Clayton L. Berg, Jr., Oral History Interviews

Collection

Identifier: CN 473

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Oral historyinterviews with Clayton L. Berg, known as "Mike," former missionary, educator and president of Latin America Mission. Topics discussed include Berg's youth, family, conversion, education (including Wheaton Grad School), youth pastorate at Western Springs church, marriage and family, language training at Spanish Language Institute, Hogar Biblico, teaching and administration at the Latin America Biblical Seminary iin Costa Rica, administration of LAM's Education Division, training national staff and church leaders, transition to national authority of ministry, Billy Graham's 1958 Caribbean Crusade, Evangelism-in-Depth, Editorial Caribe, LAM restructuring and development of CLAME (Community of Latin American Evangelical Ministries) in 1971, influence of liberation theology, career vs. short-term missionaries issue, LAM's Christ for the City program in Miami and Latin America, Berg's presidency of LAM, inter- mission cooperation, and recollections of colleagues (Ken Strachan, Wilton Nelson, Ruben Lores, Dayton Roberts, David Howard, Charles Troutman, Orlando Costas, Horace Fenton, Richard Foulkes, Juan Isais, Paul Pretiz). The time period covered by the interviews is 1928 to 1993.

Mike Berg was interviewed by Paul A. Ericksen January 11 through 14, 1993 at the Latin America Mission headquarters in Miami, Florida.

Dates

Created: 1993

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full name: Clayton Leonard "Mike" Berg, Jr.

Vocation: Missionary, author, educator, administrator

Birth date: February 16, 1928, in Drumwright, Oklahoma, raised in California

Family: Parents: Clayton Leonard Berg, Sr., and Nannie Mae Wood Siblings: One younger sister

Marital Status: Married to Jo Ann Schell (born, 1928; died 2021)

Children: Stephen (born 1951), Catherine (born 1954), Joan (born 1956)

Education:

-1950, Westmont College (BA in Social Science) 1950-1954, Dallas Theological Seminary, ThM 1954-1956, Wheaton College Graduate School, Christian Education (completed thesis on the field in 1962, M.A.) Eastern College, L.H.D. honorary degree

Career:

1956 Ordained at Calvary Church, Placentia, California 1956 Joined Latin America Mission (LAM) 1956-1957 Spanish Language Institute course 1956-1966 Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano, professor of Christian education, Academic dean 1966-1968 LAM Education Division director 1968-1976 President of Editorial Caribe, Spanish language publishing house 1976-1989 LAM President 1990-1995 LAM Senior Mission Associate

Other significant information:

Contributed short-term teaching to theological schools in Latin and North America Authored articles and two books in Spanish (on pedagogy and Bible study methods), as well as co-authoring two books: The Gospel People of Latin America and Spontaneous Combustion: Grassroots Christianity, Latin American Style Thesis at Wheaton College Graduate School entitled "Basic Steps Toward the Development of Lay Leadership in the Costa Rican Church" Member of organizational boards: Evangelical Foreign Missions Association, Fuller Theological Seminary, American Society of Missiology (board of publications), Media Associates International, Latin America Mission (Trustee Emeritus).

Extent

8 Audio Tapes

447 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by Clayton L. Berg, Jr., in January 1993.

Accession: 93-6

June 26, 2001

Paul A. Ericksen