www.ats.ph The Offic i a l N ews lette r of t h e A si a n T h e o l o g i ca l S e m i na r y
INtouch Vol.2.2013
N ew F e l lows hip at P r e y k T h o n g , Ca m bodia
Transforming Leaders for the Church and the World
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CO N TE N TS
AT S V I S I O N 4
Bei ng a Crosscultural Missionary b y D r. J o j o M a n z a n o
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Why Minister to OFWs & Famil ies b y R e v. L a l a n o D . B a d o y, J r.
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S hi ning Ligh ts
by Mark Joseph Gicain
M i g ration Trends a nd Statistics by Ella Abigail Santos
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ATS Faculty in the National & Gl obal S p h eres
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Leading God’ s Flo ck by Bishop Noel Pantoja
To become the leading Evangelical seminary in Asia that produces outstanding servant leaders
AT S M I S S I O N Teach. Lead. Transform. To glorify God by providing quality theological education for Christian leaders to effect Biblical transformation in the Church and society in Asia and beyond
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O n t he cover
W h a t AT S a l u m n u s a n d c r o s s - c u l t u r a l m i s s i o n a r y P a s t o r E d u a r d o Ta m a y o s t a r t e d a s a t i m e f o r r e a d i n g B i b l e s t o r i e s to 45 Cambodian children is now a Saturday fellowship service. Shown are Pastor Edu (in light blue shirt) together w i t h AT S S u m m e r M i s s i o n s Te a m m e m b e r s , h i s f a m i l y, youth leaders and the kids at Preyk Thong, Phnom Penh l a s t M a y.
Scan the QR Code to visit
www.ats.ph.
INtouch S t a f f President R e v. D r. T i m o t e o D . G e n e r Editor Ammi Belle M.Armas
Staff Glevy Baybayon Marizol Duran Ella Abigail Santos Honey Belle Wong
Contributors R e v. L a l a n o D . B a d o y, J r. Mark Joseph Gicain D r. J o j o M a n z a n o Ella Abigail Santos Bishop Noel Pantoja
Photographers Glevy Baybayon S u m m e r M i s s i o n s Te a m members Layout Kyleen Sayas
ATS Theo Forum —on—
February 6-7, 2014 (Thursday to Friday) 8 am-5 pm — at —
Greenhills Christian Fellowship (Ortigas)
God at the Borders: Globalization, Migration and Diaspora This issue focuses on themes related to the upcoming Annual ATS Theological Forum on Globalization, Migration and Diaspora (February 6 - 7, 2014 at the Greenhills Chrisitian Fellowship, Ortigas). More and more we are experiencing voluntary and involuntary migration of people due to economic, environmental, conflicts and other sociological factors. How do we as God’s people grapple with this phenomenal trend happening in the Philippines and the rest of the world? What is the biblical perspective on the cause and effect of these global changes? What are the theological, missiological and cultural implications of migration for the Christian Church in Asia and worldwide? How do we as God’s people reach out to those who are displaced or victimized by such predicaments, of whom some may be in our own backyard? With this Forum, we hope to create awareness of people on the move and the issues involving them. As Christians and as a church, we need to reflect on what God is doing in this juncture of human history in order to accelerate our response in fulfilling Christ’s mandate to make disciples from every nation, tribe, people and tongue. May we also enjoin you to support and pray for the ATS online distance education or eLearning project? This project is a response to the felt need of many Christian workers to be trained at their own time while ministering to their communities and families within and beyond the Philippines. In lieu of sending a faculty abroad (which is expensive), ATS has started to gradually offer online blended courses (combination of face-to-face and online)! We hope that within a year, we will be able to offer fully online courses at the certificate levels. One of the ways we can be of service to our Kababayans in Diaspora as well as the Worldwide Church! REV. DR. TIM D. GENER ATS President
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Globalization and migration have made the world a melting pot where people of different ethnic groups live together in one community. Â
B e in g a
c r o ss - c u lt u r a l Missi o na r y b y D r. J o j o M a n z a n o
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In September, the United missionary” without having Nations reported that the to leave his home country. number of migrants around the Globalization, migration world rose above 230 million and diaspora have brought in 2013. The report added that people of different ethnicities the number who have left their right at our doorstep. This own country has risen from 154 creates great opportunities for million in 1990 to 232 million evangelism and discipleship and the proportion of migrants for the churches in receiving in rich countries countries, as well such as the United as to Christians who States, Germany, migrate to other mi g r ants places. Saudi Arabia and U.K. is growing. It is estimated that Rhema is one of the a re m o re 15.7 million of recent graduates these migrants are of ATS Intercultural refugees with 90% and Urban Studies. op e n for of these living in Several years poorer nations. ago, she migrated Australia but f r i e n d s h i p to This global trend returned to the changes the Philippines and scheme of world studied at ATS. Now a nd to t h e missions. While back in Australia, there may be she is involved some degree of in a ministry of GOS PEL assimilation and reaching out to acculturation the international taking place in students and such communities, many immigrants living in the migrants maintain their cosmopolitan city where cultural distinctiveness. she resides. Another ATS Instead of creating a unified graduate, Luis, joined a culture within their new mission organization and is communities, they maintain now working in East Asia. their culture and religion. While he hopes to start a Whereas before, Christians ministry with the locals in an have to cross geographical Islamic country, he is seizing borders for cross-cultural opportunities of witnessing to mission engagements, today, migrants from a neighboring one can be a “cross-cultural Muslim country where he
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Bein g a c ross - c u lt u r a l m issi o nary
previously worked. Both Rhema and Luis find that migrants are more open for friendship and to the gospel.
