Vol. 1 2015
INTOUCH The Official Newsletter of the Asian Theological Seminary
www.ats.ph
ATS Vision
To become the leading evangelical seminary in Asia that produces outstanding servant leaders. Dr. Melchor Go
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In Pursuit of Wholeness Dr. Irene Alexander
06 Soul Care
Dr. Fernando Lua
ATS Mission
To glorify God by providing quality theological education for Christian leaders to effect Biblical transformation in the Church and society in Asia and beyond. 2015 Graduates 12 ATS Speak Dr. Raineer Chu
23 Urban Poor Spirituality Frederick Dungganon
of a New Hope: 25 Dawn Bukang Liwayway
Spiritual ATS Theological 08 Teaching 27 2015 Formation Forum Highlights Ms. Ellen Bayot
Staff Development 09 ATS Program
Dr. Rene Chanco
Love, Losses, and 30 On the Absence of Light
INTOUCH STAFF President
Rev. Timoteo D. Gener, PhD
Editorial Staff
Ella Abigail Santos Marizol Duran Junette B. Galagala-Nacion Marc Vincent Peralta Layout Artist: Faye Castillo
Contributors Dr. Melchor Go Dr. Irene Alexander Dr. Fernando Lua Dr. Raineer Chu Frederick Dungganon Ellen Bayot Dr. Rene Chanco
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT In our fast-changing world, it is crucial that we constantly refocus and recenter ourselves on the Source of life. This edition of InTouch takes a more reflective path as it describes ways in which we discern the movement of God and keep pace with Him in our buzzing, technologysaturated world. At ATS, one’s spirituality is at the core of our education. We do not only focus on the doing but more importantly, on the being—how we ourselves are changed into the likeness of Christ in the course of daily life and service. Here, we also explore the darker aspects of the journey, the roads less travelled—such as keeping God’s light in the din and hunger of life in the slums, and clinging to the same light in the face of tragedy, sorrow, and spiritual darkness. May you find yourself contemplating along these pages, tracing hints of hope and listening to God’s still, small voice as you remember your own difficulties in the path of faith. May you remember that with you are fellow travellers. Together, we strengthen each other as we are strengthened by Him, staying true to the calling of making His gospel known to a world that desperately needs His light.
DR. TIM GENER
In Pursuit of Wholeness Dr. Melchor Go ATS Chaplain
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n the pursuit of academic excellence in theological education, ATS also takes cognizance of the value of meaningful spiritual formation in preparing Christian leaders as agents of biblical transformation in church and society. The Chaplaincy Services has designed numerous programs and activities that seek to balance scholastic pursuits with spiritual wholeness. First on the list is the Chapel time. Corporate worship on a weekly basis enhances our relationship with God because it gives the community the opportunity to appreciate God, our Father, both for who He is and for what He does for His children. Chapel time is held on Wednesdays at 11am and Thursdays at 5pm. Care Groups for students and staff are also formed for spiritual support. In the small group setting, members can express love and care for one another. Moreover, it also provides a great deal of spiritual accountability for leaders and fellow members. So high a premium is placed on this program that students cannot graduate without participating therein. Staff are also required to be part of this program. Senior seminarians and staff are recruited and subsequently equipped The ATS Chapel was renovated in 2005. It features lengthened arms of the cross with divisions of varied lengths. It symbolizes God’s embrace of the community worshiping within, from all nations, races, and walks of life. It also has Yahweh carved out in Hebrew letters as windows on the upper left side.
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to lead their junior counterparts as members of their group. In conjunction with the Missions Fest, we also devote special time for spiritual ref reshing and renewal, known as Spiritual Emphasis time. The whole community observes Prayer Time during this period. In addition, we also hold weekly prayer gatherings throughout the year where everyone is encouraged to be active participants. Prayer concerns in the community are regularly gathered for collective petitions. A prayer room is also maintained for anyone seeking a more private place to meet with God in prayer and reflection. This facility is open to everybody. The Entrance and Exit Inter views are also facilitated by the Chaplaincy Services in order to ascertain the spiritual condition of seminarians. This applies to all incoming as well as outgoing students. We aim to see significant development of one’s spiritual maturity f rom the time he or she enters the seminary up to graduation. The interviews also provide student feedback of their experiences, as well as their expectations and suggestions to improve our services. Seminarians and staff who are in need of counseling can always avail of the services of the Chaplaincy Office as well as other qualified professors. In fact, just as parents take healthy babies to a “wellbaby check up” to pediatricians, we encourage everyone in the community to see the chaplain at least once every semester for regular spiritual “check-ups.” Hence, counseling is open for
“We aim not only in developing men and women of the Word who can teach the Bible responsibly, but also in cultivating a deepening spirituality expressed in devotion and service to God and others.” both distressed and non-distressed members of the community. We also provide financial assistance to needy members of the community through our Benevolence Fund that is primarily collected during chapel times. Anyone in financial difficulty greatly appreciates concrete acts of love and concern f rom the community especially in times of need. Finally, for the new school year 2015-2016, ATS is exploring to develop a program for Spiritual Direction for all members of the community. This hopes to involve a more spiritually mature person helping a spiritually younger member of the community grow in godly devotion. This intentional relationship would provide a “journey companion,” or one who comes alongside as a f riend who would assist in providing spiritual direction for others. We aim not only in developing men and women of the Word who can teach the Bible responsibly, but also in cultivating a deepening spirituality expressed in devotion and service to God and others.
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Soul Care Dr. Irene A
lexander
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hen Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul, he is naming the multifaceted person that we are. Sometimes as Christians, we have been more influenced by the old tradition of spirit-body split and have considered the spirit to be more important, more ‘of God’ than the body. What then is the soul which Jesus says is of more value than the whole world (Matt 16:26)? And what is it to find rest for our souls (Matt 11:29)?
