Author Archive

APNTS SCHOOL YEAR 2010-11 CALENDAR

“Be Strong and Courageous”

Summer Module 2010

April 7 ∼ 17
Child in Changing Context and Cultures

Room: Tech Room

Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)

Professor: Dr. Robert Donahue

Module 1

April 19 ∼ 23
Child, Church and Mission

Room: Nazareth Hall

Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)

Professor: Dr. Dan Brewster

Module I

April 19 ∼ 30
Systematic Theology I

Room: Lecture Hall
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professor: Dr. David McEwan
Module I

April 19 ∼  May 7
Statistics

Room: Room 3/5
Time: 8:30 – 12:00
Professor: Prof. Beverly Gruver
Module I

April 19 ∼ May 7
Apocalyptic Literature

Room: Tech Room
Time: 8:30 – 12:00
Professor: Dr. Mitchel Modine
Module I

May 5 ∼ 14
Teaching in Higher Education

Room: Tech Room
Time: 9:00 – 4:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professor: Prof. Rovina Hatcher
Module II

May 10 ∼ 21
Intervention Strategies for Children in Crisis

Room: Lecture Hall
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professor: Phyllis Kilbourn
Module II

May 24 ∼ June 4
Current Issues and Cases in Leadership

Room: Lecture Hall
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professor: Dr. Nina Gunter
Module III

June 7 ∼ 18
Instructional Methods and Technology for Teaching Children

Room: Old Library
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professors: Dale and Liz Von Seggen, Kurt Jarvis, Marion Jean Grant
Module III

June 7 ∼ 18
Organizational Leadership

Room: Lecture Hall
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 (Lunch Break 12:00 – 1:00)
Professor: Dr. Geneva Silvernail
Module III

“The APNTS Web Team will soon launch the new interface and structure of the APNTS website. The new coming website will make much easier for us to use and it has more improvements.  This Website Team is spearheaded by Ms. Arlene Fabros, and the effort for the web design has been contributed by Mr. Jarrett Davis with the coordination of Mrs. Calm Mijares and the entire Web Team. Still more to come! God bless APNTS!”

It was a difficult decision to cancel all classes for a whole week when we just sent home those 289 evacuees we had housed in our old library, having offered them shelter, food, and medical care for two days. It all happened during the Reading and Research week when Typhoon Ondoy hit us here. Without water, phone/internet, the small number of students and faculty members who were on campus at the time took care of evacuees around the clock. No water to do dishes, or to wash their faces. Nevertheless, a handful of our students, faculty members and staff, in comparison with the number of evacuees we had taken in, 289, had to cook, and took care of them. Can you imagine gathering up rain water, carrying it up and down the stairs to flush toilets? They had to sanitize bathroom floors cleaning up the filth overflowing from the toilets that were not working properly. I wish we had captured with pictures the sunken eyes and haggard look on students and faculty members’ faces –Frank, Dinga, Adam, Rober, Dr. Land, Prof. Hatcher and many more. They had done all these by themselves!!

After the evacuees were sent home with a packages containing clothes, canned food/noodles, and separately a Crisis Care Kit, our students and faculty members had to, again, clean up our flooded chapel where the floor was caked with mud, including the baptistery (we caught a snake in the baptisry!) and prayer rooms. Out soaking in the rain, in the open space in front of chapel, they had to wash the muddied benches, dry and carry them back into the chapel.

Crisis Care Kits

Enough! I thought we had done and gone through enough already, and it was time for our school to function as a school. Although our school was also affected by the flood, and it would cost us a small fortune to fix up the damages done to the walls and housing on our campus, we could still have classes. Going back to a normal life, at least, on our campus would hasten the process of society at large going back to its normal life, after all, I thought. Also it was “depending on the school condition” whether to open school or not, so was the decision made to have classes. There was silence from the majority of people on campus after the announcement was made, about the decision, I, as the Academic Dean made. Soon after, however, I had to reverse the decision I made a few hours before. When I was directed to read a note from the government recommending/declaring suspension of classes, which finished with the sentence “…so that schools can be a resource center” for the communities around them, I felt compelled to change from the decision I had made to have classes, to “not to have classes” so that we could help out our neighbors around us as community.

Our God is a God of compassion...

