Ministries of GTC

Educational Ministry

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus … preach the Word!
--II Tim. 4: 1-2

The main mission of GTC focuses on educational ministry. In Colombia, and throughout South America, many pastors are men and women who became Christians and, without much training in Biblical knowledge and theology, plant churches and commence to labor as pastors. It does not take long before individuals, unschooled in the Truth of the Word, begin to teach non-Biblical doctrines, and even declare heresies. Signs and wonders, as well as miracle works, prevail in the worship service, leaning more to satisfy the emotions of men, than worshipping God in a dignified, reverent manner.

HOW DOES THE EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY WORK?

Through MINTS and Bible Institutes, GTC offers full theological training and educational programs for all pastors and individuals who seriously desire seminary studies. After completion of the curriculum course work at MINTS, which is equivalent to any seminary program in the U.S., students attain their degrees: Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral. The entire curriculum is based upon the Biblical doctrines of Grace. All professors in their respective courses adhere to the tenets established during the Reformation, supporting every claim with Scripture.

By graduation, many students, who once proclaimed false beliefs and convoluted doctrine, become convicted by the Word of God of the urgency and command to teach and preach the Word of God, without compromise, and in a dignified manner that will glorify God. They then return to their churches to begin a reformation process; likewise, some are lead to plant churches that follow the Reformation heritage under the tenets of Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria. In this way, GTC is facilitating the bringing of the Reformation to Colombia— and through Colombia to all of Latin America. Indeed, to God be all the glory!

GTC + MINTS= EVANGELICAL EDUCATION

In cooperation with MINTS, GTC recruits professors and pastors who graduated from various theological seminaries, such as, Westminster, Covenant, Calvin, Faith, and Reformed. The instructors are willing to go to Colombia and teach a range of courses that are essential to fulfill the requirements for degree candidates. Conferences are organized to maximize the visit time for the instructors, who travel at their own expense. Conferences are composed of lectures and seminars and last several days in each city. Instructors are often invited to preach, or to teach the Sunday school, at the churches hosting the conferences.

After each conference, national coordinators are assigned to meet with the students on a weekly basis for about nine weeks, in order to study and develop materials presented by the professors. Required reading, intense research, submitting a term paper and taking a final examination are all standard assignments per course. When this is completed, three credits are assigned and recorded at the MINTS seminary in Florida. The national coordinators and the students may access instructors and the Dean of MINTS by Internet, should support and assistance become necessary. The conferences and courses are often videotaped and made available to seminary centers throughout Colombia. Currently, there are more than twenty five seminary centers in the Republic of Colombia.

The professors provide the national coordinators with notes, books and necessary materials that may be downloaded from the Internet as resources to carry on the weekly studies. After the completion of the required number of credits, students will receive the degrees from the MINTS. The time scale for receiving a degree ranges from three to five years of study.

Graduates of the seminary are required to duplicate the courses and Bible studies by teaching in the undergraduate program and Bible Institutes. In local churches, graduates and undergraduates are expected to provide Bible studies, for spiritual growth within the Body of Christ, to disciple new believers and to evangelize by community outreach, and to further internalize facts and learned materials.

Currently, this type of seminary training and Bible Institute has been serving over 1,000 students throughout the nation, and from Colombia, this educational ministry is expanding to Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Until now, 102 students have been graduated from this program, many with a Master’s degree and one with a Doctoral degree. These graduates continue the educational outreach as resources for the seminary, while they are also reforming their churches or planting missionary churches from already established churches.

Reformed Bible Institutes have been developed to assist pastors who lack funds, or do not currently hold the necessary credentials or educational foundation to enter the seminary. These efforts are channeled through the cooperation of graduate students from the seminary and the national coordinators of MINTS.

In order to facilitate the studies and to attract students, GTC grants partial scholarships to all students attending the seminary, as well as, to students attending the Bible institutes. GTC also provides financial assistance to the coordinators of the seminary in different cities. This helps to defray some of the cost of traveling, rental space, books, video productions and printing.