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Soul Care comes f rom the recognition that God loves the whole of us – body, soul, and spirit – and wants us to live lives of joy, and physical pleasure as well as service, worship, and care for others. Soul Care is a caring for the whole person and a call to healing for the whole person – our body, our memories, our relationships, and inner hearts. When David said “You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart” (Ps 51:6 NRSV ), he had become more aware of the inner parts of himself – what we
Dr. Irene Alexander (Ph.D.,University of Queensland, Australia; M.Phil., B.S., Auckland University) teaches Soul Care modules.
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Dr. Alexander's Soul Care class performs a Prayer of the Pilgrim walk. Photo by Shin Yu.
may today call the unconscious – made up of memories and hidden wounds. The prophet Nathan had conf ronted him with his sin and self-deception, and he had realized that he needed healing within, in ways he had not considered. Soul Care teaches us to listen to these deeper places that Nathan and David faced, the places in ourselves and others that are seldom brought into the light. Heart listening brings hidden wounds to the surface so that they may be healed. Listeners are taught to journey with grace and acceptance, opening a place of love where the Holy Spirit can enter to bring shalom. The two Soul Care courses in the Counseling Department of ATS are experiential courses that enable students to learn the skills
of heart listening. Part of the class is reflection and engagement that brings to the fore unresolved wounds or memories. As the person brings these to God, he or she is brought into greater f reedom to be truly present to the wounds of others. Compassion is developed through finding God’s grace and compassion more deeply. Skills of reflective listening, open questioning, and listening for emotion, metaphor, and story are held within the way of being with the other, in the same way that Jesus was present to those he encountered in kindness, grace, truthfulness, and acceptance. Heart listening and soul care are essential for all who journey with others – whether as ministers, pastoral care workers, counselors, and social workers.
Teaching
Spiritual Formation Dr. Fernando Lua
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ne of the things we promote at ATS is the spiritual formation of all students, staff, and faculty. We believe in the centrality of our calling to become Christ-like. For students’ development, we have weekly chapel services, care groups, retreats, and courses on spirituality and formation. I have been teaching Spiritual Formation for several years now. This is required for all MDiv programs. In the MA programs, there are other options like the Urban Spirituality course. What is the focus of the course Spiritual Formation? I espouse the view that as a person, our development should be holistic— encompassing all aspects of our life, with the spiritual at the core of our being. Spiritual formation is a
“Spiritual formation is a lifelong process of being conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus.”
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lifelong process of being conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus, who is not only the radiance of the glory of God but is his exact imprint (Heb. 1:3). At the core of this process is the practice of the spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation of God’s Word, solitude, confession, and others. As our spiritual life is being
formed, we need to make sure that other aspects of our life are also developed, such as the physical, emotional, intellectual, vocational, and social. They are all interrelated and integrated. Neglecting the physical will surely affect the others. In the course, we assess where we are in each area of development. We need to be aware of areas we need to develop to prevent being a one-dimensional person. Goals are set and action plans are identified. The aim is to be like Jesus who “… grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40, ESV ). We also consider that each of us has different personalities and thus, different natural spiritual pathways (Gary Thomas) that we prefer over others. Life issues are also identified because we do not want to be a minister who serves in the church but is actually doing more harm than good. The goal of the spiritual formation course is to become a healthy, growing person in all aspects of our life. The greatest gift we can give to the church is a healthy self. As the apostle Paul says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image f rom one degree of glory to another. For this comes f rom the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV ).
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ATS Staff Development Program Ms. Ellen Bayot, Human Resource and General Services Head
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ver the years, ATS has provided and supported short-term trainings as well as higher education programs for its administrative support staff. This equips them with the appropriate skills, abilities, and attitude necessary in their respective work assignments under the Staff Development and Advancement Program. The staff development program at ATS has a two-pronged purpose of enhancing the staff ’s personal advancement and spiritual growth. Every year, activities are designed
to encourage spiritual formation. In various settings and activities, the staff participate actively and regularly in care groups, spiritual retreats, prayer meetings every first Monday of the month, celebrations/ fellowships (such as staff birthdays), and mid-week worship services, among others. In recent years, ATS has granted staff development activities in short duration trainings and retreats for the staff. The most recent was a
ATS staff at their Soul Care retreat in Antipolo City, Rizal.
Dr. Fernando Lua is Vicepresident for Administration and Finance and professor of Pastoral Studies.
seminar-workshop on “Theology of Work” done in April-May 2015. This was a tailor-made six-day series of lectures and practical applications conducted by Dr. Adonis Abelard O. Gorospe (ATS professor in Theology and concurrently Academic Dean). In the seminar, the staff-participants were enabled to express their personal insights and discovery of God’s presence in the simplest tasks that they perform in their workplaces. The staff also experience regular spiritual retreats. Last year’s two-day retreat on “Soul Care” was conducted by Pastor Leoncito Silva, ATS alumnus (MDiv Pastoral Counseling) and Pastor Ruben Joseph A. Orteza (currently enrolled in MDiv Pastoral Studies). Previously, the staff was also privileged to have a two-day spiritual formation retreat, led by Ms. Maloi Salumbides (Protips, 702 DZAS) and Dr. Fernando C. Lua (ATS professor in Pastoral Studies and Vice-president for Administration and Finance). In 2013, the staff went on a nature trip to Coron island in Palawan. The staff was grateful to have seen God’s natural wonders of the island. It was a calm and soothing experience, far away f rom the environment of the usual workplace. Through these activities, each staff member underwent soulsearching and were encouraged in their respective journeys of spiritual transformation. In terms of long-term programs, ATS provides staff with the opportunity of scholarship or f ree tuition in any level of their preferred graduate degree programs in the
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seminary. In the current school year, thirty percent (30%) of the staff are enrolled in various programs, namely: Biblical Studies, Christian Education, Pastoral Counseling, and Transformational Urban Leadership. Over the years, several staff had completed degrees and some had been promoted to higher positions and responsibilities; others have transferred to other workplaces but brought with them the learnings f rom ATS. The staff also participate in care groups for fellowship. Each care group carries about six to seven members and meet once a week for an hour. This activity leads the group in Bible study, prayer, support and care for each member. Membership in care groups change every school year to give the members a chance to interact with all the staff. Also, the staff attend a monthly meeting for updates on administrative matters. This is a venue where new information, guidelines, advisories and the like are reported by the various administrative offices. But most importantly, it is also the time to extol and praise God for His continuous provisions and blessings to ATS, and also a time for community prayer. The Human Resources Office spearheads the planning and laying up of programs for staff development, assisted by at least three members f rom among the staff. This group comprises the Staff Development Committee and meets once a month or whenever necessary. All these activities are developed and implemented in order to continually shape our attitude towards Christlikeness.
