See the documents provided for details on the administrative structure for GATS and the Job Descriptions for GEC members.

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Administrative Structure of GATS
Job Descriptions of GATS

Rev. Bruce Howell is the General Director of Foreign Missions. He is the former dean of Christian Education at Jackson College of Ministries, was appointed to El Salvador in 1979 and served there for about twenty years, became a Regional Director, and was elected as the general director in October 2001.

Brother Howell emphatically states, “Ministerial education is crucial to the future of the United Pentecostal Church International. The Church marches forward only to the extent that we evangelize the world and educate our converts. GATS is a cutting edge education program that uses the foundation of our past to build for the bright future of taking the Whole Gospel to the Whole World by the Whole Church in the 21st century. I stand firmly behind the work of GATS and the Global Education Committee. I foresee ground-breaking changes in the way we go about Bible school training.”

Lloyd Shirley graduated from Apostolic Bible Institute; evangelized, pastored, and was appointed to the Leeward Islands in 1973. Brother and Sister Shirley wasted no time in establishing Lighthouse Bible School in St. Croix and held training programs in other islands. In 1991 he became the regional director for Central America/Caribbean, and in 1999 the director of Education and Associates in Missions.

Brother Shirley states, “GATS has come at the right time. With electronic media and freshly created curriculum, the Foreign Missions Division marches into 21st century education training men and women in Bible colleges around the world. I am delighted to be a part of this great endeavor.”

An Old Chinese proverb says, “If you’re planting for one year, plant rice. If you are planting for ten years, plant trees. But if you are planting for one hundred years, plant men.” We are planting for eternity, so we plant the truth in the hearts of God-called and Spirit-empowered Bible school students. We know, with the proper nurturing, they will pass the truth to the next generation. The process will continue until Jesus comes!

James Poitras has a BEd from the University of New Brunswick, a BA in Biblical Studies from Indiana Bible College, and is actively pursuing a MA in Ministerial Studies (Education Concentration) from Global University. Additionally he has attended the United Pentecostal Church Bible Institute. His wife, Linda, is also an educator with a bachelor’s degree from Troy State University. Both have been extensively involved in missions and Bible school administration for twenty-five years.

Brother Poitras presently serves as the President of the African Center of Theological Studies and Director of Christian Education for UPCI Ghana. He coordinated Africa’s regional theological education program for five years until February 2007 when he was asked to serve as the Coordinator of the Global Association of Theological Studies. His web site is www.reachingthroughteaching.com.

Brother Poitras is the founder of Portable Bible Schools International and has authored its curriculum in four levels entitled Acts: God’s Training Manual for Today’s Church. This two hundred lesson series is widely used and translated into multiple languages. Literally thousands of students have studied under this program. He is a prolific writer, especially in the realm of curriculum and recently completed his ninth book entitled Growing Leaders. Linda has written two Bible college textbooks and multiple manuals for Reaching Africa’s Children.

Brother Poitras talks, breathes, bleeds, and lives Bible school education. His personal vision is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Jerry Richardson, an MK, graduated from Conqueror’s Bible College, pastored, and was appointed to Madagascar in 1974. He became the regional director for Africa in 1996. The church in Madagascar continues to experience phenomenal growth. Why? The Richardson family strongly believe in Bible school, evidenced by the extensive training program they established; one of the finest on the continent and around the world. Sister Richardson is an active and avid backer of Bible school training.

Brother Richardson once commented, “We have a complicated task, because we live in a complicated society. We have an advanced, highly educated society and yet there is the traditional which bring a slower paced, less educated society. The church must meet both.” To meet this need he actively pursued a foundational meeting of key international leaders, missionaries, and nationals to discuss continuous improvement in Bible schools within Africa. In June 2002 the Africa Association of Theological Studies was born. A partially standardized curriculum was established and has worked well.

Jerry Richardson is a visionary. He continued to lift his eyes from Africa, looking at the condition of Bible school training globally. In 2006, along with Robert K. Rodenbush, they petitioned for a Global Education Network gathering. The Director of Education, Lloyd Shirley, facilitated such a meeting in October 2006. The Global Association of Theological Studies and the Global Education Committee both were established in those pivotal sessions given new direction in the way we go about Bible school education.

Robert K. Rodenbush has served in various missions capacities for nearly forty years (appointed as a missionary in 1968, coordinator of Overseas Ministries in 1979, and regional director of Europe/Middle East in 1990). Brother Rodenbush gives great attention to detail and is noted for his high standard of excellence, ability to recruit the next generation of missionaries, and to facilitate development of effective policy. Beyond being an outstanding administrator, Brother Rodenbush is an inexorable visionary promoter of world evangelism, revival, and training. He established the United Pentecostal Church in five West African nations. The number of countries opened to the gospel in Europe/Middle East, during his service as regional director, is nothing short of miraculous.

