A newsletter of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Manila, Philippines Vol 4, Issue 1 President’s Message By Hitoshi (Paul) Fukue studying in residence. APNTS is a very unique seminary where cultural Recently I had a chance to talk with distinctiveness is respected and Dr. Donald Owens, the founder of Asia sublimated to Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary create a family of and General Superintendent Emeritus of God. People from the Church of the Nazarene. I asked him different cultures what his thought was when he created the share joys and motto of our seminary, “Bridging Cultures for sorrows together Christ.” He said that twenty years ago when he and learn to founded the seminary, he saw much conflict become genuine among nations of the Asia Pacific region. There were conflicts among different religious groups, “I hope the reader political conflicts in South East Asia and the of this newsletter Korean Peninsula, Mainland China and Taiwan, will sense the and the wounds from the World War Two. He atmosphere of our wanted this seminary to be used of God to bridge campus which is these people groups together through the gospel purposely intended of Christ and love of God. to bridge cultures for Christ.” Twenty years later, we have a seminary here sisters and brothers in in Manila, Philippines, with students from India, Christ by living, studying, praying and Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Samoa, Papua worshipping together. New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Political, religious, and cultural conflicts Korea, Japan, U.S.A., etc. let alone the Philippines, continue to loom in this part of the world. But our who have either studied here or are presently graduates are going out into this conflict-filled world with a renewed vision of what God can do INSIDE THIS ISSUE to create His family in churches, schools, and a 1. PRESIDENTS MESSAGE variety of ministries. I hope the reader of this newsletter will sense the atmosphere of our 1. PRAYER REQUESTS campus which is purposely intended to bridge 2. FACULTY DEVELOPMENTS cultures for Christ. ∞ 2. WMC GRAND OPENING Prayer Requests 2. CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES • pray for the financial needs of the seminary 3. SUMMER COURSES • pray for our recent graduates as they go back to their homes and begin new ministries 3. STUDENT PROFILE • pray for the many campus building projects 3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS • pray for the victims of the recent typhoons 4. ALUMNI NEWS If you would like to receive The Bridge via email, send your address to [email protected] The Bridge, Vol. 4, Number 1 Page 1 Faculty Developments World Mission Communications By Floyd T. Cunningham, Academic Dean Celebrates Grand Opening APNTS now enjoys the presence of two By Ted Wheeler, Business Manager Korean professors, Professor Kwon Dong World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific Hwan, and Professor Oh Won Keun. Both are held their grand opening on November 12th. The graduates of APNTS. all-day event was very well attended. Several Professor Kwon is in his second year of hundred well-wishers came from all over the study toward his doctor of philosophy in Manila area and some from as far away as Korea communication at the University of the and the United States. There was a ribbon cutting Philippines. He is receiving a scholarship from the by Doug Flemming, Regional Communications United Board for Christian Higher Education in Coordinator and Dr. Hitoshi Paul Fukue, Asia, and continues to work with the church’s President of APNTS. Groups were then treated to regional communication center. Last semester guided tours of the beautiful new state-of-the art Professor Kwon taught the Introduction to studios, housed in the basement of the new Christian Communication course at APNTS, and Nielson Center for Education and Evangelism. this semester he is teaching Communication Construction Continues on Nielson Theories and Processes. Center for Education and Evangelism Professor Oh is due soon to complete his Ph.D. dissertation at Manchester University, By Debbie Wheeler where he worked in Old Testament under the The sounds of hammering and sawing direction of former APNTS professor Dwight compete with computers and telephones as work Swanson. He joined the APNTS faculty this continues on the new NCEE building. The semester and is teaching Biblical Hebrew, exterior of the large four-story building is Pentateuch, and Old Testament Theology. complete. The Central Office is now located on Professor Oh completed his Master of Divinity the first floor, and several professors have moved degree at APNTS in 1999, and received his M.A. their offices in as well. The Philippine Field Office from Manchester in 2002. for the Church of the Nazarene is also installed on Other professors continue to make