Many have asked about my recent trip to Mexico. Over the next several days/weeks, I will download my thoughts and experiences here.
To begin, let me explain about the school. The school is based in Torreon, Mexico. Last year, there were 45 pastors, pastors' wives, and lay leaders who completed the first year course requirements. You can find information about the school and pictures from last year's classes and graduation here. The sessions were intensives meeting one weekend a month for 10 months. Pre-class assignments were given as well as post-class assignments. The academic work of some of these students was amazing. However, God began to move our thoughts in a different direction.
This year we initiated an online component as well as an independent study component. This was needed because the school has received numerous inquiries from Latin American and South American countries. See, presently IETO is the only Spanish-languange extensive Bible school curriculum available online. This has great appeal in the Spanish-language countries. And, due to that appeal, there have been inquiries from 10 different nations. These students are being given the information they need to begin their studies.
God is amazing. In just a matter of a couple of weeks, the limited scope of the school mushroomed to covering half a continent. While this is exciting, this is scary. Logistically, the school is barely able to cover the needs of the students in Torreon. However, God has brought together a team that is making the transition bearable. We recognize that it is not our strength. There is no way that our limited resources and limited abilities can accomplish what is needed. It is not our strength, but His. It is not our ability, but His. He has opened the door; it is His project. He is calling the people; it is His resources that are needed.
Many have asked what they can do to assist in preparing these pastors for the call. Before I answer that question, let me tell you about the staff. All of the staff (the teachers, president, director) volunteer their time. This includes me. We purchase our own airline tickets and pay for our hotel rooms in Torreon. We receive no pay for the weekend. This is truly a labor of love. We see the necessity of pouring into and preparing these men and women to carry out the call of God on their lives. There are overhead expenses for the school. There are printing costs. There are costs of duplicating the CDs and DVDs for the independent study students. There are a few people that are paid to assist with registration at the intensives and there is rental of the church where we meet. The students pay the equivalent of $30 US for each course they take. While that does not seem much to us in the United States, that can be several days wages for some countries where we have students.
With that being said, let me answer the question "What can I do to help?" First and foremost, you can pray. Pray for those of us who journey several times a year to Mexico. Pray for our safety in travel. Pray for us to be able to effectively communicate the material. Pray for those pastors who have sacrificed to come to school. Specifically, pray for me as I write material. I am on the Curriculum Committee and provide much of the Biblical and Theological material.
Second, you can give. As I said, the cost of each class is $30 US. You can sponsor a pastor for a class for that amount. Or, you can sponsor a pastor for a year for $300. You can also give to assist my travel there. It costs me about $1200 each time I travel to Torreon. I will be returning in September 2010, and March, September and December in 2011. You can also give to support the school's overhead expenses of facility rental, printing costs, CDs, DVDs, etc.
If you wish to give, you can give at PR Ministries. Just click on the DONATE button. All donations received by PR Ministries, including the book and tape sales, go directly to ministry in Mexico.
If you have any questions concerning the school or ministry in Mexico, please contact me. I would be happy to discuss it with you.
Next time, we will will recount my airplane journey to Mexico.
