Pentecostal Theological Education: Latin America Theological Seminary
What does Spirit-filled education look like around the world? The President of Facultad de Teología, Allen Martin, tells us how this seminary is training men and women across the Spanish-speaking world. Part of the Pentecostal Theological Education Around the World series from PneumaReview.com.
My name is Allen Martin and I have been a missionary with the Assemblies of God for the last 25 years. For over 20 of those years we worked with church planting and Bible School education among the Quichua Indians in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. At present I am the President of the Facultad de Teología de las Asambleas de Dios en America Latina (in English: the Latin America Theological Seminary/LATS). I am also currently working on a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
Facultad de Teología was born of the desire of Latin Americans who had graduated from the Instituto de Superación Ministerial/ISUM (Latin America Advanced School of Theology/LAAST) to continue their ministerial training. LATS was designed to offer advanced training to recognized church leaders by delivering on- site, intensive month-long modules, in easily accessible regional locations at a reasonable cost, thereby minimizing the time students would be away from families and ministry. The uniqueness of the program provides for mutual learning, mentoring, counseling, encouragement, friendship, growth and prayer as professors and students live, study and eat together.
We are a Pentecostal seminary (Assemblies of God) whose aim is to train and equip Spanish speaking Pastors and leaders in all of Latin America. Because many Latin countries have a high percentage of native Indian groups we also a higher percentage of Indian students who study with us in those regions.
Bible school education in the Assemblies of God in Spanish speaking Latin America is set up in such a way that the first three years of Bible Institute studies are taught under the direction of the national church in each country. Each of those 3 year bible institutes uses what is known as the Basic Plan as their model. The Basic Plan was developed by and is regularly revised and updated by an international team of educators, many of whom are career missionaries. In order to graduate with a four year BA degree the 4th year of theological studies are then studied in a series of four, one month-long, live-in modules taught by a roving faculty called ISUM. We at the Facultad de Teología then offer the next level of theological training, it is the Master’s degree level. Similar to ISUM, our program involves 5, three week long live-in modules and the writing of a thesis, project or a published book at the end of their studies with us. Also similar to ISUM we hold our modules in bible school facilities in countries that are strategically located allowing for students to come from surrounding countries to study. We currently hold modules in 11 countries, including: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, México, Dominican Republic and Cuba as well as having two centers here in the United States (Springfield, MO & La Puente, CA).
PneumaReview.com: How readily available is theological education for Pentecostals in the countries you serve?
Allen Martin: The Assemblies of God has a very strong track record of Pentecostal theological education in the 37 Latin America & Caribbean countries where we have missionaries. The latest published statistics for the Assemblies of God in this region are:
- 1,295 Bible Schools (584 Bible schools) and extensions
- 68,069 students
- 217,687 churches
- 198,750 Assemblies of God ministers
PneumaReview.com: What are some of the greatest obstacles to Spirit-filled theological education in your region?
Allen Martin: Actually, although we experienced a great deal of persecution & opposition from many fronts in earlier years, we find that we are experiencing very little opposition in more recent years.
PneumaReview.com: Do you have access to good theological study materials?
Allen Martin: Unfortunately, if a person was somehow able to acquire all of the Spanish books that are available & still in print in the areas of Bible and theology and related subjects you would fall far short of 10,000 books for your library. Because it is the “touchy feely” books that sell rather than the deep scholarly theological books, so many of the best Spanish Bible & theological book are no longer available in print. A Bible School with a “decent” library seldom has more than 4,000 books and a really excellent library might have 6,000 books. So, to answer your question, it is difficult to find many good theological study materials in Spanish even considering those that might be available electronically.
PneumaReview.com: What are the greatest doctrinal challenges that you face in the countries you serve?
Allen Martin: Traditionally the church in Latin America has had to struggle with the doctrines of Liberation Theology and the issue of syncretism in the church. However, the big hot button issue today might center more on the controversy and legitimacy regarding modern day apostles and prophets. Of course there is always the ongoing dialogue regarding speaking in tongues as the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
PneumaReview.com: What major themes do you stress as you train students for ministry?
Allen Martin: Personal holiness, integrity and commitment in a Spirit-led life of service. Also we put a great deal of emphasis in developing the students’ abilities as writers. There is a great need for sound Christian writers for the Kingdom of god in the Spanish speaking world in Latin America.
PneumaReview.com: What fruit have you seen in the lives of those who have prepared for ministry at your school?
Allen Martin: We count among our present and former students 23 current or former National Superintendents as well as many numerous district officials. We strive, with the Lord’s help, to develop strong leaders for the church in Latin America and we have been privileged to see many of our students used mightily of the areas of church leadership at the local, district and national levels.
PneumaReview.com: You may also tell us what degrees your school offers.
Allen Martin: We offer Masters Degrees in Practical Theology and Advanced Theological Education.
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