I just started teaching on the gifts of the Spirit. This week I walked my congregation through Romans 12:6-8, the gist of which could be summarized in the Nike slogan: “Just do it!” Someone commented the next day that what I really need for the congregation is a good cattle prod, but I seriously doubt that my church would tolerate that kind of motivation from its pastor.

But what will it take? The kingdom of God offers “shovel ready” opportunities for God’s people.

What prevents indigenous learners from access to pastoral education? How can we bridge the gap so they can succeed?

You’ve been asked to teach a class in the Bible Institute. It may be enough additional stress to have you looking for a life-vest, ready to jump ship. Hang on. Take a deep breath. There’s help.

Do you remember that little chorus that we learned in Sunday school?
When we all pull together, together, together,
When we all pull together how happy we’ll be!
For your work is my work and our work is God’s work,
When we all pull together how happy we’ll be!

TEAMWORK, according to Merriam Webster, is “work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.”

We as educators throughout LAC are constantly giving examinations. Yet, do we ever think about doing a self-examination of ourselves as teachers? As we begin this New Year, we need to stop, think, and evaluate our own teaching methods. There are some key questions we can ask ourselves. How am I doing in connecting with students? Where is my concentration in teaching? What is my ultimate goal in teaching? What methods am I using? Are there visible outcomes?

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.

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 [...]

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.

“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 …

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.

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?

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.

“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.

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 [...]

How can we explain what is happening in the Middle East today?

According to a recent article in Christianity Today, Muslims and Christians were demonstrating together in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The ouster of Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has sparked protests all across the Middle East and the Muslim world. Many questions remain unanswered, but one thing is sure that God is up to something!

I recently read the book by Joel C. Rosenberg, Inside the Revolution. (It has to be good because the radio host, Rush Limbaugh, gives his stamp of approval!) The sub-title is “How the followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus are battling to dominate the Middle East and transform the world.”

Working together, missionaries and national churches have established the indigenous church principle as the basic philosophy of the Assemblies of God in Latin America. This practice has served the church well and has produced new national churches, which, since their inception, have developed with the goal of becoming independent, in other words self-sustaining, self-governing, and self-propagating. The church owes much to the founders that began with a concept that rejected the permanent dependence and childhood of other missionary models. Nevertheless, the model has at least one defect. It does not include the goal of producing a self-theologizing church.

Where are our students today? Perhaps most of them are involved in some kind of ministry, but are they really educating (discipling) their disciples? Are we, as educators, adequately developing educators? Educators (leaders) must have a radical commitment to the discipleship process. Our role is to assist each and every student to become the very best educator possible.

Teachers come in two flavors: educators and experts. The educator studies learning style and process. The Expert focuses on his subject to the exclusion of all else. The field of missionary education is replete with experts but nearly devoid of educators. This imbalance produces a corresponding misaligned emphasis among students taught by missionary educators, but it can be easily corrected.

Fifty-one missionary educators, representing 13 countries and a host of Latin America/ Caribbean ministries, gathered September 8-10 for the 2010 ACLAME Summit at the Lakeview Conference Center out of Waxahachie, TX.

For the past two years, ATAL (Asociación Teológica de América Latina), known in English as the Latin America Theological Association, has been working with sister organizations around the world in the formation of a network of theological associations with the purpose of raising the recognition level of their efforts in the advancement of Pentecostal theology.

We have been working in Instituto Bíblico Nazareth in Chiapas, Mexico, for seven years. From the beginning we noticed several problem areas: low academic standards, a poor work ethic among the students, and finally, and most importantly, a great lacking in regards to knowledge of the Holy Spirit. The District Superintendent later confirmed our suspicion when he told us that only 8% of the ministers in the entire District were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

I have a confession to make…

Now that I have your attention, let me tell you what it is. During our itineration times, I often spend more time sharing about my wife’s ministry to inner city, needy children, than about my main ministerial focus which is advanced ministerial training.

When the Lord commissioned Moses at the burning bush to go to Egypt and set His people free, Moses´ reaction was, “You´re kidding, Lord! I´m not prepared for something like that!” Then the Lord asks a simple question, “What have you got in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

I am in Buenos Aires as I write, here for a board meeting of Intituto Biblico Rio de la Plata…In this context I can’t help but reflect on three axioms that seem to emerge over and over again these days:

There are two areas of concern in our participation as Latin American and Caribbean missionary educators–how to obtain a continual increment in the number of missionaries involved in training and discipleship, and Pentecostal theology and practice in Latin America

Sometimes I wish I had six lives. I would definitely spend a life studying anthropology and what makes MK’s tick.  Another life would study South American History and why they have such a hard time with democracy.  And at least one would be for developing women’s ministry teams. Then I would spend one reading what [...]

If Heaven is such a wonderful place, and eternal life is worth more than all the silver and gold in the world, why do we need rewards in Heaven? Isn’t making it there reward enough? This month I want to share a little devotional that I trust will help us missionary educators be the best [...]

As I’ve been here in Mérida, Mexico, I’ve had the privilege of teaching for a year and a half in the Bible Institute. This is a job that I have met with much fear and feeling of responsibility. As James says , “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you [...]

CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP – In August 2009, Dr. Mikuel Peterson became the new President of CST replacing Lewis McCown who served in that role for the past 15 years and as Dean for 5 years.  This follows the change of a new Academic Dean that took place in October 2008 when David Swafford assumed the [...]

In the middle of a very busy summer, I had the privilege of participating in an historic meeting of Pentecostal educators in the development of WAPTE—the World Alliance for Pentecostal Theological Education.   What began as the Alliance for Pentecostal Theological Education and Leadership last September in a meeting with representatives of the regional theological associations [...]

I just returned from an exciting teaching assignment with the “Facultad” in the beautiful city of Merida in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. After class, the local director of “Instituto Bíblico Bethel” proudly displayed his Mayan heritage to the visiting professors during a trip to the ancient ruins of Uxmal. After we established some mutual respect, [...]

Most of us have experienced the emotion of the anointing while preaching. They are very satisfying moments when we feel a special connection with the Holy Spirit and with those to whom we are ministering. We simply feel “effective” at these special times; recognizing that it is because the Spirit is flowing through us, using [...]