Advance International

ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

EAST ASIA

Advance International has experienced tremendous growth in East Asia since 2011. We have conducted training in over 36 locations throughout the region. Our student enrollment exceeded 2,100 students over the last ten years. By God’s grace, we were able to complete over 550 classes, with over 500 graduating from our training program.

A significant development in our work came with the cultivation of qualified Asian teachers who live in-country. These teachers have earned, accredited theological Masters degrees and have experience in pastoral ministry. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, we were able to continue training throughout the region through these Asian partners. As a result, 10 classes were completed in 2020 with an enrollment of 115 students.

Another expansion of our work in 2020 was the video recording of our 8 courses. These recordings have expanded our outreach to more pastors and church workers. The videos provide a helpful tool for our partners who can oversee Advance training in their context.

In 2021, we faced continued restrictions because of the pandemic. Yet, we were able to maintain our active centers throughout East Asia with a number of students completing the requirements for graduation. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ opens doors which no one is able to shut (Rev. 3:8), and we praise Him for these advances in training pastors and church workers. We are hopeful that the pandemic will ease in the coming year, and we will have opportunity to return to this region with more resources for gospel advance and the strengthening of the church. Thank you for your prayer and support in this work.

Advance International East Asia Director: Jim Law
Kenya

The Theological Education Team of the Baptist Mission of Kenya (IMB) has launched two AI sites among Maasai associations and have five other prospective sites around the country.

One of those sites is the Matapato Baptist Bible School. Built a number of years ago by Southern Baptists, the school rests between a former missionary house and a meeting house for the local church. Unfortunately, the school sat unused for 10 years until the initiation of the AI program.

The students are hungry for sound biblical teaching as formal theological education programs were not accessible due to cost and distance. The AI program fits nicely into the Theological Education Team’s diversified strategy. In this strategy we are bringing biblically-sound, academic theological programs to the closest local level as possible (local church, association, etc.). By so doing we are able to keep costs down, making education affordable and accessible.

The other site is Ilmamen Baptist Church located in Kajiado County, which is in southern Kenya. The training site was established in September 2021. Recently, they graduated 18 students who rejoiced with their families on their achievement. Their picture is to the left.

Advance International Sub-Saharan Africa Director: James Bledsoe
TAIWAN

We are excited about our first group of students that will be graduating from Taitung in the Spring. Taitung also has 10 new students that will be starting in March. There are four centers now in Taiwan with Kaohsiung having its first class in March.

Taiwanese Director: Guffy
JAPAN

We are excited about the progress of our Advance Center in Tokyo, Japan!
They just finished their sixth class with five students. These courses are being taught in Japanese and this training has become a meaningful tool of ministry for our IMB partners.

We are exploring other regions of Japan and would ask partners to pray specifically for the Sapporo region. Pictured with Jim is Pastor Jeon san, who has pastored the same church in Sapporo for 30 years! With his help we are trusting the Lord to establish a center there for His glory to train pastors and teachers for the building up of the Church and the spread of His word.

As we end this year, we do so with great thanksgiving for how God is opening doors in a country that has been identified as the second least evangelized nation in the world.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth.”
~Psalm 67:1-2a

Advance Japan Director: Jim Law
THAILAND

In early October at our Advance Thailand school in the Nan province, a group of nine Hmong students graduated . The graduation was 2 hours filled with deep and meaningful expressions of their love and commitment to the Lord. Jim Law preached the graduation sermon from the text 2 Timothy 2:1-13. His message was “Be Strong in the Lord.”

Please pray for Thai and Ming Her, our IMB partners, as they continue to lead our school as well as minister to that area. They are pictured along with Jim Law, Vice-President of Advance International.

Advance Thailand Director: Jim Law

dominican republic

La Romana serves as the site for Advance International Dominican Republic. Located on the coast and surrounded by sugar cane fields, this location provides theological education for students of various backgrounds and occupations. Advance International Dominican Republic typically holds classes all day Friday and Saturday with exams on Sunday afternoon after church two to four times a year. Classes consist of 25-35 pastors, teachers, and church leaders, both men and women of all ages, who serve local churches in a variety of capacities. Though primarily a cooperative ministry of the William Wallace Baptist Association and Baptist Associations of Southeastern Louisiana, instructors come from churches and theological institutions throughout the United States.

Advance International Dominican Republic Director: Keith Sheridan
Advance International Dominican Republic Site Coordinator: Polo Savenit
HONDURAS

Advance International Honduras holds classes in two cities, Alas de Fe and El Naranjal. Students include a great mix of young men called to ministry as well as older men who are currently serving in ministry. Here are some updates from both schools:

Advance School at Alas de Fe (Joel Williams)

- We have a group of about 32-35 students now who will be meeting for their third session (5th and 6th classes) this spring in late March/early April.
- We hope that most of these students will be able to graduate this fall when they complete their final classes in the October session.

Advance School at El Naranjal (Mario Barahona)

- Sessions this year are scheduled for May 23-24, June 27-28, August 29-30, and September 26-27.
- There are a total of 25 students registered at this time.

Advance School at Alas de Fe: Joel Williams
Advance School at El Naranjal : Mario Barahona
NAMIBIA

We were only able to travel to Namibia for teaching once in 2024. We taught October 17-21 and had 31 in attendance with two completing the course work required to obtain a certificate. We plan to travel twice in 2025, in May/June and October. We are planning to shift our conferences to be hosted entirely at the Christian Baptist Church in Ongwediva instead of the lodge we have been using. Pastors and church leaders are attending from all across Northern Namibia and from Southern Angola. Chris McLain, pastor at FBC Bandera, Texas, continues to travel and teach with David Warren. We were also able to take a group of 10 in June 2024 and travel to some of the remote churches whose pastors have or are attending our conferences.

Advance International Namibia Director: David Warren
NICARAGUA

During 1/7-9/2025, Dr. Lloyd Harsch from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary taught “Church member discipleship training” for our regular class and also he taught continuing education class for our students and others who want to take the class. The first part of seminar was about “History of Christianity - up to Crusade”. Dr. Harsch will continue the continuing education class with Reformation when he comes back in July to teach “Christian Doctrine”.
We truly thank God for all of His provisions for the successful class. We also thank Dr. Harsch for 4 days of excellent teaching, his willingness to serve our pastors, and his heart for the nations.
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There are 25 Nicaraguan pastors and church leaders self studying right now for the
class “Homiletics” that will be held during 4/8-10/2025. We ask that you please pray with us for them to be faithful and be guided by the Holy Spirit as they study.

Advance International Nicaragua Director: Dr. Bong Choi
Advance International Nicaragua On-Site Director: Dr. Sung Kim

NEED A SCHOOL STARTED?

Our schools fall into two groups. The schools in East Asia, Japan, Kenya, and Taiwan are funded and administrated over directly by Advance International.

Occasionally we have people who have a real passion to start a school in a country where they are serving. If this is true for you, then unfortunately we cannot start a new school for you, but if you will find people, churches, or organizations that are willing to raise the necessary funds to pay for the expenses of the school, and you are willing to administrate over the schools (find local leaders, local students, meeting location, teachers, translators, etc.), then we can partner with you to make sure you meet the requirements so your students can receive the Biblical Ministries Certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

If you would like more information on how to start a school, please contact Advance International President Phil Walker.