Latin American Journey: Insights for Christian Education in North America

From Preface: "This work emerged from a journey to Latin America in which I learned to see the challenges of Christian education from a new perspective. This journey enabled me, in my own outlook, to reverse the traditional flow of influence from North America to the south as I endeavored to learn from what God is doing among the people, churches, schools and communities in Latin America. I was able then to relate what I learned to the situation in North America. This journey also afforded me a personal opportunity, as a North American Hispanic, to explore my Latin roots by visiting for the first time the land of my ancestors' origin. The introduction to this work recounts some of the particulars of this incredible journey through he countries of Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua. The focus will be upon the personal significance of the journey. Chapter 1 presents the unique challenges posed by liberation theologies for the ongoing life and work of the Christian church throughout the Americas, both North and South. It also considers a reappraisal of this theological perspective which has elicited both positive and negative reactions globally. Chapter 2 explores the implications of liberation theology for religious and theological education, with special reference to the pioneering work of the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire. Chapter 3 presents a model of Christian education based on what can be learned from an analysis of God's mission in the world and the place of Christian education in relation to that mission. This model draws upon what was learned from Latin American developments. One of these developments, the rise of theological education for the whole people of God, is the focus of chapter 4, along with a comparison of the conflict and equilibrium paradigms for education, which serve to distinguish Latin American and North American concerns. Chapter 5 discusses in detail the model of multicultural education and highlights the value of Hispanic culture as one contributing partner to the multicultural feast that is now possible on a global scale. In the final chapter, chapter 6, makes a number of suggestions for the future of Christian education through the consideration of the themes of partnership, potentials, and problems as they relate to the task of rebuilding Christian education. What was learned from my journey south has provocative implications for the task of rebuilding in the years ahead."