Brother Rodenbush possesses several academic credentials, established the Ghana College of Bible, and is responsible for the Overseas Ministries Training Series curriculum. Under his tenure Europe/Middle East has instituted a board of Christian education and a growing training ministry. In 2006, while ministering and visiting in Ghana, Brother Rodenbush discussed with Brother Jerry Richardson the need for thorough development of the global Bible school program. They proposed a meeting of the educational minds and experts to discuss the future. This took place in October 2006. In that meeting the Global Association of Theological Studies was founded and later approved in March 2007. Brother and Sister Rodenbush, in addition to a multitude of responsibilities, always find time to encourage GATS leadership to be cutting-edge and a catalyst for change in the way Bible school education is done in the twenty-first century.

Lynden Shalm has a long history of involvement with Bible schools and missions. He returned from Asia, as a MK, to attend Conqueror's Bible College and then graduated from Apostolic Missionary Institute. In addition to pastoring, Brother Shalm has served at the Apostolic Missionary Institute (Instructor), United Pentecostal Bible Institute (Dean of Men and then Principal), and New Life Training Center in Pakistan (Principal). He also helped establish training programs in Sri Lanka and served on the School Board for the Lahore American School.

Brother Shalm has served as missionary since 1984 and became the Regional Director of Asia in 2003.

Multiplied millions in Asia have an interest in continuing education. Times Online in December 2006 reported that India is targeted as the computer and Internet's most important emerging market right alongside China (with its 137 million online). That only scratches the surface of the potential for GATS to be a blessing throughout Asia.

Meeting John Hopkins is nothing short of a treat. He has a great sense of humor, and physically stands head and shoulders above the rest in the room (and I’m talking several heads). His physical stature translates into the spiritual realm where his ministerial achievements are just as gigantic.

Brother John Hopkins became a licensed minister at sixteen, and later attended Texas Bible College. He studied Spanish for three months and was preaching in Spanish within six months. Brother and Sister Hopkins started a Spanish-speaking church in Houston, pastored a Spanish congregation in Bronx, New York, started a Spanish church in Queens, New York and organized the first two Spanish conferences of the UPCI.

He was appointed as pioneer missionary to Panama in 1979 and served there for eighteen years as the elected President of the work. He also founded and directed the Instituto Biblico Pentecostal for eighteen years, and was the director of the Bible school in Costa Rica for seven years. Brother Hopkins is the accomplished author of several books. Some of these are used not only in Bible schools in Central America/Caribbean but around the globe. He has served as Superintendent/President of our churches in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama before being appointed as the Regional Director of the CAC Region in 2004. He also worked as the regional coordinator of Leadership Development International. He is an active member of PenteCom.

What does Brother Hopkins have to say about GATS? He emphatically states, “I believe In GATS!” His support is pivotal in touching the thirty-eight nations that comprise the Central America/Caribbean Region. By the way, that is thirty-eight nations with a UPCI presence and forty-one Bible schools with 1,250 students.

A high standard of excellence prevails throughout the visionary administrative and regional ministry set-up of the CAC Region, and is certainly welcomed within the ranks of the Global Association of Theological Studies.

Richard Denney graduated from Conqueror's Bible College, pastored extensively, and then labored as a missionary to the Philippines. He established two Bible schools there and has promoted training throughout the Pacific Region for eleven years. He also served as a District Superintendent in the USA.

He believes that Bible school training is the key to evangelizing a nation and that it provides a pool of future leaders for administrating the national church organization. Trained pastors, evangelists, and teachers will produce solid, strong, balanced churches that will stand the test of time. The in-depth training of a two or three year program may be slow in placing men and women on the field, but will accelerate the long-term results once individuals arrive on location. Well said!

So, when it comes to continuous improvement in training count Regional Director, Richard Denney in.

Brother Darry Crossley, Regional Director of South America, has extensive history of involvement in missions and Bible schools. He graduated from Conquerors Bible College in 1972. He taught a couple of courses there while waiting on resident visas to Argentina in 1976. He set up the first regular Bible school in Argentina in 1974-75, directed it for many years, and taught up to twenty hours per week. Through the years he has had the opportunity to teach every subject offered in the Bible school there, except the one for the Pentecostal Woman.

He states that his first calling is to the teaching ministry. He believes that Bible schools and formal class training is of incalculable benefit to the churches in South America. Most of the top level leaders are Bible school graduates. All of the South American nations have some type of Bible school training, and in most cases, two or three years of curriculum.

Brother Crossley is intent on continuing to expand the Bible school ministry by incorporating extension Bible schools in every country. Ecuador has just added four extension Bible schools. Columbia is in the process of expansion.

