AGAPE, a Bible institute designed to train Spanish-speaking Christian leaders, awarded certificates in Christian ministry to six students this spring.
Spring graduates of AGAPE Hispanic Bible Institute are Claudia Mordini, Argentina; Claudio Mordini, Argentina; Skip Martin, director of AGAPE Hispanic Bible Institute; El?as Lima, Guatemala; Danilo P?rez, Guatemala; and Herminio Ram?rez, Mexico. Not pictured, Gilberto Vel?zquez, Mexico.AGAPE was founded by Donald “Skip” Martin, interim vice president for academic affairs at Charleston Southern University and pastor of the Iglesia Evang?lica Aposento Alto (The Upper Room Evangelical Church). Martin is a former missionary to Guatemala with the International Mission Board.
Martin said, “The purpose of AGAPE is to train believers to communicate effectively the message of the Scriptures and to serve as productive leaders in the local church. If something cannot be directly applied to practical, local church ministry, then there is no need for it to be taught in the classroom. Our desire is to offer pertinent and practical instruction in a Hispanic cultural context at no financial cost to the student.”
AGAPE offers three programs: a certificate in Christian ministry, a diploma in Christian ministry, and an advanced diploma in Christian ministry. Courses focus on biblical, historical, ministerial and theological studies.