October 18, 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I would like to share the story of how the Lima branch of the
Latin American Biblical University began. As one of its founders,
Rafael Goto, says, it began as “a vision.” It was
a vision of theological education open to students from all denominations.
It would be open to new thoughts in the international dialogue
over God’s will and the mission of the church. It would
take seriously the strivings for a better life by people in the
barrios of Lima and the mountains of Peru.
When it began, as Rafael says, “all we had was faith.”
After a conversation with the Latin American Biblical University
in Costa Rica (in Spanish, Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana,
or UBL) Rafael called together people from seven groups with similar
interests in theological education. They elected a board of directors
and called a young pastor working in the Peace Project to dedicate
part of his time to a new theological education program that would
be an extension of the UBL in Costa Rica. Calling Efraín
Barrera to this ministry turned out to be a providential decision.
The new leader, son of a prominent leader of an evangelical denomination
in Peru, has a rare combination of the gifts of vision, nuts-and-bolts
administration, and a pastoral approach to students.
On September 23, 1998, UBL-Lima held its inaugural worship service.
Peruvians working in other ministries, such as Pedro Arana, head
of the Bible Society, were invited to teach specific courses.
Other professors came from the UBL in Costa Rica to teach short-term
intensive courses. One UBL professor from Costa Rica who is remembered
with fondness here is Irene Foulkes, known internationally for
her programmed textbook on New Testament Greek. Students also
learned without formal classes, joining in groups to work with
textbooks prepared by the UBL in Costa Rica.
In 2001 UBL-Lima took a significant step forward when it moved
to the facilities of the National Council of Evangelical Churches
in Peru. This meant they were offering theological education to
students from a variety of denominations in the headquarters of
the organization that joins many of the denominations in Peru.
Groups from the United States helped fix up the classrooms and
the library.
In 2004 UBL-Lima took another important step when they decided
to have a resident faculty. In addition to allowing students to
move through the curriculum in a more coordinated process, this
allows for contact outside the classroom between the professors
and the students. Two Peruvian professors and I were invited to
become the first resident faculty of the UBL-Lima. Oswaldo Fernandez
had been teaching in Argentina. He is a pastor of the Pilgrim
Brotherhood and has years of experience teaching theology. He
is now interim director while Efraín is away studying educational
administration. Juan Fonseca is a relatively young professor from
the Church of God, who teaches history and assumes many of the
functions of a dean. It is a privilege to work with them.
In seven years the vision has become a reality for over a hundred
students. Most are enrolled in our evening program to prepare
leaders for the churches and their theological education programs.
Others are enrolled in a morning program, which allows pastors
who have been trained in denominational seminaries and Bible institutes
to do theological education at a university level. Others are
enrolled in extension programs in two other cities and in a prison
in Lima. They come from traditional evangelical churches, Pentecostal
churches, and Roman Catholic churches. When they come, they are
not asked to check their intellectual curiosity at the door. They
have a deep concern for the largely poor communities in which
they serve. There share a hunger for a space where followers of
Jesus Christ can have theological dialogue that is open to these
concerns and seeks answers in the Bible. I am grateful to be allowed
to participate. It is our hope and goal that this dialogue will
enrich their service to the Lord Jesus Christ in the life and
mission of their churches.
UBL-Lima has an Extra Commitment Opportunity account. Contributions
from individuals may be sent to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual
Remittance Processing, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Contributions from churches should be sent to: Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) Church Remittance Processing, PO Box 643678, Pittsburgh,
PA 15264-3678. Write the title (UBL-Lima, Peru) and the ECO number
on the subject line (ECO # 052331) of the check and put it on
your cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter to the
Area Office for Latin America at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville,
KY 40202-1396.
UBL-Lima asks its students to pay $40 per course, plus books
and supplies. This doesn’t cover the real costs. Though
some of our students can pay it, a large number receive scholarships
of from one-half to all of the tuition for their courses. Students
take between five and ten courses per year, with most taking at
least seven. Most of the scholarship aid is not currently covered
by outside funding, and in real terms represents income not available
to the UBL-Lima. Your willingness to support the preparation of
students to serve the churches will be greatly appreciated. To
give on-line, click the "give" button below.
Yours in Christ,
Harry and Debbie Horne
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
47
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