| The Birth of New Church Leaders |
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CBS-Asia proudly held its Graduation Ceremony on May 26, 2007 at Greenhills Christian Fellowship – North in Quezon City. It was the institution’s first graduation event since it began offering its own educational programs last 2003. Highly acclaimed author and pastor, Dr. Gene Wood was its challenge speaker.
THE GRADUATES
Joel Berroya Pastor Joel has been actively pastoring for the past seven years. He is currently pastor of a church-planting ministry of Conservative Baptist Christian Fellowship- Pozzorubio. About CBS-Asia, Pastor Joel happily recounts, “The school played a very important part in helping to establish me in ministry. It was a humbling experience. It is in this Seminary I learned a lot about pastoral ministry which is about God’s standard for His calling, message, and ministry. I was also grounded here in my Biblical convictions concerning the teachings of Scripture. Being equipped in CBS-Asia through the Spirit of God, I could now lead with more confidence and reliance in God.” Pastor Joel is married to Josefina and they have three beautiful daughters: Josiphiah, Josielle and Jomicah
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Raul Caguin Pastor Raul is Associate Pastor for Special Ministries at Christ’s Beloved Community, Marikina City. Fresh from his early retirement after 33 years as bank manager for City Bank, Raul Caguin enrolled as a full-time student in CBS- Asia’s Pastoral Ministry. With his wife, Ate Ching, he also enrolled in the Ateneo De Manila University for a professional diploma in Marriage and Counselling at the Center for Family Ministries which both of them completed in 2006. As he reflects over the last three years, he is still wonderfully amazed at how God sustained him. He wonders how at 56 and retired, God allowed him to survive the tremendous pressures of structured schooling, and most of all, enjoy every minute of it. Pastor Raul and Ate Ching have 4 grown up children: Patricia, Jhoanna, RJ and Raymond. They also have 3 grandchildren: Rachel, Rafael and Russel. ____
Yasmin Mendoza Ate Yaz is a single mom with 2 grown up kids and a grandson. This grandma has no signs of stopping – she has the energy of a teenager. While caring for her ailing daughter in August 2004 she continued serving God. She helped build the largest growth group in GCF Ortigas. GCF awarded her a teaching award for her faithful service. In her CBS- Asia internship, she was doing preaching and teaching assignments, was counselor of a children’s ministry, served cancer patients, and became part of the Glow Ladies ministry. If that is not enough, this 47-year-old grandmother has written a book titled “Hope in New Beginnings.” She says, “Whenever I am serving God now in our church or anywhere else, His love in me is contagious and spreads like fire, because it is His Great Love that stands tall and magnifies all.”
Luisito Salac Pastor Louie is the only unmarried graduate this year. While studying at CBS-Asia he was also actively involved with his local church – in music ministry, youth ministry and pastoral work. Pastor Louie is Associate Pastor at Christ-Centered Bible Church in Arayat, Pampanga. Memorable for Pastor Louie is his ministry internship in San Fernando, La Union. He recounts, “In my four months of internship, I had new experiences. I served the Lord’s Table to the congregation, baptized people, sang at a wedding ceremony and counseled people. I am extremely encouraged by this experience but also humbled because God is the Giver of opportunities, not me or anyone else.” His parents are Maura and Eulogio Salac.
Elienito Sarmiento Pastor Lito is leading Lord of Life Fellowship in San Fernando, La Union. In the old evangelical group in which he belonged, he had questions about how they handle the Word of God. This is the reason why he felt the need to learn. A veteran minister of God, Pastor Lito got opportunity to study in CBS-Asia through the endorsement of Pastor Bo Horlen and with the help of Rev. Nicky Joya. About the Seminary he recalls that there was a total overhauling in theology. He says, “It takes the grace of God to accept that you don’t know anything and start all over again. Praise God for His help in making me teachable and understand the teachings of the Bible!” Pastor Lito is married to Sis. Genevive. They have two daughters Angelique and Greshille.