Dr. Jojo Manzano is the Head of the
Intercultural and Urban Studies
Department of ATS.
In the Philippines, a university church is reaching out to international students in their campus. Many of these international students are from restrictedaccess countries. Some are even sent by their respective governments and would likely assume influential positions when they return home. Would it not be great if while they were studying in the Philippines, they hear the gospel and believe in God? The ATS 2014 Theological Forum’s theme, “God at the Borders: Globalization, Migration and Diaspora”, will focus on people’s voluntary and involuntary migration due to economic, environmental, conflicts and other sociological factors. How do we as God’s people grapple with this phenomenal trend happening in the Philippines, Asia and the rest of the world? What is the biblical perspective on the cause and effect of these global changes? What are the theological, cultural and missiological implications of migration for the Christian Church worldwide? How do we as God’s people reach out to those who are displaced or victimized by such predicaments some of whom may be in our own backyard? We hope this year’s ATS Forum will create awareness of people on the move and issues involving them. As Christians and as a church, we need to reflect on what God is doing in this juncture of human history in order for us to accelerate our response in fulfilling Christ’s mandate to make disciples of people from every nation, tribe, people and tongue.
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W h y Minis t e r t o
OFWs& Families? b y R e v. L a l a n o . D . B a d o y, J r.
Today, over a million Filipino Christians (Overseas Filipino Workers & Migrant workers) are strategically positioned by God in 204 countries of the world to make a major spiritual impact in the most unevangelized places and people groups in the 10/40 window. They are contract workers, engineers, architects, doctors, nurses, caregivers, teachers, accountants, IT experts, chefs, domestic helpers and seafarers effectively circumventing the barriers that hinder traditional missionaries. Thirty per cent of all seafarers in the world are Filipinos. It was recently reported that there are now almost 300 churches in the ocean (sometimes they call it floating churches) because ship captains, marine engineers, ship crew & staff took the challenge to share the gospel to fellow Filipinos, and also engaged in sharing the gospel to people of other culture/ language that they work with in the ship. Indeed, the amazing Pinoys have been wired (designed) by God to be very effective in cross-cultural ministry because Filipinos are highly adaptable to adversity, persevering in the midst of extreme conditions, have an amazing capacity to learn new languages, highly literate and skillful, cheerful and sociable, and hard working with servant hearts. As a result, Pinoy Christians have been used by God not just to win fellow Filipinos but more important, even unreached peoples. We have a lot of end-time harvest stories that took place in China, Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bharain, Qatar and many parts of the Middle East.
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For more information about GOAM, please visit: http://www.
