VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/26/07) - A new partnership between American Baptist International Ministries (IM) and Central Baptist Theological Seminary honors retired American Baptist missionaries Alice and Gam Shae. The inauguration of The Alice and Gam Shae Theological Education Partnership was announced at the International Ministries World Mission Conference in Shawnee, KS on November 17, 2007.
The partnership focuses on theological education of pastors and church leaders around the world. This was the kind of ministry to which the Shaes gave their long and productive years of service as International Ministries' missionaries in Burma, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Dr. Gam Shae also served as professor of New Testament at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
The new partnership builds on the long history of cooperation and commitment to international theological education by both International Ministries and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. The partnership will provide an opportunity for a two-week intensive seminary course (module) taught in an international partner's country by an instructor from Central Seminary. The course will include the participation of two students from the seminary in each teaching opportunity.
The partnership will also provide for Central Seminary to receive a short-term teacher and two students from an overseas institution for an approximately two week intensive seminary course. Each module will provide for an adequate time outside the classroom for participants to interact with a variety of people.
An initial grant to fund the program has been provided by John and Pat Beldon. John is an honored alumnus of the International Ministries Board of Directors and Pat serves on the executive committee of the Board of Managers for the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region. Both John and Pat are active members of the Prairie Village Baptist Church, Prairie Village, KS. Central Seminary will solicit ongoing funding for the program.
International Ministries and Central Seminary have a long history of partnership and cooperation. Forty-six Central graduates have served as International Ministries' missionaries. For 37 years, Central has hosted a "Missionary in Residence" program. International Ministries has facilitated numerous international guests who have taught at Central and served the seminary community. A significant number of international students have also studied at Central, now located in Shawnee, KS.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/