The importance of putting our international curriculum as well as Oneness doctrinal textbooks into Spanish cannot be over-emphasized. The worldwide Spanish community is continuing to escalate in population as well as hunger for the Word in their language. We must do our best to see these texts and curriculum either translated or written directly into Spanish.

A graduate of both Northeast Christian College and Indiana Bible College, Nick’s passion is to help people succeed in life by living the Word of God. He believes in teaching, training and empowering individuals for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.

In 1996, Nick began his missionary career in Ghana by compiling a fifty-two lesson discipleship curriculum and teaching in the Portable Bible Schools. In 1998 he began teaching at African Centre for Theological Studies (ACTS).

From 1999-2002, Nick served in various teaching capacities at The Learning Centre School in Botswana, culminating in his appointment as Principal of their Junior and Senior High School. He also taught at their evening Bible School and developed a New Converts Course entitled, I Want To Be Transformed. He was blessed with the opportunity to mentor several young men, many of whom now serve as pastors throughout the country.
 
In 2005, Nick returned to Ghana as Principal and an instructor at ACTS. Although he enjoys teaching in the classroom, another area of ministry that brings great joy is church planting. He loves helping Bible School students through the process whereby a church is born, nurtured and developed to walk on its own.

In addition to the main campus, there are presently four extension schools operating within Ghana. Through consultation, Faculty Education and collaboration, Nick desires to help Bible School training programs throughout Africa reach their maximum potential in apostolic ministry.

J. Prince Matthiasz obtained his Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees from Indiana Bible College. He was instrumental in establishing the UPCI in Sri Lanka and has served as founding pastor for many of the UPCI congregations there. He has written several textbooks for the Ministerial College of Theology and is heavily involved with its associate’s degree program.

Roger Buckland received a BA of Apostolic Studies from the Apostolic Bible Institute and comes to GATS with an extensive background in Bible school ministry. He served as the President of the Apostolic Institute of Ministries, Davao City, Philippines for eight years before becoming the first UPCI missionaries to the Czech Republic. Brother and Sister Buckland have successfully founded The Apostolic Center of Theological Studies in the capital city of Prague, building the curriculum and having it translated into the Czech language. Brother Buckland presently serves as Area Coordinator for Eastern Europe and President of the Europe/Middle East Christian Board of Education.

Brad Thompson graduated from the United Pentecostal Bible Institute and immediately began his ministry in Guatemala with a vision to establish an effective training program. That he surely has done. Brother Thompson has one of the largest Bible schools in the UPCI with 244 students and 23 teachers. It has been very effective in producing ministers, training leaders, and providing stability to the UPC of Guatemala. This is evidenced in 175 established churches, 237 daughter works; among 188 licensed ministers, and over 18,000 members.

Brother Thompson is presently pursuing a degree in education and serves as the Regional Director of Education and as one of the Area Coordinators in the Central America/Caribbean Region.

Kevin Vacca, while performing secular work in Japan and Taiwan, founded churches in both nations. After receiving missionary appointment, Brother & Sister Vacca established six more churches in the nations of Taiwan and the Philippines. Our work in the Philippines is the largest outside of North America, with two thousand churches and fifteen districts.

The most important contributor to the growth of the UPC, in the Philippines, has been Bible schools. Five, two-year Bible colleges are currently operating. Brother Vacca states, “I have served in countries where the work was quite small, and where the work is large and growing. Without in-depth Bible based training, of men/women, who have a calling, no work will be able to increase by any large scale. GATS has the potential to encourage more of our called men/women to do long term in-depth Bible based study using a modernized curriculum. Those who complete these courses will automatically provide the needed base for growth, beyond the founding level, that hampers many of our works around the world, and to also encourage more students to attend Bible College thereby helping our larger fields to continue to grow.”

Lonnie Burton first arrived in Venezuela as a nine year old accompanying his missionary parents. He graduated from Conqueror's Bible College and was appointed in 1976. The work in Venezuela recently celebrated fifty years in existence, has over 543 ministers, and a strong Bible school program.

E. J. McDougall serves with the Global Training Institute and pastors in Sikeston, Missouri. He presently is on the adjunct faculty at Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. Formerly, Brother McDougall was the Executive Vice-President of Gateway College of Evangelism. He graduated from Apostolic Missionary Institute and obtained a MA from Lighthouse Christian College.

Sidney Poe is no stranger to international travel or the field of Christian Education. He has over twenty-five years experience in higher education. He was a Professor at the University of Florida and a department head at Va Tech. He possesses BS, MS, and PhD degrees. He is called and gifted by God to research, prepare lessons, and teach God’s people everywhere. He is self-supporting yet available to travel when and where needed.

Brother Poe served as the Dean of Christian Education, Jackson College of Ministries for nine years, and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Apostolic Bible Institute. He has been involved in the founding of GTI and has taught in over thirty countries since 1998.