2025 El Salvador Bible School
For many in Latin America who meet in small or isolated ecclesias, Bible School is more than an event, it is a powerful reminder that they are part of a larger family in Christ.
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Once again, we had the privilege of attending the Bible School on the last weekend of the year. Instead of lodging all overseas visitors in a hotel as in previous years, the brethren decided to create temporary dorms for the young people on the second floor of the San Salvador ecclesial hall. They procured a dozen double bunk beds and installed a couple of extra showers, while sisters from the meeting came early each morning to prepare breakfast.
Many visitors from other countries arrived a few days early to take advantage of the special activities organized for them. The first was an evening in historic downtown San Salvador, freshly renovated and gleaming. The next day they took to the country on a bus tour of several picturesque towns along the beautiful “Route of Flowers.”
On the 24th, when all visitors had arrived, the ecclesia put on a meet-and-greet dinner, with the meat grilled on a barbecue on the sidewalk outside the hall. The next day, everyone went to a lake for swimming and boat rides.
On the first day of the school, mindful of last year’s traffic problems, we left early for our venue in La Palma. Fortunately, we were blessed with a quick trip and were able to begin the school program early.
It was wonderful to have visitors from Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Germany, Canada, and the US. There were nearly 120 of us in all.
Brother Diego Vargas of Costa Rica taught the adult classes on building on the cornerstone, with illustrations on how to strengthen our ecclesial families. Brother Cristian Mamani and Brother Sami Borja of Bolivia taught classes for the young people; we heard they were very interesting and helpful.
On Saturday morning, the men’s and women’s classes were given respectively by Brother Ian Neblett and his wife, Sister Nishla, of Panama, on the subject of self-control. The afternoon began with games, including Bible bingo, which is always popular for its chocolate prizes, followed by another activity: Bible skits put on by the young people. In the evening, we had a bonfire and hymn sing until midnight.
The Sunday-morning Breaking of Bread, with the exhortation given by Brother Ian, was followed by the final class. After lunch, there was the Sunday-school prize-giving, a short farewell talk and the singing of the hymn, “God be With You Till We Meet Again.”
We then packed up and headed back to the hall in San Salvador to share the traditional fruit salad and donuts. The following day, the remaining visitors went to the beach.
The chance to fellowship with a large number of other Christadelphians is not a common thing in Latin America, where so many brethren and sisters meet in small ecclesias or live in isolation. A Bible School gives them the chance to experience the unique fervor of fellowship on a large scale while making new friends in the Truth, friendships that can last a lifetime. This experience helps everyone realize they are not alone and that they must continue encouraging one another, following the example of the Lord Jesus and growing ecclesias to the glory and honor of the Creator.
Jim and Jean Hunter,
CBMA Links for El Salvador