Articles

Open Doors, Pastors Hungry for Theological Training in South America

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

God has opened doors to 6 countries, circled in white below, of 13 in South America. Timothy Two is currently working in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Chile. And we are making plans to begin work in Argentina and Brazil in 2020. See below how God is sending the training into the jungle, to various indigenous people groups, to expatriate people, to working-class married couples, and to the (southern) ends of the earth. 

Peru: training in the city and the jungle

In July, I completed training the 1st “generation” of participants in Lima (below).

Pastor Luis is training the 2nd “generation” of participants in his church in Lima (below).

Some of the 2nd “generation” participants from Pastor Luis’ church are training 3rd “generation” participants in two villages in the Peruvian jungle (below).

Ecuador: training the indigenous Quichua people

A church planted in Guayaquil by the indigenous Quichua people from the Ecuadorian highlands hosted our first workshop in June. Quichua women performed a traditional dance and song for their Father’s Day fellowship. Quichua song and dance video.

Ecuadorian workshop participants (below). Women are in traditional dress.

Argentina: to train the indigenous Toba people

We have been invited to teach workshops among the indigenous Toba people of Rio Villa Bermejito in the Chaco province of northern Argentina. We are praying for a Spanish-English interpreter to be found who can help us begin workshops in 2020.  (Below right) Toba ladies performing a traditional dance. 

Brazil: to train expatriate Haitians 

We have been invited by Pastor Ronald Fracius (below) to teach workshops in a Haitian community in the city of Braco do Norte in southern Brazil. Many Haitians have left their homeland for better opportunities in other countries. We are praying for a French-English or Creole-French-English interpreter so that we can begin workshops there in 2020.  

Colombia: training working-class married couples

I am currently conducting the first workshop in Cartagena. These leaders (below) work full-time jobs in addition to their church responsibilities, so we are training in the evenings and on the weekend. I was delighted to learn that among the 15 participants are 6 married couples. They have asked for more people to come and train them and for our children’s ministry leader training. 

Chile: training to the ends of the earth

In May, National Missionary Partner, Helmuth Aguilar, traveled 3900 miles from his current home in El Salvador to his native country of Chile to conduct three workshops in the cities of Osorno and Llanquihue (below). Chile is the southernmost nation in South America and even claims territory in Antarctica! 

Beginning Workshops in Cartagena, Colombia

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On August 14, I embarked on my first trip to Cartagena, COLOMBIA to teach Workshop #1, “Knowing God,” a study of the attributes of God, with a new group of pastors and church leaders. Workshop coordinator is Pastor Rafael Meza Batista (pictured here with his family, 2nd from right). Please keep us in your prayers this week August 14-22. TimothyTwo.org/dan

Timothy Two Training Goes into the Peruvian Jungle

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Multiple “generations” of Timothy Two training are taking place in Peru! On my latest trip to Lima, Peru, I taught the fourth Timothy Two workshop. During the workshop, one of the participants, Pastor Luis Rojas Espinoza, told me that he, in turn, had trained others in his church using the Timothy Two materials, and that they, in turn, are now using Timothy Two materials to train leaders in small village churches in the Peruvian jungle.

(Above) Generation 1 groups that Beth and I trained in Pamplona Alta (Lima area)

(Above) Generation 2 group that Pastor Luis trained in his church in the Lima area

(Above) Part of the generation 3 group that Juanfrancisco Castro Medina is helping to train in the Peruvian jungle

(Above) Generation 3 churches in two jungle villages whose leaders are being trained using Timothy Two workshop materials by Pastor Luis, his wife Lily and others

Requesting Prayer for Latin American Nations in Crisis

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HAITI

CUBA

VENEZUELA

Testimonials from Cuba

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

These comments were voiced at the conclusion of Workshop 1, “Knowing God” for pastors and “Developing Children’s Ministry” for children’s ministry leaders in Palmira, Cuba.

  • “This material is easy to understand and deep.”
  • “To gather material of this type is complicated, lots of work, this is a good tool.”
  • “I like the dynamic in the meeting. Other conferences are ok, but this is superior.”
  • “It is good to hear from one another, we encourage and edify one another.”
  • “It is not just an intellectual meeting, it is edification.”
  • “Most methods are merely listening with few opportunities to interact, this method includes much discussion.”

