The 2003 Oyasato Seminar began on July 10 with 59 participants from seven countries and regions. This program was initially launched in the summer of 1984 to provide instruction in English on the teachings of Oyasama for children of church head ministers and fellowship heads in the United States and Canada that were enrolled in high school. Later, in response to requests from other overseas dioceses, it was decided that the Oyasato Seminar should incorporate other languages into its program. It has since been conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese as well. This year, there were 37 students in the English Course (21 in Course I and 16 in Course III), 11 students in the Spanish Course, and 10 students in the Portuguese Course. The Chinese Course was put off this year due to the international outbreak of the illness known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).