April 1, 2006
Exciting Plans
This morning we had an excellent faculty meeting at the Cariri Baptist Seminary. One of the biggest items on the docket was the possibility of starting a "Theology College" which would run parallel to our seminary program, and be open to the general public ( whereas the purpose of our seminary is to train workers from Baptist churches here in Brazil). The advantages of this project would be tremendous:
1. It will allow us to be an accredited college. This in turn will open the door for our students to further their education at a university level, expand ministry opportunities into schools, law-enforcement, and other public offices, clear the way for us to be able to receive foreign students, and enable us to comply with laws that are being put on the books as to the issuance of bachelor's degrees.
2. It will extend the influence of the seminary to people of other confessions--or even to people of no confession. One of the most exciting aspects of this is that our teachers and area pastors will have yet another forum from which to proclaim biblical truth.
3. It will serve to subsidize the cost of the seminary. Because the "theology college" will run little overhead, and utilize part-time teachers, and because there is a high demand for such a school in this region, this has the potential of being a source of income for the seminary itself.
4. It will serve as a sort of training ground for future professors of the seminary. Area pastors who demonstrate particular skill in teaching at the "theology college" will be considered for positions at the seminary when current professors move on to other ministries.
Right now we are praying that God will supply the R$30,000 (about $14,000 at today's exchange rate) needed to process the paperwork with the Brazilian government. A third of this is needed by the middle of this month. If we are able to process this right away, we should be able to open the doors of the college by January of 2007. Otherwise, it will not be until 2008 or 2009. Please pray with us that God would supply the necessary funds. Should you feel compelled to contribute to this project, or if you would like more details, get in touch with me.
Posted by Andrew at April 1, 2006 1:18 PM
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Comments
Posted by: Jim Leonard at April 9, 2006 7:30 AM
Hey Andrew, You've done a good job summarizing the importance of this step as well as the prayers needs surrounding it. Tomorrow (4/10/06) I will meet with the lawyer who will walk us through this process. If we see no serious "red flags" we'll probably give him the go ahead to get started