Dominican Republic Testimonials

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

These testimonials were written at the conclusion of Workshop 1, “Knowing God,” in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

JEAN HERARD PIERRE LOUIS. “There is a Proverb in Creol that says knowledge is a blessing. Knowing something about God, that means you have more blessing from him. Therefore, I give praise to the Lord for being part of this workshop. I learned many things about God. May God bless you and give you a longer life…with all your family. We love you in Jesus’ name.”

CHARLES PHILOGENE. “First, I give thanks to the Lord for the workshop. I learned a lot about Scripture, so thanks to God. I am more self-confident about what I know from God through you. Bless you so deep Pastor Dan and your family.”

NELSON MARIE GUELDINE. “It’s a grace and a great blessing for me to have the privilege to increase my knowledge about my true God. Bless you, Pastor.”

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El Salvador Testimonials

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

A number of participants shared their thoughts and feelings after completing the series of four pastors’ workshops in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.

Francisco

“I give thanks to the Lord and to the brothers and sisters that are part of Timothy Two, God bless them all. And to the many collaborators and missionaries that are spreading this teaching around the world. I want to share what this workshop has done for us. It brings a lot of knowledge in the Word of God to every student. These are some of the things I have learned:

  1.  I have learned to worship God, to be in love with Him, and that causes us to be more willing to obey, and we praise Him.
  2. I have learned how to guide a group of people under my charge. It has caused us to put in order the work of God, and it has taught me the requirements that every leader must have.
  3. I have learned how to evangelize non-believers, and also about the spiritual gifts we have received from the Lord. This workshop challenges me with the help of God to serve others with love.
  4. I thank all the sisters and brothers – my fellow participants in the class – because by being in the workshop together we have learned from each other.”

Rosa Lina

“In my personal experience, the Timothy Two seminar has helped me to teach my daughter’s father (he was not a believer). But now, by the grace of God, he attends church, he is now a member of the congregation with us and is receiving doctrinal studies in our church. Now he supports my every activity in the church I am involved in and he is participating, too. The seminars have been a great blessing to my life and my family. I have a lot to teach my little daughter, who is now 6 years old, about walking with God and about the work of the Lord. It has been a great tool to teach in my church with the young people. In fact there are new youth leaders that are being equipped with this knowledge though this material. I have been using it also to train teachers from Sunday school in our church. By this means we are spreading the teaching we have received and the teachers can share this with the children they have in Sunday school.”

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Cursos en Línea Teología en Español (Spanish theology courses online)

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Haga clic aquí para cursos en línea de biblia y teología en español.

Tercer Milenio (Third Millennium Ministries) no es una institución académica tradicional, y por lo tanto, no dará crédito académico por sus cursos. Usted está invitado a estudiarlos para su propio beneficio, en forma gratuita. Solamente necesita pulsar sobre “Crear nueva cuenta” en el margen, y seguir las instrucciones para registrarse. Después, seleccione un curso, y pulse sobre el enlace en el margen para matricularse. Es fácil empezar, ¡y estamos seguros que los cursos serán una gran bendición para usted! Si completa un curso satisfactoriamente, puede imprimir un certificado. Para recibir crédito académico, debe estudiar bajo la supervisión y administración de otra institución.

  • Opciones para crédito académico Página
  • STPSP Cursos requeridos Archivo
  • NOTA: Hemos cambiado las categorías de los cursos, pero todos los mismos cursos están disponibles.

Ressources de Théologie Française (French theology courses online)

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Cliquez ici pour des ressources de théologie française en
MP4 (résolution normale)   MP4 (haute résolution)   MP3   Word   PDF

… mettre une théologie valable à la disposition des pasteurs, des responsables d’église et des laïcs. … un outil dynamique et puissant pour former les dirigeants chrétiens. Nous sommes heureux de présenter ces traductions françaises de notre matériel, complétées par notre partenariat avec Huguenot Heritage.

Click here for French theology resources in
MP4 (résolution normale)   MP4 (haute résolution)   MP3   Word   PDF

…making sound theology available to pastors, church leaders and lay people. …a dynamic and powerful tool to train Christian leaders. We are happy to present these French translations of our materials completed through our partnership with Huguenot Heritage.