ofwcare.com
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has recently reported that an average 5,346 are leaving the country everyday to work overseas and an average 10% are evangelical Christians. This gives us a tremendous potential of sending tentmakers everyday. A “tentmaker” is a full-time self-supporting Christian called by God to obey the Great Commission in a crosscultural setting. On and off the job, the tentmakers’ objective is to bring people of another culture into a growing relationship with Jesus. (Dr. Robert Clark, Higher Purpose for your Overseas Job)
OFWs & Family Assistance Centers There are now more than 10 million Filipinos living and working overseas with an average four to five members per family. We can then impact 40-50 million Filipinos as we engage in this special ministry to OFWs and their families through the establishment of OFW and Family Assistance Centers. For this reason, we have started the Global OFW Advance Movement (GOAM)* to CARE (Care, Assist, Reach and Empower) for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. GOAM envisions Overseas Filipino Workers doing excellent service among the nations they serve. GOAM also seeks to provide holistic care to OFWs and their families in partnership with Churches and likeminded NGOs, Faith-based Organizations, relevant government agencies and the Local Government Units, to establish OFWs & Family Assistance Centers in all the 81 provinces, key cities and municipalities and host countries. We need to CARE because many of our OFWs are victims of abuse (unpaid salaries & benefits,
W h y m inist e r to ofws & fa milie s
maltreatment, no-day off, physical and sexual abuse, etc), illegal termination, contract switching, trafficking, illegal recruitment, loan sharks, and excessive processing fees, among others. We offer
ree paralegal assistance through our OFW • F Assistance Desk/Centers. • C ounseling • S eminars/workshops on marriage enrichment, parenting & financial literacy. We empower Christian OFWs by equipping them to be tentmakers (missionaries) while we empower the churches to assist & reach out to their families left behind. We also empower churches to establish OFW Assistance Centers that can offer free paralegal assistance to OFWs/families and serve their communities, so that unsaved OFWs and their families can be reached with the gospel.
New Force in Global Missions The OFW phenomenon has a missiological implication --- the fulfillment of the vision of the Global Filipino church of contributing 1-million Filipino missionaries (intentional cross-cultural disciple-makers, either career or tentmaker missionaries) for the end-time harvest by 2020 especially through the platform called tent making. The OFWs are recognized now as God’s new force in global missions. Let us join God in what He is already doing. Let us rise and fulfill our God-given “Higher Purpose” among the nations. Mabuhay ang mga OFW s! Mabuhay ang mga O utstanding F ilipino W itnesses!
Rev. Lalano D. Badoy, Jr., Jr. is the Executive
Director of Global OFW Advance
Movement (GOAM) and Philippine
Missions Mobilization Movement (PM3).
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SHINING LIGHTS
by Mark Joseph Gicain
D i r e c t o r, M i s s i o n E n g a g e m e n t S u m m e r Tr i p P r o g r a m
The breathtaking scene of bright, shining stars against the dark, cloudless night reminds me “to shine our lights (Matthew 5:16)” wherever we go as believers. The ‘Light of the World’ Jesus Christ who took me out from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of Light, gives me a picture of what we can be as we respond to His call to make a difference in world missions by being His “lights” in a dark, despairing world. Last summer 2013, the Missions Engagement Summer Trip (MEST) program deployed five teams (23 participants) to southern Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia for two weeks. We praise God for the different ministry opportunities, and the privilege to learn from missionary hosts, both from partner churches and ATS alumni whom the Lord is using effectively in the mission field. Read these excerpts from the participants:
Kids at House of Rainbow Bridge (an orphanage) praying to the
God of Creation who loves them
Coritha Lemon (L) and Franz (R) chatting
with Royal University students after class
C amb odia
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Coritha Lemon
Team Leader--Tropang Campus (Cambodia), ATS Alumna and Registrar’s Staff. Their team ministered to university students, HIV-infected kids in an orphanage and taught at Kom Pong Som Bible School
“It’s just so amazing to see how God is using our ATS alumni –Pastors Va Vachna, Veasna Heng, Eduardo Tamayo and Tep Samnang to effect transformation in Cambodia as they lead church ministries and hold important positions in Bible schools and seminaries. Their task is not easy but what they learned in ATS helped them a lot to be more effective in carrying out God’s mission. Seeing them fulfill the work God has entrusted to them motivates me to do my best as I accomplish my task here in ATS---knowing that the little thing I do contributes to the whole”
“Our team of seven felt like soldiers on a special mission to Cambodia,the outcome of which we could not predict. All we knew was that we had a mighty warrior leading us. Sudden change of team leader and assistant team leader, harassed at the Manila immigration, and left by the plane to Siem Reap--- we spent more for rebookings, and got stranded on an 8-hour bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. I remember feeling like a soldier moving towards a target--- there were snipers, bombs and traps on all stops, but we needed to
reach the goal. There was a time I had to shout at the wind as if talking to some invisible ugly spirit, with my feisty look and pointing my finger at him saying “Akala mo mapapagod kami ‘no? (You thought we would get tired?) No way!!! Because Someone’s fighting for us.” I didn’t have to wonder where we got all the strength and the “secret weapons” needed for each activity during our church planting ministry in Phnom Penh. We got these from the leader of our pack...God.”
