Given the numerous activities
that we regularly report, we realize that it is sometimes difficult,
even for those closely affiliated with the work here, to maintain an
accurate image of events. With that in mind we offer the following six-month
review of our primary ministry areas which are structured to equip Christian
men and women for kingdom service among the Hispanic peoples of North,
Central and South America.
Residence Program.
Since October 29, 2002 AIBI has continuously conducted classes in two
separate locations: 1) in the building of the Hialeah church of Christ,
which is our primary center of operation, and 2) in the building of
the Sunset church of Christ in south Miami. From August 28 - October
24 we offered World Religions (Armando Alaniz) and Acts (Kirk McAfee)
in Hialeah, and Homiletics (Jorge Pineda) in Sunset. This teaching period,
October 27 - December 19, we are offering New Testament Church (Armando
Alaniz) and I & II Timothy, Titus and Philemon (Jorge Pineda) in
Hialeah, and Acts (Kirk McAfee) in Sunset.
We
have a combined total of approximately 25 students.
In
an effort to broaden this program and more effectively utilize available
resources for Hispanic ministry training, we find ourselves in the initial
stage of developing an interactive, Internet instruction system through
which we could transmit our classes to remote sites. We are excited
by the new opportunities this project presents. First, it would allow
the formation of a network of Spanish ministry training schools linked
together and sharing resources. The initial site being considered is
a new school in Arlington, Virginia
which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2004. Second, it would allow
us to greatly accelerate the recording of our courses on to DVDs for
use in our extension program
Practical
ministry program. This program is still
in the development stage. and is being designed
to utilize AIBI instructors and students, as well as various
members from area congregations, to form a team that will participate
in a church planting effort in southwest Broward county. To this point
we have conducted three seminars aimed at sharing our vision with area
congregations and enlisting their support in the project. We are now
beginning the process of forming the launch team that will actually
take part in this work. We will be meeting once or twice a month for
prayer and training focused on beginning evangelistic activities early
next year.
Extension program. Sunset International
Bible Institute's International Division, of which we are a part, has
a new web site at www.sunsetinternational.org. We have an English language
page at that cyber-location and we are currently in the process of designing
an interactive Spanish language page where we will begin to offer a
number of our courses online. Since March of this year Jorge Pineda
has been working on this online project and has experimented with e-mail
courses with 25 students located primarily in Colombia
and Venezuela.
We also have 8 new students in Cuba
to be added to this number. It is our prayer that this program will
continue to expand allowing us to reach far beyond our local area as
we seek to train Hispanic servants for kingdom ministry.
Cuba.
In October we held the fifth of our six planned seminar schools
in Havana with 35-40 ministers
from across the nation attending. Next May will be the final seminar
in this initial series. The Cuban brethren have requested that we continue
offering seminars on at least an annual basis for both spiritual and
political reasons. On the spiritual side these seminars have been stimulating
and edifying for all involved. On the political side the school in Miami
is already known and permitted by the Cuban government to conduct theological
training on the island. The Cuban brethren do not wish us to give up
this privilege, especially as they work toward opening their own theological
training center. Our plans are to continue working with them in this
capacity even as we now begin training the future instructors of the
school they hope to open through the DVD courses that we have recorded
and other online materials.
Affiliate
Schools: Dominican Republic.
We continue to work closely with the board of La Hispaniola,
which now has approximately 30 students. Our primary role is to provide
financial and educational resources, administrative support and leadership,
conduct periodic seminars for both students and instructors, and meet
regularly with La Hispaniola board for consultation, planning and evaluation.
Daniel Nin continues to work as the director of the school there.
I ask that you pray for him and his father, Domingo, as his mother recently
died unexpectedly.
Haiti.
In spite of the obvious language difference, due to proximity
and the work we are already conducting in the Caribbean
AIBI is primarily responsible for interfacing with David Dirrim,
the current director of the Center for Biblical Training (CBT). Our
primary role in this case is to provide educational and practical ministry
resources and leadership, as well as meet periodically with both Haitian
and American representatives of the school for prayer, consultation
and planning.
Through the
course of 2004 we will continue to develop and evaluate the projects
and programs outlined in the preceding paragraphs. We request that you
constantly pray that God might work in and through us for His honor
and glory.
Blessings
to you all.