WOW! The enthusiastic responses to the reversed decision I made I got from students and faculty members were overwhelming. Their responses were pouring in by text messages, “Thank you so much”, “Smart decision you have made”, “Weighty decision to make, yet, you are doing a good job”, “Thank you”, …,. At that, I wanted to exclaim, and I exclaimed, “Long live APNTS!!” I thanked God for such a healthy seminary whose members are interested in practicing what they learn and teach in their classrooms, –to communicate God’s love with people who are in need of God’s love. Taken that those responses are a reflection of how well we are doing and functioning as we are suppose to as seminary, I could not help being proud of all of us at APNTS! I could sense that our campus became revitalized from the state of silence and resignation, to bringing back bright smiles on students’ face, cheerful spirits in everyone around campus! We did not waste any time from the moment the decision was reversed. We called for a meeting for all students and faculty members on campus to discuss how to help affected people around us. We divided into groups to investigate communities around us and to offer help to them, –cleaning, washing and fixing up. Some of us went out to help cleaning up; some of us went out buying and packing things to distribute. On Friday, we invited 200 families to receive rice, canned food/noodles, and clothes, and separately, another 236 children were invited to receive clothes, school supplies (notebooks, pencils, and glue) and slipper, –the things we purchased with the donations made by all of us. We wanted to communicate with those who have lost almost all they have, the love of God who is “compassionate and gracious” who knows what they are going through because our God also experienced the loss of His own Son for our sake. Thanks be to God!!

~Written by Dr. Lee San Young, Academic Dean

with the APNTS graduates

Greetings,

I’m in Narita lounge. I had a wonderful time with Jonathan Tsutada and his aunt, Grace Tsutada, also an APNTS graduate. I stayed with them in Ate Grace’s house, which has been wonderfully provided for her as “missionary at large” from a fine friend and benefactor, Mrs. Kai. It was a great experience staying in a Japanese home.

The first evening, had dinner with Jonathan, Grace, Peter Umeda, the missions director of Immanuel General Mission, and Kenji. Rev. Umeda is also an APNTS grad. It was the beginnings of a Japan alumni association. Yuri Tsutada joined us the next day.

I went on Tuesday to the headquarters in Tokyo. Had an especially good conversation with Dr. Samuel Fujimoto (Wesley scholar and Drew PhD 1986), who is General Secretary of Immanuel Domestic Mission Department and also academic dean of the Bible school in Yokohama, which we visited yesterday afternoon. The school there offers no degree, but almost all of its students have graduated from some university, so their course offerings (like the Japan Nazarene Theological Seminary) are at a master’s level. They are eager for some graduates and students to earn a masters degree at APNTS. They are looking forward to APNTS’s distance education program. I met a prospective student, but he’s a much-needed pastor as well (hence the desire for distance ed.)

APNTS Alumni in Japan

Had a great wonderful sushi meal with Mrs. Kai last night.

Jonathan mentioned that we’ve had more time to talk and be together than in his three years as a student at APNTS! It seemed like being with family.

Floyd T. Cunningham

(email sent last September 2)

MODULES

Screenwriting Workshop (Module 1)

Jonah Lim

A practical workshop in writing scripts for short and full-length films. Considerable attention is paid to concept, milieu, characters, summary, dramatic structure, story outline, sequence treatment, dialogues, writing and revision of a screenplay. For the short screenplays, the students will write their own individual scripts. For the full-length screenplay, the students have the option to write their own individual scripts or contribute together in writing several full-length scripts (using the Noah’s Ark principle). It also includes non-fiction writing for documentary films. The short screenplay will be used for the Short Film/Video Workshop while the full-length screenplay will be used for Special Project in Film/Video or Visual Media Production.

Acting and Directing (Module 2)

Amable Quiambao (Acting), Steve Cadd (Directing)

A basic acting workshop for directors and non-actors to understand the acting process. It also includes directing exercises to achieve the best possible performance from actors and to create a visual look of the film.

Video Camera Workshop (Module 3)

Ervz Tia

A practical course on camcorder operation, features and techniques. It aims to develop one’s skills in video acquisition and processes. Topics include the fundamentals like knowing the basic parts of the camera and some advanced techniques like achieving a film-look.

Audio Design (Module 4)

Erwin Balangue

The production and reproduction of sound for digital films. It also discusses the different microphones used in production, and the equipment needed for the production of high quality soundtracks.

Short Film/Video Workshop

Jonah Lim

A laboratory course wherein the students form a crew to make 5 to 7-minute narrative films. The film elements and techniques are tackled as the students prepare for their projects. It also includes an overview of producing and production design.

