MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA (July 31, 2009) \u2013 Seventeen young adults between the ages of 18-25 concluded a six-week school of discipleship and leadership for Covenant youth in Latin America on Sunday.
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\nThe students (top photo) came from Colombia and Ecuador to attend the Colegio Biblico Confederation of Latin American Covenant Churches (CBCIPE). A dozen schools have been held since they were first started in 2001. Other CBCIPES have been held in Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile and Spain. This was the first in Colombia.<\/p>\n
![\"Class\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/RC\/QT\/RCQTbHq_S2viNM28T7m9Gg\/CIPE.jpg\")
\u201cThe Colegio B\u00edblico is a unique experience for young adults to live a strong personal relationship with God, put into practice what they have learned in the community and local churches, and share with students from different countries,\u201d says Evangelical Covenant Church Missionary Mary Lou Sander, who serves with her husband, Gary, in Medellin.<\/p>\n
The schools are especially important because the percentage of youth in Hispanic countries and churches is high. \u201cThese youth are very dynamic and active in church activities, becoming a primary resource of fulfilling the mission of the church,\u201d Sander says.<\/p>\n
To prepare them for that mission, the school covers themes that include spiritual formation, Bible and theology, personal development, ministry, worship, and Christian service.<\/p>\n
The Sanders and Colombia Missionary Cathy Campobello taught several classes. Other professors came from the Covenant leadership in Colombia and Ecuador, as well as representatives from the Department of Christian Formation.<\/p>\n
![\"Student\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/ks\/lm\/kslmcNrhnJHcUC9lj0sfHg\/CIPE-2.jpg\")
The classes are more than theoretical, the missionaries noted. For example, says Sander, \u201cThe goal of the missions class was to dialog with the students and come to know what they had \u2018seen\u2019 and \u2018heard\u2019 and move with them as they worked to define where they saw themselves in mission.\u201d The lower photo shows one of the students during a personal study time.<\/p>\n
Katie Isaza, who works with the Department of Christian Formation, was impressed with the students she taught in the children\u2019s ministry course.\u00a0 \u201cI was overwhelmed by the needs the students expressed in reaching the children in their neighborhoods and churches,\u201d she says. \u201cAt the same time I was encouraged by their heart for ministry and their desire to implement new and innovative strategies for ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Living in community and sharing one another\u2019s stories is an integral part of the school. \u201cAs they shared difficult past experiences, each one confirmed the ways they had experienced the hand of God in their lives,\u201d says Sander. \u201cIt was amazing to see the unity between them despite the many differences that would tend to separate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
She adds, \u201cGod healed hearts and brought restoration to many. What was most encouraging was to see the special giftedness of each one of the 17 youth and how they are feeling challenged by God to involve – and expand – their giftedness in reaching out to the world around them.\u201d<\/p>\n