Dear Friends,
Spring is breathing new life into our surroundings. We are seeing tremendous movement both spiritually and practically here at Oak Haven! This month of April has been marked by Spirit-filled meetings, hands-on labor in the fields, and personal outreach in our communities—and I’m blessed to share these updates with you.
Galatians Summit: Spirit-Filled Messages
Earlier this month, we hosted the Galatians Summit at the Streams of Light Training Institute. The messages delivered were deeply Spirit-filled, calling us to experience justification by faith and to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. For those who weren’t able to attend, I encourage you to watch the recordings, now available on the Pullman SDA Church YouTube channel.
Launching the Missionary Scholarship Program: Work and Study for Mission
Another exciting development this month is the launch of the Missionary Scholarship Program at Streams of Light Training Institute. Due to the growing number of students wanting to attend but facing financial barriers, we are introducing a full work-study pathway.
Through this program, students will have the opportunity to work for 10 months on campus, gaining practical experience in areas such as agriculture, construction, and other trades, while earning tuition credit toward their training. After completing the work phase, they will transition into 10 months of study, joining the Comprehensive Evangelism Course.
This new structure ensures that no mission-minded student is turned away for financial reasons. Every willing heart now has a pathway to prepare for the final harvest—combining hands-on service, practical skill-building, and in-depth gospel training.
We praise God for opening this door and look forward to seeing how He will use this program to raise up workers for the great commission!
Hands-On Missionary Preparation: Expanding Oak Haven
The change of seasons has brought new opportunities for hands-on training in agriculture—a vital part of our missionary preparation. In line with the inspired counsel to “plant orchards and gardens” (LS 359.1), we are actively expanding the farm at Oak Haven. We recently welcomed our new organic farmer, Darren Greenfield, and his assistant Tom, both of whom bring a wealth of experience.
“Mrs. White’s unbounded enthusiasm regarding the improvement of the Avondale estate, did much to cheer and encourage others. She was particularly insistent that no time be lost by the school men in the planting of an orchard; and she greatly rejoiced when in October one thousand choice fruit trees were planted on a favorable piece of land occupied a year before by a thick forest of eucalyptus trees.” (LS 359.1)
Currently, we are clearing 10 acres of land to plant 1,000 fruit trees, including apples, cherries, pears, and plums. Additionally, our 10 acres of blueberries have been pruned and are preparing for a bountiful season. Our students have been actively involved in pruning, land clearing, and will soon assist in the planting of the orchard—gaining practical skills while learning lessons of diligence and stewardship.
Sowing Seeds: Community Outreach and Practical Ministry
For our students and staff at our training institute, we’re blessed to be able to labor in the fields, physically and spiritually. Every Friday, our students and staff are heading into the surrounding communities—Pullman, Covert, and Grand Rapids—going door to door, sowing seeds of truth through literature, Bible study offers, and acts of service.
One such testimony stands out this month:
While canvassing, one of our students offered The Great Controversy and a Bible study to a woman who initially declined, saying she was already attending her church. But when the student offered help with any community needs, she shared that her husband had recently fallen and broken several ribs, leaving them unable to rake the heavy layers of fallen leaves in their yard.
Our students and staff, including Elder Jay Gallimore, returned with leaf blowers, rakes, and a vacuum truck to clear her entire yard—and even ended up helping a neighboring home. In the days that followed, both families experienced a change of heart. The neighbor eagerly signed up for Bible studies, and the original homeowner—who had once said no—opened her home to future Bible studies and even invited us to come sing and worship together.
This experience reminded us: practical ministry opens hearts for spiritual ministry. As we meet physical needs, the door for the gospel opens as well.
Prayerful Preparation for Grand Rapids
Finally, the students are busily preparing for our upcoming Grand Rapids mission trip, where we plan to distribute tens of thousands of books and plant seeds of truth throughout the city. Please keep them—and this mission—in your prayers.
A Call to Engage in the Work
This month has beautifully illustrated how God’s method blends hands-on labor with spiritual work. Just as the Spirit of Prophecy guided the early pioneers to plant fruit trees alongside the seeds of truth, so today we are striving to be faithful stewards of both the land and the great commission.
I invite you to prayerfully consider how God is calling you to labor in His vineyard—whether through prayer, personal outreach, practical service, or support of missions like ours. The harvest is ripe, and every hand is needed. Together, by God’s grace, we can hasten His coming.
One of the greatest ways you can support this work is by encouraging the young people in your churches and families to consider attending the Streams of Light Training Institute. Now is the time to equip a generation of faithful laborers for the final harvest. If you know a young person with a heart for mission, please prayerfully recommend this training opportunity to them.
We’re deeply grateful for your continued prayers and support. We are truly living in exciting times!
Maranatha,
Oleg Lotca
President, Streams of Light International
