The Colombian School of Expository Preaching

A Brief History: Pastor Jorge Atiencia, a well-known expositor of the Word of God, concerned about the decline in good and pure preaching of the Word of God in our continent, and guided by the H. S., in 2001 invited 12 pastors from different cities and denominations in Colombia to form a special group. The common thread was a reputation those chosen had in their denominations as serious biblical preachers. Within this group were two CP's: David Montoya (Pereira) and Gloria Villa (Medellin). As the small group struggled with the need for better proclamation, the twelve leaders decided to establish in their local churches a School of Lay Preachers.

In September 2002, 125 students from the various churches came together for a national encounter. Another national encounter was held in 2003. During those years curriculum and materials were developed. In 2004, each of the 12 original leaders were asked to select 3 or 4 of their best students (based on love and jealousy for the Word of God, not just on homiletic and academic skills as found in seminaries), and all students were given an appropriate closing for their study and preparation. The selected group were to continue ahead with more preparation.

This group then entered a three year plan: Year one, Exegesis; Year two, Hermeneutics; Year three, homiletics. During each year, the local groups met either weekly or every other week, depending on the local group. They held four regional workshops annually and one national encounter in September. The 12 pastors had two retreats together each year. In 2007, the first generation finalized their preparation and each pastor was to begin a new group at the local church level. Plus, 10 more coordinators were named. Which is to say, for 2008, 22 schools of expositors will be represented at the national encounter. When CP Gloria Villa left Colombia for the USA, she was replaced by a Peruvian. Now there are schools in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and among hispanics in Canada. The program has become very well known in Latin America. Many Colombians have wanted to become involved in the program, but the level of commitment is quite high for the pastor. Andes Presbytery initially had two participants at the leadership level, but when Gloria left Colombia some of her students were lost when the school in Medellin closed. The Pereira school has continued since the beginning. 3 graduates resulted from the first generation of students (two women and one man). One of the women, Luz Maria Montoya is now ordained and on the staff of the Pereira Church. Her quality preaching is deeply appreciated by the congregation. Student Alexander Wchima has preached in four CP churches and has received positive affirmation for his ministry.

A new generation of seven students has now been in the program for more than a year. Rev. David meets with both groups on Tuesdays, sometimes with both groups and sometimes separately. The new group is very promising. Soon the Pereira church and the presbytery will be able to count on 10 excellent preachers that can provide ministers with needed rest from preaching Sunday after Sunday.

Expositor's Encounter Sept. 23-28, 2008

The eighth annual Encounter of the Schools of Expositors of the Word of God was held in Chinauta, a beautiful location near Bogota, Colombia. The theme was "Word, Servant, Community, and Way." This was taken from Deut. 30:19, "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live." This was the first encounter of a new group of students. The 2008 school began with 22 coordinators from around Colombia meeting to pray and lay down the final details of the event. Two days later, the students arrived. 82 students attended from Colombia and Peru. 7 of the participants were from the Pereira Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Activities for the school included:
4 expository sermons from Deuteronomy by Rev. Jorge Atiencia--the founder of the school.
1 workshop about exegesis.
1 workshop about principals of interpretation (Narrative, Law, Prophecy, and Poetry)
1 workshop about exegesis and PRAYER
Group presentations by the students utilizing the gospel of Mark through drama, music and poetry.

Students were also expected to prepare a 12 minute sermon from a biblical passage in Mark. The sermons were evaluated by both students and local school coordinators. God truly blessed the school, and the results were excellent.