About
WHAT DOES CITA DO?
CITA develops a comprehensive Master of Divinity curriculum in Spanish and delivers it online through audio, video, and written materials accompanied by detailed syllabi. Additionally, CITA identifies pastors and mentors who support and guide students throughout their education within local churches and communities.
About CITA
VISION
VISION
We see thousands of church planters, pastors and lay leaders equipped in dynamic local church settings with a robust theological and practical curriculum for transforming individuals and communities and multiplying churches throughout the Spanish speaking world.
MISSION
MISSION
Our mission is to equip Christian leaders in Spanish by creating a high-quality reformed seminary curriculum transmitted via internet digital education and by identifying pastor/mentors for student care in local church settings.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
Our objective is to provide an academically robust and practical world view curriculum in Spanish and provide it free of charge in multi-media formats via the internet.
Second, we identify pastors/mentors throughout the world who gather, encourage and guide the students through an orderly learning process.
NEED
NEED
Worldwide the number of Latino Christians is growing rapidly. Today 22% or 110,000,000 Latinos are evangelical; in the USA there are 15,000,000 Hispanic evangelicals. Unfortunately, the preparation of trained leadership is not keeping pace with this growth. The majority of Latino pastors have received little or no theological training. Consequently, the influence of unbiblical ideas such as the promise of wealth for faith, and legalism instead of the good news of grace is taking root. The traditional solution as a seminaries have been considered the solution, but seminaries are costly and in the USA very few are developing full programs in Spanish. In Latin America traveling long distances and uprooting the family for years of study is not practical. At best a very small number receive training.
The traditional solution as a seminaries have been considered the solution, but seminaries are costly and in the USA very few are developing full programs in Spanish. In Latin America traveling long distances and uprooting the family for years of study is not practical. At best a very small number receive training.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
DIGITAL ONLINE EDUCATION VIA THE INTERNET
CITA-EDU was created to address two urgent needs within many Hispanic churches. First, the limited biblical knowledge of some pastors and church leaders, which at times results in doctrinal imbalances — ranging from an overemphasis on prosperity to legalism or an incomplete understanding of grace. Second, the lack of access to deep theological education, since traditional seminaries, while excellent and foundational to the church, are often costly and require students to relocate for several years, incurring significant tuition, housing, and living expenses. As a result, access to formal seminary training remains limited for many who are called to ministry.
Taking advantage of the technological revolution, CITA-EDU provides the complete Master of Divinity curriculum in Spanish in multimedia format, offered free of charge through the internet. This allows pastors and leaders to remain at home, keep their jobs, stay with their families, and continue serving in their local churches while pursuing theological training. The materials can also be used in group settings within churches and promote resource-sharing among leaders internationally.
Without replacing or competing with traditional seminaries — and while valuing their strong and historic foundation — CITA-EDU expands access to high-quality theological education, making deep biblical training available on a large scale, both locally and globally.
More About CITA
Distinctives
Distinctives
FULL MASTERS IN DIVINITY ACADEMIC CURRICULUM
The curriculum is designed to capture the interactive dynamic of a live Spanish speaking classroom. In this environment aspiring leaders, motivated lay workers and curious seekers all find a stimulating educational and spiritual experience where the tone is respectful and pastoral.
The curriculum is designed to capture the interactive dynamic of a live Spanish speaking classroom. In this environment aspiring leaders, motivated lay workers and curious seekers all find a stimulating educational and spiritual experience where the tone is respectful and pastoral. The material is intentionally directed at the concerns, questions and misconceptions of the gospel that arise from the mindset of the students. The class videos are edited adding attractive graphics and other pedagogical aids and uploaded with a full manuscript and syllabus including class schedule and plans.
CITA-EDU’s goal is to complete the catalogue of courses required for a Masters in Divinity equivalent to a degree at accredited reformed seminaries in the US.
Some courses are translated with permission from the websites of Covenant Theological Seminary. An additional focus will develop courses that are relevant to church development in the Hispanic American international multilingual context.
