The Brethren Church

Florida Hispanic Seminary

Spring 2007

The year Two Thousand and Six saw the graduation of our first couple in the Florida Hispanic Seminary, the Sarasota campus of Seminario Teologico Sudamericano. Jesus and Olga Camiruaga completed the full sixteen courses over a period of two years and have the necessary requirements for the Diploma of Theology. They were officially presented to the Brethren General Conference of 2006. Olga has also earned a concentration in Christian Education, which was the theme of her thesis. Please pray for the future of this fine couple, that God’s will be made clear to them both.

As twenty-seven members of La Iglesia de los Hermanos in Sarasota had already taken at least some courses of choice within the seminary, most not studying for full time ministry within our own groups have already completed classes within their areas of interest. This highlights the continual need for new students. To bring more visibility to the seminary, Monica Simbana organized a conference and concert and passed out seminary fliers at area Hispanic events. Currently twenty-two new students are enrolling in courses of Homiletics and Christian Counseling. Eleven of our new crop of Spring students come from a local Presbyterian Hispanic work, eight from La Iglesia de los Hermanos, and three are joining us from Bradenton.

Rev. Joe and Jan Burgos (retired from Presbyterian ministry and now working among the Brethren in Indiana) came from a little farther north than Manatee County, serving as educational snowbirds from Indiana, teaching three weeks of classes and also preaching three times. As their main theme was counseling, they practiced what they taught by meeting with many of the students privately during their time here, which has been a blessing.

There is certainly room for more growth and visibility for this young work, and your prayers are essential to us. As the Florida Hispanic community is an especially transient one, we also request prayer for those former students no longer in the area, such as Pedro Mejia, an Ecuadorian theology student stationed for the second time with the armed forces in Iraq. His wife Janeth is with us at this writing, but will be returning to Germany this week. We must remember that those who learn among us influence the world around us, and YOUR prayers are an essential part of that cycle.

Blessings,
Jan Solomon
Academic Dean, Florida Hispanic Seminary

Most movements begin with a step. For STS Florida, our Florida Hispanic Seminary, this step was the beginning of a faith walk which has proven most fruitful. Before the opening of this unique institution, there was no biblical training of its kind on Florida’s West Coast, a hub for Hispanic activity not easily ignored. The first 24 students came from such diverse locations as Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico. Their backgrounds were unique, including several high fliers with The Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, as well as professionals already holding degrees in business, education, and law in their countries of heritage.

The Florida Hispanic Seminary is affiliated with the Seminario Teologico Sudamericano of Colon, Argentina, and Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Although the seminary was founded to train the Brethren for global service, it is designed for the entire body of Christ and can be used by most church groups to train for full time Christian ministry, both here and abroad. Students currently attend from four congregations in three cities.

Well into its fifth trimester, this movement has taken its baby steps with pride, and is looking toward its first graduation with delight. Upon completion of 48 trimester hours, each graduate of the Seminario Teologico Sudamericano/Florida will receive a two-year Diploma of Theology. To graduate with the Advanced Diploma of Theology, 12 more trimester hours are required. The first 6 are awarded upon completion of a thesis in the student’s specific major. The other half are earned through practical internship in the same field of study.

How You Can Help

This cost effective and practical training enables us to prepare more leaders for global service from the growing Latino communities of Southwest Florida. Students receive high quality training without the need to relocate, taught by professors who hold a Masters level degree or higher in their areas of expertise.

This educational vision has become a reality due to a matching grant from an interdenominational foundation. This seed money has done much to launch a true global training ground in Florida’s West Coast, but can only be granted as we are able to match it among the Brethren. As the seminary is not a budgeted item, we are with faith trusting God for the balance. Your gift will help make the growth of this excellent educational movement a reality for years to come.