| Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries (ASCM) |
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ASCM GRADUATION 2012
On March 31, 2012, ASCM held their 37th Commencement Exercises. Graduating students from all across Asia walked the stage to receive Masters, Bachelors, and Doctoral degrees, as well as Certificates in Church Musicianship and Ministerial Studies.
Our commencement speaker was Bishop Cesar Vincente P. Punzalan III, D.Min. Dr. Punzalan is the Senior Deputy National Director Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).
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Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Grads
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This year, we celebrated the first Doctor of Ministry students to graduate with the new Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries DMin degree!
Our four doctoral graduates come from India, the Philippines, and Canada. We thank God for their hard work in successfully defending their dissertations and for the many guest professors that traveled to ASCM over the past several years to teach and make this doctoral degree the best possible!
Please pray for our newest ASCM graduates as they return to their homes and ministries across Asia to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and work to reap the Lord's harvest.
See the 2012 Graduation Photo Album |
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FACULTY DEVELOPMENT: G.A.T.E. WORKSHOP
 Fourteen ASCM faculty led by Academic Dean Jose Abraham and Board Member Dr. Marc Ligero participated in the final year of the 4-year Global Associates in Transformation Education (GATE) seminar and workshop series held in Development Academy of the Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite on April 16-18, 2012.
GATE Team Senior Associate Dr. Robert Ferris and Associate Dr. Joanna Feliciano-Soberano teamed up to facilitate the topics in "Developing Curriculum for Transformational Education".
Faculty members of Presbyterian Theological Seminary, International Graduate School of Leadership and Biblical Seminary of the Philippines were also beneficiaries of this seminar series.
See the 2012 Faculty Development Photo Album
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2012 SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSES
Over the summer, ASCM was honored to have two outstanding guest professors teach summer intensive courses that are true experts in these fields. Dr. Fred Toke, Founder and President of Lee Community College in Singapore and COG Overseer of Singapore and Malaysia, taught "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" the week of May 14-18.
Dr. Lee Roy Martin, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) in Cleveland, TN, taught the "Old Testament Book Study: Judges" on June 4-8.
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Dr. Fred Toke
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Dr. Lee Roy Martin
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ASCM STARTS NEW PROGRAM:
M.A. in APPLIED LINGUISTICS
On June 4, 2012, ASCM started its new Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics degree program. These students have already graduated from their first year of intensive applied linguistics training offered in partnership with Wycliffe and SIL here at ASCM, earning them 36 credit hours and a Diploma in Applied Linguistics. These students can now continue their training for a second year and earn a full M.A. in Applied Linguistics.
This two year degree program is designed to produce language and literacy workers, bible translators and ethno art practitioners with the knowledge and skill to work among the indigenous people groups, especially the Unreached People Groups and Bibleless People Groups around the world. The program will be offered in three emphasis areas, namely; Bible Translation, Literacy and Ethno Arts.
The Biblical-theological component of the M.A. program ensures that students will receive sufficient Bible and theological knowledge by learning to use original Biblical languages, properly interpret the Bible, and be equipped with the latest ministerial and mission strategies.
Among the private higher education institutions engaged in theological education, ASCM is now the first seminary offering a degree in Applied Linguistics emphasizing Bible Translation, Literacy, and Ethnoarts. |
2012 DMIN MODULE
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2012 Cohort with special visitors Bishop Ken Anderson, Bishop Marc Morris, Dr. Marcos Ligero, and President Scott Rains
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This year's June DMin module included two very special guest professors from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) in Cleveland, TN and our very own Dr. Ayuk Ayuk.
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The week of June 11-15, Dr. Terry Johns taught "Spirituality and Wholistic Mission." Dr. Johns is Associate Professor of Social Ethics and Wholistic Mission and the Director of Distance Education at PTS.
The next week, Dr. Ayuk taught "Doctor of Ministry Dissertation: Research" and "Doctor of Ministry Dissertation: Prospectus." Dr. Ayuk is full-time faculty at ASCM and the DMin Program Director.
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Dr. Oliver McMahan taught the final week, June 25-29, on "Counseling and Conflict Resolution." Dr. McMahan is Vice President of Ministry Formation, Director of Doctor of Ministry Program, and Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling at PTS.
We are so grateful to Dr. Johns and Dr. McMahan for bringing their extensive experience half way around the world to impart their expertise to our doctoral students who came from across Asia. Both of these courses were outstanding and a tremendous contribution to the overall program as well as the personal lives and ministries of each student.
Please continue to pray for our DMin students who travel in from China, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the Philippines to take the yearly modules, while still serving in ministerial and leadership roles at home. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and commitment to do the extensive coursework required in a doctoral program. Completion of this Pentecostal training will benefit the Church of God and advance the Kingdom of God in Asia for many years to come.
