Hey Friends! We have two great giving opportunities to share with you!
First of all, we would like to invite you to be a part of giving to a fund that will go to support pastoral retreats for IPEE pastor’s and their families. IPEE is trying to become more committed to investing intentionally in the well-being and holistic health of their leaders and ministers. One way they are doing this is through a yearly pastoral retreat for pastors and their families. IPEE is committed to making this even free or almost free for their pastors – and that is where you come in! By making a donation to this fund, you can help insure that each and every IPEE pastor has the opportunity to attend this yearly event. The large majority of our pastors are bi-vocational, serving an IPEE church and holding down another job. Ministry is isolating and often challenging and the time that IPEE pastors can spend encouraging one another is invaluable for their health and longevity in ministry. Join us in supporting IPEE as they work to better support their pastors!
Secondly, we invite you to consider supporting this partnership between the Covenant Seminary of Ecuador and North Park Theological Seminary.
Check out this letter from Dr. Paul DeNeui, professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology at NPTS and Director for the Center of World Christian Studies.
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for this opportunity to present a request on behalf of Rev. Dr. Stephen Chester. As part of her role in biblical training around the world North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) has established partnerships with sister programs in theological education around the world. These programs provide opportunities for all participants to learn together interculturally, building up the body of Christ.
This year Dr. Chester was invited to teach biblical seminars on a critical issue in the church in Ecuador, a study on the topic of divorce. Since legalization of divorce was passed in that country only a few years ago the number of divorces has risen at an alarming rate. Leaders of the church requested that there be an opportunity to hear from a biblical scholar on this topic and specifically requested Dr. Chester as a Pauline New Testament Scholar. He traveled to Ecuador in October and spoke to Ecuadorian Covenant pastors and leaders in several locations during North Park’s fall semester reading week.
The host church in Ecuador provided meals and housing once Dr. Chester arrived in the country. He needs a total of $850 for his expenses. This includes his ticket costs roundtrip from Chicago as well as the cost of extra baggage. He also transported a number of new commentaries in the Spanish language as resources for church leaders since postal service is virtually unavailable within that country. NPTS values these international partnerships and has established the Global Studies Fund account in order to receive tax-deductible donations for events such as these. We invite your participation in this effort.
Donations may be made online (click here). Note the name of Dr. Chester in the “comments” box. Alternatively, checks made out to Center for World Christian Studies may also be sent to the address below. Again, please add the name of your designated recipient in the note section of your check. A tax deductible receipt for your donation will be sent to you either electronically or by post as you indicate.
We strongly encourage you to consider giving generously towards Dr. Chester’s support and to be in prayer for the success of this intercultural learning experience. I believe that the prayer, funds, and personal involvement put into this effort will strengthen our partnership as a global community committed to pursuing God’s purposes in the world together.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Paul H. De Neui
Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology Director for the Center of World Christian Studies
North Park Theological Seminary 3225 W. Foster Avenue Chicago, IL 60625 (773) 244-6230
As always, thank you for your faithful support of our family and the ministries that we are connected with in Ecuador. We ask you to prayerfully consider an extra donation to these ministries that we are involved in. MUCHAS GRACIAS!
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