Now You Can Be Part Of An Exciting Journey!
Our Story
We provide online and on-site discipleship and biblical studies educational programs centered on the Christian faith. We recognize the importance of keeping an open dialogue between different faith communities. Iodea’s programs are ecumenical in nature appealing to all Christian faith communities.
Vision
Under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to develop training that will assist in the formation of disciples of Jesus Christ who know the LORD intimately and follow His instructions.
Mission
Our educational programs support the development of committed disciples who carry out Jesus and his Father’s mission. We teach discipleship and biblical studies, proclaim and model the Kingdom of Heaven, and pray for the spiritual and physical healing of others.
"The larger issues of injustice will be helped when individuals in society are themselves made whole--when they are healed emotionally so that they can enter into healthy relationships, so that they are not acting out of their own prejudice or ancient hurts."
Francis MacNutt, Ph.D.
How Do We Know The LORD?
A good starting point is to study the Sacred Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we study Scripture and obey the LORD’s instructions, His Spirit works in us to bring about a deeper knowledge of Him and His desires.
What Type Of Instruction Facilitates Knowing the LORD?
In our experience most biblical education focuses on telling people what to think, instead of guiding them towards how to think. We believe that when we invite the Holy Spirit and have an interactive learning environment with reflection, we allow the Spirit to work in us. This involvement helps to transform lives and encourages the study of Scripture.
We Teach You How To Fish!
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
Anne Isabella Thackeray Richie
More About The Team...
José E. Balcells
José is passionate about teaching you and others about the biblical text through engaging and transformative encounters. Because of this, he dedicates time to researching effective methods of instruction. He wants you to benefit by having more effective and meaningful learning experiences. José invites you to discover or re-fuel with the joy associated with a life-long pursue of learning about the LORD and His desires for humanity.
Before founding Iodea, José taught at several universities in Puerto Rico and California. He graduated from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California where he completed a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in texts of Second Temple Judaism and the archaeology of the ancient Near East of the Persian period. He uses this academic background and archaeological experiences to bring you historical and cultural perspectives that make the text richer in meaning. Hence, our tag line, “Where Biblical Studies Come Alive”!
Prior to his doctorate degree, José completed a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages at the Jesuit School of Theology of Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He complemented his graduate studies and his understanding of Early Judaism by completing a Certificate in Jewish Studies at the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies in Berkeley.
With his understanding of biblical languages, José integrates these ideas in your learning to help you see “the text behind the text.” Don’t worry, he does this in plain English that all can understand!
He has participated in archaeological excavations in Tel Akko and Tel Azekah, Israel. He also has been involved with other projects related to the archaeology of the ancient Near East. Professional memberships include: American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), and Asociación Bíblica Española (ABE).
Exquisitive
Iodea is leveraging the Exquisitive Digital Tutor platform to provide world class, interactive workshop learning to our audience. That team’s work hails from the DARPA Digital Tutor program, which taught novice Navy sailors to the level of experts to support complex computer networks, and where independent research from the Institute of Defense Analyses found the approach could be even more effective than human tutoring. Exquisitive’s current focus is teaching foundational math concepts, in both English and Spanish.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays the most important role in guiding, instructing, and helping us transform our lives into the image of Jesus Christ. Several passages in the Bible highlight how Jesus instructed his disciples to wait in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Today, we too need to live and minister under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
"And see, I [Jesus] am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (NRSV, Luke 24:49)
4 While staying with them, he [Jesus] ordered them [disciples] not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (NRSV, Acts 1:3-5)