Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) was honored to contribute to the Freedom Forum 2025, a two-day multi-sectoral event held in Metro Manila. Organized by International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines, alongside the Philippine Interfaith Movement AgainstHuman Trafficking (PIMAHT) and the Global Freedom Network, the forum aimed to strengthen collaboration in combating Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and to support community-led efforts for the protection of Filipino children.
The APNTS Academic Dean, Dr. Joy Faraz, was invited as a presenter in one of the break-out sessions to share initial findings from a research initiative on child protection and safeguarding within faith communities. The study, conducted in partnership with the Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN) and funded by Viva Denmark and Mission Alliance, explores how churches while central to spiritual formation can also be places of vulnerability for children.
Dr. Faraz’s presentation emphasized the need for theological reflection and practical action, urging churches to become intentional spaces of safety and healing. “Safeguarding is not only a social responsibility it is a theological imperative,” she noted. “Jesus placed children at the center of the Kingdom. Our advocacy must reflect that divine priority.”
This engagement reflects APNTS’s ongoing commitment to equipping Christian leaders for transformative service. As an academic institution rooted in Wesleyan theology, APNTS continues to work alongside faith-based organizations to advance child-centered advocacy grounded in justice, compassion, and the Gospel.
Through research, education, and partnerships, APNTS remains dedicated to forming leaders who will speak with wisdom, act with courage, and serve with integrity especially for those whose voices are often unheard.
