The gift of teaching God’s Word and training laborers in the harvest is indeed a powerful one that reaches into every dimension of life, bringing change deeper than any government or social program alone can do.
November 14, 2011
June 18, 2011, was a historic day for the Brazilian Assemblies of God. It marked the 100 years of the establishment of the first AG church in the country, located in the city of Belem in the northern state of Pará. In 1909 two Swedish immigrants, Gunnar Vingren and Daniel Berg, who had arrived in [...]
October 16, 2011
As missionaries, we must not lose sight of the responsibility we have in teaching, mentoring, discipling, training, and developing ministers. We must instruct, but we must also influence, encourage, and empower others.
September 17, 2011
“Change in Latin American higher education is not optional; the choice is to innovate or perish.” The administrative offices of the AG University in San Salvador are more crowded than usual today. I am here for two days of meetings with Dr. DeLonn Rance, Director of Intercultural Doctoral Studies and Chair of the Global Missions Department at AGTS. Also present is Dr. Randy Walls, Director of the External Studies Program at AGTS and two professional education evaluators from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the body that accredits AGTS. University leaders present are: Fernando Vásquez, President; Bob Bueno, Chairman of the Board; Orlando Cámbara, Academic Dean; Oscar Durán, Dean of the Theology Department; and others. Over 10 years in the making, we are on the verge of launching the first …
August 19, 2011
Those who know me well are aware of the fact that I love photography. Many of my students have given me the nickname “El Paparazzi,” since I’m often found with one (or more) of my faithful Nikon cameras hanging from my neck. I love shooting candid, spontaneous images that in one way or another capture the essence of a special moment. For me, beyond its beauty and symmetry, this image expresses very well what ministerial training should be all about… leading people into a deeper knowledge of God and His word, and consequently into a closer walk with Him. Ministerial formation is not just about sharing information and developing skillsets, important as those things are. It’s ultimately about helping people strengthen their relationship with God, so they can help others do the same.
July 17, 2011
I received an email a few days ago from a pastor of a supporting church. He reported that he is retiring and that the district and church board have agreed that the church “has run its life cycle and will be closed.” It seems sad and makes it sound normal and inevitable. People have life cycles. Do churches and organizations face an inevitable future? What about Bible schools and other ministerial training programs?
June 8, 2011
One might generally divide education or training into various components, such as (1) personal learning through reading, online courses, or extension education of other kinds; (2) education in a classic classroom context, such as in a Bible school, university, or community college; or (3) seminars, conferences, summits, forums, symposia, boot camps, intensives, workshops, or modules that are aimed at providing specific training for individuals who wish to improve their capacity in an area of expertise. This last method gives us tools to work with and to help us reach our life goals.
May 25, 2011
“We can’t do the task alone.” “We need to partner with servant leaders of the Two-thirds world.” “The Great Commission is not just for the American church.” Despite the fact that we Americans are such gung-ho result producers and that God has used the sons and daughters of the American church quite effectively for over a century in so many parts of the world, the challenge is just too great for us to tackle by ourselves.
April 19, 2011
A new wind is blow in’ and it’s coming to a Bible School near you: Class dismissed. Everybody go home and study on line or by correspondence. Classrooms and teachers are a relic of the past. If you think this is a figment of imagination, think again. According to many studies by prominent universities, on-line [...]
December 15, 2011