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Dr. Adonis Gorospe’s term as Academic Dean has ended, ushering in Dr. Joanna Feliciano-Soberano as the new dean starting School Year 2015-16.
ANNOUNCEMENTS We’ve shifted our Academic Calendar starting school year 2015-16. The first semester runs from August-December while the second semester proceeds from January to May. First Semester: August 24-December 12, 2015 Second Semester: January 25-May 21, 2016 Enrolment for the first semester is on
August 17-18, 2015 (Monday-Tuesday, 9am-6pm).
Alvin G. Bailon
Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies I went to ATS as a response to God’s calling to be more involved in church ministry. This seminary does not train you by spoon-feeding information and downloading pre-packaged answers. ATS primarily taught me how to think deeply about God’s truth. The professors do not dictate these truths but guide us to the different approaches of understanding God and His involvement in our lives and in the world. Thus, my view of ministry has been greatly influenced by the seminary’s thrust to balance
Rachel M. Cabato
Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies At ATS, I was a student learning with our teachers and with my classmates. At a graduate business school, where I was teaching while studying at ATS, I was learning with my students and with other professors. Being both student and teacher made me understand how God works
through our learning relationships as we study His word and live His message each day. I am now back in the place of my childhood but from where I have been away for most of my adult life. It will take more than a year or two to develop friendships outside of my immediate family. However uncertain things appear now, I know our Lord God is leading the way for me to use my ATS training in the ministry He has already chosen for me. While
2015 GRADUATES SPEAK Julian S. Vallente
Diploma of Arts in Christian Education “What, when, why, how, where, maybe, let’s try…” These words and more used to run through my mind and escape my lips as I served God. Although I believed in my heart that the Spirit of the Lord was guiding me, I had to admit that what I knew then was not enough. As I was not yet fully equipped as a minister, my presumptions had to change. Given the opportunity to study at ATS ushered me into the transformation I needed. Now, I have cleared my inhibitions in innovating the systems of our church.
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13 theory and praxis, scholarship and activism, spirituality and ministry. The drive to increase in the knowledge and grace of our Lord through diligence can sometimes lead to ambiguity. ATS has also instructed us to live with those tensions by faith. And the best way to live out that faith is within a worshipping and loving community. ATS has always valued this and I am certain that I will carry the values of intellectual integrity, personal devotion to the Lord, and community involvement in whatever work the Lord has prepared for me.
ATS became a second home for me. My deep desire to learn and to love God with all of my mind has been furnished thoroughly by the school. The challenging scholastic experience became a joy through His grace and through the friendships I have fostered with my classmates, professors, and school staff. I am forever grateful to the Lord that He has granted me this privilege of studying at ATS which molded me towards becoming a better follower of Jesus Christ. To Him alone be the glory!
2015 GRADUATES SPEAK waiting for God’s time, I continue to study the Bible, to learn more biblical Hebrew and Greek, and also to read and understand the Bible in Visayan so that eventually I can give biblical lessons in the language most people here speak and understand. My eight years at ATS were times of comfort, relaxation and especially, of rest in the Lord. The assignments due each session, papers to write, research to do, group studies to finish – all these were joyful work in the Lord within the ATS community of faith and service.
I work hand in hand with my wife (who is still studying at ATS) in developing our approaches to soul winning and living with the community. We had to let the people experience the presence of our church in the area so our way of dealing with people and situations changed. Personally, my confidence developed as well. Everything I learned have become tools in discipling potential and current leaders. After gaining understanding in the principles and methods of education, I can now design curricula, workshops, trainings, and mentoring sessions in the areas of
teaching, leading, caring, exhorting, and even preaching. Our learning is channelled to our daughter churches and is being used in equipping the workers. I’ve learned at ATS that as a person in leadership, I need to reach out to others. This was modelled to us by ATS professors and staff. My stay at ATS was filled with challenges and enjoyment. I enjoyed the company of my classmates who were cooperative, especially during group works and discussion. Everyone was ready to share knowledge and skills. The ATS faculty and staff also contribute to a disciplined and friendly atmosphere.