The educational philosophy of GTC is to empower nationals to become missionaries in their own country, in lieu of sending career missionaries from the U.S., who may require large financial support prior to going.

The Reformed Theological Conferences, held several times a year, are free of charge. Besides the evangelical intent, the conferences also serve as an introduction to the MINTS program for interested candidates. There is often outreach potential, as well, where invited guests are presented with the Doctrines of Grace—in some cases—for the first time.

Reformation Strategies

Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your law.--Psalm 119:29

One important course of study teaches the process of doctrinal reformation in churches, without causing disruption or misunderstanding within the congregation. Past experience lead the GTC instructional team to address this matter when liberal or legalistic pastors, who suddenly discovered the doctrines of grace, took rapid, aggressive strides to correct the prevailing false belief system in their church. Without considering that it took some time for themselves to be convicted by the Scriptures about their errors, they ambitiously desired to change their theology of their church—immediately. This has created a great deal of confusion for the congregation, causing division in some churches.

With a painful lesson learned, pastors now are trained to effect the transition in an orderly fashion, with much teaching and patience, imparting Reformation theology first with the leadership, then branching into small groups, such as Sunday School and home Bible studies, and continuing efforts of explanation and encouragement, even with individuals.

GTC is committed to support pastors who, in the process of reforming their church, encounter resistance from their own congregation and leadership. If the congregation dwindles because the pastor is faithfully preaching the Gospel, then GTC provides financial assistance to those churches for a short period of time until the churches can sustain themselves again.

Reformed Theological Library

GTC joined efforts with Pastor Stan Line in Bogotá to establish a Reformed Theological Library. There are currently over 1,000 titles, mostly in Spanish, and also, some in English. A monthly conference is presented there to pastors of all denominations. Many topics are presented, yet always teaching the Doctrines of Grace. Pastors are welcome to borrow books and materials from the library.

Ministry to Women by Women

The educational program of GTC is also open to women. Some women have enrolled as ordained pastors, yet, when they discover that it is not Biblical for a woman to hold the position of a pastor, they submit to seek other ways to exercise their gifts in the life of the church. Through the GTC Women’s Fellowship Conferences, women observe firsthand how God uses women to teach women. They learn that in submission to God’s Word, women are more empowered to teach children, to lead Bible studies for women, and be involved in missionary work and evangelical outreach. Women are encouraged to lead women’s devotions in social settings, and channel their talents and gifts into creating Sunday School curriculum and Vacation Bible School curriculum for children, as well as to coordinate church programs for children and youth.

Women’s conferences and fellowship gatherings have been held in Bogotá, Medellin, Santa Marta and Cucuta. Mimi Acosta, Vickie Burke, Nell Evans, Beverly Line, Sandra Munoz and Norma Lever have all been privileged to serve their Christian Sisters in this capacity. These conferences have had much outreach potential, as topics of interest to women are discussed through the lens of the Scriptures.

Special conferences for married couples have also been conducted in five cities with the objective of strengthening marriages and bringing the Gospel to unbelievers. Conference leaders use materials that are specially prepared by Dr. Diane Langberg, Christian psychologist, author and conference speaker.

Church Planting Ministry

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
--Ephesians 2:8-9

GTC is not a church-planting agency. However, GTC is committed to facilitate the church planting efforts through the local churches in Colombia, and also, partially finance new church plants for a maximum of one year, at which time the new church is expected to be self-supported through tithes.

GTC facilitates the planting of churches through the local church and/or the presbytery, as a result of Bible studies lead by MINTS students. In cooperation with Missions to the World (MTW), GTC exercised leadership and support for the founding of the first Presbytery in Colombia.

