Part II - November Newsletter

"It has encouraged us to shift out of strategies that no longer work and to try different platforms of preaching and teaching, which has extended our reach to a broader audience."

"Nos ha animado a desplazar las estrategias que ya no funcionan y probar diferentes plataformas de predicación y enseñanza, lo que ha ampliado nuestro alcance a una audiencia más amplia."

Part II: In the midst of a global pandemic, INSTE Hybrid Groups thrive

Pastor Edgar Figueroa Jr. and First Spanish Church of the Open Bible Hialeah in Florida share some history and hope from their church.

First Spanish Church of the Open Bible Hialeah was established in 1949. Since then, the church has been ministering the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to the Hispanic community in Florida. Interestingly, this is where my (Edgar Jr.) parents met the Lord and received the calling to ministry back in 1986. They were trained and equipped for ministry through INSTE. A decade after deciding to follow Jesus, they were commissioned to plant a church in an agricultural community. As part of the family that received the calling to ministry, I began to serve at Agape Church in Moore Haven. I gladly served there 14 years.

I was offered the position of lead pastor at Open Bible Hialeah. This congregation holds a special place in my heart. This place brought into fruition the calling to ministry for my parents and myself. The church was under a supervision process as it had been going through a tough time financially, spiritually and emotionally.

On July 1, 2019, I took up the opportunity to serve the church that saw me grow up - AND, it was quite the process. COVID presented its challenges, however we have found blessing in the trial. It has encouraged us to shift out of strategies that no longer work and to try different platforms of preaching and teaching, which has extended our reach to a broader audience.

El pastor Edgar Figueroa Jr. y la Primera Iglesia en Español de la Biblia Abierta Hialeah en Florida, comparten algo de historia y esperanza de su iglesia.

La primera Iglesia en español de la Biblia Abierta Hialeah se estableció en 1949. Desde entonces, la iglesia ha estado ministrando el evangelio salvador de Jesucristo a la comunidad hispana en Florida. Curiosamente, aquí es donde mis padres (Edgar Jr.) se encontraron con el Señor y recibieron el llamado al ministerio en 1986. Fueron capacitados y equipados para el ministerio a través de INSTE. Una década después de decidir seguir a Jesús, fueron comisionados a plantar una iglesia en una comunidad agrícola. Como parte de la familia que recibió el llamado al ministerio, comencé a servir en la Iglesia Agape en Moore Haven. Ahí serví con mucho gusto durante 14 años.

Me ofrecieron el cargo de pastor principal en Open Bible Hialeah. Esta congregación ocupa un lugar especial en mi corazón. Este lugar hizo realidad el llamado al ministerio para mis padres y para mí. La iglesia estaba bajo un proceso de supervisión ya que había pasado por un momento difícil financiera, espiritual y emocionalmente.

El 1º de julio de 2019, aproveché la oportunidad de servir a la iglesia que me vio crecer, Y fue todo un proceso. COVID presentó sus desafíos, sin embargo, hemos encontrado bendiciones en la prueba. Nos ha animado a dejar atrás las estrategias que ya no funcionan y probar diferentes plataformas de predicación y enseñanza, lo que ha ampliado nuestro alcance a una audiencia más amplia.

"INSTE is an essential tool that allows us to look at the discipleship aspect of the Christian walk more effectively."

"INSTE es una herramienta esencial que nos permite ver el aspecto del discipulado del caminar Cristiano de manera más efectiva."

A pivotal decision we've made regarding our board meetings was to maintain our priorities to align with God's Word. Yes, we discuss finances, but more importantly, we evaluate our influence as a Church with the people being saved and the people actively involved in discipleship. INSTE is an essential tool that allows us to look at the discipleship aspect of the Christian walk more effectively.

We've implemented small groups to promote relationships while INSTE promotes Bible study. We are currently running five INSTE groups. Our team has adopted a hybrid approach since we are working with students from our church and students from the Dominican Republic. Some students cannot attend a local class, so we decided to utilize social media as a platform for them to participate in an INSTE class. We currently have 15 students enrolled. We collaborated with two other Open Bible Churches -- Agape Church in Moore Haven and La Roca Church in the Dominican Republic. We are able to meet by way of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Zoom for our online students.

Today our church is no longer under the supervision process. Attendance increased and finances are steadily recuperating. Furthermore, our discipleship program is causing an impact in our congregation. I share this testimony so that if any church leader finds themselves in a moment of strife and uncertainty that you may find encouragement in knowing that the same God that is bringing us out, wants to do the same with you.

What a blessing INSTE has been to our church. It has made this restoration journey more reachable and attainable.

Una decisión fundamental que tomamos con respecto a nuestras reuniones de la junta, fue mantener nuestras prioridades para alinearnos con la Palabra de Dios. Sí, hablamos de finanzas, pero lo que es más importante, evaluamos nuestra influencia como Iglesia con las personas que se salvan y las personas que participan activamente en el discipulado. INSTE es una herramienta esencial que nos permite ver el aspecto del discipulado del caminar Cristiano de manera más efectiva.

Hemos implementado grupos pequeños para promover las relaciones, mientras que INSTE promueve el estudio de la Biblia. Actualmente tenemos en marcha cinco grupos de INSTE. Nuestro equipo ha adoptado un enfoque híbrido ya que estamos trabajando con estudiantes de nuestra iglesia y estudiantes de la República Dominicana. Algunos estudiantes no pueden asistir a una clase local, por lo que decidimos utilizar las redes sociales como una plataforma para que participen en una clase INSTE. Actualmente tenemos 15 estudiantes inscritos. Colaboramos con otras dos Iglesias de la Biblia Abierta: la Iglesia Agape, en Moore Haven y la Iglesia La Roca, en la República Dominicana. Podemos reunirnos a través de WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger y Zoom con nuestros estudiantes en línea.

Hoy nuestra iglesia ya no está bajo el proceso de supervisión. La asistencia aumentó y las finanzas se están recuperando constantemente. Además, nuestro programa de discipulado está causando un impacto en nuestra congregación. Comparto este testimonio para que si algún líder de la iglesia se encuentra en un momento de conflicto e incertidumbre, pueda encontrar aliento al saber que el mismo Dios que nos está sacando a la luz, quiere hacer lo mismo con usted.

Qué bendición ha sido INSTE para nuestra iglesia. Ha hecho que este trayecto de restauración sea más accesible y alcanzable.

Class facilitator Wendy Leiva (Florida) and student, Pedro (DR)

Online Classes

INSTE in the United States and Canada offers a selection of online courses for students in the Certificate and Diploma programs who would like to continue their studies with groups from across North America. Currently, all of our online courses are in English. If you are fluent in Spanish and would like to be an online facilitator, email our registrar for next steps!

Level 1 - Certificate Program

This certificate program is structured around four crucial discipleship habits: personal devotions, Bible study skills, relationships, and ministry. This program focuses on the character development of the disciple. Intensive discipleship (being) plus foundational Bible and theological input (knowing) lead to ministry (doing). Each believer has gifts, talents and skills that are to be used in the Kingdom of God. Through this program, maturing disciples find their places in the Body of Christ, in which they can serve the Lord with joy and effectiveness. The base price for a Level 1 course is $90.

Apply today!

Discipleship 1

Led by: Rodney Mike Neville

Language: English/Inglés

Start date: November 4, 2021

When: Fridays at 6:30 PM (CT)

Enroll now!

Level 2 - Diploma Program

Students must have completed their Certificate in Christian Ministry in order to be fully enrolled in this program. Visiting students can study up to three of these subjects without having completed Level 1 subjects previously. The focus of this program is leadership development. The base price for a Level 2 course is $240.