Ella Abigail Santos
Team Leader— Tropang Magsasaka, Cambodia; ATS Alumna and ATS Communication & Development Staff. A full time worker for Empowered Christians in Partnership and Ministries (ECPM), a church planting organization
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Shinin g l i g h ts
Pastor Ronald Hernandez
ATS Alumnus, Tropang Thailand —helped train Burmese and Lahu (tribe) evangelists on church planting and church administration.
“The recent MEST I joined in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province in North Thailand was surely a great blessing for me. I saw how God was truly at work in the mission field. It humbles me that God involves us in the task of redeeming the world back to Himself and I hope that many would be challenged
to take the great commission seriously. To say that missions is God’s heartbeat is an understatement... for nothing is as important to Him now than this after He had afforded humanity with salvation through His Son. He has done His part---it’s time we do ours!”
T hail and Pastor Christian Mojica conducts a leadership seminar for Laotian Christian workers at Waterfall Faith Church, Ban Nam Tok Village.
ATS alumnus Ptr. Ronald Hernandez trains Burmese and Lahu tribe evangelists on Pastor Ronald (in green shirt) prays for Pastor
Church Planting and Church Administration.
Meseeri of Waterfall Faith Church, Ban Nam Tok Village with Pastor Jethro Adang and an American Missionary.
ATS students and alumni attending Sunday Worship at a Ban Sai Thong Village church.
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S outhern P hilippi n es
Shirley Grace (second from left )and ATS Mission Engagement Summer Trip team visit a refugee camp in Bongao Island. Also shown are Sally and her five kids (baby in hammock).
“Displaced persons? I thought I knew what that meant until I met young, 24year old Malaysian Sally at the Bongao island DSWD refugee camp. Our team was there on the last leg of our mission trip. Forced to leave Sabah due to the war there, she fled to southern Philippines where she brought her five kids, all 7 years old and below. Her parents were Filipinos from Jolo but died years ago. She could only speak Malaysian. Her husband, also Filipino, was captured and imprisoned by Malaysian commanders for illegally staying in Sabah. When the opportunity came to flee, it was the only way out for her. The DSWD representative who was working on sending her to Jolo, could not understand why she refused to leave the camp,
since all other families were transferred there already. So my Indonesian teammate Doni Wijaya (ATS alumnus) translated her concerns: she has no known family in any part of Mindanao, she refuses to leave the camp because it is the only information known to her husband; every night she would look at her kids and cry because their life is now very uncertain. Doni told her about Jesus and we prayed for her. God knew Doni had to be in our team so DSWD and we could realize her true condition. We pray that DSWD officials will have the wisdom to help displaced people like her. Indeed a house is easy to build, food can be supplied,but for displaced people like Sally, Hope can only be found through our Lord Jesus Christ.�
Shirley Grace Rosas
ATS student, member
of Team Southern
Philippines tutored
grade school kids in English, Math and
Science ; conducted Strategic Teaching
Methods to grade and high school teachers;
planned with teachers about possible
livelihood trainings in the near future.
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shinin g l i g h ts camb o dia Ministering to the kids in the village ATS Alumni meet
of Preyk Thong
at Phnom Penh (L-R: Abigail, Ptr. Edu & Ptr. Ferdie)
Cris ministering to the students at Kompongsom Bible School
ATS student Gemma and ATS alumnus Va Vachna at Kompongsom Bible School
I am looking forward to our next summer missions outreach in 2014. It gives me great joy to know that the program is reaching out to serious students both ATS and non-ATS participants, who are waiting for their turn to be called to frontline missions work. God will journey with us and will continue to let our ‘lights’ shine for the world!
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MIGRATIon
TRENDS an d
ST TISTICS by Ella Abigail Santos
We all know that millions of Filipinos go overseas to work — skilled workers, professionals, high school or vocational graduates and those who took some college courses. According to the Country Migration Report: The
Philippines 2013 implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the Scalabrini Migration Center (CMR), migration from the
Philippines includes migrant workers (the so-called OFWs) and emigrants. (who go to countries of permanent destination, such as North America, Australia and New Zealand) Of the 1,856,455 registered emigrants between 1981-2011, according to the Commission on Overseas Filipinos, 45.17% are high school/ vocational/with some college
courses taken; 29.69% are college graduates and up; and 25.07% are elementary graduates or below. Males comprised 40.1% and females 59.9%. The statistics and trends of migration from the Philippines make us aware of its impact on our character, lifestyle, economy, community and in some aspects change in culture or “way of life”. Below is part of the foreword of CMR: The Philippines 2013 by Marco Boasso – Chief of Mission, nternational Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines and some significant statistics which will not just give us a better picture of Filipino overseas employment, the current economic driver for
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the Philippines, but will also help Christians in reaching out to the families of the Overseas Filipino Workers--understanding the realities and issues facing them. A glimpse of this “diaspora” may kindle in our hearts the desire to minister to the OFWs in and outside of our church walls. Parts of the Foreword of CMR by Marco Boasso
The CMR project was initiated by IOM in response to the Philippine Government’s interest, which immediately emerged after the 2011 Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) conference on Migration Profiles. The CMR was prepared in
Top 10 Destinations of Land-based OFWs 2012 (new hires and rehires)
(p.66 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part B: Migration Trends and Characteristics)
cooperation with Scalabrini Migration Center with support from IOM Development Fund and implemented with its key partners: the Commission on Filipino Overseas, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. In addition to summarizing readily available migration data sets and statistics, the CMR aims to identify and analyze the challenges and critical areas surrounding migration data management. Furthermore, the CMR aims to emphasize the connection between migration and development and its significance in the country’s migration governance framework.
