoyed being staff and watching the students go through the amazing process of inductive bible study. I have been able to pray with students as stress and frustrations come up, and i have been able to celebrate with the students when they discover something about the bible that they didn't see before. I am so blessed that God has called me to this particular ministry of teaching the bible and training people in the inductive method so that they can study it for themselves and teach others. I am truly blessed and thank God daily for the task that he has called me to do.


All of your prayers are greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray as I study the book of Philippians for my first SBS teaching in the beginning of November.

I am also still in need of some regular monthly support, if this is something that you have prayed about and would like to contribute to, please see the "Partner With Me" tab of my blog towards the top of the page, that will have further details of how to give to the ministry that i am involved in :)

Thank you so much for all the support!

Blessings,
Sally Jo

Getting Settled & Diving In...

Well, I have been living in Big Sky Country now for almost a month, and it has pretty much hit every human emotion possible. But no matter what emotion comes up, I am still at peace with the life that God has chosen for me here at YWAM Montana.


I am all settled in my room, the first thing that was hung was my number 37 Seattle Seahawks Jersey, so that I can proudly represent where my loyalties are. My small room has quickly become home, and its a really great feeling. Its not much but I really do love it. As most of you may or may not know I am living in a dorm which come mid September will be filled with 40ish School of Biblical studies(SBS) students here to get trained in the word of God. Right now, it is just me with 5 other single staff that have also chose to live among the students in the dorm while they go through the intense process of the SBS. Dorm life is something I really love, its nice to have so many friends so close, despite sharing one bathroom between 20ish girls, don't worry, there are multiple stalls and showers to share but sometimes that doesn't even seem like enough :)


I am quickly learning that life at YWAM Montana as Staff is very different than when I was here for 9 months as a student. We have regular staff meetings and jobs within our certain departments that we are responsible for. I am apart of the School of Biblical Studies department and we have been meeting daily to be trained in different things like refreshing ourselves with the Inductive Method of Bible Study, putting lectures together, grading the students work, how to pastor and disciple the students while they are so intenstly studying the Bible, and dividing up the long "To Do" list that needs to happen before the students actually arrive here in September.

I also have been given two different jobs that i am responsibly for while the 9 month school is going on. I have been privleged enough to be named as the "Dorm Mom", which is a nice way to say "Dorm Enforcer"along with my good friend Nathan who is now the "Dorm Dad". We are the ones that get to remind the students of the designated quiet times when they are being to loud, make sure that the students are doing their cleaning jobs or "chores" within the dorm, and pretty much answer complaints, grumbles or questions. I also am apart of the Community outreach team. This means that we will be coordinating outreach opportunities for the students within the community to get them out and sharing with people the things they are learning, or simply just serving in a place that needs help. I am really looking forward to both of these responsiblities they will challenge me and bring me joy to be apart of.

Everything that I am apart of in SBS is incredibly important, but one of the things that I am both excited and nervous for is teaching/discipleing the students. This quarter I am teaching Philippians and 1 Timothy, I am really stoked I was given these two books to teach, they are amazing and have already been speaking to me in so many ways I cant wait to share it with the students and watch these books change their lives as well. I have been given a great responsibility and privilege with training & teaching, but I know that God has called me to this job and he will be guiding and directing me through the whole thing.

Prayers are greatly appreciated through this journey of my life....

Blessings,
Sally Jo

Video Update Summer 2010

Sally Jo Update from Michelle Ellis on Vimeo.

June 2010 Update

Hello!!

As many of you know, I have been involved with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for the last year. I did a Discipleship Training School (DTS) in South America, and after six months of sharing the gospel with people in Chile, Ecuador, and Columbia, I ended up at the YWAM base in Lakeside, Montana, where I was totally rocked by Jesus in my School of Biblical Studies (SBS). I have always been drawn to Missions, and I feel as though I have found a very good fit with YWAM. The heart of the organization really compliments the passion that I have had for many years. My long term calling to missions and the snug place I have found in YWAM has led to a God-sent opportunity to remain involved with them for two years.

SBS has completely changed my life, and it has been one of the best things I have ever done! So, when I was approached by my school leader about returning to staff the school I was excited about the door God was opening for me to share the knowledge I have gained and help disciple people in the Word of God and in their personal relationships with Him. I have agreed to a two-year commitment, staffing in the School of Biblical Studies at YWAM Montana, and I can hardly wait to be used by God and see students transformed by his love the way I have been.
I just want to be used by him; I want to help his people, I want to love them and disciple those who are serious about going deeper with the Lord.

Why Montana?

The YWAM campus in Lakeside, Montana is committed to training and sending people out to other nations in order to disciple every culture, color, and gender with the truth of Jesus Christ. They have a solid reputation world wide, and people come from all over in order to receive training. As staff at YWAM Montana I will have an open door to many opportunities that will aid in training me for my future in missions. The base is also dedicated to doing their part in uniquely spreading the love of God to those who are oppressed, orphaned, and searching. We were able to send a team with supplies to Haiti in order to help with the relief efforts there after the earthquake, and teams leave every couple of months from the base, heading to other countries to reach those in need. As we send out we are a part of the work God does as they GO!

What is SBS? Why SBS?

SBS is an intense training program that walks students through the Bible book by book. They look at the historical background and examine the text in order to really see what God is telling his people. The school aids in understanding how to read, study, and teach the Bible. With the SBS people are able to draw closer to God as they learn about his character and how to live life in a fallen world. I feel called to help people grow in the word of the Lord. I believe that the Bible is God inspired; it is His word and it brings freedom and salvation to his people. That is why I am excited to dedicate my life to teaching the Bible and helping others understand more about the amazing God that we serve.

My role as staff in the SBS?

As SBS staff I will be living in the dorm with the students. I will be available to help them through the same process that has become so familiar to me. I will be teaching the Bible two times per quarter, six times in total throughout the nine month school. There will be opportunities to teach the Bible overseas and to connect with local churches and youth groups in Montana. This is just the beginning of my journey in missions--an open door that God has provided for me to be trained in teaching the Bible and discipling his people.

What can you do to help?

Missions is a full time job that requires the support of the entire body of Christ. As we share a vision for seeing God‘s Kingdom grow, we partner together to be a part of bringing vision to reality. Missions is my job, it is something God has called me to full time, and I love it. As staff with YWAM I am required to raise my own monthly support for food, bills, housing, and outreach expenses. You can partner with me on this journey by prayerfully considering a commitment to give monthly. No matter how big or small the donation, I am blessed by your support that reflects your belief in what God has called me to. All donations are tax deductible, and one time gifts can be made as well.

To Contribute please contact Sally Jo Vander Yacht: Email: sallyjovy@yahoo.com

Thanks For taking the time to check out my new blog! Keep checkin in for more updates! and feel free to email me at any time for questions.

Sally Jo