academic the first floor. progress toward doctoral degrees. Biblical Studies Plans are being made for the second floor Professor Gilbert Montecastro recently finished multipurpose auditorium, and for the new library his doctoral dissertation for the Asia Baptist and computer research laboratory on the third Graduate School of Theology and hopes to floor. An elevator to the upper floors will allow graduate early next year. After successfully passing accessibility for disabled persons, something her comprehensive examinations, Professor which has been lacking on our steep campus. Beverly Gruver reached “candidate” status at the Please visit our website www.apnts.com.ph University of Kansas. She is presently teaching the to see pictures of this wonderful new building. As Statistics courses, and is slated again to teach soon as funds come in, construction will begin on Applied Linguistics and Second Language the upper floors. ∞ Acquisition as APNTS develops its Teaching English as a Second Language program. Rejoining the APNTS faculty in February is Dr. David Ackerman, who previously served on the faculty from 1999 to 2002. His area is biblical studies.∞ Page 2 The Bridge, Vol. 4, Number 1 Student Profile: Ulisese S. Toafa By Beverly Gruver, Dean of Students A Samoan proverb says “ua sili mea le seuga a Ali’I seu,” [the pigeon catcher’s implements are hung up]. Ulisese Toafa, 2004-2005 Student Body Organization President and senior student from Western Samoa, knows well the meaning of that proverb. It happens when one makes a choice to end one phase of life and enter into something new. By the world’s standards Sese comes from unlikely leadership beginnings. When his parents went separate directions, he was left to be raised by relatives. He found a passion in his life as he began to excel in the sport of rugby. This passion dominated his life through a college career at Polytechnic University where he earned a degree in carpentry and architecture. While in University in the city, he was determined to rule his life contrary to the teachings of his childhood. But like Paul the Apostle, Sese testifies to the fact that Christ Jesus took hold of him and drew him to himself. His life was turned around and in answer to God’s call, Sese went to South Pacific Nazarene Theological College Western Samoa where he earned his B.Th. He still followed his passion for rugby—this time as the coach. It eventually became clear to Sese that he had to make a choice about the passion of his life—and he chose to hang up his rugby equipment to pursue his passion for Christ Jesus. In 2001 he arrived at APNTS determined to follow that commitment to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus had taken hold of him. He has grown through study and leadership roles and is preparing to minister to the youth of his home country. ∞ 2005 SUMMER COURSES AT APNTS We are excited about the summer courses being planned this year. Among the visiting professors this summer, Dr. Nativity Abecia, a graduate of APNTS, will be teaching Christian Education of Children during the second module. Dr. Donald Demaray, a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, will teach Homiletics of Holiness, also during the second module. During the third module, Rev. Satish Manmothe, a graduate of APNTS, and pastor in Australia, will teach Systematic Theology 1, Dr. Melvin Rigsby will return to teach a course on Evangelizing Muslims, and Dr. Carol Rotz, a professor at Northwest Nazarene University, will teach Johannine Literature. See below for the dates. C ALENDAR OF E VENTS CHRISTMAS BREAK: TERM BREAK December 20-January 2 April 4-15 PRE-REGISTRATION 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR SUMMER SESSION MODULE 1 March 1-4 April 18-May6 EASTER HOLIDAYS SUMMER SESSION MODULE 2 March 24-27 May 9-20 GRADUATION SUMMER SESSION MODULE 3 April 2 May 23-June 10 Contact [email protected] for information. The Bridge, Vol. 4, Number 1 Page 3 Alumni News By Gilbert Montecastro honed us was more than enough. However, we couldn’t forget that God’s grace brought each one APNTS celebrated its 20th anniversary in the of the alumni to the place they are right now spring of 2004. Church leaders from around the because of the influence of APNTS and those region and from the US gathered to celebrate and who mentored them. APNTS continues to bridge fellowship. A good number of APNTS alumni cultures and people in the name of Christ and for attended the celebration. Most memorable guests His kingdom. were the previous presidents; Dr. Donald Owens, Dr. E. Lebron Fairbanks, and Dr. John The alumni also elected its officers who will Nielson. Dr. Lebron was joined by Mrs. start working on some action plans. They are as Fairbanks and Steven, and Mrs. Janice Nielson follows: also came. They joined Dr. Hitoshi Paul Fukue, President Rev. Jun Detalo the current president, and his wife Mitsuko.