Rose Sharon C. Ramos Master of Arts in Christian Education
I entered ATS as a wounded person. I felt that I was not worthy to serve the Lord at that time. I was hopeless. I could not understand what I was really going through. But the Lord used ATS for me to meet Him again, to experience His love, His grace, and acceptance. ATS transformed me by the warmth of its community. I felt that I was a part of a big family. It made my journey easier though I was really experiencing
Josiecar M. Riglos
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling I used to look into the horizon dreaming of what’s beyond – an ideal future, more hopeful than past circumstances. I came to ATS with these hopes. I was ready to be equipped but was not prepared for the training that I would receive. I always thought that transformation happened elsewhere, which then ripples back to influence me. Studying at ATS made me realize that transformation starts from within. From the first time I stepped in the classroom to the moment I stepped foot
on stage to receive my degree, ATS life has been an unwavering exercise of selfawareness – challenging truths, dogma, and even doctrine. It also called me to respond, not only through ink and paper, but by concrete participation. Through lectures, readings, reflection exercises, and experiential learning, ATS not only defined spirituality but lived by this very definition modeled in its community. This community manifested its love for God through the love for the “other.” Such a spiritual lens etched in the very fiber of ATS now serves as my framework in how I minister to every sphere of influence I am placed in – at home, in
Kenneth C. Solitario Master of Divinity in Counseling
My ATS experience was a very enriching one. ATS showed me the importance of academic training as one of the many mechanisms through which God can reveal himself more fully. I am now engaged in a method of reading the Bible that utilizes both my cognitive and affective faculties that move me to action. To sum up the experience, I believe that I have become a more “responsible” Christian. I say responsible because now
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14 15 difficulties in my Christian life. At ATS, all my subjects started with an opening devotion. I was also involved with different care groups and prayer groups. ATS taught me that our differences in denominations and even personal opinions does not stop us from accepting one another and serving God together. ATS equipped me not just in my academics but even in building my relationship with God and with people. It motivated me to be excellent in everything I do—be it in doing my papers, serving as a student assistant, teaching and training, leading the student association, singing in
the Chapel service, or relating with different kinds of people. ATS taught me that my relationship with God and with people will help me transform lives too. There are a lot of things that I really enjoyed while I was in ATS. Some of these are the Chapel services, care/prayer groups, missions exposure trips and theological forums. But what I really appreciate are the small talks with my professors and schoolmates in the canteen, lobby, library, and ATSSA office. ATS will always be my second family. It will always be part of my spiritual journey.
church, and in my community. My ATS education honed in me a consciousness of being a better “other”, anchored on mercy and justice. I would not merely be teaching but more importantly, walking alongside people. I value the friendships with like-minded individuals within the haven of trust and solidarity of the ATS community. I am grateful to ATS because I have been blessed to call it my family. Now, looking into the same horizon with the lens I gained from my ATS family, I have realized that what’s beyond the horizon is as ideal and hopeful as the lens I view it with. Soli Deo gloria!
that I have encountered God in the way that I did at ATS, I feel the burden of living up to the wisdom of living a meaningful and impactful life. The training I received from ATS has encouraged and empowered me to live out my faith in every aspect of my life. I admit that at first, my spirituality only manifests in usual church practices, like worship and devotions. By being open, I have learned that spirituality is so much more than just doing. It is more of how the way I live would reflect my relationship with God. My values
have become more aligned to God’s kingdom values of mercy, justice, and compassion. I now use these values as lenses through which I approach life’s daily challenges. ATS is a good place to find family and community. As a seminary, it was quite expected that ATS will really cater to my academic needs. But finding relationships that would last was totally a surprise! I met so many people coming from all walks of life, with different ideologies and interests and yet I felt connected to each one of them.
Esperanza T. Coronel
ATS equipped me to have a deeper and wider understanding about world missions and my role in helping fulfill the Great Task in any capacity, in every opportunity, and in any place God calls me. ATS has helped uplift my spiritual disciplines and trained me to be accountable to the community of believers by taking part in school activities, supporting the IUS department, and becoming part of a care group. I have learned to become more dependent and sensitive to His leading despite obstacles—entrusting all my uncertainties, my future, and my life to
Master of Arts in Intercultural Ministries
I decided to change the course of my life when I started yearning for more knowledge about the God I serve. Little did I know that knowing God will lead me to discover new things about myself. Before, I just wanted to share the gospel to my fellow Filipinos. But through ATS, I was exposed to different cultures and religions and my dreams started to change. I began to love our Muslim brothers, whom I feared before. I started reading books about them, praying for them, and befriending them. I grabbed opportunities to be immersed in their communities.
Genesis G. Tan 16 17
Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies
ATS taught me to love God and His people and to align my life to His will and purpose. My ambition now is for the nations to know and love God. I formed a mission team in my local church called “Missions Compass.” I trained youth, young professionals, and mothers who have the passion for crosscultural missions. With the help of my professor and missionary friends from ATS, I imparted the passion to reach the nations. I will not stop teaching and speaking about God’s mission until our church embraces its calling to intentionally reach other nations. I have become more in love with Jesus and
As I mostly took Counseling courses for my electives, ATS helped me to be more selfaware. More than giving me knowledge and tools in better understanding other people, it helped me know myself more and be aware of my own inner being. Through this, I learned to embrace the journey towards wholeness so that I can be a better person, a better husband, a better minister, and a better leader. I also learned acceptance and openness. ATS is home to a wide range of denominations and this opened my mind to many expressions of faith. I became more understanding of other people’s expressions
17 18 Him, knowing that He knows what is best for me. I aim to become a missions mobilizer in my church and help in our evangelism and missions ministry. I also want to strengthen my commitment with my partner mission organizations. I have also become keener in observing and evaluating issues in society, my community, and our church. Reflecting on the church’s missional purpose and drawing up an appropriate response to these issues. Because the educational system is balanced, students have the freedom to express their
more passionate in following His will. ATS stirred the desire in me to go to Creative Access Nations and bring the Good News. I will never forget all the mission trips I’ve been to – Ifugao, Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, North Thailand, and South Thailand. I was able to integrate theology and classroom lessons with my field practice. I was changed, my entire being was changed even as I learned to love others unconditionally. I also enjoyed the friendships built because of the loving ATS community. Thank you ATS for making my journey fruitful and lifechanging!
of their spirituality. ATS taught me the importance of pursuing transformation. The gospel is not just simply proclamation through words but demonstration through concrete actions. To love someone and just leave this person in a situation where one is continuously oppressed is not to love at all. ATS encouraged me to challenge the status quo. After I graduated from ATS, I realized that that the more I know, the more there is that I don’t know. I have committed myself to continuous learning to be better equipped in serving and leading others. I will apply what I learned about integration and living
own views. Professors respect the students’ personal opinions and share their personal experiences. Their stories have been helpful, especially those about their church involvement and ministries in Western, Asian, and closed countries. I enjoyed the family atmosphere at ATS – the warm smiles and assistance of professors, staff, and students. We were few at the IUS Department but we strengthened each other, especially as we organized Missions Emphasis Month.