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ONLINE EDUCATION TRAINING
 On June 18-19, Dr. Terry Johns held training for our faculty members on Online Education. Along with being an Associate Professor of Social Ethics and Wholistic Mission at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) in the US, Dr. Johns also serves as their Director of Distance Education. A leading expert for the Church of God, he has been involved in the development of Online Education at Lee University, Patten University, and PTS. We were privileged to have Dr. Johns share his extensive experience in this area as ASCM develops their Online Education program. We will keep you informed as we establish and offer online courses in the near future. |
NORTH CLEVELAND COG TEAM JOINS ASCM CTI
 The ASCM Community Transformation Initiative (CTI) was joined on July 5 by a ministry team led by Pastor Craig Mosgrove from North Cleveland Church of God in Cleveland, TN. Following our Thursday chapel service where Pastor Craig preached, the CTI students and the American team worked side by side to feed and minister to the children of our adopted squatter area known as "Botanical."    There are 300 families living as homeless squatters in this 10,000 square feet section of land in the heart of Makati City, only two streets over from ASCM. This thin strip of land runs along a small creek next to the hospital and was formerly a small botanical garden. ASCM has adopted this community with a long term plan to help bring transformation and hope. These families are the poorest of the poor. Please pray with us that the students of the Asian Seminary can put their ministerial training into action and make a difference in the lives and futures of these that are considered the last, the lost, and the least of society.  See the entire CTI with North Cleveland Team PHOTO ALBUM |
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ASCM AFRICA EXTENSION BEGINS
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Seated L-R: Bishop Jürgen Rudolph, Dr. Marcia Anderson,
Dr. Benson & Cathy Vaughan
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In May, the ASCM Extension in Africa was launched! This extension is coordinated by Jürgen Rudolph, COG Christian Education Coordinator Africa. Here is an excellent report from him:
BIRTH OF A MASTERS PROGRAM IN AFRICA
"May 7-19, 2012 marked a historic moment for the Church of God in Africa, as for the first time in its history a Master of Arts Program was offered on the African soil. This has never happened before. In the past individuals were sent abroad. For "a little" more of what it costs to send one student to the US, the entire MA program for twelve students can be funded in Africa.
Twelve men, all leaders in their own rights and from all corners of Africa came together for the very first two classes in Lusaka, Zambia. These men are Regional Superintendents, Regional Christian Education Coordinators, National Overseers, Bible School Directors, and a CIMS Coordinator; deriving from Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique; their nationallanguages being French, English, Portuguese, and of course their respective mother tongues - a very diverse group indeed.
Some need a MA by virtue of their office; others need it to enhance their ministry. This is their chance, and most would not have any possibility to go for further studies otherwise. So far, there are only a hand-full of MA degree holders in the Church of God in Africa, and this has to change!
This MA has two purposes; first to enhance leadership development on regional and national level; and secondly, to recruit teachers for our Bible Schools in Africa.
These men are all instrumental in the work of God in Africa; some have served for more than 30 years. They want to enhance their ministries by doing this Master Program, or need it desperately for their own teaching ministry. They are multipliers of God's ministry in Africa, and this is a one-time opportunity in their lives.
Two courses were taught; Theology of the Old Testament by Marcia Anderson a seasoned professor from Discipleship College in Kenya, and Research Paper Writing & Library Research by Cathy & Benson Vaughan, professors from the European Theological Seminary in Germany.
Comments on this first class were without exception overwhelmingly positive, and all expressed deep gratitude to the Church of God for this program.
The Master Program will run for 3½ years and this group will meet a total of seven times in two week block seminars. After successful completion of all course work, they will then graduate with a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from the Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries in Manila, Philippines. We are thankful for them in partnering with us.
It is predominantly the Church of God in Kentucky, who made this Master Program possible through their leadership and churches funding this program; together with Ben McGlamery, the Field Representative for Africa, who did and continues to do much of the "leg work."
I thank the Church of God in Kentucky and others for supporting these twelve men to get a Master Degree, and hopefully more men and women in the future. I give God the glory.
I covet your prayers for the continuous anointing of God's Spirit and the necessary finances needed for this program."
Jürgen Rudolph, Christian Education Coordinator Africa
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From the President
Carol and I want to thank
you for your ongoing support of the Asian Seminary. Without your faithful support, we would not be able to train up the next generation of pastors, evangelists, teachers, missionaries, musicians, Bible translators, social workers, church planters, and tentmakers to reach the Lord's harvest in Asia.
We thank God for establishing this ministerial training seminary 39 years ago and giving it the highest accreditation and recognition possible through His amazing favor.
Because of this, ASCM serves as the regional school for all of Asia and the Pacific. Through ASCM, God is equipping His ministers today and training a new generation of ministers for tomorrow in Asia. They are the workers that He will send out into His harvest field (Mt 9:38). Please pray for the students of ASCM; the Asian harvest field workers! May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly for your ongoing support of this vital regional school!
Scott C. Rains President
FACTS ON ASIA
Of the 6,759 Unreached People Groups globally, 5,269 are in Asia. Of the 68 countries in the 10/40 Window, 45 are in Asia. |
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