By David Seaman, Staff Writer
The American Bible Society (ABS) has held a Christian conference series the last couple of years to reach out to Latino pastors and churches in the U.S.
These "Descubre la Biblia," or scripture engagement, seminars are known for Bible scholars providing Spanish Scripture-based training for pastors and church leaders in inner-city Latino communities.
Objectives involve providing Bible training to leaders who might not otherwise have access to ongoing training opportunities because of lack of financial resources. This is where Taylor comes in.
The American Bible Society invited Taylor to become a ministry partner in these seminars.
In this combined effort, both the ABS and Taylor can extend their ministry to Latinos in Spanish-speaking communities throughout the U.S.
"Taylor is coming in saying, 'We have something to offer, and we know you have something to offer. We want to partner for the Kingdom of the gospel,'" said senior Erick Solomon, coordinator of Latino Student Recruitment.
He says Taylor is funding about 20 percent of the ABS conferences.
"Taylor gives them an opportunity for funds and also gives them a chance to see Taylor as a school that has the same values of the Society," Solomon said. "Really, it's how best to help the Latino community that ABS has been helping for many, many years."
Solomon also says the reason for the partnership came from Taylor's President Eugene Habecker.
"Dr. Habecker used to be in the ABS," Solomon said. "He feels that this is a real opportunity for Taylor to become a trusted member of the Latino community and show that we can provide top education for Latino Christians."
The conferences are in cities with large Latino inner-city communities. The next one will take place on Nov. 10 in New York with a theme of integrating Old Testament and New Testament theology, Solomon said. Conferences in Miami, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles will follow in the spring.
Taylor student Claudia Viscarra looks forward to sharing her Taylor experience to members of the ABS.
"We are representing Taylor's Latino community through a Spanish testimony of our academic experience and spiritual journeys before and after Taylor University," Viscarra said.
Through scriptural engagement that follows the clear word of the Bible - not ideology and tradition - Taylor hopes to become a friend to the Latino community.
"I want this partnership to become an exercise in Latinos trusting Taylor through ABS," Solomon said. "I want Taylor to be a trusted member of the Latino community, and through ABS' partnership I think that can become a reality."