(CMR Foreword, p.iii)
Saudi Arabia is the top destination of land-based OFWs, followed by United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hongkong, Qatar, Kuwait, Italy, Taiwan, Bahrain and Malaysia. The bulk of Filipino overseas employment has always been directed towards countries in the Middle East, in particular the Gulf countries. The share of countries in the Middle East decreased in the 1990s, when East Asian destinations, in particular Taiwan Province of China, became attractive because of higher salaries. In the 2000s with the overall increase of outflows, the Middle East regained its place as the primary destination for over 67 percent of OFWs.
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Distribution by Gender (p.69 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part B: Migration Trends and Characteristics)
Notably, the new hires among the land-based OFWs were dominated by women until 2006, then rebounded by 2009. 1970s was dominated by male migrants due to the demand of workers for the numerous construction projects in the Middle East. By the 1980s, the labour needs shifted to other sectors, which opened employment options for women migrants in sales, the health sector, and services – of which household workers were a large component. On the whole, the Middle East would continue to hire more male workers than females. In East and South East Asia, the need for care workers is especially strong, again because of the demand for foreign domestic workers.
m i g r at i o n t r e nds & stat ist ics
The trend towards increasing diversity, however, is also accompanied by persisting patterns, to wit: (p.70 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part B: Migration Trends and
Characteristics)
• Despite the increasing reach of OFWs, the Middle East remains the primary destination. On the whole, labour migration from the Philippines is mostly to more developed countries within Asia (including West Asia or the Gulf region). • The occupational profile of OFWs cuts across all categories, from the less skilled to the professional. The Philippines has carved dominance in the domestic work, nursing and seafaring sectors. Overall, as dictated by demand factors, the majority of OFWs are in less skilled occupations, yet most OFWs have completed more years of education than is necessary for their line of work. Many of them have completed at least a high school education, and some a tertiary education. The tendency of fairly educated OFWs landing less skilled occupations abroad has raised questions about the education-workmismatch and the prospect of brain waste instead of the hoped-for brain gain.
AGE PROFILE OF OFWs (p.63 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part B: Migration Trends and Characteristics)
The estimates cover departures within the last five years and who are working or had worked abroad during the past six months (April to September) of the survey period. Estimates indicate that the majority (over 70%) of the OFWs are between 24 to 44 years of age. It also indicates that women working abroad (who overall are less numerous than men) outnumber men in all age groups below 40, while OFWs who are over 40 are mostly men.
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IRREGULAR MIGRATION (p.76 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part B: Migration Trends and Characteristics)
Globally, roughly 15-20 per cent of migration is unauthorized, according to IOM. Migrants in an irregular status tend to experience more risks and vulnerabilities compared to legal migrants. As indicated by the bi-annual reports submitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs to Congress, many of the OFWs who encounter distressing conditions are likely to be in an irregular situation. Undocumented and unprotected in times of peace, the “invisibility” of irregular migrants presents immense difficulties in time of conflict.
IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION (p.87 of CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part C: Impact of International Migration)
Although overseas migration has become routinized in Philippine society, there is a persisting unease about it and its consequences for migrants, their families, and the nation. • There is ambivalence and tension, manifest in the different appreciation of the implications of migration. The recruitment industry, for example, may view the distribution of OFWs throughout the world as reflecting the marketability of Filipino workers and their remarkable adaptability to thrive in different environments while civil society organizations may read the OFW saga as a national shame, revealing the country’s inability to provide decent options to its people. • Migration can trigger social change by affecting the economic, social, political, cultural and demographic aspects of Philippine society. By the same token, social change can also affect migration characteristics: levels, types of migrants, profiles of migrants, origins and destinations. Initially, migration may be disruptive of usual patterns, but in time and after some adjustments occur, the disruption may subside and adaptation emerges.
m i g r at i o n t r e nds & stat ist ics
• T he tendency of Filipino families towards a more nuclear living arrangement, which is composed of parents and children, may have been stalled when international migration accelerated as the departure of fathers, and especially mothers, reconfigured family arrangements. When both parents migrate, other family members are likely to join the household to provide support to the left-behind family members. Data from the 2007 Philippine survey of the Child Health and Migrant Parents in Southeast Asia (CHAMPSEA) Project show that transnational households – that is, households with a father, mother or both parents working overseas – tend to have a larger household size than resident or non-migrant households. Moreover, transnational households are likely to have grandparents, as members of the unit, suggesting the role of grandparents, especially grandmothers. (p.100, C.2 Impact of Families and Household. Part C: Impact of International Migration. CMR: The Philippines 2013)
The separation of family members is the source of many anxieties about migration, especially because close family ties are high valued in Philippine society. There are no data on the number of marriages which have broken down because of migration. Likewise, data is deficient on the children of migrants concerning the extent of neglect, delinquency risky behaviours, or school dropout rates because of parental absence. To date, the concerns focus on caring for the left-behind children, but not much has been said about the care of elderly parents. In contrast to the negative press and popular perceptions emphasizing the deleterious impact of migration on family relationships, breakdown of marriages and the neglect of children, research findings on these issues are more variable. (p.102, of
CMR: The Philippines 2013, Part C: Migration Trends and Characteristics)
To know the key findings on Family Welfare, Children and Gender role changes, please read Part C, pages 100-108 of Country Migration Report: The Philippines 2013 at:
http://www.smc.org.ph/index.php?comp=com_publication_ details&id=50 Or you may visit:
Scalabrini MIgration Center at 40 Matapat St., Brgy. Pinyahan Quezon City 1100
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ATS faculty
The Lord graciously blessed ATS with professors, mentors and leaders who not only train & equip others but also contribute to national and global fora:
Prof. Lorenzo Bautista
“Christology Poised for Dialogue: the versatility of the “Historical Jesus”. Philippine Missions Institute Forum: Advances in the
method of using the Bible for Theology. Oct.21, 2013
“Harnessing the Power of the Church in Disaster Mental Health
Work” (Co-Author with Dr. Violeta Bautista) under the Symposium
“Religion & Spirituality at the Cutting Edge of Disaster Mental Health Work” of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (Annual Conference. Oct. 24, 2013)
Rev. Dr. Tim Gener
“I heard a voice speaking....in the Hebrew tongue...(Acts 26:14) Pauline Insights on Mission, and Vernacularizing the Faith”
Gospel, Culture and the Asian Churches Forum by Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture and Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Oct. 29-31, 2013 “Reply to Dr. Calvin Chong’s Exploring Innovations, Impacts,
and Implications of New Communications & Media Development,”
Paper presented to the 2013 Asia Theological Association Triennial General Assembly, with the theme “Communicating the Gospel Contextually in Contemporary Asia”, Aug. 14, 2013, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. “Christologies in Asia: Trends and Reflections,” Paper presented to the 64th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Nov 19-21, 2012, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (forthcoming in Jesus Without Borders:Christology in Global Context, G.Green, K.K. Yeo, S. Pardue, eds., Eerdmans). Also published in slightly revised form in the Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology 17: 2 (September 2013):17-40.
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nat iona l & global
spheres
Dr. Ado Gorospe
“Theology of Work at ATS”. Paper presented during the Lausanne Regional Consultation on the Teaching of the Theology of Work. Shah’s Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, July 31-August 2, 2013.
“ Origen’s Approach to Engaging Greek Culture” Paper presented at Gospel, Culture and the Asian Churches Forum by Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture and Greenhills Christian Fellowship; Oct. 29-31, 2013
Dr. Athena Gorospe
One of the 13 post-doctoral fellows from 12 countries participating in the Langham International Research and Training. Papers presented during the Langham Seminars are:
“The Marginalization of God in the Gideon and Jephthah Narratives” - 2011
“Evangelicals and the Environment: Beyond Stewardship” - 2012
(This was a modified form presented at the ATA Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2012)
“When Discernment Goes Awry: Nebalah in Judges 19-21” - 2013
Langham International Research and Training is a four-year program (2011- 2014) designed to enhance the ability of leading Majority World scholars to play a strategic role in sharpening research on the Masters level and to act as Ph.D. supervisors / mentors on doctoral programs. The seminars were held at:
Wheaton College, Illinois, USA. 2011 Wycliffe College, University of Oxford, UK. 2012 Trinity Theological College, Singapore. 2013 Wycliffe College, Oxford and Tyndale House, Cambridge in 2014.
