Discipleship Training: A Non-traditional Approach to Theological Education for the Highland Quichua of Ecuador

After six to eight brainstorming meetings, plans for an informal Bible training institute for Quichua leaders in Imbabura province were developed.

What training do we need, who shall do it, and where? These are some basic issues for missions.

Especially within the realm of evangelical missions, many eyes are turned toward an intriguing phenomenon: the “extension seminary” for short—more properly, “theological education by extension”—is in center stage. Rarely has such a basic alteration of institutional modes moved so rapidly, hopscotching its way completely around the world.

Every day, through many means and in all parts of the world, God’s people are being equipped for ministry. At least 55,000 theological education by extension (TEE) students are studying in 360 programs in 80 countries.

I. THE CHURCH IN CRISIS During the twenty-five years following World War II, most countries in Asia underwent drastic transformations. The result has been the formation of a Westernized, secularized, urbanized Asian society in which the conflicting values of the East and West, ancient and modern, have been thrown together without a common framework for integration.