Two of the most anticipated events for the graduating classes of Doane Baptist Seminary were held on Friday, March 25, 2011. The first was the Baccalaureate Service held at 8:00 a.m. at Doane Baptist Church. The speaker for the event was a Filipino and PABWE (Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) missionary Rev. Nimrod Acosta, Chairman, PABWE- Thailand Field Council. The second significant event was the commencement exercises held at Doane Baptist Seminary multi-purpose covered court. It began at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Ruel Akut, Senior Pastor of Fil-American Baptist Church,Chicago, Illinois, as speaker. The graduates wore their togas corresponding to their courses.
MISSION STATEMENT
Doane Baptist Seminary exists to develop excellent and globally competent Christian leaders through relevant Bible-based education.
January 31 to February 4, 2011 marked the Seminary‘s 88th foundation year with its theme ―Pursuing Excellence for Global Impact. The speaker for this celebration was Rev. James Blumenstock, Dean of the Asia Baptist Theological Seminary-Extension (ABTS) who spoke on Worldview Theology. To have an impact to the world, one should know how he sees the world.
Notes from the speaker
Worldview is the action that corresponds to what a person believes. It is like seeing through a lens; you see the world how it fits together. Worldview is inherited. It is also assumed and it has to do with everything. As every creature is made uniquely, each of us should see things uniquely. The speaker emphasized the heart as the core of every per-son. Thus, in the ministry, it is not about methods, but how we relate to people. The discussion began with the story of creation. God commanded man to cultivate or to develop what was created; God created the world with a potential for culture; with a potential for an automobile, art, or fashion! When man sinned, all creation was cursed. God‘s plan for redemption is not only for the people, but for the whole creation. Sin changed the direction of everything. The structures are good; it only becomes bad when they are misused. Therefore, the challenge to every believer as redeemed individuals is to fulfill the redemptive mandate of Christ. We should be the salt and light of this world.
The last session was with an invitation. One, an invitation to students who would commit themselves as front liners, meaning, in whatever sphere or profession, they should redeem it! Second, an invitation to commit oneself to be equippers of those who are in the front lines; those students who would faithfully study God‘s Word and teach them diligently to the saints.
DEC. 18, 2010 – JAN. 05, 2011, eight students from Doane Baptist Seminary were sent to Mindanao for a Missions Ministry Exposure Trip. They stayed on Fundamental Baptist Church of Valencia and had a mini-seminar on Muslim Culture, and Evangelism with Rev. Earl Magdale on December 19. December 20 – 23, together with Rev. & Mrs. Magdale, Pstr. Cayanan, and Pstr. Jun Sandico, they moved to Midsayap, North Cotabato to attend the North Cotabato Fellowship of Baptist Churches Annual Conference. They were dispatched to sister churches from Dec. 24 – 29. Their ministries included preaching, Sunday School, meditation, evangelism, discipleship, tracts distribution, home visitation, and soul winning. The team regrouped on the 30th and proceeded to key areas in Maguindanao and North Cota-bato, resting on a town in Sultan Kudarat afterwards. They went back to FBC of Valencia until January 5, and was able to come back safely to Iloilo on January 6, 2011. Albason stated in her short testimony about the mission trip, ―”It truly made a big impact on my life especially in discerning of God’s will and my calling, and truly He is my strength. I saw the reality of the ministry, especially in Mindanao and fear was not what I had felt, but rather the passion and the burden of the ministry. I learned to appreciate God’s goodness and protection because in that place, truly I can say that safety is absent in danger but present in God. I really thank God for the example of His working in the lives of the workers, and pastors there, because I can see that they are able, their needs are faithfully provided, their endurance, and the joy as they serve Jesus together with their families.”
//