BOLIVIA CHURCH CONSTRUCTION AID
Summary
The Church of God in Bolivia have little economic resources, yet they build beautiful church buildings through great personal sacrifice. This project is used to help cover a small percentage of the cost for the church construction projects. It is meant to help encourage the Bolivian congregations in knowing that fellow believers are in partnership with them.
Cost
The project cost is $4,250 per year.
BACKGROUND
The Church of God in Bolivia began and flourished among the inhabitants of numerous small Andean communities. In recent years, there has been an influx of people from the small communities into the cities.The Church of God in Bolivia is seeing a surge in attendance in their churches in the cities. With this growth comes the need for more meeting places. At any given time there are between 30 and 50 new churches in the construction process.
Vision
Vision
The goal of this project is to help aid in the construction projects of local congregations. The local congregations have little economic resources, yet still manage to build beautiful church buildings through great personal sacrifice. By giving assistance to this project, it encourages the Church of God in Bolivia.
STRATEGY
Thankfully, there is a great solution. In bordering Argentina there is a long-time running Church of God training school called the Warner Institute. Located in Argentina, the Warner Institute has the ability to train and equip pastors for ministry through a three-year program that focuses on foundational components like theology, but also practical, vocational training.
“…the need is for dedicated, trained pastors and church leaders to serve in these congregations.”
Norberto Kurrle
National leader, Church of God Paraguay
The Church of God in Bolivia
The Church of God in Bolivia
The Church of God in Bolivia was started in 1976 by Homer and Elvira Firestone. By the time the Firestone’s departed Bolivia in 1984, the Church of God had grown to 98 congregations and 8,000 believers! Today there are over 275 congregations and 18,000 believers!
In 2015, one congregation, Encarnación, reported 207 baptisms!
In 2015, one congregation, Encarnación, reported 207 baptisms!
Since its beginning, the Church of God in Paraguay has been innovative in their ministry. They started the first Christian radio station in southern Paraguay over 15 years ago. They also have a TV station, multiple schools, they do social programs, and engage in public issues. They are an active and thriving church.
It is an exciting time in Paraguay! But also a time of need. There is a big need in Paraguay to have more trained pastors serving the church. The goal of this project is to help do just that!
Local churches will find promising leaders to support in their ministry goals. Funds from this project will help supplement the money the church provides to help make education possible and will remain in relationship with them through their studies. The students will preach on Sundays and gain practical ministry experience. Then, after graduating they will be able to serve the church!.
The Warner Institute
The tagline for the Warner Institute is “Creer, Crecer, Servir” – “Believe, Grow, Serve.” All three of these elements are integrated into the teaching and philosophy of the school. The location of the school (shown below) is at the intersection of Paraguay and Argentina, making it a perfect location for Paraguayan pastors to study and remain connected to their home congregations.
- The school is a three-year program that runs from February to November each year.
- While taking classes, students also spend their weekends serving at various Church of God congregations in Paraguay to gain practical experience.
- Classes are taught by approximately ten professors who are also either pastors or lay leaders.
Below is a list of the courses by year:
First Year: Theology 1, Philosophy, Greek, Old Testament, History 1, Hermeneutics,
Speech and Spanish, Theology of Worship, Homiletics
Second Year: Theology 2, New Testament, History 2, English, Social Studies,
Psychology, Christian Education, Radio and TV workshop, Professional practice 1
Third Year: Theology 3, Counseling, Professional Practice 2, Biblical Exegesis, History
of the Evangelical Church, Social Pedagogy, Ethics, Human Rights, Holistic mission
Partnering to Make a Difference
Partnering to Make a Difference
The Cost
The monthly cost per student to attend Warner Institute is $300 for the 10 months. This includes tuition, room, food (which is subsidized by the local church in Posadas), health insurance, computer, and school administration fees.
Other costs not included, which are covered by the student, are supplies and transportation to and from the school (which happens about twice a month).
The goal of this program is for it to be done in partnership with the local church. Because of this, the local church must provide $100 towards the monthly support of the student. On top of that, the National Assembly of the Church of God in Paraguay is giving $3000 toward the total costs for students.
The total cost, after giving from the local church, is $200 per student per month or a total of $2000 for the 10 months of schooling.
Promotion
This Bible Training opportunity will be promoted in all of the Church of God congregations in Paraguay and shared with high school students in various church settings, in the country. Current pastors would meet with their prospective students to confirm their calling to ministry and explain how this project would benefit them in their training for ministry. The goal is to add three new students (to the five currently enrolled) per year.
Evaluation
Norberto Kurrle (national leader), Bob Confer (US pastor and project advocate), and Monica Fisher (general coordinator of the Warner Institute) will do an annual evaluation of this project in January each year and would look at the number of current students and incoming students starting in February. Students would be asked to evaluate their training and recommend changes for improvements. These evaluations will be taken into consideration as the whole training program is evaluated annually.
Along with evaluating the project, this team would also look at the evaluations of each student, including their test results. This annual evaluation would be done the last week in November of each school year.
MINISTRIES IN BOLIVIA
MINISTRIES IN BOLIVIA
On top of construction aid, the Church of God in Bolivia is committed to other ministries as well. Here are just a few of those ministries!
Retreat & Convention Center
This facility will serve the Church of God in Bolivia as a place for large reunions, youth camps, retreats, and other church related activities. It is a multipurpose facility with a capacity of 1,500 that can be divided into 3 meeting spaces. It will include dormitories, kitchen, radio station, etc.
Seminary
In 2016, a seminary was started to provide an opportunity for a higher level of education than the previous biblical training for leaders. Attendance continues to remain strong with more than 40 students in total in the third year of training. Students attend four nights a week with two classes each night. In November 2018, the first group will graduate approximately 14 students!
Radio Ministry
The Church of God in Bolivia began broadcasting on an AM statio in January 2016. It broadcasts the Christian programs in both Spanish and Quechua, and provides a real opportunity to be a powerful instrument of God’s love and blessing for the people of Bolivia.
Letter from the COG in Paraguay
Letter from the COG in Paraguay
May 16th, 2016
To the Global Strategy Team
The Church of God in Paraguay finds itself at a great juncture. In light of the growth of our congregations it is very important to train new pastors who will become the leaders in local Church of God congregations. We are currently recruiting from within the churches young people with a heart for the Lord. Therefore, the national assembly and the board of directors, believes and supports investing in the theological formation of our students and those who will step up in the coming years.
Alcirio Hobus
Coordinator
Norberto Kurrle
President
Will you join Global Strategy in preparing a path for the next generation of leaders?
Ways to make a difference
- Check – make checks payable to “Church of God Ministries” and specify “Bolivia Construction Aid Project – 42.40060” in the memo line.
- Online – visit this link.
For more information, contact Alyse Hoover at 800.848.2464 or gsprojects@chog.org.