The GTC-affiliated seminaries are Reformed, but non-denominational. Students are educated in regards to denominational characteristics and distinctives of churches that embrace the Doctrines of the Reformation and the Confessions of Faith that resulted, such as the Westminster Confession and the 1689 London Confession. Naturally, graduates, serving as conduits for church planting within their congregation, incline to develop the new church within parameters of such Confessions, resulting in the distinctive of the Reformed Baptist Church or the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

Two new Presbyterian (PCA) churches are beginning in Bogotá, while in Medellin, one particular church has been planted as a Reformed Baptist Church, but functioning with a Presbyterian form of government with elders and deacons. This occurs because of the prevalence of Baptist traditions in many evangelical churches in Colombia. This combination is not unusual among pastors, churches and congregations that rejoice in the gift of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and under the Bible alone as their ultimate authority.

Once a year, the churches of all the Reformed congregations, from various denominations, assemble as one to hold services during the celebration of Reformation Day in October.

A major goal of GTC is to motivate the local churches in Colombia to be self-supported in the shortest possible time, and to facilitate the planting of missionary churches by providing financial assistance at the local level.

Mercy Ministry

For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You      
--I Chronicles 29:14

Mercy ministry is a natural outcome of the Gospel, resulting from outreach programs of the local churches.

1. In Santa Marta, GTC facilitated the purchase of land and is constructing a building for a children’s home with a capacity for sixty and a school for two hundred children. Some are children whose parents died, or who have been abandoned to the streets at an early age. Others come from extreme poverty, neglect, alcoholism, or abuse. This project is still unfinished, but much on its way, with three floors built. The children’s home, called Hogar La Providencia, is helping children first with basic health needs. They are learning basic hygiene as well. Secondly, they will be provided life skills training in order to function in society. Note: Developing outside of a nurturing home life, these children have learned survival tactics, even stealing for bread. Thirdly, formal schooling is provided, and the children learn to love Jesus and the Bible. The older children will be taught practical skills that can provide them with an income, such as sewing, baking, carpentry, mechanics, etc. GTC would like to find sponsors for these children to provide them with food, clothing, medical care, and education at $30 per child per month.
2. A ministry from the church in Barranquilla is bringing medical care, education, nutrition aid and, of course, the gospel to the most destitute residents living on the outskirts of that city.
3. In Santa Marta, a successful evangelization program has been developed among the Chimila Indians. Medical, nutritional, and educational projects are in process to meet the needs of this tribe.
4. Throughout Colombia, local church plants are piloting programs to help Christians start small businesses with small loans from investors in the U.S. These small businesses will help to support the local church. The payments to the investors will stay in the country to help other Christians start their own businesses, mostly agricultural in nature.

Short Term Mission Opportunites

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. --Colossians 3:1

GTC encourages doctors, nurses, dentists and other caretakers to go to Colombia to provide services in the local churches and orphanage. Many other services are needed, such as, English (ESOL) teachers, carpenters, painters, Bible teachers, children ministry leaders. These are life-changing opportunities to serve in the Kingdom of God—in Colombia!

The beauty of the countryside and the comfort of the major cities allow visitors to experience Colombia as they would any European country.

When GTC invites visitors or missionaries to Colombia, safety precautions are taken into consideration. The media usually exaggerates the dangers in Colombia, but thanks to the new excellent government in cooperation with pacification efforts by the U.S., Colombia has become one of the most stable and secure countries in Latin America. This fact makes Colombia an open gate to bring the Gospel to all Latin America, especially when nationals are empowered with proper and faithful Biblical education.

GTC does not pay for the traveling expenses of anyone going from the U.S., nor does it provide any personal/property insurance plan. GTC does, however, facilitate the sending of missionaries that are approved by members of the executive committee of GTC.

Besides the many professors and conference speakers who have safely traveled to Colombia, God has blessed this mission with volunteers who are eager to serve God using their particular gifts for the sake of God’s kingdom. In January 2006, a medical team from Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia went to minister to the Chimila Indians.

There are also mission opportunities in the U.S. GTC needs volunteers that will be able to generate information and interest in GTC to individual church and organizations. GTC will provide videos, brochures and all necessary materials to make such presentations.