By Peter Sholl / CMS Missionary in Mexico (2009-2020); currently International Director of CMS
When Sarah and I arrived as CMS missionaries in Mexico in 2009, my long-term task was clear: learn Spanish, get to know Latin American culture, and see what I could do to grow the ministry of MOCLAM beyond the solid base that had been established in Chile. As I started those tasks, one thing quickly became clear: to do any of that, relationships were key. Whether it was learning the subtleties of using the subjunctive correctly or understanding why pastors thought the way they did about theological education, getting to know people, spending time with them and learning to love them was critical.
I attended a lot of churches, conferences and camps around the region, and listened to many talks and seminars. As my Spanish improved, I started to interact and contribute to those conversations. I also started to teach MOCLAM courses, which allowed me to familiarise myself with the wonderful depths of the PTC material, but also to think further about how this material might be applied in a Latin American context.
I was continually reminded that reading the Bible as a whole book with Jesus as the focus was a new concept for many of my students, so I spent extra time talking about timelines, the promises of a loving God and the fulfilment of his promises in Jesus. I also needed to think about the educational context in which MOCLAM students had been formed, as critical thinking and essay writing skills were not the norm. This led to the provision of additional materials, like workbooks, tutorial videos and online quizzes. These materials, along with the personal style of classes offered, meant that teaching was more effective, while also allowing greater time for personal interaction and involvement in the lives of students.
Through teaching classes and participating in other activities, like preaching workshops and student conferences, I was given many opportunities to show how God’s love for his people is present throughout the whole Bible and is ultimately focussed in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. However, there is no question that I received from God’s people throughout Latin America just as much challenge and encouragement to understand God’s love as I offered to them. I was encouraged regularly by my Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters’ reliance on God and by the reality of his love in their lives. Their desire to live for him and share his love with their communities in their evangelism and service was often a real challenge to me. And so, even though I was the one encouraging and teaching them PTC material, we grew together.
Now that I’m back in Australia, I think about ministry questions regularly with this extra lens for reflection. I’m excited to hear what God is doing through MOCLAM in the Spanish-speaking world and through the PTC program all over the globe.
Peter Scholl graduated from Moore College in 2002 and 2008.