Non-Linear Video Editing Workshop

Ervz Tia

A hands-on experience in editing projects digitally. It introduces the student to the principles and techniques of video editing. Topics will include film-style editing techniques. Students will edit the footage shot during the Short Film/Video Workshop. It will also include basic title, graphics, effects and audio processing.

Special Project in Film/Video

Jonah Lim

The students will work on the script done in Screenwriting through a standard pre-production process. The development of budgets, location hunting, casting, and schedules are all part of the course. The final output is a video project of 30 minutes or more. (Participants take this workshop to make their final project. They are given one semester to make their projects. Participants take this course to complete the certificate program.)

Stepping into a new year, and looking forward to new initiatives, the Student Body Organization (SBO) Council of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary came together for their yearly planning sessions this past July 11-12. The council headed by 2009-2010 SBO President Rober Lantao, was joined by Dean of Students, Prof. Beverly Gruver, and APNTS President Dr. Floyd Cunningham. As various chairpersons from the Council gave reports and offered vision for the coming school year, they participated in some constructive dialog in regards to developing each committee’s plan.

Colossian Gardens in Tagaytay, Batangas, provided a scenic backdrop for the event. The full Student Body Organization then met on Friday, June 17^th where the council’s plans and vision were presented for the coming school year.

Hooray! History has been made not only in Florida when Duarte, the first non-Euro/white/American, was elected as the 37th General Superintendent, but also history has been made at APNTS when we finally transferred our library to the new library in the NCEE building, from June 22nd to 27th.
Thanks be to God! It has been a 15 year-long-waited-dream for all of us to have a new library, and finally our prayers, sweat, and the sacrifices of donors have been melted into realizing this dream. On the 22nd of June, on the history making day at APNTS, the students on campus, staff and some of our faculty members voluntarily joined together in the process of transferring to the new library. Some dusted, some boxed up, and some drove carts to transfer books. Lining up handing books to one another, we sweated, laughed, and encouraged. We were happy because we could feel that there was a sense of “togetherness” and “camaraderie” between students, students and faculty, faculty and staff. We were tired from working long hours and days, but the APNTS family can proudly say, we’re truly happy because we were the ones who were making history!’

-Dr. Lee San Young, Academic Dean

The Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) builds new bridges with the youth who reside around Kaytikling and other nearby communities in a unique way. APNTS collaborates with Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN), Visayan Forum, and Microsoft in educating out of school youth with basic computer training, life skills, and values education. This is the basic thrust of the Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People through Unlimited Potential (Step-Up) Program. Last March 7, 2009, twelve (12) trainers graduated from the Training for Trainers (T4T) program. Some of them are currently establishing their own centers in training out of school youth.

The first graduation ceremony for the Out of School Youth (OSY) took place last April 25, 2009 at the Nielson’s Center for Christian Education (NCEE) building. Twelve (12) young people received their certificates of completion. They also received letters of recommendation from Dr. Cunningham that they could use for possible employment. The program aims to provide employment assistance to the potentially at risk individuals and communities. That is why on April 24, 2009, the members of the Step-Up Committee brought these young people to the Job Fair at SM Taytay. They had the opportunity to submit their resumes and application forms to companies for possible employment. The committee with its director, Dr. Robert Donahue also coordinated with Mayor George Ricardo Gacula for employment possibilities of the out of school youth who are enrolled in the program.

- N. Pettalar

Doug Flemming is the Communication Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Church of the Nazarene headquartered in Singapore. APart from his founding role in Wm Communications on the APNTS Campus, Flemming also served for many years on the Faculty of APNTS. Flemming Recently had the opportunity to return to APNTS to teach for a short-term teaching assignment . Below, Flemming reflects on some of the valuable faith-lessons that he learned.

I’ve been blessed to live in Asia (Philippines and Singapore) for nearly sixteen years and have taught several communication courses at APNTS and other schools during this time frame. Through each teaching experience I am reminded that I still have so much more to learn about Christ, culture and communications. My recent stay at APNTS was no exception. This past February to March, I was invited by Professor Kwon Dong Hwan to teach a new course, “Intercultural Communications” for the experimental AP Global Communications Program. The students (my teachers) were twenty-three energetic Korean, undergraduate students from the School of Journalism and Communications at Kyung Hee University (Seoul). The very context for this course (American professor, teaching in English, to Korean students, studying in the Philippines, on an international campus) offered ample opportunities to experience intercultural relationships.

