Projects
December 19, 2017 Latin America – MTS Scholarships in Latino/a Ministries
[pie chart]37%Support Raised
[world map] Iberoamerica and the Caribbean Angola push-pin Argentina push-pin Bolivia push-pin Brazil push-pin Chile push-pin Cuba push-pin Dominican Republic push-pin El Salvador push-pin Haiti push-pin Mexico push-pin Nicaragua push-pin Colombia push-pin Ecuador push-pin Venezuela push-pin Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Canada
Theological Education Theological Education
• Bolivia • Brazil • Iberoamerica and the Caribbean • Mexico • Theological Education
GoalThe goal of this project is to address the growing need for training pastors and leaders in the Latin American Evangelical Community.
SummaryThis project seeks to raise nearly $200,000 per year and will provide a partial scholarship to students in the Master of Theological Studies in Latino/a Ministries through Palmer Seminary living outside of the United States.
DescriptionLatin America and the Global South have become the center of growth in the Evangelical Church in the last 15-20 years. The reality of such rapid growth is that there is a desperate need to provide training for pastors and leaders in the church so that it can continue to grow and maintain healthy faith communities for decades to come. With rapid urbanization in what is considered the Majority World, there are very few resources for theological education. Many churches are suffering because of lack of quality theological education to strengthen the church. In 2016, an innovative and collaborative program called the Master of Theological Studies in Latino/a Ministries (MTS) began to prepare Spanish-speaking students for thoughtful and productive holistic ministry and leadership in churches, organizations and community life in Latin America. Offered online through Palmer Theological Seminary, the MTS program addresses the growing need for training pastors and leaders. This accredited graduate level program consists of 12 courses (3 credit hours each) for a total of 36 credit hours. Upon completion, women and men are prepared for pastoral ministry and/or church leadership. Although the courses in the areas of Biblical studies, theology and practice of ministry parallel other seminary curricula, the MTS program is contextualized to the needs of Latino/a communities. While quality training for church leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean is hard to find, funding post-graduate education with the scarce resources of Majority World countries is even more difficult. In response, International Ministries, in collaboration with Palmer Theological Seminary and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, developed a theological educational program that is one of the most innovative of its kind. This project is directed by IM Regional Consultant J.D. Reed. He will be stewarding your gifts and providing regular updates on this program. 224 total participants since the program began 2016 and 149 graduates to date (42 women & 93 men)
Suggested GiftsYour response with a gift or a recurring multi-year gift will be a tremendous encouragement. A gift of $5,000 could sponsor 1 student to participate in the 2-year program A gift of $2,500.00 per year for two years, could provide the full IM scholarship for one student. A gift of $1,000 could sponsor 1 student to take 3 classes (1/4 of the classes required for graduation) A gift of $500 could cover one class of the 12 classes required.
Prayer RequestsPray that support of this project will deliver theological education to enrolled students and expand the reach to more people in more places. Countries represented in the program to date: Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States, Venezuela.
Managed ByLafferty, Christine