PASTORAL
DISCIPLINE-MAKING ENVIRONMENT DRAWING FROM DECADES OF PASTORAL EXPERIENCE
CITA-EDU videotapes live before a diverse classroom of students from all over Latin America. This enables us to transmit through the internet the interactive dynamic among professor and students, making the educational experience more compelling. Users report high enthusiasm for this attractive feature.
CONTEXTUAL
CULTURALLY RELEVANT
CITA-EDU enters the Hispanic world as Paul did in Athens, incarnating ourselves to effectively communicate Biblical Truth in Spanish. We intentionally address issues that arise from the culture which influence the student’s understanding of the gospel. This emphasis will frequently impact the content of our courses.
ORGANIC
CITA-EDU provides a tool for leaders and pastors in their local churches to train their own leaders and even other pastors. CITA-EDU maintains personal relationships with dozens of these pastors who are serving as mentors for these discipleship classes. Thus CITA-EDU encourages a dynamic of discipleship in local churches.
Curriculum Design
Curriculum Design
The curriculum is designed to capture the interactive dynamic of a live Spanish speaking classroom. In this environment aspiring leaders, motivated lay workers and curious seekers all find a stimulating educational and spiritual experience where the tone is respectful and pastoral.
The material is intentionally directed at the concerns, questions and misconceptions of the gospel that arise from the mindset of the students. The class videos are edited adding attractive graphics and other pedagogical aids and uploaded with a full manuscript and syllabus including class schedule and plans.
CITA-EDU’s goal is to complete the catalogue of courses required for a Masters in Divinity equivalent to a degree at accredited reformed seminaries in the US. Some courses are translated with permission from the website of Covenant Theological Seminary.
An additional focus will develop courses that are relevant to church development in the Hispanic American international multilingual context.
Production
Production
The production of CITA-EDU courses takes place in three stages: pre-production, production, and post-production.
In pre-production, the professor conducts academic research and prepares the syllabus and class schedule. A manuscript, obtained with permission from an accredited U.S. seminary, is translated into Spanish and carefully reviewed by native Spanish speakers. The content is organized into a detailed outline and shared with students before filming. The professor rehearses the material in anticipation of possible questions, and the recording set is prepared.
During production, the class is recorded live in two 45-minute sessions with a break in between, including interaction with students.
In post-production, the footage is edited and enhanced with graphics, PowerPoint presentations, and other teaching aids. Theologically trained editors supervise the process. Once approved, the final video is uploaded to the web and made available to students, who can also download the syllabus and manuscript to follow the lecture.
Distribution
Distribution
DIGITAL ONLINE EDUCATION VIA THE INTERNET
Taking advantage of the technological revolution and keeping pace with methodologies already in use by the international university community, online digital education allows the trainer of church leaders to reach globally and act locally. If I am teaching fifteen students who are present in my class in Miami, why not at the same time reach fifteen thousand potential pastors and leaders in any corner of the globe by beaming that class into his home or church through the internet? The solution in which CITA-EDU is actively engaged is preparing the complete Masters in Divinity seminary curriculum in Spanish, uploading it to our website in multi-media formats and offering it free to the world.
Using CITA-EDU’s online digital education the student can remain at home, keep his job and continue to grow and serve in his local church. Ideally he can seek mentoring from his pastor, or if he is already a pastor, he can continue his education even while serving. Many pastors in our network have already gathered large groups in their churches whom they are educating with CITA materials, which are available, convenient and easy to use. CITA-EDU online digital education helps to meet the need for mutually sharing resources among church leaders and denominations internationally. It allows the church to aggressively accelerate its desperate need to equip leaders and pastors with a high-quality education. Remaining appreciative of the solid foundation of conventional methods, CITA-EDU sees online digital education as the trend and the present reality for meeting the need for equipping church leaders for Spanish speakers on a large scale, locally and globally.
Application
Application
The courses are freely accessible, and anyone is welcome to study them at their own convenience and pace. The courses are designed to be used by individuals, churches, study groups or regional training efforts. Groups offer a better learning experience.
CITA-EDU is a publisher, not an educational institution; therefore, the conscientious student is urged to find a study site or seek out his pastor as mentor.
The underlying philosophy is that church leaders and pastors can be trained in an organic disciple-making local church environment without compromising or reducing quality or scope of the content being taught.