  • Le Symbole des Apôtres (The Apostles’ Creed)
  • Nous croyons en Dieu (We Believe in God)
  • Nous croyons en Jésus (We Believe in Jesus)
  • Qu’est-ce que l’homme? (What is Man?)
  • Le royaume et l’alliance dans le Nouveau Testament (Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament)
  • Le royaume et l’alliance dans le Nouveau Testament (Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament)
  • Les Évangiles (The Gospels)
  • L’Épître aux Hébreux (The Book of Hebrews)
  • Apocalypse de Jean (The Book of Revelation)
  • Plus (More)…

Video Update 2019: Timothy Two Workshops in Latin America

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

The soundtrack “Dubakupado” is licensed under a Creative Commons License. http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100834Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Website

Timothy Two Project, International exists to serve a critical need around the world. We are committed to equipping and training indigenous pastors and ministry leaders with the essential truths of the Christian faith so that they can train others. This way, the mandate from Christ in the Great Commission to “make disciples” can be accomplished in areas of the world where there is little or no formal biblical and theological training available.

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Belize Pastors and Ministry Leaders Receive Timothy Two Certificates in Biblical and Theological Foundations

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Independence, Belize. Seven pastors and ministry leaders representing four local churches completed the fourth and final workshop this week and received Certificates in Biblical and Theological Foundations from Timothy Two Project International.

Workshop participants (from left) Chun, Kohl, Paquiul, De La Rosa, Peters, Rivas and Ac with their certificates

Pastor Leonel De La Rosa of Bella Vista, Abraham Ac of Medina Bank, and Pastor Epifanio Chun, Jr., Erla Paquiul, Thelma V. Peters, Mary Pearl Rivas and Steve Kohl of Independence have completed the “Growing in Grace” series of workshops.

In this series, they studied and discussed the Biblical doctrines of God, man, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation. In addition, they investigated the Bible’s teachings in practical theology concerning relationships, social issues and personal issues as well as service to God in the church, the community and the world.

They are now equipped to teach these workshops to others within their churches, communities and surrounding regions. In addition to teaching these workshops in their own churches, Pastor Chun, Jr. hopes to teach ministry leaders in more southern parts of Belize, and Pastor De La Rosa hopes to teach other pastors in neighboring Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Workshop participants with their Instructor

This series of workshops was taught by Timothy Two Instructor and Latin America Regional Director, Rev. Dan Sonnenberg, was coordinated by missionary Steve Kohl and held at Global Outreach Mission’s Dental Clinic.

Upcoming Teaching Trips to Belize and Cuba

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Timothy Two Project International: Latin America Region

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

I will be teaching Workshop 4 in Independence, BELIZE February 11-16 with the group in the first photo coordinated by Steve Kohl.

I will be teaching Workshop 1 in Las Tunas, CUBA March 18-23 with a new group of pastors in a new city coordinated by Leo and Esdras in the second photo.

Please keep me in your prayers. Support my work in eleven cities in nine Latin American countries http://bit.ly/2LvuTby.


Dan and coordinator Steve Kohl with pastors and church leaders in Independence, BELIZE
Dan and Beth with coordinators Leo and Esdras in Havana, CUBA.

World Map of Current Timothy Two Projects

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Timothy Two’s New Digital Magazine “Alere”

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

See how Timothy Two is training pastors and children’s ministry leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America

Advantages and Funding of “National Missionary Partners”

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Timothy Two Project, International

by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

What is a “National Missionary Partner” and what do they do?

A Timothy Two “National Missionary Partner” is an indigenous pastor who has always lived in Asia, Africa or Latin America, who has completed the series of four Timothy Two workshops, and who is then sent to other towns and cities in his own country to teach those workshops to other groups of pastors. We call them “national” missionaries because they serve among their own people. By contrast, others of us would be referred to as “international” missionaries because we serve in many countries throughout a particular region. We call these pastors missionary “partners” because they extend our ability to reach other pastors within each country. They have contacts in other regions, cities and towns who also need these workshops.

The advantages of National Missionary Partners

There are three definite advantages to having National Missionary Partners work with us: 1) their travel expenses are lower than ours because they
are able to use local means of transportation instead of flying ; 2) there is no need or expense for an interpreter because they already speak the local language; and, 3) they are already familiar with the people and their culture so that the teaching is properly contextualized.

