Partner Updates

Dear friend in Christ,

Most pastors in the growing Latin American church support themselves by holding other jobs. Although they are often very motivated to learn, it is estimated that less than 30% have access to formal theological education. Their personal study is severely constrained because theological books in Spanish are expensive.

An emerging ministry is now being offered through the Shalom Community Church to help with this challenge. With support from The Outreach Foundation, Shalom is making the Latin American Contemporary Commentary of the Bible available to pastors throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, San Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba, and Ecuador. In addition to substantial theological studies on every book in the Bible, the Commentary includes 100 articles that apply Bible teaching to issues particularly relevant in Latin America. The topics include prison ministry, domestic violence, care of orphans, concern for people with disabilities, and political violence. A result of 12 years of work by the most respected Latino Christian scholars, the Contemporary Commentary of the Bible is the first of its kind because of both its rigorous nature and the attention that it gives to the cultural features and realities of the region. The Latin American Contemporary Commentary of the Bible, along with guidance from Shalom, can serve as a cornerstone for pastors’ theological development throughout Latin America.