CCT Staff Learn Biblical Night Sky Watching

Nearly 50 staff from various areas of CCT ministry recently attended a three-day course called Astronomical Observation from a Biblical View (AOBV). The course  showed pastors and community center staff  how to use night sky watching as a tool for evangelism, showed Visions of Hope Christian School teachers how to teach children in poor communities the wonders of God's creation, and trained Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center staff  on how to offer stargazing activities as an optional activity for guests in the future.  The instructors were Roland and Linda Beard, authors of the AOBV curriculum.

The course included lessons on practical observation of the heavens from a Biblical view, how to assemble and use a telescope,  how to record observations by sketching objects in the night sky, and a review of  Scripture references that point observers toward the Creator and owner of the heavens.
Such Bible references are Job 41:11b ("Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine") and Acts 17:24 ("The God who made the world and everything in it,being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man")

"We are passionate about astronomical observation  because it can point anyone to God," says Mr. Beard.  He and Linda are the  founders of Christworks Ministries, a Christian, all-volunteer, non-profit organization based in Crozet, Virginia,USA.

The training course was held at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center on September 6 - 8, 2012.

Pastor Dave Campanero, chaplain of the  CCT Training and Development Institute-Magdalena
Campus, takes his turn at looking through a telescope.