The Master of Theological Studies program in Latino/a ministries of Palmer Seminary recently returned to the place where everything began.  In March, we welcomed a new group to the MTS program.  We hosted sixteen students from five states throughout Mexico and one student from the Dominican Republic.  It was a great reconnection with the roots of the program as the first group of the MTS program  was held at this location in Mexico City six years ago.

J.D. Reed and Mercy Gonzalez Barnes teaching in Mexico City

Since that first residency, the MTS has had a sustained growth and popularity throughout the region of the Americas.  So far, the program has graduated 120 students and in July, that number will grow to 134.  We currently have 46% female students and 54% male students, and 39% female graduates respectively.  Our students and graduates are from 11 countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States; see map below) throughout the region and serving in 14 countries respectively (three missionaries serving in Canada, Peru, and Senegal).  The program currently has 92 students actively studying, 78 of them are in Iberoamerica.

At this point, if you are unfamiliar with the program you might be asking, “Why are we talking about Palmer Seminary and not International Ministries?”  In 2016, IM has entered a partnership with Palmer Seminary to help provide a scholarship so students can afford to participate in the program.  Without this scholarship, students like Efrain – computer programmer who works in the youth and worship ministries of his church – would never be able to afford the program.  As the scholarship was explained in Mexico City, Leticia couldn’t believe it.  She is a licensed mental health worker in Mexico who is participating to grow deeper in her faith and help her clients to do the same.  When we shared with the group that this scholarship was available to all students she was overwhelmed.  Through tears she shared how she was afraid she couldn’t continue with the courses because it was too expensive, but with the scholarships that IM provides, she could continue.

So far, churches and individuals have sponsored 30 of the 78 students to help International Ministries provide these scholarships.  Here is where we really need your help!!  We are praying for churches and individuals who are willing to sponsor a student or students so that they can continue their studies.  This will allow them to grow in ministry and prepare future generations of ministry leaders in Iberoamerica and beyond.  Would you be willing to train a pastor/ministry leader and strengthen the Kingdom of God?

For information on how you might help, please email jd.reed@internationalministries.org and if you would like to give directly to the scholarships, follow this link to the donation page and give today.  Your gift will help us to provide quality training to students throughout Iberoamerica and the Caribbean.