FIRST TERM REFLECTIONS

May marked the end of another semester at SEMINARIO ESEPA. It also marked the culmination of our first term as missionaries with United World Mission (UWM). As we reflect upon our first four years of missionary life we remember our acute fear of moving to a foreign land and depending upon the financial support of others. As we look back on those days from our current vantage point, we are filled with gratitude and joy. God has indeed shown Himself to be the Good Shepherd; and He has used you to demonstrate His faithfulness. We are privileged to have such generous and reliable ministry partners. Thank you!


The completion of our first term marks the point at which we meet with SEMINARIO ESEPA and UWM leadership to evaluate our ministry, assess ministry needs and strategically plan for the long-term goals to which God has called us. One of the primary objectives of our first term was to confirm our calling to theological education in Latin America. In other words, over the past four years we have been asking: is formal theological education a needed and strategic ministry in Latin America? And, am I capable of contributing to theological education in Latin America?

Based on my four years in Costa Rica, I have no doubt that theological education is both needed and strategic. At the same time, it is also harder than ever to provide a quality education that will prepare pastors, missionaries and Christian educators for a lifetime of effective ministry. Why 'waste' three years studying when you can attend a weekend conference to get the 'annointing' which will allow you all kinds of new revelations from God? Why spend three years studying when you can order a diploma on-line? If it is not the theological quick-fixes that keep students from quality theological education, it is the ever-increasing financial obstacles. The average pastor only earns $172 per month. In order to make theological education accessible for these pastors, theological institutions must keep tuition low, which in turn produces another challenge-how to pay qualified Latin American professors a dignified salary.

In spite of these obstacles, formal theological education must happen in Latin America. As I have written before, by the year 2025 the second largest concentration of Christians will be found in Latin America, estimated to be around 640 million (roughly equal to the current population of the United States). This astonishing growth rate is combined with an alarming study that estimates that only 3-5% of the Latin American pastors have had any theological training. This volatile combination has already made Latin America fertile ground for all kinds of strange doctrines and practices which have radically distorted biblical Christianity. One can only imagine what the future will look like if this trend is not changed. Though formal theological education is certainly not a magic wand which will relieve Latin American Christianity from its many threats and challenges, it is fundamental for building a healthy base of pastors who can shape and lead their churches through the very perplexing, postmodern, globalized valley of 21st century. At this stage in its development, therefore, if formal theological education in Latin America is to succeed, it will need missionary-professors who can absorb some of the costs (by raising their own support) and who can be involved in developing strategic, worldwide partnerships that will allow Latin American theological institutions to become sustainable.

My time at ESEPA has indeed confirmed my general call to Christian scholarship and formal theological education which equips the church for her mission, and specifically exercising that calling in the context of Latin America. I have a deep satisfaction in what I do as a professor. I enjoy researching, writing, teaching and helping students integrate what they believe with how they live and how they lead their churches. And though it is not easy, I enjoy doing it in Spanish. My family has adapted very well to life in this part of the world, and I am excited to see how God will use me and my family in the years to come.

One of the more surprising lessons I learned in my first term at ESEPA is that theological education in Latin America is not limited to the classroom. Given the scarcity of human resources available, it is not enough for one to simply teach and write; one must also be involved in institution building. Theological education in the classroom or on-line is only a possibility as long as there exists a stable theological institution. I am challenged in the years to come to not only become a better professor, but a competent administrator who can help build stable theological institutions. In fact, I would argue that being called to theological education in Latin America implies, in part, being called to the careful and often creative stewardship of both human and physical resources.

In light of all this, after four years of serving in Latin America our vision remains the same. We seek to help build theological institutions that complement non-formal theological education in Latin America-all for the purpose of equipping Latin American Christian pastors and missionaries to plant and cultivate healthy churches, churches that will bring God's peace and justice to a broken world.