PARAGUAY PASTORAL TRAINING
Summary
Paraguay is looking to raise up the next generation of pastoral leaders. This project is designed to train new pastors and church workers for the Church of God in Paraguay. Students will spend three years at the Church of God Bible Training School in Posadas, Argentina, with the focus on Biblical training and preparation to become pastors. Funds help with tuition, room, and board and supplement what local churches already provide. While they are taking classes they will serve weekends at various Church of God congregations in Paraguay to gain practical experience
Cost
The total project cost is $11,200 per year.
Project # 42.40426
BACKGROUND
The Church of God in Paraguay is seeing a surge in attendance in their churches. In a country where only 7% claim to be evangelical Christians, the Church of God has doubled in size in the last four years. With this growth comes the need for more trained pastors to lead the church into a new day.
Vision
Vision
The goal of this project is to enroll and train at least three new students each year for the growing Church of God in Paraguay and set up the church for continued growth in the future. Where many churches struggle with growth is in having physical space to welcome new believers. Paraguay has had new facilities built, now they need trained pastors and leaders that can shepherd and disciple new believers that are joining their congregations.
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 Paraguay
The Church of God in Paraguay
The Church of God in Paraguay was started in 1972 by Martin and Tabitha Kurrle with the goal to build churches for evangelistic work and schools for education of children and youth. Today, the Church of God in Paraguay is seeing unprecedented growth.
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 $1500 toward the total costs for students.
The total cost, after giving from the local church, is $250 per student per month or a total of $2500 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 PARAGUAY
MINISTRIES IN PARAGUAY
On top of pastoral ministry, the Church of God in Paraguay is committed to other ministries as well in which trained pastors can be involved. Here are just a few of those ministries!
Educational Programs
The Church of God in Paraguay has four schools. The oldest school, Alfa and Omega in Raul Pena, started in 1984. The next school was started in 2010 in Itá Paso – they are adding a grade each year. Then, Timothy School began in 2013 – they currently have childcare for ages 2-4, preschool, first and second grade, and in 2017 they will add third grade. Timothy School has 70 students enrolled, doubling their enrollment from the year prior in 2015. They employ 12 staff including a director, two counselors, one English teacher, and grade teachers and helpers. The newest school, Integrity School, began in 2014 and already provides all 12 years of education.
Children of Promise
Child sponsorship through Children of Promise started in Paraguay in 2004 under the direction of missionary Julie Kurrle. The current director is from the Church of God in Paraguay, Sandra Greve, and they serve over 100 kids!
Radio Ministry
Radio Alternativa is a Christian radio station which is a ministry of the Church of God in Paraguay. It started in 1999 and was the first, and for a long time only, Christian radio station in Southern Paraguay. Norberto Kurrle, current national leader and director of the station for nine years, wrote a book on the history of this innovative ministry called Telling the Story of Radio Alternativa.
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
- Online—Visit this link
- Check—Make checks payable to “Church of God Ministries” and specify “Paraguay Pastoral Training - 42.40426” in the memo line.
For more information, contact Global Strategy Projects at 800.848.2464 or GSProjects@chog.org.