Caloy Sison Pastor Caloy has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently serving in a church planting ministry in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. He came to know of the Pastoral Ministries Program of CBS-Asia because of the Regional Training Center there in Agoo. He considers his experience in the Seminary as “a great privilege and opportunity.” He humbly admits, “For a person like me whose resumé is not that impressive, CBS-Asia helped me gain confidence in the Lord. The studies shaped my theological convictions, polished my ministry skills and shaped my character even more. I thank the Lord for all the people behind this experience.” Pastor Caloy is married to Sis. Baby and has one son, Jon Antonio.
Felix Zaide Pastor Felix is part of the illustrious Zaide clan of historians of the Philippines. At a young age, he began pastoring New Life Christian Church in Batangas until after 14 years when he became preaching pastor of Conservative Baptist Church of Sariaya. To date, Pastor Felix is considering a number of ministry opportunities. The Pastoral Ministries Program was first announced at the CBAP Subic Biennial Conference in 2003. Sensing his need for further training to develop his pastoral skills, he prayed and enrolled in CBS-Asia which was the right school that fit his situation – modular classes, once every week only and affordable. He says of the Seminary, “I came to CBS-Asia a broken man, expecting to be healed, I got more and I was built up, ready to face another round of challenges.” He is married to the former Maria Teresa Montalbo and has one darling daughter, Cres Joy Zurielle.
Naty Estoesta All the students call her Nanay Naty. At 52 she is not your ordinary lola. She was a jail minister for more than 10 years. She did counseling, shared the gospel and conducted bible studies to inmates of Region 1 – roughly about 30 jails. She is also a Sunday School teacher at Sta. Rita, Agoo, La Union where she has been teaching the Bible to children for the past three years. She did her internship in Agoo where she teaches to 150 children, parents and teachers. She began taking up Bible courses in CBS- Asia’s Regional Training Center in Agoo and continued her PMP here in Manila. She thinks the Seminary is a “beautiful school” and thanks the faculty and staff for giving her time and effort for her to learn and be equipped for ministry.”
John Whitt John Whitt is actually Retired Staff Sergeant John Whitt of the US Air Force. He is married to a Filipina, Rosario and has two grown-up children, Mark Abraham and Cherry. In 1984, he was reassigned back to the Philippines after a follow-on assignment to Osan Air Base in Korea. He recounts an interesting story, “In my local church, I joined the choir and attended an EE clinic. Members of the choir, the prayer ministry, even the men’s fellowship kept asking me why I don’t try to become a pastor because I had the voice and I sounded like I knew what I was talking about. So I remember asking Pastor Nicky how to get seminary training. He convinced me to enroll. Since then my ministry has been bringing joy to the elderly and giving my time to talk and comfort the sick. The more I do these things the more I want to continue doing them. And I owe this all to Lord who gives me strength and wisdom to continue my ministries.” He is currently ministering to the congregation at Capitol City Baptist Church in Quezon City.
Marlon Valencia Sustenance was a main issue for Pastor Marlon. It all began when he got the ardent call of God that made him take an early retirement from government service and go full-time in ministry…not knowing what lies ahead. Recognizing that he had to endure years of studies simultaneous with pastoral tasks and his concern for his family’s daily needs, he fully entrusted his life under the grace of God. He happily recounts, “God is good! First God gave my wife a teaching job, then He led me to a premier theological school, CBS-Asia; friends supported me; Back to the Bible gave me a scholarship grant. All of them were sustenance coming from God.” Pastor Marlon is married to Sis. Espie and has two teenage sons: John Edward and Lou David.
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Ten pastors and Christian workers joyfully received their diplomas, having completed an arduous three-year training program. Eight were granted the degree of Bachelor of Theology in Pastoral Ministries, and two, an associate degree in Theology. The late Pastor Cesar Eclariño, pastor of Lord of Life Church in San Fernando La Union and student who should have joined this batch of graduates, was given a Diploma in Church Leadership. The posthumous citation was gratefully accepted by his wife, Elena.