Through my interaction with these students and the campus community I learned afresh the following concepts:

When we look for the positive aspects of any culture, we can find clear examples of “Christ-culture”. I discovered once again that the “collectivistic” Korean culture in many ways displays the biblical call to community. The KHU students bonded together and helped one another throughout their time here. Even when they weren’t eating Korean food, they still continued to eat Korean style, freely sharing and sampling from each other’s plates. What a great example of community! At the same time, this cultural value made it challenging to engage the students in classroom dialogue. Their reluctance to participate openly in class was simply a reflection of their desire to show humility and deference to the group. Hmmm…that sounds familiar. I think it says somewhere in the Bible to consider others more important than ourselves, doesn’t it?

But in the interest of education, I still was determined to find ways to involve them in the class. So I had to learn and adapt my teaching style. Instead of insisting on individual responses, I found it more effective to allow for group presentations. On another occasion, one of the students (”Bono”) taught me the Korean way to get the attention of my students by saying a well-known Korean phrase. I practiced that phrase and wrote it several times on my lecture notes. And at the appropriate time, when classroom chatter began to increase, I whipped out my new linguistic secret weapon – Pak su se-bun sijak! Suddenly, the students all responded in unison with three claps, and their attention was fully mine. Amazing! Finding the appropriate cultural key makes all the difference in developing productive intercultural relationships.

I also found it very refreshing to have students on the APNTS campus from a “secular” university. We who live and work in the “ministry realm” (i.e. on a seminary campus) need to be exposed to different worldviews and lifestyles that challenge status quo Christian religiosity. Many of the KNU students had very honest questions and doubts about Christianity and religion in general. Interaction with them reminds us that our “Christianese” pat answers don’t work in the real world. We must be able to clearly communicate our faith in culturally relevant terms.

And the best way to communicate our faith is through authentic relationship. For this reason, I was so proud of all those on the APNTS campus who volunteered to be tutors. Over and over again, the KHU students commented at how outgoing, friendly and helpful their tutors were. In spite of some of the obvious lifestyle differences, the campus community embraced the KHU students with genuine Christian love. So, for our Korean guests, I would say it was in the context of these relationships — not course content, text book, or even my wonderful lectures — where the majority of their real learning took place. I am convinced that my students now have a much better understanding, not only of intercultural communication processes, but more importantly of our Kingdom values, because Christ culture is best experienced in Christ-honoring relationships.

So, Professor Kwon, APNTS, and Kyung Hee students…thank you once again for this opportunity to be a learner.

PCMN has partnered with World Hope International’s Anti-Trafficking Program Director ( Asia ) Kristin Wiebe to conduct the training on Hands That Heal, an international curriculum to train caregivers of trafficking. It is  a comprehensive, international written, Christian curriculum designed to train current and future caregivers of trafficking survivors on April 21-24, 2009 at the Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Taytay, Rizal.

PCMN is an association of Christian organizations and churches that responds to issues of children at risk. It has an on-going program on anti-trafficking in persons in Samar, Davao City and General Santos City. In the last 3 years, 50,000 people received information on anti-anti-trafficking campaign conducted by church leaders in communities affiliated with PCMN. At least 300 children were either rescued, or given aftercare services and prevented from being trafficked.

The purpose of the Hands That Heal Community Based Curriculum:

To provide a community-based curriculum in an interactive educational format that can be used in local communities and churches around the world to:

• Increase the knowledge and understanding of the commercial sex trade,
• Raise awareness of the multifaceted needs of trafficking survivors, and
• Train potential caregivers in introductory transformational care.

Hands That Heal is being used by secular and faith-based universities, churches and community groups to inspire people to engage in the battle against human trafficking and to provide training on how to provide transformational care to survivors of trafficking. The curriculum was developed  by The Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking FAAST, a group of faith-based, non-profit  organizations that are committed to the eradication of trafficking and slavery worldwide. The FAAST curriculum is the result of collaboration among more than 40 academicians and field practitioners from diverse backgrounds and organizations that address the needs of trafficked individuals.

Topics include:

• Defining Trafficking in Persons

• Emotional Responses/Addressing Grief

• Introduction to Biblical Themes

• Spiritual Needs

• Understanding Community Mobilization (CB only)

• Family Issues and Reunification

• Examples of Care/Community Response

• Recognizing Cost as Caregivers

• Culture and Human Trafficking

• Challenges to Transformation

• Common Health Problems

Individuals that will serve as trainers for caregivers and child development workers within their own organization/community group and/or for other organizations/community groups that are responding to local trafficking issues are expected to be participants to this training.