Tapper and Shotsberger were set to go to Jordan to complete a week of instruction, however due to travel restrictions they did the planned teaching over Zoom.
                                 Courtesy of SWU

Tapper and Shotsberger were set to go to Jordan to complete a week of instruction, however due to travel restrictions they did the planned teaching over Zoom.

Courtesy of SWU

CENTRAL — On December 13-17, 2021, Paul Shotsberger, professor of graduate faculty, and Mike Tapper, chair of religion division, collaborated in teaching theology to Ukrainian, Turkic and American missionaries in Jordan via interpreters using Zoom to lead the instruction.

Tapper reflects on the experience stating, “This was my first attempt at digital teaching through an interpreter. By nature, I’m an interactive teacher. So, I was uncertain how it would go. The interpreters, though, were phenomenal and the students were eager to ask good theological questions. In the end, the experience was better than I imagined.”

Shotsberger is on the board of administration for Transforming Nations, and is responsible for support of their church planting efforts in the Middle East. The CEO Transforming Nations, Mike Reznik, created a two-month school in Amman, Jordan to prepare the church planters.

Tapper and Shotsberger were set to go to Jordan to complete a week of instruction, however due to travel restrictions they did the planned teaching over Zoom. Tapper taught systematic theology, and Shotsberger taught both hermeneutics and Christian leadership principles. All church planters were Russian speakers.

Shotsberger speaks highly of these students saying, “In January, two will be moving to Egypt to begin a church, and one will be starting a church in Turkey. Most of the others will remain in Jordan until they have the support needed to move to their designated countries. All have made the commitment to serve for a minimum of five years overseas. I couldn’t be more impressed with each of these young people!”