Iya
Master of Divinity in Intercultural and Urban Studies
in tension. ATS taught me to integrate what I have learned, especially those that seemingly contradict each other. What I enjoyed most in ATS is the community and its simplicity. ATS may not have the most beautiful buildings, the most complex equipment, or the fanciest technological gadgets. But experiencing ATS life has reminded me that one can live simply but be enriched at the same time. Richness can be experienced with people—in the interactions, encounters, and engagement within the community.
Vergilio ‘Jojo’ Bive Jr.
Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies “Study again?” was the subtle protest of some loved ones upon finding out that for the nth time, I was going to enroll in ‘another’ Bible school. At the back of my mind, I thought this seminary is not just some school. This is ‘the’ school! And it better be good because if not, I would have wasted another four years of my life. Four years after, I knew that ATS created a dent in my life that will forever characterize
Eduardo D. Co, Jr.
Graduate Diploma in Theological Studies Studying at ATS has afforded me a broader perspective on a lot of things, but none more so than in the manner of serving the Lord. I used to believe that leading an individual to a spiritual encounter with Christ is the end all of a servant’s duty. Now I believe that it is only the beginning, for Jesus did not only feed the soul but also the stomach. We are our brother’s keeper.
Much of the advantage of seminary training is manifested by a clearer perception of biblical perspectives. Personal life and ministry therefore should be guided by such principles. Such is my goal, to live each day under the lordship of Christ. Such is my calling, to be an agent of the expansion of His kingdom on earth as mandated by the Great Commission. Whether or not I make the transition to full time ministry, I hope to be salt and light. Prior to ATS, my last encounter with a formal learning institution was my stint in
Raul B. Durante Jr. Master of Arts in Theology
God used ATS to transform my life holistically by first breaking me then making me whole again. I had to unlearn all my preunderstandings about God and His Word. ATS did not just help me change the way I think, it also developed my theological disciplines. It enabled me to grasp the biblical message through a careful study of the text and its authorial intent even as I became observant of the contemporary hearers’ setting. I have learned to see the passage’s timeless relevance and prudently apply it
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19 20 the way I view Christianity and ministry. It developed in me an audacious and insatiable passion for truth. And though I came away with more questions than before, it is not because my inquiries were never answered but because I have learned to challenge my own views while respecting those who differ with mine. The tacit acceptance of Christian beliefs and moral values suddenly pulsated with new vitality as I acquired a profound sense of the divine urge to deeply study the Holy Writ. Ministry wise, my training at ATS has produced a certain degree of confidence and
competence in handling the Word of truth that proved to be very effective in my work as a pastor. Attitude and aptitude now have begun to interface. One of the fruits of my training is that my network of influence has expanded through invitations to speak and share my learnings to various churches and organizations. No student of ATS would dare say that studying in this seminary is a walk in the park. But all the hardships are worth all the time and effort once one begins to realize that only the fully equipped survive in the battlefield of ministry.
college, which was more than 20 years ago. So it took my mental muscles some time to adjust to the rigors of academic pursuits at ATS. Nevertheless, I embraced my studies, more particularly learning things I had no prior knowledge of. I always looked forward to going to class because I knew there was always something new from the lectures of our more than capable professors. Somehow this led me to not just have a better understanding of the Word but a vivid experience of Scripture, which in turn produces an increase of faith.
in the modern-day context. Above all, ATS steered me into the very presence of the gracious and loving God of the Word. Right after graduation, I was given the opportunity to teach in a seminary and I believe that ATS equipped with the necessary skills for this teaching ministry. ATS also paved the way for the realization of that insatiable thirst and hunger for the presence of the one true God. It helped me realize that I know very little and every time a cloak that obscures the truth is removed, I find myself yet hungry for more. ATS made me inquisitive in my personal approach to the Father. I will use what I’ve learned to dig
deeper into God and His Word, to unravel the mysteries that surround the unwavering faithfulness of our Christian forefathers, and to ultimately find rest and solitude in the satisfaction of serving the Almighty. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of a loving community inside the campus. ATS is one of the few places on earth where people treat each fellow as co-servants of the Lord. Teachers treat their students as co-learners. Students value each other as partners in the harvest. This is what I appreciate most in ATS.
Arnel Samoy Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership My ATS education has redirected, regenerated, and remolded my true “being” with Jesus as I minister in my urban poor community. While being committed to evangelizing and making disciples, I also have the social responsibility to promote justice, kindness, and mercy to contribute to social development and nation building. I learned that my service should be integrated, interactive, and holistic, touching every area of the families I am serving. Spiritual, social, and economic development
Jeffrey Pessina
Diploma in Biblical Stewardship and Management Transformation is a lifelong process that involves many aspects of our lives. The MBA studies at ATS were an interesting and exciting part of that ongoing process. To me, the course maintains a healthy and refreshing balance of practical and spiritual tensions, and the content both affirmed and challenged me in a variety of ways. We hear of a spirituality that may lead one to be “of no earthly good”; this is not that! The practical spirituality of such things as strategic marketing, organizational
management, human resource development, and even basic accounting have reminded me of “earthly” matters that Christ cares about more than we may sometimes think. The training has certainly impacted me in both the personal and organizational realms. I may not be an entirely different person, but the ATS classes have not left me the same either. For example, my understanding and interest in transformational leadership and ministry has been piqued. And my desire to improve our human resource management and care also stems from the ATS studies. I have also been reminded of how critical our spiritual life is in the midst of extended and growing leadership roles.
