Greek classes continue for Nicaraguan pastors

Rev. Brian Dunlop with a Spanish translator teaches biblical Greek to pastors in Nicaragua.

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua – Pastors from all over Nicaragua gathered at Chinandega’s Mission Centre in mid-November arriving with open hearts and minds, and their Greek New Testaments. The goal of the week-long continuing education class was to dig deeper into God’s Word by studying the New Testament in its original language.

The daily classes covered Greek grammar, key biblical terms, and New Testament texts from the Church year. The instructor, Pastor Brian Dunlop from Faith Lutheran Church in Desboro, Ont., paid particular attention to the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. The classes were part of Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) commitment to continuing theological education for pastors of the Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (ILSN) and were the fourth in a series focusing on biblical Greek.

More than simply an academic exercise, the ongoing Greek classes seek to help the pastors apply God’s Word in preaching, Bible study and pastoral care. Each day the pastors learned ways to move from reading the scriptural text to writing and preaching a sermon.

In addition, Chapel sessions included hands-on teaching using the Pastoral Care Companion a new resource pastors can use for daily care of members, and for unique occasions of celebration.

To help the church workers plan and organize their time more effectively, the pastors and deaconesses received a gift copy of the 2018 Desk Diary in Spanish. The planning resource used in Canada by many pastors was translated, printed, and published by Rev. Donald Schieman of Redeemer, St. Thomas and Grace, West Lorne, Ont. “We pray these desk diaries will be an annual gift to bless the Nicaraguan church” noted Pastor Dunlop.

At the end of the classes the pastors expressed their heartfelt thanks to Pastor Dunlop, to his congregation in Desboro, and to LCC for the Greek class and for all the continuing education opportunities it provides.

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