JUVEP Seminaries Long Term Plans
Increasing Efficiency - Increasing Impact
JUVEP Seminary System
A Focus on Higher Education - Today
JUVEP, including the JUVEP seminaries. are the leading evangelical organization working with a focus in the Brazilian Northeast, in the region known as the Sertão. Today JUVEP provides the very best educational system to prepare tomorrow’s evangelical workers for the Sertão. All of JUVEP’s activities complement, support and strengthen the seminaries. In turn, the seminaries support JUVEP’s work. Thus, the combination of solid theology and a solid mission prepare a special group of kingdom workers. Most seminaries teach head knowledge and how to operate in an urban church. JUVEP Seminaries prepare people for lonely evangelical and church planting in poorly reached areas. JUVEP’s work is special.
Today the main seminary is co-located at JUVEP Base Camp in Cabedelo, Paraiba, Brazil. Additionally, there are two seminaries located in the Sertão, one in Sousa and one in Itaporanga. Both are about 400 km inland. This is special because they serve the people living in the Sertão. Church leadership can receive quality training while living a home and maintaining regular employment. And then there is the Center for the Preparation of Missionaries (CPM). It is also located at the JUVEP Base Camp in Cabedelo and is operated in coordination with the seminary. CPM provides specific training programs that do not lead to a degree. The current system is shown in Figure 1A, except that the JUVEP Seminary has been relocated to Cabedelo. The transition is in progress.
Figure 1A: Today JUVEP Operations are Federated
Figure 1B: Future JUVEP Operations Consolidated
JUVEP seeks to promote a strong Christian evangelical presence throughout the Sertão. Success means growing disciples of Christ in a fashion that has deep roots and is self-sustaining. Thus, seminaries focus on core theological tenets shared by evangelicals. JUVEP does not focus on those things that separate the mainline denominations, but brings Christians together for a common cause to glorify Jesus.
JUVEP Higher Education Consolidation
Today the CPM and main seminary are well integrated. The operation of the field seminaries is moderately independent. This is good in that each location can quickly adapt to local needs. However, it makes promoting a JUVEP brand more difficult. Quality control across four autonomous entities is also difficult. Furthermore, the seminaries have focused more on theology. Then, the Center for the Preparation of Missionaries (CPM) has built a strength in missionary training. Each is good, but strength in both is better. Stronger leadership of all will increase the joint focus on missions and theology. JUVEP’s strength is the synergistic combination of the two. Consolidation will further that goal.
A small program is underway to enable Godly, but poor students in the Itaporanga region to get some seminary education. Some programs can lead to degrees. However, many students only need to be equipped to serve in lay leadership roles in the church. Thus, some students may take only one class. Others may be committed to full-time ministry and seek a four-year education.
This program enables a strengthening of Christian leadership in the Sertão. It starts in Itaporanga, but needs to grow to include Sousa, the main JUVEP seminary and CPM.
The cost is $35 per student per month. Each student is expected to provide a brief monthly update on work done and progress.
JUVEP Seminaries - Additional Extension Branches in the Sertão
The Sertão is a vast area, covering thousands of kilometers. Today there are two field seminaries in Western Paraiba state. They are located about two hours apart by car. They draw on completely different populations as students. There is a great need for similar very low cost seminaries across the Sertão. A significant increase in field seminaries is one long-term goal for the seminary.
JUVEP Seminaries - You can support the JUVEP Seminaries
By American standards, the costs for attending a JUVEP seminary is very low. For example, in the Sertão, tuition is about $35 per month for the part-time program. Still, many motivated students cannot attend due to cost. Basic institutional support to the JUVEP seminaries can help to strengthen the programs and keep costs low. You can help.