Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary - July 2020 Update
Tabasco, Mexico
“Equipping the Saints” at a Distance
Dear friends,
It is a joy to share with you a note we received from Rev. José Juan Hernandez, rector of the Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Tabasco, Mexico, about the ongoing ministry of forming future church leaders for a growing church with more than two million members.
Dear friends at The Outreach Foundation,
Please receive a very affectionate greeting, hoping that God's grace will continue to protect you for your continued participation in God's work.
Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary remains committed to teaching and training seminarians to be church pastors whose lives and ministries are built on the foundation of God's Word. Amid this time of the pandemic, we have continued our instruction under conditions that we had never before experienced. The professors have found ways of teaching their classes in a variety of digital modalities depending on the capacity of each student.
They have made extensive use of virtual platforms such as email, Zoom, Google Meet, and WhatsApp, among others. They have had both pleasant and challenging experiences in the use of these applications. I can share the following among the good experiences:
1. Our ability to use technology has deepened, which makes us more skilled.
2. Students have further developed study autonomy in understanding as well as research.
3. Teachers have noticed that some students have developed better writing skills, as evidenced by how they express their thoughts.
4. Students have felt free to express their questions at different times and in new ways, making this a viable opportunity for them.
5. Professors have paid increased attention to each student and played a more significant role in the lives of the students beyond simply teaching. They have prayed for them and their families as they become more acquainted with their challenges and concerns.
These are some of the pleasant experiences that our faculty have shared.
We are grateful for your support in helping us form the next generation of Presbyterian pastors in Mexico. It is a pleasure to have you as a collaborator in the work of “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry." (Ephesians 4:12).
Here are some reflections by selected students:
Although face-to-face classes will always be better than virtual ones, the lessons received virtually have helped us a lot, not only to grow in knowledge but also to discipline ourselves in the use of our time.
Omar Eduardo Ramón Gómez, first-year student
The tools available on the internet are vast, but not everyone has access to them, nor ultimately, to the internet. However, most of us are able to at least use smartphones. We are grateful for the significant efforts that have been made that have allowed us not to drop our studies halfway through the semester.
Eliseo de la Cruz Mena, second-year student, Elder, and scholarship recipient
It has been different, but I have learned to be more self-taught and to use the internet well. I am also learning how to be more self-disciplined with my studies and to better organize time spent with family and homework. I have also learned to value the teaching-learning dynamics of physical gatherings, which allow for better feedback.
Eurípides García Candelero, third-year student, is requesting a scholarship for his last year.
I expected that the classes would be by virtual means. However, several students do not have internet at home or live outside the city, so all of them can’t connect to a platform to receive classes. The alternatives were to use written materials, PowerPoint presentations, and videos. We were also asked to summarize and write essays about our readings.
Cecilia Arevalo Perez, fourth-year student and scholarship recipient
Contributions to The Outreach Foundation designated to Sureste Seminary help provide scholarships for promising students such as Omar, Eliseo, Euripides, and Cecilia and help the seminary continue to develop its technological capacities to train strong and faithful leaders.
Read more about Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $25,000 for scholarships and operating costs
for Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.