Centennial-- Bautista Universidad de las Americas, a Southern Baptist seminary in San Antonio, has opened two sites in Colorado.

Through the university's Baptist Bible Institutes, church leaders can obtain theological training.  The institute operates one site at the Mile High Baptist Association in Denver, and another at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Windsor.  BUA has 18 other institutes throughout Texas, one in Alabama and three in Mexico.

Throughout the Colorado Baptist Convention's Hispanic community, church leaders have expressed a desire for formal and informal theological training.  Three years ago, Hispanic Baptists across the state began praying, specifically, for a location for the institute, teachers, students and an opening date.

Fernando Caballero and his father, Samuel, led the way in setting up the Spanish seminary.  They both are ethnic church planter-strategists serving Longs peak and Mile High Baptist associations, respectively.  CBC intercultural missional team leader Lazaro Chapa joined them in prayer and planning.

The mission of the training center is to provide the tools Hispanic churches need to saturate Colroado with the gospel.  Only a week after the announcement that the BUA Baptist Bible would open this spring, 10 students signed up and teachers made themselves available.  Classes began March 5 with 29 students at the Denver location and 15 in Windsor.

The vision for the institute is to be a multi-ethnic Bible college offering a bachelor's degree.  Currently, all the material is offered in Spanish and English; teaching is done in Spanish.  The institute offers a two-year program where graduates receive a diploma in Bible and theological studies.  Also available are programs for a certificate in biblical studies, and a certificate in ministerial studies.

School leaders said they hope to add programs so students can pursue certificates in: the ACTS Training Center with an emphasis on the foundation of a godly leader; the Great Commission ministry of music with an emphasis on worship; and missiology training with an emphasis in cross-cultural studies, focusing on the different people groups of Colorado.  Training in these courses is available during the approval process.

For details, contact Fernando Caballero at (720) 934-1570, Sam Caballero at (303) 433-9100 or Lazaro Chapa at (303) 771-2480.