APNTS solidified its partnership with Shechem Children’s Home Incorporated, an assessment center for children victim-survivors of online sexual exploitation (OSEC), through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the seminary’s Department of Research and the center. The signing occurred on the first anniversary celebration of Shechem on the 6th of September, 2019. Present in the signing were Leody Tan Echavez (Shechem Center Director), Jun Macas (Shechem Board of Trustees member), Joy Pring (APNTS Research Director), and Dr. Dick Eugenio (APNTS Academic Dean). APNTS Research Department, in partnership with other groups such as International Justice Mission (IJM), Wholistic Transformation Resource Center (WTRC), and AMG Philippines are conducting research that examines the processes done in the center that are perceived by the OSEC victim-survivors and service providers as effective and helpful. “This partnership with APNTS is instrumental for our programs in Shechem. Through this Pilot Research we can ensure we are effectively helping our children and not cause further pain in their journey to restoration,” remarked Echavez. Pring also commented, “APNTS professors and students do not live in a theological bubble—we see the ails of the society, we reach out and listen to people, and we respond with a theological and biblical lens through research.” Aside from Pring, the APNTS research team includes students Sarah Palosa (MACC), Neseta Roy (MDiv), and Shradha Saraf (PhD in HCD). APNTS professors Dr. Nativity Petallar (Assoc. Academic Dean) and Dr. Brenita Nicholas (Adjunct Faculty) serve as research mentors.
The executive summary of the study will be shared by Shechem and APNTS Department of Research through the APNTS Institutional Repository upon its completion later this year.