By Joyce Porcadillia, President of General Baptist Bible College, The Philippines

This post was originally published in the 2016 Spring issue of the GB Messenger. Don’t receive the Messenger? You can always catch the latest digital issue on the Messenger website, www.gbMessenger.org

The General Baptist Bible College, Inc. (GBBC) over the years has evolved from a small Bible school of 18 students to a multi-level educational institution. The dream to have a training school has been fulfilled. Through dedication, commitment and hard work this institution was built. We thank our leaders who have gone before us for their leadership, foresight, careful planning, and generosity. If not for their leadership and vision in the past, GBBC wouldn’t even be here today.

Most of us were not around when GBBC started, but we all know that moving towards where GBBC is now has been challenging as well as inspiring. The current reality is that in order for GBBC to be distinct in its offerings, we need to adapt to the fast changing landscape of basic education, theological education, and ministerial training. We need to be proactive in responding to the demands and needs of our stakeholders and the different fields of missions and ministries. Therefore, we need to maximize our physical, human and financial resources and adopt new initiatives to achieve the vision of becoming a premier institution for leadership development in Christian ministries and missions in the Philippines and around the world.

In May 2015, a seven member group from GBBC went to India on a short-term mission trip. This was our first all Filipino mission team. It was historic that for the very first time we crossed national borders to go international and work alongside our brothers and sisters in India under the leadership of Jessey and Brittany Vemula. India is the second most populated country in the world with almost 1.3 billion people. India is predominantly a Hindu country with only 2.3% are Christians. India has more than 3 million gods and goddesses. It was in India where we saw how people worshipped a tree by putting their hands around it and worshipped and prayed before the tree. We saw how they worshipped a monkey-god made of concrete that is as large as a building. It was so heartbreaking to see how they worshipped the creations and not the Creator.

When I saw this, I knew in my heart that these people need to know the truth. As I reflected on this more deeply, I remembered what the Scriptures says in Romans 10:14-15 (NIV) “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

I asked myself, “But how can we send people if they are not trained? If they are not equipped?” That is what GBBC is exactly doing. GBBC exists to develop and equip leaders to be deeply rooted in the word of God and fully committed to make disciples not just here in the Philippines but around the world.

Having just celebrated 50 years of ministry this past year, the General Baptist Bible College continues to move forward to face the challenges and opportunities of globalization and integration among neighboring countries. This intensifies efforts to produce graduates who are effective and efficient leaders and who are of Christ-like character. The Philippines, where GBBC is of course located, has borderless opportunities to reach countries in Southeast Asia and most of these countries are within the 10/40 window. Because the Philippines has greater access to the 10/40 window countries where the most unreached people groups are situated, GBBC has an open window of opportunity to be able to share the Gospel and bring light and hope to this lost world.

The Philippines with a little over 100 million people and at least 10% of them live abroad as overseas Filipino workers. This creates an open opportunity for cross cultural missions and ministry. Every day at least 4,500 Filipinos leave the country to work abroad and many of them work in countries where Christianity is not open. We can take advantage of this if we provide the right training through our institutions at General Baptist Bible College and at Matigsalug Bible Institute.

The opportunities to train and equip our existing students for cross cultural ministries to reach the Filipinos living abroad are endless. Another opportunity is to give short term training to existing overseas Filipino workers or those who are about ready to go abroad. We have a number of church members who are existing OFWs and all they need would be training for them to become intentional witnesses.

In 1976 the Foreign Mission Board saw a similar opportunity on the island of Saipan because of the growing population of Filipino overseas workers. The Foreign Mission Board thought it would be wise to send a Filipino family to reach the Filipinos on the island. True enough, a GBBC graduate and his young family moved to Saipan. It was then that the Filipino congregation of Saipan Community Church started. The Filipino congregation remains to form a large part of Saipan Community Church.

Since this was possible 40 years ago, there is no reason that we can’t do it today. We have the human resources to do it. We just need to intensify our efforts and partnerships to make it happen. With the advancement of technology, it has become easier for us to move forward.

GBBC and MBI therefore, commit themselves to equip and develop leaders deeply rooted in the word of God and fully committed to make disciples, not just within the Philippines but of all nations. GBBC and MBI are fully committed to instill Biblical truths in the hearts  and minds of every single student, whether in the basic education department or in the college department, including our purpose and our calling. With this wider perspective and understanding of missions, no matter what they will do and where they will go, they will always be wired and fired with the passion of Jesus Christ, this love of Christ that compels us.

Maria, who grew up in a dysfunctional family, never knew who was hanging on the cross when she was 13 years old. She wondered who that man was until one day someone told her who that man was. Still not convinced of what and who that man was, she often wondered if there really was a God. It was only when someone really spent time with her that she fully understood and came to know Jesus. She then became a believer because someone shared the truth. She then became a missionary to the Philippines and lived most of her life investing in the lives of those who need to know Jesus. She continues to serve now but in a different capacity of training leaders all over the world, specifically going around Southeast Asia, because she believes that the harvest is indeed plentiful but the workers are few. Yes, we need more Marias, but we need to train and equip them to become effective Marias.

It will be through the beautiful feet of these students who commit themselves to training and who will go beyond borders for Christ that we have hope that the truth will be known and the Gospel be preached to the lost world. We can make a difference.