A lot of people have been surprised by the announcement that Dr. Floyd Cunningham did not run for re-election for the position of APNTS President. In a one-to-one, sit down interview, Dr. Floyd Cunningham opened up regarding his decision and about his future plans.Dr. Floyd first came to APNTS in November 1983. “The founding president of APNTS, Dr. Donald Owens, asked me about the possibility of being a full-time faculty. So, I agreed on a four-year specialized assignment, but after two years of being here I felt a call to be a missionary,” recalled Dr. Floyd. He decided to extend his commitment to teach and serve in the seminary indefinitely; what was originally just four years, turned into almost thirty years of service to APNTS. Aside from being the seminary’s resident historian, Dr. Floyd became the Dean of Students for four years, Academic Dean for twenty years, and OIC for a year before becoming the President, a position which he has held for five years.
Many things have been accomplished during Dr. Floyd’s tenure as President. APNTS has worked hand in hand with various NGO’s and government organizations. To name a few, we are in partnership with Compassion International for our Holistic Child Development program. Microsoft Word helps us in our Step-Up program, which teaches computer skills to interested underprivileged young people. One of the things that Dr. Floyd has been passionate about as a leader is outreach to the community. “I felt like we (APNTS) have to figure out what it means for us as people of God called to be holy–to witness to that holiness to the people of Kaytikling, Taytay. We wanted to build not bigger and higher walls but really build relationships; now I feel the people around us know who we are and we know them too. We now have a relationship with the community,” said Dr. Floyd.
With all these great things happening in and through APNTS during the time of his leadership, it is truly quite a bolt from the blue why Dr. Floyd decided not to run for re-election. But his answer to the question “why” is as simple as it is deeply meaningful. “I need to return to my first love, which is being a historian. I would like to return to writing and researching; for instance, there is this project that began many years ago that I would like to return to and complete,” Dr. Floyd said. And when asked about any worries now that he is leaving the presidency, he gave a very reassuring answer: “I have been more of a follower than a leader because it has always been God who is leading the seminary. All the finances that have come along and various projects we have undertaken, I believe we have just been following God’s lead. It does not matter who the president will be; God will still be the leader of APNTS. We just have to be faithful and loyal to Him.”
A brilliant Christian historian once said that in each generation there must be those who are willing to review the scroll as it has thus far been unrolled; this is the challenge that Dr. Floyd Cunningham will undertake with great competence and much gusto. Hence, for us who have been blessed and touched by his ministry at APNTS, we cannot but watch him, with sanctified pride and joy, as he does what God has called him to do, and to encourage him with our support and prayers.
