July Updates 2013

Modular Classes 

July was a fruitful month for the Expositor's Academy.  Pastor Erwin flew into Kalibo to teach our men (and a few new faces) from Negros, Bacolod, Iloilo and Aklan.  This two and half day module was part 2 of 3 of our New Testament Survey, focusing on Galatians through 2 Timothy.  We all met at Boracay Grace Baptist Church, which has been partnering with us for about 3 years and is pastored by Angelo Panganiban.  I enjoyed good interaction with the men who had many questions, especially about elders in the church as I taught from 1 Timothy 3.  Their questions included, “Can women be elders?” and “What should we do about an elder whose children are living in unbroken patterns of sin?”  I walked them through Scripture to see what God’s Word says on these and other issues.

New Testament Survey Class at Boracay Grace Baptist Church

Sean Ransom with students on last day of class in Boracay

Classes in Manila

Back in the Manila area, our on-going class at the Church of the Triumphant Christ started it’s eighth and final course in our Local Church Ministry track.  Their final course is called “Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship.”  Lord willing, many of these students will graduate this December after having studied with us for 3-4 years.  Those who joined us later will be able to attend classes with the next batch of students whose first class will be “Bible Study Methods and Rules of Interpretation.”

Missions, Evangelism and Discipleship calls at Church of the Triumphant Christ

I also had the joy of preaching for the 17th anniversary of Soli Deo Gloria Chruch in Davao City (SDGC).  SDGC Pastor, Jurem Ramos, his wife Ging and their son Abraham (who just graduated from the Master’s College) picked us up from the airport.  Jessica and I were so blessed by our time with them and the Church.  Every aspect of their worship service impressed us; from the choices of songs we sang to the mature words of their prayers, the godly wisdom and humble hearts of their elders and the kindness and encouraging fellowship the members.  The elders invited me to meet with them every other week for three months for a time of counseling and mutual edification.  This will also give us time to learn from each other and to get to know each other better as we looking into the possibility of partnering with them to help train their members as well as other pastors and ministers in the area.

The elders of Soli Deo Gloria Church (Pastor Ronnie, Pastor Alan and  Pastor Jurem) and I

Lastly, we are encouraged and getting excited as the three families who have been raising support and preparing to join us here in the Philippines are getting very close to moving here.  One family may move here before the end of the year and the other two, should arrive early next year (Lord willing).  Although their primary focus will be on language and cultural studies and not on joining Pastor Erwin and I in teaching, it will be very encouraging to have them here as we dream and plan on taking the training ministry of the Expositor’s Academy to the next level in the near future.  Please continue to pray for all of us as the Lord continues to grow us and uses us to raise up godly expositors in the Philippines.