First class of master's students graduate from ISTEM

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Mozambique, Africa

Seminário Nazareno em Mozambique (SNM) participated in a history-making event on Saturday, May 1, when the first class of master's degree students of Instituto Superior de Teologia Evangélica de Mozambique (ISTEM) received their master of divinity degrees in a ceremony conducted in the SNM chapel. The speaker for the event was Manfred Kohl, a representative of the Overseas Council International, which partnered in the establishment of the program with SNM, Assemblies of God Bible School, and One Challenge Mission.

ISTEM was created in 2006 when the administrations of Seminário Nazareno em Mozambique and Assemblies of God Bible School were approached by Kohl and António Carlos Barro of Faculdade Teológica Sul-Americana about the possibility of working together to establish a master of divinity program in Mozambique. The stated purpose of the project was to train faculty for theological institutions in Mozambique without having to send students out of the country for advanced studies. The first class of students was selected and began classes at SNM in April of 2007 with faculty and curriculum supplied by Faculdade Teológica Sul-Americana.

The 18 graduates of this first class represented five different evangelical denominations. Two graduates were from the Church of the Nazarene - Benjamim Moiane, a medical doctor and member of Maputo Central Church, and António Chavo, pastor of the Ndlavela Church of the Nazarene on the Matola District. Margarida Langa, director, and David Restrick, academic dean of SNM are members of the administrative committee of ISTEM along with Reinhard Mattheis of the Assemblies of God Bible School and João Barbosa Oliveria of One Challenge Mission.

A second cohort of students has already begun classes and plans are under way for a third to begin in 2011.
--David Restrick, SNM Academic dean, for NCN News-Africa

 

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