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ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
EAST ASIA
Advance International has experienced tremendous growth in East Asia since 2011. We have conducted training in over 36 locations throughout the region. Our student enrollment exceeded 2,100 students over the last ten years. By God’s grace, we were able to complete over 550 classes, with over 500 graduating from our training program.
A significant development in our work came with the cultivation of qualified Asian teachers who live in-country. These teachers have earned, accredited theological Masters degrees and have experience in pastoral ministry. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, we were able to continue training throughout the region through these Asian partners. As a result, 10 classes were completed in 2020 with an enrollment of 115 students.
Another expansion of our work in 2020 was the video recording of our 8 courses. These recordings have expanded our outreach to more pastors and church workers. The videos provide a helpful tool for our partners who can oversee Advance training in their context.
In 2021, we faced continued restrictions because of the pandemic. Yet, we were able to maintain our active centers throughout East Asia with a number of students completing the requirements for graduation. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ opens doors which no one is able to shut (Rev. 3:8), and we praise Him for these advances in training pastors and church workers. We are hopeful that the pandemic will ease in the coming year, and we will have opportunity to return to this region with more resources for gospel advance and the strengthening of the church. Thank you for your prayer and support in this work.
Advance International East Asia Director: Jim Law
Kenya
In addition to our 5 current schools in Kenya, our IMB partners
will be starting a cohort in January in a place called Koitiko. The picture to the left is the Koitiko church. Koitiko is a small Maasai village. The people are very religious, with many calling themselves Christians, but the truth is
most do not know Jesus or the Bible. They mix traditional Maasai religion with a few Bible verses that produces a religious system that requires works and submission to spirits and their
leaders.
Most of the people are oral learners and although they can
read, comprehension of the Bible is difficult unless presented orally. The
pastors are not trained, and this leads to teaching that is a mix of
charismatic, pentecostal preaching they hear on the radio or YouTube, traditional
religious practice and belief sprinkled with a few Bible verses that are used
more like a magical charm than the true word of God.
The need is great for trained pastors in Kenya to combat the
Prosperity Gospel, Animism, and all sorts of false teachings that have risen to
keep the people enslaved to sin while promising them the things of this world.
Advance International Sub-Saharan Africa Director: James Bledsoe
TAIWAN
We are excited about our first group of students that will be graduating from Taitung in the Spring. Taitung also has 10 new students that will be starting in March. There are four centers now in Taiwan with Kaohsiung having its first class in March.
Taiwanese Director: Guffy
JAPAN
We are excited about the progress of our Advance Center in Tokyo, Japan!
They just finished their sixth class with five students. These courses are being taught in Japanese and this training has become a meaningful tool of ministry for our IMB partners.
We are exploring other regions of Japan and would ask partners to pray specifically for the Sapporo region. Pictured with Jim is Pastor Jeon san, who has pastored the same church in Sapporo for 30 years! With his help we are trusting the Lord to establish a center there for His glory to train pastors and teachers for the building up of the Church and the spread of His word.
As we end this year, we do so with great thanksgiving for how God is opening doors in a country that has been identified as the second least evangelized nation in the world.
“May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth.”
~Psalm 67:1-2a
Advance Japan Director: Jim Law
THAILAND
In early October at our Advance Thailand school in the Nan province, a group of nine Hmong students graduated . The graduation was 2 hours filled with deep and meaningful expressions of their love and commitment to the Lord. Jim Law preached the graduation sermon from the text 2 Timothy 2:1-13. His message was “Be Strong in the Lord.”
Please pray for Thai and Ming Her, our IMB partners, as they continue to lead our school as well as minister to that area. They are pictured along with Jim Law, Vice-President of Advance International.
Advance Thailand Director: Jim Law
ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
dominican republic
La Romana serves as the site for Advance International Dominican Republic. Located on the coast and surrounded by sugar cane fields, this location provides theological education for students of various backgrounds and occupations. Advance International Dominican Republic typically holds classes all day Friday and Saturday with exams on Sunday afternoon after church two to four times a year. Classes consist of 25-35 pastors, teachers, and church leaders, both men and women of all ages, who serve local churches in a variety of capacities. Though primarily a cooperative ministry of the William Wallace Baptist Association and Baptist Associations of Southeastern Louisiana, instructors come from churches and theological institutions throughout the United States.
Advance International Dominican Republic Director: Brad Delaughter
Advance International Dominican Republic Site Coordinator: Polo Savenit
Left and center are from the Tolupan people group
Advance International HONDURAS
Advance International Honduras holds classes in two cities, Alas de Fe and El Naranjal. Students include a great mix of young men called to ministry as well as older men who are currently serving in ministry. Here are some updates from both schools:
Advance School at Alas de Fe (Joel Williams)
We graduated 24 more students last week, who made up our 4th group of graduates, and among those students were 2 Tolupans, which is one of the few, remaining unreached people groups in Honduras. These brothers -- and others -- are a part of the one evangelical church that we're aware of among the Tolupan, which includes somewhere over 32K people. I taught Intro to Missions this last session, and it was such a joy to pray for and with these young men for their people...and to be reminded of how He is at work there today! God is always so good in the way he works, isn't He!
In Christ,
Joel
Advance School at El Naranjal (Mario Barahona)
- Sessions this year are scheduled for May 23-24, June 27-28, August 29-30, and September 26-27.
- There are a total of 25 students registered at this time.
Advance School at Alas de Fe: Joel Williams
Advance School at El Naranjal : Mario Barahona
Hispaniola Mountain Ministries Honduras
Advance International and Hispaniola Mountain Ministries have teamed up to open a school in Honduras.
NAMIBIA
We were only able to travel to Namibia for teaching once in 2024. We taught October 17-21 and had 31 in attendance with two completing the course work required to obtain a certificate. We plan to travel twice in 2025, in May/June and October. We are planning to shift our conferences to be hosted entirely at the Christian Baptist Church in Ongwediva instead of the lodge we have been using. Pastors and church leaders are attending from all across Northern Namibia and from Southern Angola. Chris McLain, pastor at FBC Bandera, Texas, continues to travel and teach with David Warren. We were also able to take a group of 10 in June 2024 and travel to some of the remote churches whose pastors have or are attending our conferences.
Advance International Namibia Director: David Warren
NICARAGUA
During 9/30-10/2, Dr. David Yi, who is the senior pastor of the San Antonio Korean Baptist Church and is also an adjunct professor of several SBC seminaries, came to teach "Survey of the Old Testament". He also taught "How to preach" on 10/3 for all the graduates and current students as well as any local pastors who are interested in the subject as a special seminar. Since we were still in the season which is called by locals “Winter (rainy season)”, we had few showers during the day that made the heat of the day less severe. It even made us feel cold in the early mornings. We thank God for his grace and mercy that made it possible for our students to learn His word during those 4 days. We also thank God for Dr. Yi as he came to Nicaragua for the third time and faithfully served our students with love and sincerity.
Advance International Nicaragua Director: Dr. Bong Choi
Advance International Nicaragua On-Site Director: Dr. Sung Kim
NEED A SCHOOL STARTED?
We are able to start schools anywhere internationally where they are needed. To get information on how to start a school contact Phil Walker at 601-951-0636 or pwalker@2advance.org.