May 3rd was the day when 41 graduates walked the aisle of completion in the Cobb Center on the APNTS Campus. Graduates were from a wide range of programs, including undergraduate certificate (17), undergraduate diploma (1), Bachelor (1), Graduate Certificate (3), Graduate Diploma (1), Masters (12), Post-Graduate Certificate (1), Doctor of Ministry (1), and Doctor of Philosophy (5).
The Banquet
On the night before graduation, the campus community celebrated with a banquet. Special guests were invited, especially the close family and friends of the graduates. Rev. Racquel Valeza-Vargas was the special speaker, and Pastor Jordan Escusa was the emcee. This gathering was intimate and personal. The program included selected faculty members praying for the graduates. Graduates gave their batch present to APNTS. It was a framed chapter 91 of the Book of Psalms. APNTS in return, gave personal gifts to each graduate who was present.
Faculty prayed for each graduate, seeking God’s strength and guidance. Each prayer was special and unique for each student. While students studied at APNTS, they experienced significant transformation and their theological learning was embodied into their deepest soul.
The Graduation Speaker
The graduation speaker was Dr. LeBron Fairbanks, former president of APNTS from 1984 to 1989. His wife Anne came with him on the trip. His speech had the theme “Theological Vision Shapes Organizational Vision.” He stressed that vision should be captured not just “to” the people or “for” the people but “with” the people and “by” the people. This entails putting Christ at the center of all things we envision. This also means recognizing the gifts of the people around us and using them accordingly for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. This will then move our visions to be servant leaders. In the eye of servant leadership, relationships always matter. As God longs for relationships with his people, he gives us, the leaders, the task of giving importance to establishing good relationships with others.
On another occasion during his visit to APNTS, Dr. Fairbanks retold the story of diligent seed planting for APNTS. In 1984, he started applying for government recognition for the academic programs at APNTS. As a regional graduate theological seminary, our students from outside the Philippines needed student visas to study at the seminary. APNTS needed government “recognition” for students to receive student visas. From December 1984 until the middle of 1988, he kept knocking at the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) office, asking that APNTS’s submission be reconsidered since it was not being reviewed. APNTS was not like other universities with programs that have existing curricula in the government. In other words, they did not know what to do with a graduate level theological education institution like APNTS not associated with a university. In August of 1988, the Deputy Secretary of CHED was invited to speak in the seminary convocation service. When he arrived, he saw the grandeur of the seminary. He was amazed by how competent our institution was. And the rest is history. The Special Orders that CHED grants to our graduates with recognized programs are indeed special.
Graduation in Memoriam
The graduation ceremony was generally festive and formal in nature. Faces lit up as they went up to the stage to receive their certificates. The recipients of degree awards got hooded and received their diplomas as well. Some of the graduates attended online through Zoom, with the degree awardees having their family members put the hood on them. The Certificate graduates were also shown on the screen. It was a great moment to remember!
This year’s graduation presents two sides of one coin, though. One the one side, the convivial festivity. Families come together to celebrate, cheering on everyone walking up the stage. On the other hand, it was also a commemoration of the works of two people who were at APNTS, but went to be with the Lord. One is a former president of the school, and the other a student of Master of Arts in Religious Education.
Dr. John Neilson, the third president of APNTS from 1990-2001, went to be with the Lord on April 28, 2023. Some of the featured accomplishments during his term was the beginning of publication of “The Mediator,” which is the official publication of APNTS. National culture days were also started, featuring specific a country or regional culture during chapel hours. The covenant groups were also formed and continue today. “Kid Klub” was likewise initiated by Mrs. Neilson and is now called the “Awesome Children’s Center.”[1]
In Dr. Floyd Cunningham’s reminiscence speech during graduation, he pointed, “John was like many Nazarene school presidents: the spiritual leader of the school. As spiritual leader, John placed great emphasis upon worship…he and Janice sang of Christ ‘ever interceding to the Father for his children,’ and John’s preaching reflected his cruci-formed philosophy of ministry.” He further said about Neilson, “Those closest to him saw best the kindly, Christ-like, self-emptying character of his life.” These Christ-like characters are indeed reflected across our school values and objectives. The 2023 batch of graduates was very privileged to hear such a tribute to a great leader, who is worthy to emulate. In Dr. Cunningham’s last note, he said, “The years John and Janice spent at APNTS were peaceful, golden years of spiritual leadership. John was a gentle and beautiful soul, who comes boldly, now, through Christ, to the throne.”
The second person remembered in this graduation ceremony is Christina Berita who was awarded the posthumous degree in Master of Arts in Religious Education. She was the wife of PHD student August Berita and mother to Cindy. Her previous program director and thesis adviser, Dr. Nativity Petallar recounts, “Christina was one of the rare persons who has not committed any sin! She is always smiling (yes even though I constantly remind her about her thesis). She always knows the right word to say and when to say it. She is one of the most powerful volleyball “spikers” I have ever played with. Without her in our team, we will never win! I have seen her live a beautiful existence. I have never heard her complain or say something bad about another person. She was the epitome of a life lived for Jesus.” She was almost at the end of her thesis and at the last stage of pregnancy when she died on August 8, 2022.
Submitted by Ms. Dorys Pugong-Arbes, APNTS Registrar
[1] Please see APNTS website: https://www.apnts.edu.ph/history/
