What is the theological stance of Vision R.E.A.L?
We are uncompromisingly Reformed and Calvinistic in our theology, holding to the Westminster Confession of Faith. All Vision R.E.A.L. and MINTS teachers must profess the essentials of the WCF.
The nationals themselves. A professor from Miami visits the center on the field and introduces a new course via an intensive day or two of teaching. Then the professor turns over a teacher's manual to the national designated to teach the course in his absence. In turn, the national administrates the final exams, sends in any required homework and final scores.
This way, the professor becomes a mentor to fledgling national leaders who teach their own people rather than a mere dispenser of knowledge. Through this process, our 'overseeing professors' become missionaries to the nationals rather than mere academicians.
What about credits and degrees?
Since Visión R.E.A.L. is not an educational institution, we have no degrees to grant. It is a leadership training program designed to produce reformers, not academicians. Nevertheless, Miami International Seminary (MINTS) accepts our courses for credit if a student wishes to earn a degree.
If a student’s motive is to pursuit degrees, we recommend he associate directly with a degree-granting institution such as a Bible school or seminary Why? It’s easier. We require elements such as accountability to a mentor, ministerial activity and regular character evaluations beyond the academics.
]Do you have correspondence courses?]
No. Vision R.E.A.L. does no teaching by correspondence. Very worthy organizations such as FLET/LOGOI do excellent correspondence ministry. All of our teaching is ON SITE, either by a visiting professor or by the nationals themselves, using the teacher's manuals.
What
do the Teacher's Manuals contain?
They have lesson plans, group exercises, quizzes, pages to photocopy for overheads
along with instructions for the teacher on how to use them. The teacher is alleviated
from these tedious nuts and-bolts aspects and is freed up to focus on content.
At the same time, he is learning by example how to put together his own manuals.
Who is qualified to be an 'overseeing professor'?
1. We prefer
that our teachers have a college degree.
2. They must speak Spanish comfortably.
3. They must pay their own expenses.
4. They must adhere to that system of theology known as Calvinism as expressed
in the Westminster Confession. They need not be Presbyterian.
5. They must have a recommendation from their church as people qualified in
character and temperament for this kind of ministry.
6. They need not be full-time Christian workers. Laymen can
participate on their vacations as visiting professors.
How
do I apply to participate as a professor?
You may initiate dialogue directly with Dr. Smalling.
What does Visión R.E.A.L charge for its courses?
Since the nationals themselves run the program, we charge nothing. We recommend however that the teachers charge something for the use of the courses but the funds remain with the center where the teaching takes place. We suggest that the national who does the teaching receive 50% of any income from tuition and the institution which hosts it receive the other half. This way, the teacher gets reimbursed for his time and effort and the hosting institution can defray hidden costs for use of facilities.
What about credits and degrees?
Since Visión R.E.A.L. is not an educational institution, we have no degrees to grant. Nevertheless, Miami International Seminary (MINTS) accepts our courses for credit if a student wishes to earn a degree.
If a student’s motive is to pursue degrees, we recommend he associate directly with a degree-granting institution such as a Bible school or seminary Why? It’s easier. We require elements such as accountability to a mentor, ministerial activity and regular character evaluations beyond the academics.