• SPECIAL AWARDS •
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Christian Education: Rose Sharon C. Ramos Community Service: Valeriano B. Camay Counseling: Kenneth C. Solitario Cross-cultural Missions: Iya Evangelism/Church Planting: Daniel G. Masanga Exegetical/Biblical Studies: Alvin M. Molito Expository Preaching: Alvin G. Bailon, Genesis G. Tan Pastoral Studies: Vergilio T. Bive, Jr. Theological Education: Oliver A. Cruz Transformational Urban Leadership: Arnel M. Samoy
21 22 intervention is of utmost importance among the urban poor. Because of this, I strive to include all significant factors in formulating a relevant, strategic, and practical ministry that is biblical but also contemporary. I also learned to recognize the community’s beliefs and cultural practices to address the issues within the community’s deeper structures. I have been able to formulate my own theology of discipleship based on biblical principles and contextualized discipleship. This is grounded on the lives and cultural setting of the receptors. I have also imparted principles in community economics, coaching and facilitating the
implementation of a finance project in the community. These encourage the people to save and later engage in small businesses. I enjoyed being part of the ATS community—marked with world class education and global and national impact— and also relished learning from our excellent faculty. One of the highlights of being a MATUL student was my field exposures, through which I appreciated my calling even more. I have come to better understand the challenge of transforming the lives of marginalized people, marked by injustice and oppression, and also help society attain socioeconomic and spiritual transformation.
Perhaps because I am already a 35-year veteran missionary, and am a hands-on cando kind of person with a bias toward action, the involvement of professional, Christian practitioners was enjoyable and highly commendable. It was great to be exposed to genuine leaders who have great track records of experience and ministry success. I loved the interactive classes, where questions could be discussed with these men and women of God. The professors were humble, and seemed also to be learners still on the journey of discovery themselves. All these led to a great learning experience.
• WITH HONORS • Master of Arts: Rose Sharon C. Ramos | Gemma D. Reyes Josiecar M. Riglos | Arnel Samoy Master of Divinity: Alvin G. Bailon | Arr-jay A. Biangco | Vergilio T. Bive, Jr. Rachel M. Cabato | Oliver A. Cruz | Christian Jhonn C. Mojica Kenneth C. Solitario | Genesis G. Tan | Reiner D. G. Villavicencio Academic Excellence: Alvin G. Bailon | Rachel M. Cabato Reiner D. G. Villavicencio
Faculty Award: Genesis G. Tan
ATS 2015 Graduates
For the conferral of the status professor emeritus
to Prof. Lorenzo Bautista,
Congratulations!
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23 22 Dr. Raineer Chu
Urban Poor Spirituality V
ery few really know the poor, particularly the urban poor. As a result, there are also many wrong notions about who the poor are. We assume the poor think and function like we do. We use our own lenses to understand the poor, so that we believe they are really no different f rom us. Or worse, we see them f rom our vantage point and look down on them with our own standards and values. In the end, we lose sight of them. We think we see them or we know them but in reality, we only see our own ideas of the poor. This is sad because the poor number vastly more than the rich. Incidentally, anyone who has one thousand pesos in his pocket or home at any given time would belong to the top 10% of the world’s population that own 90% of the world’s wealth. In short, we are not poor. We are the minority, obviously. And yet, we see the urban poor using our own minority perspective. We even dare to speak on their behalf. As the majority of the world’s population, sadly, the poor are not allowed to see the world f rom their perspective. The world has always been dominated by the wealthy minority. The course on Urban Poor Spirituality not only looks at the spirituality of the majority f rom the perspective of the poor, but it also teaches the student how to read the Bible f rom the bottom up, f rom the perspective of weakness and poverty. In the course, the student will learn to make the gospel really good news to the poor. They will see that without a critical examination of the underlying philosophical and ideological biases of their gospel, their evangelism is really making people more American than Christian, more Cartesian, more secular, more individualistic, more materialistic, more cognitive—which are all bad news to the poor. The world is constantly being dehumanized, societies f ragmented, and people isolated. Even Christian seminaries do the same. The first task in learning to read the Bible properly is to make the reader human again—whole and integrated. And we are most human when we are in community. Most of the social interventions in urban poor ministries are biased towards development and material prosperity, which always face major dilemmas, namely: What happens now that the poor have become rich? Will they now face the condemnation that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than a camel through the eye of a needle? No one has quite fully understood what the Bible meant when it said that the poor are rich in faith. To many Christians, the word “poor” in that verse does not refer to the literal poor but only to a figurative or symbolic poor, so that the term also includes the rich as much as the poor. This
renders the text inutile, despite the obvious fact that the context really refers to the literal poor. “Poor” for the rich Christians means “humble,” because a literal rendition would appear wrong: there are many poor who are sinful because they are proud, just as there are many rich who are righteous because they are humble. This is not to insist that God has a bias for the poor, no. God is not biased for the poor, but God is biased for justice. And the protection of the poor symbolizes this justice that God promotes. In this course, students are taken on a three-day immersion in the slums and live in the home of the poorest Christian families, in order to find out why the poor are rich in faith. This balances the developmental bias of social workers. They are not allowed to pay or give a donation to the host. While there, they are told only one rule: that they find out what they cannot live without, for example, can they live without a toothbrush, can they live without a bed, and so on. The moment they stop, their journey with the poor also stops. The goal is not to make them stoic but enable them to find their f reedom, the f reedom St. Paul boasts about—that he knows how to live in plenty and he knows how to live in want. The journey actually begins weeks before. At the beginning of the term, the class learns about solitude through a three-day silent retreat in
a beautiful monastery. They leave the monastery with an imaginary candle, lighted, and held on an open palm, the symbol of solitude. As they travel, the wind or some other thing can easily put out the candle. The spiritual exercise is all about how we can hold the lighted candle, so that the light is not snuffed out (as taught by Brother Lawrence in Practicing the Presence of God). In other words: how can we maintain solitude in our daily lives? The biggest challenge, though, is observing that solitude in the slums. The journey of solitude moves f rom the beautiful garden to the biblical desert (the ideal place of solitude – the desert of David and the desert of Jesus, among so many deserts), and finally in the slums as our desert. In the last stage, the student learns the ropes of maintaining solitude amidst the stench, the noise, and the violence of squatter life. In this way, the student may also say, like Mother Teresa, that he/she can also see Jesus in the dying and in the sick. The goal of the course is to be able to have silent retreat in the slums, the only course of its kind in the whole world. It is hoped that at the end of the course, the student realizes that it is really the rich who need the poor, and not vice versa, for the Bible tells us that what authenticates the spirituality of the rich is how they treat the poor.