Though not an accredited academic institution, CITA-EDU imitates the accreditation requirements of courses taught at accredited seminaries.
Local study sites are able to offer a certificate of completion for students satisfactorily completing a specified set of courses.
We upload a detailed study guide to assist the student in following the video lecture. Included on the website is a syllabus with assignments, exams and a schedule of classes.
Many of our study sites are using the latest technology for matriculating and supervising their students in the educational process.
CITA maintains a relationship with those serving as mentors in order to encourage them, pray for them and provide guidance. From these relationships CITA also receives valuable feedback and prayer requests. This relationship of CITA depending upon local mentors to guide students in their educational experience respects the dynamic of local church discipleship and the authority of pastors and regional leaders.
Major denominations very satisfied with the results, are happily ordaining pastors trained in these organic settings.
Our Story
Our Story
CITA-EDU, Inc. was envisioned by a classroom of theological students in Miami, Florida from several Latin American countries.
Some who had become Christians through the teaching, came to their professor and said, “We have never heard Christianity explained this way; we must share this comprehensive knowledge of God’s love and grace with the whole world, and in video; and we know how to do it.”
Intrigued by the idea Dr. David Moran accommodated a camera in the classroom.
In 2014 application was made for the 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and CITA-EDU, Inc. was established.
In February of 2017 Moran, having put together a team of these motivated students, began fulltime to create a Masters in Divinity curriculum in Spanish to share with the world via online digital education.
Today CITA-EDU recognizes dozens of local church-based study sites in 12 different countries (including the USA) where church leaders and pastors are being trained.
Partnerships
Partnerships
DENOMINATION: IGLESIA BETANIA REFORMADA – VILLAVICENCIO, COLOMBIA
This newly established denomination in the central region of Colombia voted at their General Assembly in January of 2018 to adopt the CITA-EDU curriculum as the official pastoral training program for their denomination. They are highly organized and have opened study sites with mentors throughout the country and in Ecuador. Their most active study centers are located in Villavicencio and Suba.
RIO VISTA CHURCH: Rio Vista extended a call to CITA’s Executive Director, Pastor David Moran and very generously supports the production of curriculum and provides many support services. Rios Vista has a powerful prayer ministry which undergirds CITA’s International outreach.
SPANISH RIVER PRESBYTERIAN, under the leadership of CITA-EDU mentor Rev. Pablo Toledo, operates a CITA-EDU training study sites on ZOOM.
Students, pastors, and missionaries, in addition to being physically present, zoom in from a dozen Latin countries. Rev Pablo Toledo, effectively and enthusiastically networks for CITA and is responsible, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, for opening doors for CITA in Cuba and northern Colombia. He also collaborates with CITA-EDU in south Florida for identifying new Hispanic church planters and mentoring them. José Carrasco recruited by Pablo Toledo also mentors a diverse group of students through Latin America via Zoom.
HOPE CHAPEL, MIAMI, FL
Hope Chapel, a church in the Country Walk area of southwest Miami, partners with CITA-EDU in multiple ways.
Their pastor a former missionary to Colombia has opened a plethora of contacts in Colombia and Ecuador who are, in turn, partnering with CITA-EDU to train new leaders.
GRANADA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CORAL GABLES, FL
CITA-EDU has trained Granada church members who are currently serving as pastors of two reformed denominations.
Granada’s Hispanic pastor also mentors other candidates for the ministry, and the church has its own mission’s program in Colombia, where Rev. Jamid Jimenez mentors CITA students.
MINTS – MIAMI INTERNATIONAL SEMINARY
From time-to-time CITA and MINTS share professors and combine classrooms consisting of both CITA and MINTS students.
MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA COMMITTEE, PCA
CITA wrote the original Hispanic Church Planting Manual for MNA and edited its updated Handbook for Hispanic Church Planting published in 2023.
KEY BISCAYNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, KEY BISCAYNE, FL
KBPC – From its inception KPBC partnered with CITA-EDU to video-tape Master of Divinity Courses in Spanish at its facilities.
Today CITA-EDU broadcasts these courses at no charge to students via its website freely accessed. In countries where the Internet is unreliable, CITA provides USBs containing the entire multimedia program.