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Dr. Fer Lua
“The Year of the Jubilee: A Model for Uplifting the Lives of the
Poor” 2013 Alliance Bible Seminary Academic Colloquium on Riches and Poverty: A Biblical and Theological Reflection. Alliance Bible Seminary City Campus, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. March 1-2,2013
Prof. Fermin Manalo Jr.
“ Violence, Women and Peacebuilding” . A lecture presented and workshop conducted during the Global Studies, Peace and Leadership Summer Seminar sponsored by Hiroshima Jogakuin University and Wesley Foundation of Japan held at Hiroshima, Japan August 1-9, 2013.
Dr. Annabel Manalo
“ Testimonial Therapy: Psycho-legal Remedy for Enforced
Disappearance Victims and their Families” , a paper presented at
the 2nd National Lawyer’s Conference, 30-31 August 2013.
“ Phenomenology of Posttraumatic Growth in Survivors of Torture
and Organized Violence” , a paper presented at the 49th Annual
Convention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, August 2012.
“Mga Ebokatibo at Mapagpahayag ng mga Pamamaraan sa
Pagtulong sa mga Komunidad na Lumikas Bunga ng Giyera sa
Mindanaw”, a paper presented at the 37th Annual Convention
of the National Association for Sikolohiyang Pilipino, November 2012.
“Ang Psychospiritual na Pamamaraan ng Pagsuporta ng mga
Biktima ng Kalamidad” , a paper presented at the 37th Annual Convention of the National Association for Sikolohiyang Pilipino, November 2012.
Dr. Zenet Maramara
“Biblical Stewardship and Corporate Social Responsibility.”
Steward Summit, Portland Oregon, USA. January 7-9, 2014 “The Heart and Work of a Steward Leader: An Asian Perspective”.
Annual National Steward Leader Initiative Summit incorporated in the Christian Leadership Alliance Conference. Dallas, Texas. April 14-16, 2014
ats fac u lt y in t h e nat i o nal & global sph e r e s
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Dr. Peter Nitschke
Drawing Toward Transformation and Action in a Forgotten Barrio:
Cultivating a Learning and Planning Community. Published Article
(co-authored with Peter Malvicini) for Journal of Transformative Education. Volume 11 Issue 2, April 2013 (pp.127-144)
Dr. Joanna Soberano
“ The Challenges of Online Learning”. Paper presented during the Asian Forum for Christian Educators with the theme “Space, Relationships and Learning: A Critical matrix for theological education,” Bangkok, Thailand, May 17-30, 2013 Conducted a workshop in Transformation education for theological
educators and leaders involved in theological education as a member of the Global Associates for Transformational Education (GATE). Gate Training the Trainor’s Workshop, Quito Ecuador. April 14-18, 2013.
Dr. Amanda Shao Tan
“The Chinese Dragon, God’s ‘Frolicking’ Dragon and the Cross
of Christ” . A paper presented for Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture’s 35th Anniversary with the theme “The Gospel in Culture: Contextualization Issues in Asian Contexts. UP Hotel, University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus, Quezon City. July 26, 2013
Notes: Dr. Annabel Manzanilla-Manalo and
Dr. Violeta Villaroman-Bautista of ATS
Counseling Department: Took oath as first batch of Licensed Psychologists in the Philippines under RA 10029 (Psychology Act of 2009) which aims to professionalize and establish high standard in the practice Psychology in the Philippines. Drs. Manalo and Bautista are also
Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) Certified in three
specialty fields - Clinical Psychology, Assessment Psychology and Counseling Psychology. Prof. Lorenzo Bautista, Dr. Tim Gener,
Dr. Adonis Gorospe, Dr. Athena Gorospe
and Dr. Amanda Shao-Tan are featured writers in The Gospel in Culture Contextualization Issues in an Asian Context. (Mandaluyong City: Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture and OMF Lit, 2013)
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Leading Psa l m 7 8 As Christian leaders, we are entrusted by God the sacred responsibility of leading His flock as we are called. Throughout Israel’s history, when God wanted to do great things, or lead His people to do something or even solve a problem, he calls on a shepherd to lead -… When He executed the plan for man’s salvation, He called Abraham, a shepherd. … When he wanted to build a nation out of Abraham’s lineage, He called another shepherd named Jacob, and he built the nation of Israel. … When God needed to save that nation, He called another shepherd named Joseph. … And when that nation was in a very terrible condition and needed to be united and strengthened, God called another shepherd boy named David. … And When God sent his own son to this world, Jesus was not embarrassed to say, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Psalm 78:1-65 tells us about the story of God’s people, chosen to be the showcase of His love and salvation to become light to the nations. These verses are a
recollection of Israel’s story. It is a sad story actually, recounting Israel’s plight. God established a testimony and appointed laws in Israel and commanded the fathers to teach His commandments to their children so that the next generation might know and obey His precepts and set their hopes in God alone. But as verses 10-12 show, they did not keep God’s covenant. They willfully refused to walk according to his laws and forgot the works and wonders the Lord had performed. If you were God, wouldn’t you have said in exasperation, “I will start all over again and choose another nation!”? Imagine this kind of flock to be your church. Mga pasaway na tupa. Mga tatay, nanay at mga anak ng….pasaway na tupa. How would you feel? Well, God’s answer to the problems of God’s people is to choose and call David from the sheep pens (v.70) to shepherd Israel. Notice how beautifully the writer described how David led God’s people (v. 72): “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Two things stand out about leading God’s flock especially taking the cue from verse 72: • David led with a shepherd’s heart---an upright heart.
