Computer Lab Opens in Panama's Central Bible School
By Rod Boyd

A new computer lab with ten brand new computers was dedicated recently at the Central Bible School in Panama City. Calvary Temple Seattle provided the internal components and a small group of technicians to assemble 40 computers for 14 elementary and secondary schools, and 10 for the Bible school.

New technologies have impacted our churches and pastors here in Panama. Yet the Bible school had largely ignored these changes. Several months ago the Bible school curriculum committee decided to make significant changes to the program that now makes computer technology a required subject. Current and future ministers will not only be trained to use computers for their studies, but also will learn how computers and other technologies can be used as tools in pastoral and evangelistic ministries.

There are currently 24 students, mostly second-year, taking the new class. Our goal is to limit class size to 20 so that there will be no more than two sharing a computer. We had to divide the group into two sessions. In addition, some professors and Bible school staff are also taking a special course. We purchased the Bible study software “Compubiblia” for each computer that provides various Spanish-language versions of the Bible and other study helps. The Bible school will also offer seminars to pastors in the use of computers for ministry and Bible study. Our hope is that the lab will be a center for theological investigation.

Omar Jaén, a staff member at our Latin America ChildCare and Resource and Advisory Center offices is teaching the courses. This provides for continual support and supervision of this ministry. He reports that his best student is an elderly gentleman who is one of the Bible school professors (pictured below). He is excited about the availability of the computer lab for his own Bible study and lesson preparation.

We’re grateful for all who contributed towards the 2002 Technology Campaign, especially Calvary Temple Seattle. Your generosity is helping to prepare ministers to use today’s technology to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Panama. Please continue to pray for the additional needs of the computer lab (printer, etc.). Pray for the work of the Bible school curriculum committee as additional changes are made to the program.