school should not be closed. All three stu- today. Cultures, lifestyles, and languages approved doctoral program. Such a pro-
dents graduated in 1970 to become lead- differ. The challenges vary. The programs, gram is astounding in the world’s most
ers in the Church of God. One of those buildings, and personnel change with the heavily populated Muslim country where
graduates, Silas Carvalho, who is working needs. But the passion remains. one-half of all higher-education classes
on his doctorate of ministry at the Theo- That passion drives Fred Toke and the are designed by government agencies.
logical Seminary, now directs the Por- faculty and staff at the LEE (Life Enriching Students must pass the government tests
tuguese ministry in the United States. Experience) Community College in Singa- in order to graduate with a valid degree.
Eleven Portuguese-speaking churches and pore. The Muslim-dominated culture The other half of the curriculum is pure
four missions have been started since makes it almost impossible to have a typi- Christian teaching.
December 2007. cal Bible school in that city-state country. From its inception, the seminary
Those four young women who started So they started a school of psychology. emphasized evangelism through a “prac-
FATEID went on to various ministries and The mainly Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu tical school of theology.” This program
careers, and to this day are fondly remem- populace deeply appreciates that disci- brought pastors to the campus for a full
bered by the early students. What drove pline as a means to help families in crisis day of study once a week. They joined
them to such sacrifices? What enabled and communities with growing social ills. campus students for special times of
them to so fully give of themselves? The But how, one may logically ask, can a prayer and Bible and theology classes.
passion for making disciples! school of psychology “make disciples”? Later these schools were established as
That same passion for discipleship One way is simply to reach out to hurt- extensions on different Indonesian
drives men and women throughout the
Church of God. It is the inspirational force
“THE SAME PASSION THAT DROVE PETER TO THE HOUSE
which has enabled the denomination to OF CORNELIUS; PAUL TO THE GENTILES; AND RUTH, MILLIE,
now have an international school system
JANE, AND MARY TO BRAZIL—THAT SAME PASSION
that embraces 113 postsecondary educa-
tional institutions outside the United States
DRIVES SPIRIT-FILLED MEN AND WOMEN TODAY.”
and Canada—Christian service schools, ing families—giving unconditional love islands. Today, a Practical Theological
Bible schools, degree-granting schools, and while helping with crises and social prob- School is located in Waingapu, Medan,
graduate-degree-granting schools. With lems. But this school also has a unique Toraja, Papua, Ambon, Manado, Soe,
their vast array of campus and extension strategy. As part of their studies, students Banjarbaru, and Meliau. Some of these
programs, these fine educational centers must participate in a “global perspective” schools now have student bodies almost
train well over 30,000 students yearly. practicum. Dr. Toke takes them to local as large as the main campus. Graduates
The passion for making disciples is Church of God congregations in Malaysia from Bethel and the Practical Theological
not a man-induced feeling or program— and the Philippines. The pastors arrange Schools pastor local Church of God con-
that passion comes directly out of the for them to be a part of local church gregations whose members number in
heart of Jesus Christ himself. It is the communities for almost a full week. On the thousands.
heartbeat of His church. Jesus knew that Sunday morning, they are invited to Time and space do not allow telling
He could trust His disciples to fulfill His attend “a different type of religious ser- the exciting stories of Church of God
mission on earth. They in turn would dis- vice” where their professor is the special schools throughout the world. Though
ciple others, who would disciple others, speaker. For the first time in their lives, diverse in origins, programs, missions,
and through His personal presence of the many of them hear a Christian sermon buildings, faculties, and staffs, all have
Holy Spirit, the whole world—all the with a life-changing impact. one commonality—the passion for mak-
nations—would be discipled. Bethel Theological Seminary in Jakar- ing disciples. To God be the glory for the
The passion for making disciples con- ta, Indonesia, uses an altogether different Spirit-filled men and women who contin-
tinues throughout the Church of God in approach. This school began as a YWEA ue to yield themselves to the passion of
this 21st century. The same passion that project dedicated in 1971. Fifteen years Christ’s Great Commission to make disci-
drove Peter to the house of Cornelius; later the Women’s Ministries of the ples of all nations.
Paul to the Gentiles throughout the Church of God built an additional four-
Roman Empire; John to Ephesus and the story dormitory wing. With over 250 on- H. Lynn Stone, D.Min., serves
seven churches of Asia; and Ruth, Millie, campus students today, the school offers as administrative assistant for
Janet, and Mary to Brazil—that same pas- both graduate and undergraduate degrees the Church of God Division of
sion drives Spirit-filled men and women and has recently initiated a government- Education.
EVANGEL • MAY 2009 23
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39