2020 began with our coordinator of the Diploma in Christian Ministry program (ETED), Rev. Felipe Flores, has been working hard to promote and supervise our centers in Costa Rica and Panama, the countries under his charge.
The acronym ETED refers to Decentralized Theological Education and indicates the way these core courses to fulfill the educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene are taught.
Rev. Flores says, “We want to share about the excellent start to the ETED program in this new year of 2020. The great majority of our centers have begun with great enthusiasm the classes slated for this year.
“In the Central District of Panama, for example, the center in Ancon was reactivated with a total of 7 students. Also, we reactivated the center for ETED in El Progreso with a total of 15 students. Additionally, the center in Tocumen started with this current term registering an attendance of 20 students. The center also received the donation of an essential library. The Central District is reporting a total of five active centers.
“The West District of Panama is also making important progress with the center in Punta Peña for the ETED program will begin classes in the next few weeks. This center had previously been inactive for several years. With the achievement of reopening the center in Punta Peña, the West District is reporting a total of five active centers.
“In Costa Rica, the ETED program has begun with much anticipation. Our center on the SENDAS campus began its first scheduled course with an enrollment of 12 students. We thank God that this remains one of the most stable in all of the Central District of Costa Rica. Currently the Central District is reporting three active centers.
“Finally, it should be noted that SENDAS has been able to help to the North District in Costa Rica where the ETED program has experienced excellent growth. This help consisted of the donation of new HD cameras for courses taken via videoconferencing. The cameras were delivered by SENDAS to centers in Liberia, Upala and San Pedro de Poás. Additionally, the donation of a small library was made to the ETED center known as Tres y Tres. The North District reports a total of six active centers.”
We thank the Lord for the ministry of Rev. Felipe Flores and his team of professors, coordinators, support staff and technical assistants for the significant advancements made in this fundamental program for our institution. We continue forward – as our vision statement says, “equipping with the highest excellence the greatest number of ministers possible, for the expansion of the kingdom of God.”