Dr. Marie Joy Pring Presents her Paper on Child Advocacy and Biblical Justice
Ridley College, August 1–2, 2025
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) is proud to celebrate the recent scholarly contribution of our Academic Dean, Dr. Marie Joy Pring, who presented at the Evangelical Women in Academia (EWA) Conference 2025 held at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Pring’s paper, “When Mothers Eat Their Children (2 Kings 6:24–33): Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines and God’s Care for the Vulnerable,” offered a deeply theological and socially urgent reflection on the crisis of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines.
Using the haunting biblical narrative from 2 Kings 6, Dr. Pring explored the painful reality of maternal betrayal in the context of poverty-driven exploitation. Her research, grounded in survivor testimonies and empirical data, revealed the heartbreaking truth that the Philippines has become the epicenter of commercial sexual exploitation materials of children, with global demand traced to countries such as Australia and other Scandinavian nations.
Dr. Pring’s presentation was both prophetic and pastoral. She concluded by singing “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” a Filipino lullaby that became a lament for the restoration of the sacred bond between mother and child. The performance moved many in the audience to tears and prayer.
Following her presentation, Dr. Jill Firth, Old Testament scholar and Lecturer at Ridley College, personally commended Dr. Pring’s work and asked how to say “excellent” in Filipino. Upon learning the word, she smiled and said, “You are magaling.”
Dr. Pring was introduced as a Langham Graduate and APNTS Academic Dean, and her presentation sparked meaningful conversations around theological education, advocacy, and the role of women scholars in shaping global discourse.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Pring shared:
“When I began researching OSAEC in 2018, I prayed that just as Moses had his staff, all I had was a pen and a desire to write. I never imagined God would allow me to bring these narratives from my bayan (nation) to peoples from all around the world.”
APNTS celebrates Dr. Pring’s faithful scholarship, courageous leadership, and unwavering commitment to child advocacy and theological integrity. Her work exemplifies the seminary’s mission to prepare Christlike leaders who engage the world with compassion, justice, and truth.
To God be the glory.