Dr. Raineer Chu (D.Min., Bakke Graduate University; Dip. in Christian Counseling, Alliance Graduate School; B.A. of Laws, University of the Philippines) teaches Urban Spirituality.
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Dawn of a New Hope:
Bukang Liwayway Frederick Dungganon, MDiv Biblical Studies, 2015
Shanties in Welfareville, Mandaluyong, where Bukang Liwayway started its ministry. Photo by Bukang Liwayway.
J
un* was ten when he learned to scavenge in a dumpsite in Welfareville, Mandaluyong. Because his father had just died, he had to learn how to earn money for his family. Being the eldest of three, with a mother who was ill and a brother with special needs, Jun had to learn to be responsible for his family at a young age. Sometimes they had food. Sometimes they had to wait for other people’s alms to survive the day. His dream was to finish his studies and give his family a better life. At the age of 15, he worked in a construction site to help support his high school expenses. The summer after his graduation, he applied for sponsorship at Bukang Liwayway (BL) and was accepted. He then attended their summer youth camp, where he surrendered his life to Jesus. After two years, he became a youth coordinator and later on, a missionary. Soon, he became the overseer for the whole youth program of BL.
Jun is one of the youth whose lives have been transformed through the holistic ministry of Bukang Liwayway or BL Dawn for the Poor Foundation. BL serves and helps the poor become agents of transformation in their communities, with the vision of seeing “urban poor discipled to transform communities for the glory of God.” Jesus called us to make disciples and it is exciting to see the transformative power of the cross in the lives of the poor, becoming great disciples who are making disciples. BL was started in 1996 by an OMF missionary in Welfareville, Mandaluyong City. He lived with the poor, discipled them and empowered them. Now, BL has expanded to six cities in the Philippines: Welfareville (Mandaluyong), Cogeo (Antipolo), Calapan (Mindoro), Pandacan (Manila), Trece Marteres (Cavite), and Marilao (Bulacan), and hopefully next year, among the Waray in Samar. Its mission is “to facilitate a holistic church multiplication movement among the urban poor of Manila and beyond.” Our holistic ministry addresses the physical, economic, educational, social, and spiritual well-being of the poor. Church Multiplication Movement produces rapidly growing, reproducing house churches under lay leadership. Currently, we have 129 house churches and small
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groups with 125 lay leaders. Many house churches became involved in mission work to other barangays (villages) and as short-term mission teams in other areas in the Philippines and abroad. 1 Our six communities are supported by holistic ministries. Our health ministry includes health training, medical/dental missions, TB-DOTs program, 2 and others. Our livelihood program produces handmade products for export and local market. 3 Our Tupang Ligaw ministry reaches heads of families, focusing on men in the community. Our children’s ministry includes preschool centers, vacation Bible school, and kids’ clubs. Our youth ministry includes a sponsorship program for more than 350 students f rom preschool to college, helping with school fees and allowances. Many of our college graduates are now licensed teachers, nurses, engineers, and accountants, while some are already working abroad. It is exciting to see the youth become leaders in churches and in their communities. The youth program also includes attendance in weekly Bible studies and in an annual camp. At the camp, many have come to faith, like Jun. Jun later finished his Bachelor in Commercial Science. He then attended Bible school while supporting his sister in college. 4 After six years of study, he graduated at Asian Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies. At ATS, he was challenged and equipped all the more to continue serving the poor. ATS gave him more confidence and continued upgrading for ministry, particularly its holistic and global
core values infused into the courses. He has trained many leaders and church planters and modeled planting churches with a missionary DNA. Now, Jun and his wife, Vilma*, are both serving with the poor while praying to be sent out to another Asian country as missionaries. Since 2013, he has served BL as Executive Director and has been in the leadership core for 12 years. He is serving in the ministry that helped him realize his capacities and is giving opportunities for others to also reach their potential. He is directly involved in strategizing, decision making, training leaders, and implementing new projects and outreaches. BL has grown to 18 paid Filipino workers, five OMF missionaries, hundreds of volunteers, and more than 6,000 people being reached. This is my story. 5 And there are even greater stories than this in Bukang Liwayway. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20b ESV ). What wonderful news there is for the poor! God is doing great things among the poor and God is still inviting workers into this harvest field. 1 We have yearly mission trips in Bicol and in tribal areas in Palawan and Mindoro. Recently, we have been sending short term mission teams to Thailand and Myanmar. 2 In partnership with local government in ending the tuberculosis in the country. 3 This is a big help for the community while augmenting our our sponsorship program with its proceeds. 4 Jun’s sister was also a scholar of BL and is now a licensed professor teaching in a Christian school in Makati City. She came to faith through BL. Our mother passed away recently but she came to faith during her last few days. 5 Patrick Hobbs, the founder of Dawn for the Poor Foundation, has written two books, Dawn Harvest: Stories of Hope Rising from the Philippines (OMF Literature, 2009) and Dawn Reapers: Stories of Faith Spreading from the Philippines” (OMF Literature, 2012). Here, he has creatively written the life of Jun and the life of other leaders of the ministry from its foundational stage among the poor of Metro Manila to its flight to bring the Good News among the poor overseas. * Jun and Vilma are the names Hobbs used for Fred and his wife, Mimi.