The funding of National Missionary Partners

You can now make donations online or by check for the work of our National Missionary Partners in Latin America (Cuba, Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Peru, Chile), East and Central Africa, North India, and Myanmar. These donations will fund all the Partners in each region on an “as needed” basis coordinated by the Regional Directors: Bryan Slater – Africa; Steve Curtis – Asia; and, Dan Sonnenberg – Latin America.

You can “adopt” a Region

Thus, you can virtually “adopt” a Region to financially support the work of all the National Missionary Partners there. It is much less expensive to send national pastors than it is to send someone from the USA. Thus, a donation of $45 provides one workshop for one pastor. $450 provides one workshop for 10-12 pastors. $1800 provides a complete series of four workshops for 10-12 pastors. With every donation, you are helping to train pastors in the fundamentals of the faith and providing the materials they can use to train others in their own churches, cities, and nation. We thank God for these Partners who are willing to put in the extra time and effort to train fellow pastors among their own people. And we thank you for your prayers and financial support on their behalf.

“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”‘ (Revelation 5:9-10)

Poverty in Peru and the Contribution of Timothy Two

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Lima, Peru. A testimonial from local pastor, church planter and Timothy Two workshop coordinator, Reynaldo Rubio.

It’s the first days of September 2018. Our teacher of the Timothy Two workshop, Dan Sonnenberg, is teaching the third workshop for leadership in the Republic of Peru.

Thanks for Timothy Two

Thank God for the ministry Timothy Two. We continue with the time of biblical and theological training for several pastors and leaders of Pamplona and Lima South. The theme of this third workshop is practicing the life of the kingdom: family, church, the world, government, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, work, money, votes, fear, disease, pain, suicide and death. It’s the third workshop of four seasons of training. We thank Timothy Two for its willingness to contribute to us. It will be a time of much blessing.

Main causes of poverty in Peru

With about eight million people living in some kind of poverty, Peru can be considered an impoverished country. While poverty can be found throughout the country, most people living in extreme poverty reside in rural areas. Poverty exists around the world as a result of many different reasons. Here are three broad, but influential causes of poverty in Peru:

Natural disasters

Being located in a seismic area, Peru is being constantly whipped by earthquakes. In addition to earthquakes, Peruvians also suffer from a large amount of floods, landslides and droughts. All these natural disasters have different ways of impacting the people of the country. With the environment of Peru altered by nature, agriculture can be slow as a result, therefore damaging the country’s economy and the food security of people. The damage that natural disasters leave on houses and cities also tend to damage the economy, as more money is needed for repairs.

The division between rich and poor

In Peru, there is a wall that divides the rich and poor of the country, literally. The Capital of Lima is divided into two parts: the poor and the rich. The rich are so serious about keeping their side inhabited by the rich who require them to show an id card to get in. According to Business Insider, a wealth gap between rich and poor is not beneficial to the economy. With an extreme division like there is in Lima, the poor will probably remain poor as people who could help them are practically imprisoned.

The inequality that women face

Peruvian women earn 30 percent less than men in the workplace. They are also subject to sexual violence and murder. In an attempt to achieve equality, women have participated in marches to defend their rights. If women are better treated and more opportunities are provided, they will have more to offer economically and essentially they will be able to provide for them and their families to a greater extent.

Hope for the future

Despite all these causes of poverty in Peru, some progress has been made. Overall poverty in the country decreased 1.1 percent from 2015 to 2016. Fortunately, Peru will continue to address poverty and eliminate some of the causes.

Training Children’s Ministry Leaders in Latin America

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by Beth Stokley Sonnenberg

God has blessed me with the opportunity to teach women and men how to work more effectively with their children in Latin America. Though much of this region is more advanced than some other parts of the world, they are still very much influenced by old world Catholicism in their ways and its views of Christianity. Many of the Latin American countries teach their children in a traditional manner, that is, with the teacher telling a story and the children sitting and listening.

Havana, Cuba

In our workshop for children’s ministry leaders, we introduce the concept of active learning and train participants to involve the children in the learning process using activities, puppets, play acting, music and games which involve all three learning styles. We also teach tried and true methods of lovingly disciplining children so their classes can be run more effectively. Introducing them to the concept of team-teaching also helps encourage potential new teachers and makes teaching easier by sharing the load.

