/Seeds-newsblog6SeedsMon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 G6TThu, 17 May 2012 11:16:43 G5TappxCMS Rss 2.0 Generator/A-Guaranteed-Stock-Market-Return?-newspost68Part of my career background includes experience in the financial industry. So, I have learned to pay relatively close attention to the stock market. As you are well...Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 G12Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=68/Parental-BUY-in-newspost57Those of us at NICS often hear about the transformational work that God does in the lives of students. Each and every testimony is meaningful to us, for the stories serve as clear evidence that God is expanding His Kingdom through the ministry. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for us to hear about how God’s work through NICS has impacted the parents of our students. This too is significant to us, and we are encouraged by the fact that the vision and purpose of this ministry is reaching the hearts of parents as well as students.Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:00:00 G6Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=57/TRUSTworthy-Seeds-newspost25I recently read the book titled Radical by David Platt. Undoubtedly, the book is appropriately subtitled “Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.” I found Platt’s...Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:38:18 G12Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=25/A-Seed-Story-newspost17I love fruit. Apples, bananas, and grapes are my favorites. However, while enjoying my favorite fruits, I hardly ever consider the work involved in bearing this fruit. Planting seeds can be tedious, messy, and uneventful. Moreover, whether or notMon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 G6Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=17/Stewarding-Gods-Grace-newspost47In his book titled The Prodigal God, Tim Keller writes,Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:00:00 G12Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=47/Stones-for-Sticks,-Bricks,-and-the-Good-News-newspost49Many, if not the majority of us, have been impacted in some way by this dismal economic situation. There’s no doubt that a significant amount of uncertainty fills the air, especially relating to things like our retirement savings, real estate investments, job status, etc. For those of us born post Great Depression, we simply haven’t seen days like these before. This reality has been communicated to me over the last several months through many conversations I’ve had with various donors and potential donors. I have heard it stated several times: “this economic situation is really hurting my family; it’s just not a good time for me to give.” I can understand and empathize.Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:00:00 G2Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=49/Planting-Seeds,-Reaping-Golden-Harvest-newspost48Over the course of my seven month tenure as the NICS Development Director, I have been asked a central question many times. Although the inquiry is often worded differently, I suppose it can best be summed up as “Blake, what exactly does your job entail?” I often perceive that the real motive of this inquiry is primarily birthed from unfamiliarity associated with my job title rather than a deep interest in my job description. Although the Development Department’s objectives are quite clear to me, I have learned that the whole development concept is rather ambiguous to some people. In the following lines of this article, I would like to address the question posed in relation to what development means to me and for us as an organization.Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 G12Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=48/On-the-Move-With-Mobilization---3rd-Edition-newspost46As we wind down the recruiting season this year, we thought we would give you some highlights from the last year. It has been a fascinating year to see how God has been so faithful to meet our needs. After losing one staff person in the Mobilization department we were able to replace that person with someone who has many years of experience in recruiting and already has a great working relationship with several of our administrators. We also added a part-time person who just so happens to be one of the founders of NICS. How much more experience can you get? Normally when there is turnover in the Mobilization department there is a fairly large learning curve but this time God has provided two wonderful ladies who not only had an unbelievably short learning curve but also have taught us a few things as well. It looks like we will be adding another person in the near future and hopefully maybe even a second one.Sun, 01 Jan 2006 05:00:00 G1Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=46/On-the-Move-with-Mobilization---2nd-Edition-newspost45“On the Move with Mobilization” took on an entirely new meaning for Mobilization this month. We moved! NICS was able to acquire more office space in the building where we are located and surprisingly even on the same floor. This means that NICS almost entirely occupies the second floor now. The new space will give the home office, as a whole, a little breathing room, and give the Mobilization department room for much needed growth. The Mobilization department moved into the new space creating two new office areas for new recruiters or volunteers and it is very possible that they will be filled before the new school year starts. Praise the Lord! The space vacated by Mobilization will allow the IT department to have their own office, double the size of our storage room, and still be able to create an executive office.Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:00:00 G1Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=45/On-the-Move-with-Mobilization-newspost44Well it is that time again! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, the wind is blowing, and the administrators are wondering who will be filling those vacancies next fall. This is the busiest time of year for the Mobilization department and a time that we learn firsthand to lean on God and not our own understanding. From a human standpoint, we are up against an insurmountable task as we seek to find close to one hundred twenty new teachers and administrators for positions around the world. That is one hundred twenty highly educated, extremely motivated, love the Lord and willing to move overseas, teachers. Fortunately, the Lord has filled over half of the positions already, but the pressure is continuing to build. The end of the school year is just around the corner and most teachers already know where they will be teaching next fall. The deadline for PFO is approaching quickly, and many of the positions still open require the raising of some financial support. What is a recruiter to do?Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:00:00 G1Thttp://magazine.nics.org/vpage_blogpost.aspx?ID=44