Present Status
Since 2,000, ESRA Bible School has met one Saturday a month with lunch and coffee breaks; average registration about 40 to 45 students per semester.
The focal points of our school have been on
- Leadership – Training people to become better leaders in their families, their businesses and work places, and their local churches;
- Counseling – Helping people to get free from bad habit patterns of their past, and training them to counsel others.
Permanent Building for our Ministry
In 2006, through a generous donation, we were able to purchase a building for permanent housing of our ministry. The building used to house a reputable restaurant and bed and breakfast.
Since it had not been inhabited for years, it needed major renovations, some of which have already been started. We found out, we needed a building permit, had to adhere to Landmark Protection, and create five parking places; however, we didn’t even have one.
In December 07, the purchase of land from three different landowners was finalized. We now have enough land for the required parking spaces; and what’s even more of a miracle – we got enough donations to pay for the land and to start having a new heating system installed on the ground floor of three levels.
A lot of work is being done on a volunteer basis by German and American teams. There is still much to do and we still need donations for this project but we are encouraged and thankful to God and all the people he recruited to help us.
E.S.R.A. stands for:
- Ensure
- Safe
- Reliable
- Achievement
E.S.R.A. bedeutet
- Eine
- Sichere
- Richtung
- Angehen
Plans for the Future
- A bi-lingual full-time Bible-oriented training center with internships
- Training Seminars for local church workers, marital and pre-marital relationships, raising children, emotional stability, leadership and conflict management
- Other Activities-marriage enrichment retreats, gospel music events, retreats for recuperation for missionaries and pastors
Progress update! April 2009
Thanks to a generous donation we were able to continue the renovations on our E.S.R.A. Training Center. Many volunteers, some of them families with children, who even camped overnight in our partially finished building, worked hard and what got done is phenomenal.
- A brick building was torn down to create the required five parking spaces.
- The parking lot was finished with gravel.
- A shed was cleaned out.
- A window was installed in the shed where there was only a large hole before.
- A small retaining wall was built for the parking lot.
- An underground 7,000 liter oil tank was filled with sand, as required by law.
- A lot of cleanup was done.
- Heating system on first 2 levels is complete.
- Ground floor is complete except for the Kitchen, Restrooms and Hallway.
Our goal is to get the ground floor finished and ready to use for the 9th year of our E.S.R.A. Bible College. We need to install plumbing in two bathrooms, install fixtures and tile bathrooms, renovate hallways, put up drop ceiling in hallways, some electrical work, miscellaneous. Second floor has heat but needs plumbing, electrical, paint, dry wall and doors. Both floors need general cleaning.
- We are open to anyone who would like to partner with us and practically help us with these renovations.
- We are also grateful for donations to complete renovating a building in which we can eventually house 12 people.
Present and Future Events
- E.S.R.A. Bible College – May 9, 2009, with guest speaker Pastor Steve Stells, Chesterfield (Richmond) VA, USA. Topic – The Principles of Emotionally Healthy Leadership.
- E.S.R.A. Bible College- September 19,2009. The 2009-2010 Year begins. More information here soon.
- June 24, 2009 – Team of 9 from Victory Christian Fellowship, Goochland VA arrives with Pastor Mike Hennigan and will minister and work until July 2.
