Cuba Update 2: Theological Education

It is an exciting time to be involved in theological education in Cuba, for a number of reasons. Here are just a few.

1. Everyone involved in the formal education program at Las Palmas (the seminary in Cuba) is actively involved in ministry, either as a church planter, a Christian educator or a pastor. This is a unique situation with lots of advantages. To date Cuba has avoided the problems accompanied with the 'professionalizing' of the ministry. In other words, students are not taking classes in order to get degrees so that they can better paying jobs. Instead, they take classes because, as one pastor told me, 'We want to be as prepared as possible to minister to Cuba--and to leave a legacy for coming generations'. Nothing enhances the classroom experience like a room-full of people who are actively engaged in ministry and full of questions which spring from their own ministerial and theological struggles!

2. The students bring a remarkable level of commitment to their studies. They are well aware that the window of opportunity for formal theological study can close at any time and so they take full advantage of every course they take. Additionally, because they have been isolated for so long, they soak up everything they read and hear. The photos that appear with this post are of the first group of Master's students the seminary has seen in over forty years! They will be the future professors at the seminary. These photos show them sitting in a course on Biblical Hebrew. The course lasts for a week. Classes start at 8AM and last until 10 PM. Then it is time for studying and homework! For most, it is to bed at 2 AM, up again at 6 AM. It is truly inspiring and humbling to be around these kind of people!

3. Las Palmas is gaining a reputation as being the most rigorous and high-quality theological education available in Cuba. The students of Las Palmas already are or will be the shapers and leaders of Christianity in Cuba for years to come--especially since their studies are rooted in the love for and context of the church!