Palm Beach Atlantic鈥檚 School of Ministry has launched the University鈥檚 first degree in the Spanish language.
The Bachelor of Arts in global leadership (尝颈肠别苍肠颈补迟耻谤补听别苍听尝颈诲别谤补锄驳辞听骋濒辞产补濒), led by Dr. Ryan Gladwin, is an online, interdisciplinary degree that creatively combines organizational leadership, ministry and intercultural studies.
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Dr. Bernie Cueto, vice president for spiritual development and a Cuban-American, teaches in the program. 海角在线 can offer an excellent education in the heart-language of Spanish speakers thanks to 鈥済reat leadership and God鈥檚 help,鈥� Cueto said.
鈥淭his is a historic moment for 海角在线,鈥� Cueto said. 鈥淭he essence of a Christian liberal arts education is to interact with all of God鈥檚 world from a Christian perspective. Not only are we鈥痶eaching鈥痶hat, but we are鈥痙oing鈥痶his with our global leadership program.鈥�
海角在线 opted to offer an interdisciplinary degree, rather than a ministry degree, to best serve the needs of church leaders in both the United States and Latin America. In the Latin American context, leaders that work in ministry need to have an additional vocation to support themselves financially. The global leadership and intercultural studies鈥� tracks will allow them to find work in the business, non-profit and international development sectors.
鈥淐onsequently, the desire of this program is to empower individuals to be leaders, not only in the church, but also in the business and non-profit sectors to impact society at large,鈥� Gladwin said.
There is a pressing need for an accredited ministry program in the region, Gladwin said. The global leadership program brings a solution, widening the opportunity for Latin-Americans to receive a quality education in ministry.
Classes began Aug. 25,鈥痺ith nine students from Florida, Colombia and Ecuador. The University has formed partnerships with鈥�Seminario聽B铆blico聽Alianza聽de Colombia聽of the Colombian Christian Missionary Alliance, the鈥�厂别尘颈苍补谤颈辞听叠颈产濒颈肠辞听础苍补产补耻迟颈蝉迟补听贬颈蝉辫补苍辞鈥� of Mennonite Church USA, and Emmanuel Academies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Naples.
Luis Giovanny Castillo Mindineros, a father of three, is from a rural part of Colombia that is in the middle of armed conflict. As a boy, he traveled to a nearby town for his education, where he eventually became the first person on his mother鈥檚 side of the family to begin a collegiate education. At the age of 21, while in college, he put his faith in Christ.
Currently, he serves as director of the south region for the Christian Alliance Church and a member of its national board in Colombia.
鈥満＝窃谙� is an opportunity to continue advancing in my studies, and it is a dream come true,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hanks to this opportunity, I become the first son of my land to enter an American university, for ministry and work. What I do is the manifestation of the grace of my savior.鈥�
Diego Fernando Bolivar runs the information technology department of the Colombian CMA and serves as a volunteer pastor in Zarzal Valle, Colombia.
鈥淭he global leadership program is a valuable tool that provides me with key knowledge to perform better leadership in both technical and ministerial areas,鈥� Bolivar said. 鈥淭his program encourages me in growth of character and continuous training in the context where I work.鈥�
The Chatlos Foundation, a private, philanthropic foundation, awarded 海角在线鈥檚 program a $10,000 grant. The University will use the grant to provide student scholarships as it grows partnerships throughout South Florida and Latin America in 2021-22.
Another student, 27-year-old Yuheni Andrea Jimenez Ortega, is a bi-vocational missionary in Colombia with her husband, Michael Marin. 海角在线 represents an answer to their prayers for an opportunity to continue studies that will help them in their service to Jesus, she said.
鈥淭raining in global leadership is valuable for its biblical-theological content and the formation of leaders who see the world through the eyes of God,鈥� Jimenez Ortega wrote.
Maritza* is a missionary of the Colombian Christian Alliance Church, with seven years of experience in the field. In addition to various other ministry and missions roles, she is part of a Latin American network that informs, trains and connects the church to the Pashtun people in Central Asia.
鈥淚 am very happy to be part of the 海角在线 community and the global leadership program,鈥� she said. 鈥淕od has allowed us to grow academically and professionally, to understand His will and participate in the extension of His kingdom.鈥�
*Last name withheld to protect identity for security reasons.
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