On-site Studies (Click Here to view this page in Spanish)
The Missionary Institute is located in El Paso, Texas, very close to the cities of Juarez, Mexico, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Students that live near the Missionary Institute can personally come and take Basic Theology courses in a classroom setting. Students that live farther away from the Missionary Institute have two alternatives: they can take courses online, or they can travel to El Paso and stay for a semester (or two).
The Missionary Institute is located on the campus of Ysleta Lutheran Mission, where students can obtain housing very economically in the dormitory. San Pablo Lutheran Church is also located on campus; here students can actively participate in the congregation and do their fieldwork.
Clearly, cost is the biggest obstacle for those that wish to come to El Paso to study. Lodging will probably be approximately $400.00 (USD) per month. In the past, the Missionary Institute has been able to obtain scholarship grants to cover the cost of student lodging. In the present economic climate, finding donations is more difficult. The Missionary Institute will do everything possible to find ways of offsetting the cost of lodging, but cannot guarantee success. If you need help with lodging expenses, please make your request in a formal letter to the director of the Missionary Institute at least 3 months in advance. The letter will be used to approach potential donors. The director will keep you informed. In addition to lodging, keep in mind that students will need money for food and personal expenses during their stay.
For students who live outside the United States, obtaining a visa can also be an obstacle. The Missionary Institute is an educational arm of the church—we are not a full university. The United States only awards student visas to people attending a fully accredited university. For this reason, unfortunately, students from other countries who wish to study at the Missionary Institute will need to apply for a tourist visa or a resident visa.
The Missionary Institute will do everything possible to help students make arrangements to study in El Paso if that is their desire. A few people have done so successfully. However, due to the costs and the difficultly of obtaining a visa, the vast majority of students from afar choose to take online courses.
