OMS theological training prepares
men and women to be witnesses for Christ
in communities where they live and to dis-
ciple new believers in the churches where
they serve. Today, OMS partners with 37
theological training institutions around the
world.
One of those is the OMS-founded
Biblical Seminary of Colombia, or SBC.
Through the school’s extension division,
doors are opening for many new students
from all walks of life to pursue theologi-
cal education through multiple weekend
modules, workshops, conferences, and
seminars. Elizabeth Sendek, the school’s
director, says, “Programs are offered in
large cities, intermediate-sized municipali-
ties, and other locations distant from the
urban areas. In the city of Armenia (cof-
fee country), we offer a course on the Old
Testament. In Monteria, we offer biblical
interpretation, and in Cauca state, we’re
training 50 church leaders and pastors,
leading churches in rough areas, in biblical
preaching.”
Dr. Sendek also shared that in the midst
of Colombia’s current peace process, SBC
offers a distance learning course entitled
Agents of Peace and Reconciliation: A
Christian Responsibility,
which currently has 50 participants from
an indigenous community. Dr. Sendek fur-
ther offered, “In Monteria, Magangué, and
Medellín, we have 180 students, including
victims of the armed internal warfare, pas-
tors, leaders from conflictive zones, politi-
cal leaders, former dissidents, and those
who have been returned to civil society
after being in warfare against the society
and law.”
SBC’s extension division has 289
students who study on Saturdays or on
Tuesday and Thursday nights in Medellín.
They also offer shorter diploma courses in
youth ministries, ministry to women, and
Christian counseling. Another advantage
of the extension program is that it gives
the advanced seminary students the op-
portunity to teach and be formed as future
professors.
Dr. Sendek concludes, “Thus far in 2017,
the Biblical Seminary of Colombia has
served 2,342 people through our pro-
grams. Our desire is to continue to invite
people to love, read, reflect, and live the
light of the Word of God.”
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