Taytay, Philippines: Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary held its 39th Commencement Exercises on 4 May 2024 with the theme “Rising to Serve”. Church friends, family, APNTS students, faculty, and staff gathered to honor these 31 graduates.
Among the graduates:
- Twelve certificates in Christian Leadership
- One Certificate of Christian Ministry
- Two Bachelor of Arts in Theology
- One Graduate Certificate in Intercultural Studies
- One Master of Ministry
- One Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies
- One Master of Arts in Religious Education
- One Master of Science in Theology
- Five Master of Divinity
- Five Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development
- One Doctor of Philosophy in Transformational Learning
The graduates come from various denominations, including the Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal Holiness, Baptist, United Methodist Church, Church of Christ, Evangelical Free Church of the Philippines, ACTS New Zealand, Crossover Ministry California, and Evangelical Church. There were 14 male students and 17 female students.
The Commencement ceremony’s speaker is Rev. Stephen Gualberto (Sealands Field Strategy Coordinator). He challenged the graduates and fellow leaders of the church to reflect on their role to the ministry of reconciliation, according to him:
“As we consider our role, graduates, your role.. Fellow ministers, faculty and staff, consider role in God’s narrative of reconciliation. Let us be continuously reconciled, redeemed, and renewed. I invite you graduates, fellow leaders of the church and missionaries, faculty and staff of this wonderful seminary, fellow Nazarenes and fellow followers of Christ, and other guests who are here… to reflect on your role in this ministry of reconciliation. Where can you be an agent of God’s peace and God’s grace…” -Rev. Stephen Gualberto, Guest Speaker
Moreover, the 2024 graduates want to express their acknowledgment of the efforts of their professors, the staff, the library, and the APNTS community for the love and support they received throughout their residence on campus. We hope they maintain their learning and passion to carry out God’s ministry and bring it to another level as a good example for future generations.
