ATSBACOLOD

History

"One small step, one giant leap forward," describes the 'start small' principle upon which Asian Theological Seminary Bacolod started.

The mandate to "Serve God by Equipping the Church," coupled with the 'start small' principle, pushed a group of men and women to meet with ATS-Manila officials in 1988 to explore the possibility of starting an extension campus in Bacolod. Thus ATS-B was born in 1989, 20 years after ATS-Manila offered their first courses in Luzon. Classes started with 3 students in 1989, at the site also used by the Christian Reformed Seminary and Bible College on North Drive - Pag-asa Streets. In a span of nine years, classes grew to an average of 12-20 students per course and at least one class having 45 students.

The first director, Dr. Paul Dreblow, a missionary with the Baptist Conference Church - Bacolod started his term challenged by the need to promote ATSB in the community. One key person who helped envision ATSB was Dr. David Lim from Trinity Christian Church, who helped fight for the continuity of ATSB operations at a time when it was threatened with closure due to lack of resources.

Rev. Gerrit Koedoot of the Christian Reformed World Missions succeeded Dr. Dreblow. He is best remembered for his systematic approach and development of curriculum that would meet the needs of local churches and individual pastors. He retired in 1997. That same year, Dr. Stephen Whatley, a veteran missionary, arrived with his wife Lorrie, to serve as academic dean and full-time instructor. In 2001, Dr. Whatley was succeeded as Dean by Mrs. Ma. Eleanor Cordova who also acts now as Administrator since June 2003 when Mrs. Ophelia Sipat resigned after having served ATSB for 13 years. In April 2004, the Whatley’s had to leave the Philippines for a new teaching ministry in U. S. A.

In the past years of serving the kingdom of God, ATSB has a proven track record of assembling students from various denominational convictions such as the Christian Reformed, Free Reformed, Presbyterian, Baptist Conference, Conservative Baptist, Assemblies of God, Convention Baptist, Fundamental Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, Full Gospel, Salvation Army, Baptist Missionary, Worldwide (Evangelical) Church of God, and other evangelical churches.

Its library is an especially useful resource tool in the study and understanding of the Scriptures. It has over 3,000 volumes aimed primarily at equipping servant-leaders in developing deeper insight and awareness on contextualizing Scripture, making it more relevant to contemporary life.

ATSB exists to serve the evangelical Christian community by offering graduate level theological training for men and women who are preparing for professional or lay Christian ministry in the Asian setting. ATSB is known for its in-depth and penetrating study of the Scriptures in its historical and cultural background.

ATS-B is governed by a Board of Trustees whose members are selected from a representation of different evangelical churches.

Through the years, we are thankful for the faithful support of the Christian Reformed World Missions, and for the few Christian churches and individuals toward the financial needs of ATSB. We are also grateful to the Lord for a Christian family from Trinity Christian Church (Wee Kiat and Shirley Tan) who have been instrumental in providing for the new building facilities that ATSB has used for 5 years, 2003-2008.

In June 2008, there was a turn of events that brought ATSB to another new home. By God’s kindness through the West Negros University owners, the Agustin Family, ATSB continues to enjoy free facilities for office, library and classroom, now located in room 301 of the WNU main building.