Passing the Baton: Ongoing Ministerial Training in Latin America
Posted by deangonzales on September 2, 2010
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In June 2006 twenty-three Dominican pastors and ministerial students completed the “Marrow of Theology” program and graduated with a Certificate of Theological Studies (C.T.S.) from Reformed Baptist Seminary. In 2009 three of the honors students from that first class of graduates – all members of Iglesia Bautista de Gracia (Grace Baptist Church) in Santiago, DR, where the program had been hosted – took what they had learned in the Marrow program and together with Pastor Oscar Arocha launched La Academia Ministerial de la Gracia (Grace Ministerial Academy, AMG). They desired to carry out Phase 2 of the vision of the Marrow of Theology program, which is to see the outworking of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy:
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV).
Passing the Baton
These gifted brothers, having developed a program to pass on the sound doctrinal teaching they had learned, invited pastors and ministerial aspirants from Latin America to apply for enrollment in a streamlined, intensive training program hosted at Iglesia Bautista de Gracia in Santiago. Grace Ministerial Academy (AMG) graduated its first class of eight students in 2009 and its second class of twelve students in 2010. Moreover, three of the instructors of AMG completed their Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree from Reformed Baptist Seminary in 2010. The AMG graduates came from Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. They are returning to their home churches where they will engage in or support pastoral ministry. In a few cases some will teach in local theological training programs, passing on what they have learned to others.
2010 Graduation Ceremony
It was a tremendous blessing to participate in the July 25 graduation service. Pastor Lou Sloger of Grace Baptist Church, Papillion, Nebraska, was the keynote speaker. He exhorted the graduates not to boast in their acquired theological knowledge as an end in itself, but rather in their vital relationship with the living God. In short, they must endeavor to keep sound doctrine wedded to passionate devotion. I was also encouraged by the testimonies of the students who expressed profound gratitude for the solid education they had received and the pattern of godliness they had observed in the life of the professors and the church. For a brief slide show of the graduation, click the link below.
Support Ministerial Training in Latin America
God willing, AMG is preparing to enroll a third class of students from Latin America. Iglesia Bautista de Gracia is funding a goodly portion of this program. A significant amount of the remaining funds has already been pledged. However, some additional funds are still needed to cover all the expenses which include lodging, food and travel expenses for the students and a moderate compensation for the professors.
As someone who has been involved in training the AMG professors and who knows they are men of God competent to teach not only by lip, but by life, I can heartily recommend this program. It’s church-based, theologically sound and cost-effective.
If you would like more information about the program or if you are interested in helping fund this third class of students, let me encourage you to contact Pastor Luis Arocha (luis@ibracia.org) or Oskar Arocha Jr (oskararocha@gmail.com). Contributions for AMG can also be made to Grace Baptist Church, 205 E Halleck Street, Papillion, NE 68046, which is a ministry partner in this endeavor. Pastor Lou Sloger of Grace Baptist Church, Papillion can be contacted for more information (ldsloger@cox.net; 402-331-5984).
Your servant,
Bob Gonzales, Dean
Reformed Baptist Seminary
Gospel Coalition (TGC)
