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By Jim Billings
ISUM Director
JimISUM@aol.com
The year 2008 marks the
40th anniversary of ISUM, the post-Bible school training
program now serving 19 Spanish-speaking countries. From its beginning
in 1968 until the present, missionaries have played an important role in
this ministry. The five directors have all been missionaries and many
of the classes have been taught by missionaries. These are the most
visible aspects of missionary participation.
However, missionary
involvement goes farther in that many of our missionaries have studied
in the ISUM seminars. Some have personally told me that it was the most
significant preparation they had received to help them with their
ministries. The relationships built while “rubbing shoulders” with
national colleagues may be even more important than the information
learned in and out of the classroom.
Also a number of our
missionary fellowships, and many individual missionaries, have been
instrumental in offering scholarships to help nationals attend the
seminars. Probably the number one obstacle to increased attendance is
the lack of finances. Although $300 to $400 for a month of studies
might sound like a bargain to most of us, to the majority of our
national pastors and leaders this amount represents a huge sacrifice. I
would like to personally thank every missionary and every missionary
fellowship that has helped encourage one or more nationals to attend a
seminar, not just by your words, but by your giving. I believe it is
one of the best investments you can make in a national minister!
As I write this article,
the last two seminars of 2008 are winding down in Paraguay and Cuba. I
thank God for the 618 students who studied this year in the sixteen
seminars, and for the 73 graduates who joined approximately 1300 others
who have graduated since that first class many years ago. Numerous
national leaders, Bible school teachers and administrators, leading
pastors and others are graduates of ISUM. We are now seeing Latin
missionaries going out from our ranks especially to the Muslim world.
We don’t want to rest on
past successes and miss the present-day opportunities. Forty is a
significant biblical number. For ISUM, I see it as a time to thank God
for His past blessings, but also as a time to ponder the future and plan
for greater things in years to come should Jesus tarry. I believe that
missionary participation is still a key to ISUM’s success. If you have
never studied in an ISUM seminar, ask yourself, “Why not?” Your
participation may do more to build important lasting bonds between
missionaries and nationals than you could ever imagine. Who knows how
many nationals you would encourage to attend future seminars just by
your presence in the classroom? If you or your Field Fellowship has
never helped worthy students with scholarships, why not begin now? A
$100 scholarship might be just the incentive that some need in order to
attend the next seminar in your country or region.
I would love to have
some feedback as to how we can better serve you and the National Church
in your country. Your suggestions and constructive criticism are
welcome. If you would like to know more about ISUM and its program, you
can visit our web site at
www.isumad.org
Most of what has been written here can be applied to CST with its
comparable studies in English and to Facultad, the masters level of
studies that follows ISUM. I thank God for my colleagues, Lewis McCown
and Larry McNeill, who head up these ministries.
Thank you for your
support of Christian education in Latin America. I wish all of you a
Merry Christmas and a blessed year in 2009!
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