Panama's International School of Missions

Panama | Debbie Meroff

PANAMA’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MISSION

The idea was born when Roger Branda joined an OM ship in 1994 and realized that he was cruising in deeper water than he expected!

“I left Panama at age 18, not knowing anything about missions or even other countries or cultures. For the first six months I was so frustrated.” Confiding in another Panamanian on board, they talked about the need for a school to prepare prospective missionaries that would equip them with basic evangelism skills. When OM International Coordinator George Verwer visited the ship he encouraged this idea. Later George sent a follow-up note saying he would donate 500 books for a mission school, if and when it became a reality.

“I kept that paper in my Bible for ten years,” relates Roger. “We started the school in 2002, and when the ship came to Panama in 2004 I found the message and sent it to back to George!” True to his word, George instructed the ship to give OM Panama the books, which went a long way in supporting and equipping the fledgling school.

The fact is, in all of Central America there’s nothing like it. Youth With A Mission offers a training course in Panama City, but it is too expensive for the average Latino and is largely attended by North Americans.

115 students have now gone through the three-month course, held twice each year, and many of them are now serving the Lord at home and overseas. The tragedy is that scores more would like to attend, if only they could pay the $300 per month needed to keep the school running.

“It’s hard for me to say no to applicants. One guy wanted to come so much we sponsored him. Before he came he wouldn’t even speak in front of people.—By the end of the course he was a very good preacher! His pastor was amazed. He was invited to work with a radio station reaching youth in Miami, and he’s still there.”

The International School of Missions, housed within OM Panama’s beautiful mountain base in Volcán, provides six weeks of intensive instruction in such subjects as world religions, sects, homiletics, church planting, and various forms of evangelism. Classroom theory is then followed by six weeks of practical evangelism that mainly focus on Panama’s indigenous Indian population. Young people from other countries often join the students for this phase, called “Mission Extreme.” Former student Aileen Arauz says the experience went way beyond her expectations.

“Our first week was with the Teribe Indians. We travelled in canoes and one day tipped over, losing our food and supplies. Then we walked and walked! The people practice a lot of witchcraft and it was a challenge—but it was wonderful. It was my first time as a leader and I learned so much!”

When Aileen Arauz was asked to consider joining the OM Panama staff after finishing at the School of Missions, she didn’t hesitate. “Since then I’ve done everything from cleaning toilets and cooking to evangelism and teaching in the school.” Now her heart’s desire is to serve on one of OM’s ships.

“OM Panama has sent out nine School of Mission students to the fields.—The Ships are still the most popular,” states Roger Branda. “But even if students discover that missions isn’t their calling, it’s better to find that out here than on the field.” With Finance Manager Rosemary Serrano planning to join OM Spain as soon as possible, the school is now looking for another person to take this responsibility. Roger adds that they would also like to have an English teacher, since taking English instruction in other schools is too expensive an option for most missionaries-in-training. Other needs are AV and office equipment, and a van to transport students on outreaches.

Pray for the people and resources needed for this key ministry. With God’s enabling the next term of the International School of Missions starts this June 2nd '08, with Mission Extreme recruits welcome to join in from July 15 to September 15.

Credit: Debbie Meroff
© 2008 Debbie Meroff