On Monday we met with a Christian businessman, Mr. Carlos. He is the owner of a twenty-five store grocery chain in Metro Manila. He currently holds Bible studies in his stores; about an hour is set aside each week for the employees to voluntarily attend the study. If the employees choose to attend they are not docked pay; they are able to study the scriptures on company time! Mr. Carlos has become concerned about the quality of the content of the studies currently held and wanted us to formulate a curriculum for him. He wants to use his business specifically for kingdom work; he is expanding stores specifically for this reason. We met at a local restaurant to discuss his needs and concerns. As we talked, it became clear, he wanted us to create a basic curriculum for seekers and new believers as well as a more academically oriented program that could possibly transfer to the CBS Seminary. We informed him of our desire to expand CBSIS and he is excited about the possibilities also. By the end of the meeting, we agreed to create two programs. The basic program will be for helping disciple young believers and introduce the gospel to the workers in the stores. The advanced program will be for those seeking formal education that might lead to a degree with us.
Mr. Carlos is going to fund the necessary video equipment and room upgrade necessary at the Hilltop to record the Bible study sessions. These recorded Bible study sessions will be shown weekly; the Bible study attendees will follow along in related workbooks also created by us. These videos will be about an hour in length and a local pastor or one of our seminary students will facilitate a discussion about the content of the video. The endeavor is an answer to prayer as we have been praying for ways to expand CBSIS off the Hilltop campus into Metro Manila. This is an important first step in that direction. He wants to have a pilot ready for the end of January, which is a really short timetable with the Christmas season upon us; so we have much work to do!
