Intensive Ministry School Will Operate in Guatemala

For the first time in its 32-year history Verbo Ministries is opening a fulltime, on-campus ministry training school for young adults. Named Destino (Spanish for “Destiny”) the program is a cooperative effort with its  founder and developer, Pastor Francis Anfuso, and his team at Church on the Rock in Roseville, Calif.     

“Destino provides intensive discipleship for both men and women who desire to strengthen their Christian character and prepare themselves for every good work. This is a total immersion experience where the students live, work, and study together,”  according to school director José Carrera, a graduate of the two-year California program.

“The concept of this internship is to reduce to a minimum the distractions and contamination from the world system so that the students can make seeking after God the priority for their everyday lives.

“They begin to form new, godly habits as they learn to live in communion with God and their fellow students. They develop a lifestyle that will help them maintain their Christian integrity in whatever walk of life they subsequently pursue, whether to continue in the ministry or be Christ’s disciples in the business and professional world,” José says.
“Though a large portion of the students’ days will involve theological and ministerial studies and practical church and social services, they will also learn to live in community, honoring, serving, and giving to one another in a healthy atmosphere. This is a strong contrast, for example,  to the experience at secular junior colleges,” he adds.

Spiritual Fatherhood  Is Discipleship Key

Another part of the formation process is learning to clean house, cook, wash, iron, and do other chores that, at least for many of the men, will entail a new learning curve. José says the curriculum will consist of studies in 10  areas, with all classes imparted by experienced ministers and Bible teachers. They are: Perspectives about the Fundamentals of the Faith, Personal Attitudes, Living in the Kingdom of God, Scripture Memorization, Dealing with Personal Strengths and Weakness Basic Ministry Training, English as a Second Language, Leadership and Missions and Evangelism.
One of the most important and innovative aspects of the program are classes that have to do with “Spiritual Fatherhood,” where with the mentoring of a seasoned pastor/counselor the students have an opportunity to deal with  situations from the past that have shaped their present living patterns.

“Young people really can’t disciple one another very well which is why we stress ‘generational discipleship’ where experienced men and women of God work directly with the students, “José says. Our desire is that through Destino the hearts of the fathers will turn to the children and that those of the children will turn to the fathers.”

The school is open to Christians over 18 years old who are fluent in Spanish and have the authorization of their pastor to matriculate.  The Basic cost of the nine-month first-year course  is approximately $2200. This includes food, lodging, local transportation, authorized extra-curricular activities and limited medical services. Not included are personal hygiene articles, laundry supplies, etc.

Classes for both the first and second year courses begin in February and end in mid-September. The Verbo Church of Zone 9,  Guatemala City, Guatemala, will serve as the campus, and is also the “home” church for the students during the school year.

More Destino information is available at www.interdestino.com or by calling José Carrera  in Guatemala City: country code 502, and eight-digit local number,  2360-4909.    

Information about  the English language program at the Rock of Roseville Church, in is available at www.rockofroseville.org.