Dr. Dick O. Eugenio, current Academic Dean of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS), opened the school’s newest Master of Ministry off-site center in Mandalay, Myanmar by teaching two back-to-back courses on July 1-12. This is the realization of year-long planning that started in 2018, and in conversation with Myanmar country coordinator Dr. Bill Kwon and Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. David Philips. The generous US$20,000 donation of the Asia-Pacific Region of the Church of the Nazarene through Regional Director Dr. Mark Louw made opening the center a possibility.
Twenty students joined the classes, although several were auditing the courses. The majority come from the Church of the Nazarene, though some came from Baptist, Assemblies of God, and other evangelical churches. The average age of the class is 34.5, though the youngest students are 20 years old. Most of them are converts from Buddism and have amazing stories of conversion. In fact, two of them (Htet Paing Zaw and Htay Mu) became Christians only six months ago through the preaching of another student, Saya Moe Kyaw Naing. The students have traveled far to come to Mandalay, and two of them (Ah Phu and Kyaw Naing Oo) traveled two days by train, one way.
The Master of Ministry is part of APNTS’s “Masters on Wheels” program. This is a 45-unit, non-residential degree that equips men and women in their local situations. With the changing trends in theological education, where prospective students are unable or unwilling to relocate for their education, APNTS’ off-site program allows students to be equipped without moving to APNTS’ main campus in Taytay, Rizal, in the Philippines. APNTS has already graduated students in this program from Papua New Guinea and two secure areas.
– Originally published on the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary website
