Equipping Students in Argentina

December 15, 2008

November 30, 2008

By David Hoffman, vice president, John Stott Ministries

Stanley Clark holds up a copy of a commentary on Galatians.

Students at seminaries and Bible colleges in Argentina and across Latin America face a common problem: the cost of textbooks and study materials, an axpense that could mean the difference between finishing a study programme and abandoning their studies.  Langham Literature is doing its part with programmes that make resources available to majority World theological institutions, their libraries, teaching staff, students and alumni and to pastors, preachers and scholars.

“Many of our students would simply not be able to complete their studies,” said Stanley Clark from the Baptist Seminary in Buenos Aires.  “For example, in their first semester students take a course on Galations.  The Galationas books would cost a student $50, and with the Langham Literature subsidy programme, it will only cost them $25.  Without this programme they would not be able to complete their studies.”

The Additional Book Programme (ABP), know to Argentinean students simply as the ’subsidy programme’, is one of two literature programmes that Langham Literature operates in Argentina through agent Beatriz Buono of Certeza bookstores.  The second programme is Library Grants Programme (LGP) that in Argentina is know as ‘regalos biblioteca’, or gifts for libraries.  As a licensed book importer, Certeza is able to ensure that these two programmes can be offered to over 50 seminaries and Bible colleges throughout Argentina.

The Baptist Seminary is one example of how these Langham Literature programmes are helping.  With tough economic times, this school that was started by the Southern Baptist church now offers evening courses for approximately 180 students each semester andextension courses for another 100 students.  Students can earn a two-year basic degree or a three-year throu the LGP, and students studying the bible can benefit from the ABP when purchasing books related to these courses.  The same story was repeated by the leaders at the Seminary for the Assemblies of God and the large ecumenical seminary, ISEDET University Institute.

“Our graduates become pastors or missionaries”, says Stanley Clark.  “As missionaries they will serve mostly in Afganistan and Northern Africa as well as Latin America.  Over the course of their two years of study, each student will take 10 courses related to the Bible.  Thanks to Langham Partnership, they will save $250, which for most students will be the difference they need to complete their studies.”