The new CBAP General Director, Rev. Noel Pantoja bares his heart for theological training in an interview by John Pesebre.

My first conversation with the new CBAP General Director Noel Pantoja is rather awkward and creepy. I met him climbing up the flight of stairs leading up to the CBAP office in Back to the Bible Building. I thought, “Why isn’t he taking the elevator?” like I do. Apparently, he read my mind, saying “Kailangan ang pastor mag exercise (We need to exercise).” Creepy. But for some reason when that would happen to me I would always think that there is a Solomonic wisdom behind that kind of statement. Kailangan ang pastor mag exercise. Hmmm. When I got instruction to interview him about his thoughts on training, I took it as an opportunity for all of CBSAsia and CBAP to know his thoughts on how CBAP pastors and lay leaders would think about being trained. Then my thoughts returned to “kailangan ang pastor mag exercise.” It became clear that what he said wasn’t just the proverbial Yoyoy Villame, mag-exercise-tayo- tuwing-umaga banter, but actually cuts across his belief in training. Our new director desires that CBAP pastors would grow not only in physical strength and stamina but also in the spiritual, leadership and moral aspect. I asked him the question,