Havana, Cuba

Haiti has a mix of voodoo and ancestor worship that taints their Christianity. We are pleased to bring solid theology to the churches there. The first Timothy Two workshop for pastors and ministry leaders, “Knowing God,” is used to create a curriculum for children. As teachers and children study the attributes of God they can know Him and worship Him more fully. Helping teachers learn to study God’s word, showing them what materials are available to help in their teaching, giving them information about how children can be taught more effectively at a young age and modelling new teaching styles brings excitement to a task often viewed as challenging to many adults.

Palmira, Cuba

I have had the privilege of ministering to teachers in Havana and Palmira, Cuba; Lima, Peru; and, Jacmel, Haiti so far. We also have invitations to teach in new locations in Haiti, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. It brings me great joy to teach children’s ministry leaders who desire to learn and to see the joy in their faces as they learn that teaching children can be a positive, exciting and rewarding experience which can produce much fruit.

Lima, Peru

What a privilege to teach people who desire to learn and improve their skills. Many of the places we go have very limited resources and it is often overwhelming to see the needs there. I find comfort in knowing that you with your support and Dan and I in our service can help influence and educate God’s precious people in Latin America. Many often feel forgotten by God because of their neediness. When you send missionaries you show that God has not forgotten them and that you care about them. We may not be able to give them a lot of money but we can share what we have learned. That makes a world of difference to those we visit. You care, we care and most importantly GOD cares. Our prayer for each of the countries we visit is that they will use these teaching skills to reach out into their communities and bring in the harvest that is all around them. Thank you so much for your part in what we do. We can’t go without your prayers and support!

Jacmel, Haiti

Fall 2018 Teaching Trips to Peru, El Salvador, Haiti; New Latin American Venues in 2019

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Cours de Niveau Séminaire en Français de Ministères du Troisième Millénaire

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Ressources françaises des Ministères du Troisième Millénaire.

French Resources from Third Millenium Ministries.

http://french.thirdmill.org/

Ressources françaises
Nous sommes heureux de vous présenter ces traductions françaises de notre matériel réalisées grâce à notre partenariat avec Huguenot Heritage.

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Cursos a Nivel de Seminario en Español de Ministerio Tercer Milenio en Video, Audio y Manuscrito

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Spanish Resources from Third Millennium Ministries.
Cursos a nivel de seminario en español de Ministerio Tercer Milenio en video, audio y manuscrito.  Seminary level resources in Spanish in video, audio and manuscript form.

http://espanol.thirdmill.org/resources.asp/category/resources

Las lecciones de seminario de Ministerio Tercer Milenio están disponibles en línea en los formatos de video, audio y texto. Las lecciones son completamente gratuitas para ser descargadas y para verse en línea. Las lecciones descargables pueden ser copiadas gratuitamente y distribuidas. Los DVDs también están disponibles. El Ministerio Tercer Milenio también ofrece clases en línea para ser usadas por estudiantes, maestros e instituciones.

Guía Básica:

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Timothy Two Project International: Our Calling, Mission, Vision, Curriculum and Financial Accountability

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

  • Our Calling: 2 Timothy 2:2, “…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
  • Our Mission: To train local pastors and church leaders in developing nations in the essential doctrines of the faith and to equip them to train others.
  • Our Vision: To see the global church of Jesus Christ equipped for the effective ministry of the gospel throughout the world, irrespective of geographical, cultural, financial or political challenges.
  • Our Curriculum: Timothy Two Curriculum: Growing in Grace Series Table of Contents lists the theological topics we teach in the four workshops.
  • Financial Accountability: Timothy Two is an evangelical, Reformed ministry, organized as a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit missions organization, accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
  • Visit us/Donate:  Timothy Two Project International

Timothy Two Project International Curriculum

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

We teach the fundamentals of the faith to pastors and ministry leaders in over 35 countries around the world who do not have access to seminary training due to their location, work or finances so that they can teach others and thus strengthen the Church.