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“Why, O God?: Disaster, Resiliency and the People of God”
W
here is God when disasters strike? Many questions as close to home as this were raised at the 2015 ATS Theological Forum held on February 5-6, 2015 at Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Around 460 participants gathered for the forum, themed “Why, O God?: Disaster, Resiliency, and the People of God.” The forum opened with a pitch-black hall, reminiscent of the darkness that people suffering natural tragedies would experience literally and figuratively. It was an exercise in imagining survivors groping for resources, comfort, and most of all, answers to their suffering. There are no easy answers to such questions, though. Plenary speaker Dr. Terence Fretheim (Elva B. Lovell Emeritus Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary) points to the messiness that God’s creative activity entails. God also engages non-human creatures in developing the world into its fullest potential, creating a dangerous world in the process. It is human limitation and sin that intensify the effects of natural events. Fretheim claims that authentic life and creativity can only be derived from a world that contains disorder. This creative place comes at the cost of potential suffering. In a joint session on “Pananalig, Pagsama, Ginhawa”, Dr. Violeta V. Bautista (University of the Philippines) and Prof. Lorenzo C. Bautista (ATS) provided a contextual theological-psychological framework that meets disaster survivors in their own settings and helps them process their experiences in culturally sensitive and appropriate means. Lights were finally opened for the plenary session on the second day. On a more pragmatic note, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay, executive director of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) by the Department of Science and Technology, emphasized the inevitability of disasters in the Philippines. He then detailed the advantages of the new mapping system developed by Project NOAH. This system considers areas prone to various hazards (flooding, earthquakes,
Highlights Clinging to the Light: 2015 ATS Theological Forum Highlights
and so on) and identifies safe places for residents and evacuees (accessible through http://noah.dost.gov.ph/). Twenty break-out sessions covered topics such as disaster response and preparation (including psycho-spiritual support, community-based training and risk management, and church responsibility). Other talks explored themes in Bible-theology intertwined with spirituality, such as images of God in tragedy, perspectives on suffering and theodicy, dealing with pagtatampo sa
Diyos (having bad feelings against God), and dialoging with local worldviews in understanding disasters and developing ethics in caring for the other. The forum closed with darkness once again. But this time, candles were lit and placed on newspapers, symbolizing the various catastrophes rocking different parts of the globe. In the final liturgy, prayers were offered for survivors of various calamities, looking to the Source of light and hope as the people of God journeys with those in pain.
“Only a world of some disorder and uncertainty can be productive of genuine life and creativity…But the potential for suffering on the part of both human beings and animals is the cost, sometimes a very steep cost, of living in such a creative place.” – Dr. Terence Fretheim
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*Tentative Title
On Love, Losses, T and the Absence of Light Dr. Rene Chanco
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he summer landscape has slowly disappeared this year. As I write, a thunderstorm threatens the metropolis and a drizzle begins to make its presence felt, ushering in the rainy season. Dry season this year was memorable. It was rare to be able to see two of the world’s outstanding beaches in the world in just one summer – the one in the northernmost tip of the islands, called Pagudpud, and the other one more popular down south but equally elegant, Boracay. Both settings offered some rich time for reflection. At this stage of life, one starts to remap one’s inner life. With the children gone and with just me and my wife at home, our days often transmute into a cartography of love. One blisteringly hot afternoon, we lost our way f rom the beach to the beach house we were staying. We looked helpless under the heat of the searing sun. We exhausted ourselves trying to find our way back but we smiled at the end. The whole experience was a meditation of love itself. What is love? It’s each of us making it possible for the other. We got something done. Each one believed in the other unsurpassingly. Part of our shared spiritual journey is this unceasing unbelief. For each other. For God. Unflinching. Steadfast. Determined. Against all odds. The more you love, the more you open yourself up to hurt. And pain. And defeat. For in this route we encounter sorrow as well. Sadness in the absence of loved ones. An ailing parent. Bodies
30 31 no longer in their prime, the former strength gone. Friends who have moved away. Ministry projects that fell apart. We have learned to mourn each loss. But somehow we make it through the sorrows. And then we discover too that our troubles are small compared to some. Our troubles are not eternal. Our days are not through. There is this moment to live. And that along the road, more beauty and fear and struggle and work. And learning and joy. Isn’t this the point of spirituality? The courage to move forward. Even onwards to the great beyond, where darkness dwells. One of these summer nights I found myself on the roof top of a retreat house on a hill yonder. And all I can see was the stardraped sky. It was awesome. Someone made a lament of our excessive illumination. Why do we always have to light a candle in the midst of darkness? In my walk with the Lord I have often found myself being “left in the dark” on the realities that beset me. Oftentimes, on these situations, I cry for illumination. I want God to light the path and show the way. But what if He decides not to? What if he wanted us to embrace the shadow? Dr. Rene Chanco is associate dean of student affairs and professor from the Pastoral Studies Department
Darkness like that of silence and solitude belongs to that class of blessings increasingly endangered in modern life, yet vital to the human spirit. Oh darkness. What vast serenity. What mystery of infinite space. And look, the austerity of the stars! For a moment of night we have a glimpse of ourselves— reminding us that we are pilgrims of mortality, voyaging between horizons across eternal seas of space and time. Within, we are ennobled by a genuine moment of emotional dignity. Oh to uncover and recover the shimmer of such beautiful phenomenon as the night—now shrouded by civilization! We soak in all that emptiness. And the shadow which only verifies the presence of light. And the ever present Light of the world and Light of life ( John 8:12) is all we need to complete the journey.