Global Leadership Development

Baptist Theological Seminary

Torreon Mexico

Brief History

The Baptist Theological Seminary in Torreon, Mexico was 1956 by Foreign Board missionaries James Crane and Erwin Hastey. Due to the encouraging response to the gospel in that region of Northern Mexico known as “La Laguna” the decision was made to establish this seminary to train leaders for all of Mexico. As Baptist work spread through the country, in 1965 the decision was made to move the seminary to Mexico City with the expectation that the students from the Laguna area would go to Mexico City to get their theological education. While a few students did go, it became obvious that the distance was too great and the cost of living was much more expensive there. To try to meet the need for theological training, local pastors in Torreon opened up an Institute in one of their churches. In 2006 the leaders of the Institute in Torreon through Mike Helton (a pastor who was doing mission work there) sent a petition to Southwestern Seminary to have professor go over and teach intensive courses to enable their professors and future professors to obtain a Licenciatura (BA) in Biblical Studies. Dr. Daniel Sanchez designed the program and coordinated the courses and in 2009 fifteen students received their BA. During that period of time, Mike Helton with groups of volunteers started a two story building for the seminary. By 2010 the first story of the building was completed. During that year, however, due to a crisis in the administration and severe financial limitations the seminary ceased its operations. In 2018 when Drs. Brent Ray and Daniel Sanchez went to Torreon to meet with leaders interested in Theological education, they were completely surprised to learn that four years earlier the seminary had begun to function again under the able leadership of professors who had graduated from the Biblical Studies that Southwestern Seminary had taught. Today the seminary has 80 students in its central campus and several extensions. Guillermo Morales, the president of the seminary has a clear vision to train people for ministry in that entire region of Northern Mexico and beyond.

Projects Involving a Champion Church/Partner

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The pastors of Champion Churches could be involved in teaching intensive (week-long) courses and/or workshops for the students as well as pastors

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Teams from the Champion Church could be involved in evangelism, disciplesip and ministry activities along with seminary students

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Work teams from the Champion Church could be involved in renovation of classrooms and improvement of the church where the seminary has its classes

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The Champion Church could provide scholarships for the professors of this seminary to enroll in online and virtual Masters and Doctoral programs that enable them to continue to teach while elevating their academic level

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The Champion Church could provide financial resources for the seminary to hold workshops for the seminary professors and staff

Projects Related to the Faculty

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Professors — There is a need to train professors so they can teach at the Licenciatura (BA) level in the central campus and in the extensions. The president and the academic dean have already enrolled in the online Masters of Theological Studies at Southwestern Seminary.

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Scholarships of $1 ,600 each would cover the tuition costs for the entire Masters in Theological Studies (MTS) offered at Southwestern Seminary totally on line and totally in Spanish

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There are at least 12 additional professors and future professors who have their BA and are eligible to enroll in the MTS at southwestern

Projects Related to Students

Due to economic limitations of students who come from areas of extremely limited resources a minimum of 10 students who could greatly benefit from scholarships to take courses in the Torreon Seminary

Projects Related to the Campus

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Expand their very limited library (for printed as well as digital books)

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Set up a computer lab (with 6 computers) so students can do their research and writing

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Complete the furnishing of classrooms in the second floor of the existing building

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Complete the second seminary building that has been started.

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Provide the furnishing for rooms in the second building to serve as lodging space for commuting students who come from long distances.

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In collaboration with Southwestern Seminary, Trinity Academic can make available to this Seminary an electronic portal that will enable the seminary to offer online courses, virtual courses and an untold number of library resources to the students. A Champion Church can assist by providing the initial cost of installing this system and the very affordable cost to maintain thus saving the Seminary thousands of dollars in equipment and local personnel to maintain it.

Projects Related to the Seminary Extensions

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This seminary now has 24 extensions which they are using to train people who cannot travel to the central campus to be trained.

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Funds to help the seminary professors travel to and from the extensions could be very helpful

Guillermo Morales

President

Email: prguillermomorales@yohoo.com.mes