What we teach in the four courses of our curriculum:

  1. God’s Attributes (Theology Proper). God is Trinity, self-existent, infinite, eternal, unchanging, self-sufficient, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, great, sovereign, all-wise, good, loving, gracious, jealous, just, true and holy.
  2. Salvation (Anthropology, Christology, Soteriology, Pneumatology). What is man, sin, depravity? Who is Jesus: the God-man, his state of humiliation, his state of exaltation, as Prophet, as Priest, as King? What is election, salvation, regeneration, faith, repentance, atonement, redemption, justification, adoption, baptism of the Spirit, sanctification, perseverance and glorification?
  3. Practicing Kingdom Living in Relationships, Social Issues and Personal Issues (Practical Theology 1). What does the Bible say about husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, friends, church, the world, government/authority, divorce, sexual sin, homosexuality, abortion, work, money, oaths and vows, fear, sickness, grief, suicide and death?
  4. Serving God in the Church, Community and World (Practical Theology 2). Serving God as pastor, elder, deacon, teacher, in cell groups, men’s ministries, women’s ministries, youth ministries, children’s ministries, through worship, hospitality, giving, by meeting material needs of others, promoting justice, working unto the Lord, living as “salt and light,” through prayer, through humility, by sending missionaries, by going as missionaries, discerning your call to serve.

    For more information: http://www.timothytwo.org

Timothy Two Project in El Salvador

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

God’s Provision and Protection in Haiti

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Click the link below. Stories, pictures and videos from my second teaching trip to Haiti

Training Pastors and Children’s Ministry Leaders in Peru

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Report on my second trip to train pastors and Beth’s first trip to train children’s ministry leaders in Peru, and my upcoming trip to Haiti.

Training Pastors and Leaders in Peru and El Salvador

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Read about my first teaching trips to these countries.

 

 

Training Pastors and Children’s Ministry Leaders in Cuba

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Read about our continuing work in Havana, Cuba and our new work in Palmira-Cienfuegos (central Cuba).

Training Pastors and Church Leaders in Belize

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Read about my second and third workshops in Belize.

Top 50 Orthodox Evangelical Christian Pop Culture Blogs

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Jared Moore has assembled a list of the current top 50 orthodox evangelical Christian blogs that often interact with popular culture.

Free Classic eBooks on Justification by Faith (Sola Fide) at Monergism.com

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

For free eBooks on this topic by A.W. Pink, John Owen, Charles Hodge, Martin Luther and more click here.

The New City Catechism: A Modern Method to Learn Core Christian Doctrines

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

“The New City Catechism” is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers. Below is an excerpt. It is available in Book, Web App and Mobile App form. Each question also includes a Scripture, a Prayer and a Commentary for weekly devotional use. Questions and answers are adapted from various historic catechisms.

Question 1: 
What is our only hope in life and death?

Answer 1: 
That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

Children’s Answer 1: 
That we are not our own but belong to God.

Scripture: Romans 14:7–8
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Prayer: 
Christ Our Hope, in life and in death, we cast ourselves on your merciful, fatherly care. You love us because we are your own. We have no good apart from you, and we could ask for no greater gift than to belong to you. Amen.

Commentary: John Calvin

If we, then, are not our own but the Lord’s, it is clear what error we must flee, and whither we must direct all the acts of our life. We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us. . . . We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God’s: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal. O, how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God! For, as consulting our self-interest is the pestilence that most effectively leads to our destruction, so the sole haven of salvation is to be wise in nothing and to will nothing through ourselves but to follow the leading of the Lord alone.

Commentary: Timothy Keller 
At one point in his writings John Calvin lays out the essence of what it means to live the Christian life. He says that he could make us a list of the commandments we should be keeping or a list of all the character traits we should be exhibiting. But instead, he wants to boil it down to the basic motive and the basic principle of what it means to live the Christian life.
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96.4% Eclipse, 100% Glory of God

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

We are told that in our area of southeastern North Carolina that we will be able to experience 96.4% of the total eclipse today (Monday, August 21). The opening verses of Psalm 19 remind us that the majesty of the heavens declare, with nary a word, the glory of their Creator, not only to some, but to all.
 
“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
 
“God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.”

Is God a Beneficent Provider or Cruel Oppressor?

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

“[T]he snake…said to the woman, ‘Indeed! To think that God said you are not to eat of any tree of the garden!'” (Gen. 3:1)

“[T]he serpent…grossly exaggerates God’s prohibition, claiming that God did not allow them access to any of the orchard trees. Apart from this claim being unadulterated distortion, it is an attempt to create in the woman’s mind the impression that God is spiteful, mean, obsessively jealous and self-protective. [B]y this one statement of the snake God has moved from beneficent provider to cruel oppressor.”

Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17 (1990) Eerdmans 186, 188-189

How the Wisdom of God Healed Man

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

“Seeing, then, that man fell through pride, He restored him through humility. We were ensnared by the wisdom of the serpent: we are set free by the foolishness of God. Moreover, just as the former was called wisdom, but was in reality the folly of those who despised God, so the latter is called foolishness, but is true wisdom in those who overcome the devil.”

