Teaching in Argentina
Teaching in Argentina
Dr. Kaminski with her Genesis students in Argentina, March 2024
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of teaching a course on Genesis in Argentina at a seminary called the Facultad de Teología Integral (FTIBA). Dr. Pablo Polischuk, Senior Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is president of the newly formed seminary in Buenos Aires, and two former students of mine are administrators and teach there. It was such a blessing to reconnect with them and to see how God is blessing this ministry, as they work tirelessly and sacrificially to provide theological education for the next generation of leaders. I am also thankful for the translators who not only translated my lectures into Spanish, but they even tracked with me as I taught Hebrew exegesis in Genesis! I was blessed by the warm hospitality, and amazing food—wow!!
While I was in Argentina, I was reminded yet again of the abundance of theological books we have in the US, especially in comparison to other countries. One student in my class was so delighted to show me the Hebrew grammar that he purchased by Pratico and Van Pelt, the same grammar that is used at Gordon-Conwell. Gary Pratico taught me Hebrew, and I have used his grammar in my classes for years. Amazon sells the grammar for under $27.00, and the second edition (which the student had bought) sells for less than $12.00 at a second-hand store. The student paid $50.00 for his book, and with lower wages, this is an expensive purchase. The grammar was also in English since there’s no Spanish version available. This is why I’m so grateful for Project Nehemiah, the non-profit organization committed to translate quality theological books into Spanish. These books are vital for seminaries like FTIBA, so that students are able to study the Scriptures in the original languages and be equipped to teach and preach it to others.
As you may know, Casket Empty has partnered with Proyecto Nehemias (Project Nehemiah). They will be translating the Casket Empty Bible resources into Spanish, which is a wonderful answer to prayer. While I was in Argentina, I was able to give away English versions of the Casket Empty timelines and maps to students, but when the Casket Empty translation project has been completed, the timelines, study guides, and Bible studies will be available for Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters in countries like Argentina, where resources are desperately needed. Project Nehemiah will be producing and distributing Casket Empty products in Spain and Latin America. Any income generated from these sales will go directly to Project Nehemiah to ensure that high-quality theology books are accessible in Spanish. With this project in mind, it was such a blessing to me personally get to know these students preparing for ministry, who will be able to use the Casket Empty Bible resources in their own ministry contexts in the years to come. You may have heard that Casket Empty and Project Nehemiah are seeking to raise money toward this translation project. If you would like to read more about it or give to the project, you can use this link (all gifts are tax-deductible).
Carol Kaminski
What a great group of students!
