Q and A

Initial Question: Why is TEAM Mobile Seminary important?

Answer: 2 Timothy 2:2 is an application of the Great Commission. We have the responsibility to take what we have learned and pour that into the lives of others. Rather than seeing nationals plant churches as the final step in the indigenous process, the baton is passed completely when nationals adequately and efficiently train theologically their countrymen. (2 Timothy 2:2c) In many parts of Latin America, people are brought to Christ, but are not discipled to the level that they, as faithful men (which includes being soundly trained), can train others to do what Paul trained Timothy to do (in regards to learning, training, and reproducing). The baton of theologically-trained Christian leaders training the next generation needs to be placed firmly in Latin American soil and into the hands of Latin American Christian leaders.

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT PASTORS AND TEACHERS IN THE US

Question: Why would you travel with a pastor from the U.S.?

Answer: To encourage churches regarding global missions.  When we were missionaries in Mexico, we received dozens of church mission teams in Hermosillo, so we know many churches are active in giving and going. For those churches who are active in global missions, we wish to help the momentum in this unique way. We also wish to encourage churches to excel in opportunities to understand the need of the Gospel in different parts of the world. It is our experience that when a pastor’s vision and burden expands, that vision and burden is passed on to the congregation.

Question: What will the U.S. pastor need to be prepared for his trip?

Answer: I will provide the pastor with a summary of anticipated expenses, travel documentation, insurance, cultural concerns, and a trip and on-field itinerary.  

Question: How will the U.S. pastor prepare for the visit to the Latin American country?

Answer: I will work with the pastor to the level that he desires. This can be accomplished by an initial meeting in person, follow-up meetings, emails, online meetings, visits to his church to present the TEAM program and answer questions, attend the send-off service at his church, three-way communication or liason with the pastor, me and the national pastor, among other options.

Question: Can’t a U.S. pastor work without you to accomplish this task?

Answer: If the TEAM approach can be accomplished by a U.S. pastor and a missionary on the field, I would be encouraged; however, not every potential field will have a missionary who will be able to translate. Having worked from the field with visiting individuals and teams since 2001, I understand the investment of time and energy while a team is visiting, especially when the team does not have members who speak Spanish. Temporary disruption often is necessary when a new ministry opportunity arises, and my traveling with a pastor to visit the field will help reduce the amount of friendly disruption.

Question: Will you and the pastor be the only one traveling on these trips?

Answer: It is not necessary to limit the team to two people traveling to the field.  

Question: Does the pastor need to be the one who travels with you?

Answer: There may be other members of the pastoral staff or of the congregation who would provide a more appropriate scenario for the benefit of the U.S. church as well as the national churches or contact pastor. Additionally, there are times when I will not travel with a pastor or other teacher (for example, when I travel as the main teacher).

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT NATIONAL PASTORS

Question: Why work with national pastors rather than missionaries on the field?

Answer: It is not an either/or scenario. TEAM Mobile Seminary has worked with missionaries on the field who incorporate a training institution into their ministry. There are also areas where national pastors and missionaries are working as a team. However, there are many areas where there are national pastors who do not work with American missionaries presently.

Question: Will this program create dependency on the U.S. by the national pastors?

Answer: The program is designed to align the national pastors with resources that they can obtain and utilize based on their economical standard of living. Many of the online resources in Spanish are not from the U.S., so the cost of acquiring these tools are manageable. Many sample materials for assisting them to create an institute are based on Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary’s materials, which will be modified for the pastors and educators to use. The facilities and equipment necessary to maintain the training institution are based on what the national churches can provide, rather than presenting them with an American model and leaving them with wondering how they will fund that model. The on-field and follow-up assistance corresponds to guidance, counsel, and modeling rather than (although not rigidly excluding) financial provision.

Question: Can’t national pastors do all this on their own?

Answer: I am encouraged by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Latin American pastors. Many pastors, however, are unaware of how to acquire and appropriate the resources. In my more thirty years of ministering to Spanish-speaking people, I have acquired an arsenal of contacts and resources regarding theological and practical education, and the Lord’s allowing me to be on the application side of theological education in Mexico from 2001-2018 (from discipling new believers to setting up a doctoral program) provides me the opportunity to help these pastors connect to the resources that will help them the best. The baton must be placed firmly in their hands.

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT COSTS

Question: What are the costs involved in this program?

Answer:

  1. The primary cost involved are the tickets to the location that we will visit.
  2. Meals and lodging in travel and on the field. The details of the actual costs will vary, based on the scenario. Few churches on the field will have the budget to provide all the expenses regarding meals and lodging. It is my experience that many missionaries and national believers sacrifice tremendously to host visitors. As part of the pre-field preparation, the needs will be assessed. Even when the believers pay for everything, it may be prudent to reimburse them (perhaps through a love offering if it is not accepted directly) if our visit would cause them financial hardship. The appropriateness to cover costs will be measured by the need to not communicate the idea that the Americans are saviors with unlimited resources, as well as the need to avoid robbing the nationals of being a blessing by giving.
  3. On-field transportation may involve renting a vehicle or paying for taxi service. The majority of citizens in Latin American countries rely on public transportation, and it must not be assumed that the national contact pastor will have a vehicle that will not be occupied already with transporting his family to school and other activities.
  4. Unique field scenarios may provide further investment. All known financial assessments will be considered during pre-field planning.