Augustine, bishop of Hippo Regius, Numidia in north Africa (354-430 AD) , On Christian Doctrine, Book 1, Chapter 14.

The Problem of Evil

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Addressing the question, “How could a good God allow so much, evil, pain, and suffering – or does he simply not care?

“Having looked at the four commonly proposed solutions, I’d like to offer what I am convinced is a vastly better option: to live in the tension and accept that there is a God [he exists] – One who is good [he hates evil], who is great [he is all-powerful], and who nevertheless allows real evil in the world [things that are in rebellion to him and that at this moment are challenging him] for a season and for his greater purposes.

It’s also wise to admit to ourselves that we don’t have a simplistic solution that wraps this problem up in neat bow that makes everyone feel good. In fact, there’s nothing we can say to make people suddenly okay with the evil around them or the suffering in their lives. Because – let’s be honest – we’re not okay with it, either! That said, there are some practical thoughts we can offer to our friends to show them that Christianity offers the most satisfying answers to this problem.”

Mark Mittelberg, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask: With Answers (2010) Tyndale House 130, 138.

Reaching Your World with the Gospel: Three Commitments

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

“There are at least three commitments that every church should make.

“[1]…to support the church in other parts of the world…[with] theological training…prayer…finances…

[2]…to send out missionaries…Christians who are willing to go…totally committed to living for Christ…willing to die for Christ…

[3]…to realize that every Christian is a missionary…[in] your local community…helping to plant growing, vibrant missions-minded churches…re-evangelizing dying congregations…reaching out to internationals…speak[ing] about spiritual things with friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members…penetrating society in culture-transforming ways [as] Christian lawyers and doctors, singers and dancers, builders and bakers, students and teachers, buyers and sellers, journalists and politicians.”

Philip Graham Ryken, City On a Hill: Reclaiming the Biblical Pattern for the Church in the 21st Century (2003) Moody Publishers 141-145.

 

Drawing People into Christ

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

“…the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952) Barbour and Company 168-169.

Man as the Image of Christ

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“In Christ man sees what manhood was meant to be…men are the image of Christ so far as they are like Christ…this is how man, the image of God, who is already man, already the image of God, can become fully man, fully the image of God.”

Considering the New Testament appropriation of Genesis 1:27, “God created man in his image. In the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Clines, Tynbul 19 (1968) 103 in Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17 (1990) Eerdmans 147.

 

Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) Position Paper on Human Sexuality

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

Adopted by the 37th General Assembly, June 2017

http://epcoga.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/Files/1-Who-We-Are/B-About-The-EPC/Position-Papers/PositionPaper-HumanSexuality.pdf

An excerpt…

“In a time when views of human sexuality and marriage are rapidly changing, we believe it is necessary and helpful to state clearly and compassionately to the church and the world our beliefs about God’s design for human sexuality. We wish to do so with love toward all as we attempt to imitate God’s love for us.1 We long for the Church as well as society to conform to biblical standards of sexuality; but our ultimate desire is that, through the gospel, all may come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives and receive His gift of eternal life.”

A Position Paper expresses the mind of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on a subject of compelling interest. It is a definitive but not an exhaustive statement. A Position Paper is not to be regarded as binding on the conscience of churches or individuals.

Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 4

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by Daniel L. Sonnenberg

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Cuban pastors and ministry leaders with Certificates in Biblical and Theological Foundations

Pastors and ministry leaders in Havana, Cuba completed Timothy Two Project International’s Workshop 4, “Serving God: Living Life in Response to Grace” in which we studied and discussed what the Bible teaches about serving God in the church, the community and the world.

Having also completed three previous workshops in our “Growing in Grace” series earlier this year, they each received a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Foundations.

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Pastors and ministry leaders with workbook 4

On this trip, my wife, Beth, accompanied me for the first time to teach classes for children’s ministry leaders and music ministry leaders. She is pictured below with her students and some of their children.

See my full report (with more photos) on our teaching trip to Cuba during June 2017.

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Beth with children’s ministry leaders and music ministry leaders

See also:

For more information about our work in Latin America:

For more information about the work of other Timothy Two instructors in Africa and Asia: