The past 18-month period has been an unprecedented time, full of unprecedented decisions. At first many thought this situation would blow over and life would quickly return to normal. As time passed, we faced daunting questions that produced immediate ministry strategies for the season as well as long-lasting effects following this global pandemic.
Today, quarantines and curfews are being eased and travel restrictions are being loosened. A slow return-to-normal raises a new series of new questions that will define a path for navigating this second pivot: facilitating the return of face-to-face ministry activities while engaging with those that choose to remain home a bit longer.
The work of missions continues as we reach, train and mobilize ministry leaders in Panama and throughout Latin America.
Bible Schools and Ministry Training
As we meet the needs resulting from the pandemic, we realize that things will not return to the way they were before. For that reason, we are now pivoting towards equipping our Bible Schools to offer a balanced program with both in-class and online courses.
In response to the need for further training on online teaching, we offered a 3-day training seminar in September for our Bible School personnel throughout Latin America Caribbean. Over 550 participants from 19 countries across the region received necessary tools for effective teaching with the use of technology and online platforms. This is part of the International Program for Certification of Professors and Administrative Personnel (PROCEPA) that we direct, a ministry of the Latin America Resource and Advisory Center. We will be repeating the seminar later this month and already have over 250 registered participants.
Miguel teaching during September's Bible School professor online training seminar.
We were blessed to be a part of online national Christian Education conferences hosted by the Dominican Republic, Panamá and Perú. We will be a part of another conference later this month hosted by Costa Rica.
Miguel continues to advise the Assemblies of God Bible School Commision in Panama and teach regularly. He just finished teaching a Romans and Galatians online, intensive course with 54 first-year students.
We have found ways to stay connected with and serve leaders, teachers and students through the use of technology. Nevertheless, we have recognized during the pandemic that person-to-person interaction, learning from and sharing with each other, is an important part of what we do. Please pray as we begin planning some of the post-pandemic, life-changing encounters like our International Bible School Leaders Summits scheduled for April 2022 in Guatemala and September 2022 in Chile.
The 2019 International Bible School Leaders Summit in Bogota, Colombia
Missions Training
We continue to believe and trust the Lord for the new international cross cultural and language school. It would be hosted at the Latin America Resource and Training Center located in Panama. The country's diverse demographics make it possible to teach English as a second language, and even teach essential Mandarin and Arabic, too. It's unique location in the region allows for Latin Americans to come to a central location and receive the needed missiological and linguistic learning prior to leaving for overseas missions service.
We are praying to the Lord of the harvest to raise up more Latin American missionaries that are ready to go and reach the unreached and under-reached peoples of the world with the story of Jesus.
Latin America Resource and Training Center
With the construction of the Latin America Resource and Training Center substantially complete, we are planning for the start of operations. We hope to have other training and enrichment ministry activities at the Center, along with the new international cross cultural and language program. Please pray for the Lord's will, wisdom and way to make this possible in 2022.
The Latin America Resource and Training Center
Pray for Panama and Latin America
As vaccinations increase in Panama and throughout the region, the number of new cases has also decreased in some countries. However, there are concerns of the spread of the new variants of COVID-19, especially in the upcoming Christmas holiday.
Please pray with us:
Ask God to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to heal those who are sick.
Pray for God to comfort and encourage those who have lost loved ones to the virus.
For God to provide food, shelter, medicine, and other essentials to so many that cannot afford to stock-up on supplies.
Pray that those who do not yet know Jesus will experience God’s unconditional love during this time.
For national church leaders and pastors as they use innovative ways to minister and share the Good News of Jesus.
For God to help missionaries find creative ways to adapt and serve others during this difficult time.
Thank you so much for partnering with us. Together we continue to make a difference in the lives of so many people!
• Divine protection as we begin
traveling throughout the region
• Revival in the Assemblies of God of
Panama
• Receptive hearts to the Gospel,
especially among indigenous
peoples, Chinese and Arabs
• God's direction and provision to start
the new new international cross
cultural and language school in
Panama
• Spiritual growth in the lives of new
believers through local church
discipleship
• Increased enrollment in the
Assemblies of God Bible School
• More Panamanians that respond to
the call to ministry, especially to
foreign missions
• God’s wisdom and direction
Please pray with us:
