Center for Biblical Studies: Training pastors and Christian workers

Today I toured the facilities of the Center for Biblical Studies and Seminary. It is an amazing facility that consists of classrooms, library, cafeteria, men’s and women’s dormitories, and a chapel as well as housing for missionaries. What is just as amazing is that the entire facility was built and paid for in three years. Medical professionals in a Singapore church urged Dan and Bill’s father to find land to fulfill his desire to build a school which would train pastors who would plant churches here in the Philippines. He found this land on the outskirts of Manila and over the next three years these brothers in Christ raised the million dollars it took to build the campus. On Sunday, forty churches worshipped in Manila, two hundred churches worshipped in all of the Philippines and about a dozen more throughout the world, all led by pastors trained through this work.

Typhoon Jongdari wanted to prevent us but The Lord provided a way

     

We arrived at Houston airport only to find our flight plans were cancelled because of the typhoon in Japan. The airline rerouted us through San Francisco and arrived in Manila thirty-six hours after we departed from Tampa. We arrived at Hilltop Baptist Church about an hour before Dan Ebert, my traveling companion was scheduled to preach. Dan’s brother, Bill, had traditional Filipino shirts for us to wear that reflected the formal dress used in such occasions. We had a great Sunday celebrating twenty-five years of the Lord’s favor on this church. They celebrated with a dinner after the service which included many traditional Filipino dishes. Our day was full and our hearts also.

Trip Ready

The previous post explained my trip to the Philippines. If you have not read the post, it will fill in details. I would appreciate prayers as we visit several places on this trip and future direction for our family in relation to this trip. God has wonderfully provided the resources for me to be able to explore this ministry possibility. I am so grateful for His provision. I have been meditating on Paul's instruction found in Ephesians 6:18-19, "Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. (19) Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel."

Itinerary for the Trip

July 27-28 - Travel from Tampa, FL to Manila, Philippines

July 29 - Visit Church on Hilltop and Tour Center for Biblical Studies

July 30 - Participate in Discussions about CBS and prepare for meetings with ATA

July 31 - Participate in Asia Theological Association Consultation

Aug. 1 -  Participate in Asia Theological Association Consultation

Aug. 2 -  Participate in Asia Theological Association Consultation

Aug. 3 - Tour Manila and proposed sites for city CBS extension

Aug. 4 - Men’s Bible Study & Discussions on Hilltop

Aug. 5 - Fly to Coron

Aug. 6 - Speak at the Day of Prayer hosted by local pastors (alumni of CBS)

Aug. 7 - Visit Island and Prospective Sites for CBS extension

Aug. 8 - Fly back to Manila

Aug. 9 - Fly back to Tampa FL

I will be posting here throughout the trip so stay tuned...