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god’s Flock by
Bishop Noel Pantoja
That’s why we know David as a man after God’s own heart. He killed a lion and a bear in private, BUT God later on led him to kill a giant in public, including their enemies. He brought his brother’s armor in humility. His was a servant heart. He was faithful with small things so God later gave him responsibilities over big things. Dear leaders of churches and organizations, we cannot lead God’s people without a shepherd’s heart of integrity. David knew he had to serve in order to lead, that the way to go up is to go down. Sadly, some leaders have never known these values. • David guided them with skillful hands. Many leaders have a big heart for ministry and people. That’s good, but not enough. David led his flock with skillful hands. From childhood, he knew how to take care of the young lambs and the adult sheep. He knew how to take care of the seniors and the next generation. You and I, by God’s grace have got to learn, develop, hone and improve on skills that feed, lead and protect the flock of God. No amount of heart sincerity can compensate for our lack of skills in leading the people entrusted to us. David was a skillful shepherd. Asintado. Yes he had the heart but, he knew the sling with exceptional mastery. He knew how to use the sword and execute his conquests toward victory. He was indeed a mighty warrior. Jesus is still building his Church and has called YOU and I to be part of His leadership team, to be part of the solution and not be part of the problem. God is looking today for real Shepherds in His flock--leaders with a shepherd’s heart and skillful hands to feed people with proper nutrients of the Word. What is God saying to you, as a leader? What needs to change in your life to become the shepherd that God desires?
Bishop Noel Pantoja is the National
Director Designate
2015 of the Philippine
Council of Evangelical Churches, and the General Director
-CEO at Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines.
Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) is an evangelical, interdenomenational, multicultural theological institution that serves the needs of the Asian church and beyond by training and equipping Christian men and women to be competent, Spirit-filled servant-leaders who will, by the Spirit of God, effect Biblical transformation in society and the world, for the cause of Christ and the glory of God.
EQUIP. LEAD. TRANSFORM.
It equip s s tudents with th e un d e rl yi n g core dis tinc ti ve s of b e i n g:
OB B ALL GGLLO A
CC
DD
EC CTTEE NNE OON
ST LLIIS TIICC HHOO
IIF NGG YIIN FY UUNN
• • • •
Excellent international faculty and students Global curriculum with global outreach and impact Demonstrates the inter-cultural character of the body of Christ Encourages students to serve God in their home country, thus helping impact Asia and the world
• Equips students while remaining in ministry, thus learning is relevant and contextualized • Encourages students to reflect critically and dynamically in the midst of an active ministry • Bible-based framework • Integrates personal holiness, evangelism and social responsibility • Engages students in social issues and the development of one’s community and nation • Trans-denominational, enriched by different traditions • Allows freedom to express personal beliefs • Various denominations represented in the ATS student body are all committed to the Bible as the Word of God, and yet recognize diversity as an expression of their freedom in Christ
Asian Theological Seminary
For more information, please contact us at:
54 Sct. Madriñan, Quezon City 1103 Philippines Tel.: (632) 928-6717; 923-0669 Fax: (632) 928-5114 (local nos. 120-Admissions, 112-Registrar, 108-Business Office) Email: info@mail.ats.ph facebook.com/ats.ph twitter.com/atsph
www.ats.ph