By Dan Carlton and Bob Munson
Look at a globe sometime. You will see that it is a long way from the Philippines to Virginia. But distance can be deceiving. When fellow Christians work together for God's kingdom, the other side of the world can be right next door. Ask Ingracio “Bot” Samson of the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines. He is spending his sabbatical year studying at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and working with churches in Virginia.
Dr. Samson, or “Dr. Bot” as he is commonly known by his students in the Philippines, has been a professor of Old Testament studies at PBTS for 11 years. He was born in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines and earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
But soon God's call led him to PBTS and the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological School, the latter at which he earned his doctor of theology in biblical studies. Dr. Bot now teaches Hebrew, Old Testament, hermeneutics and other courses at PBTS and ABGTS.
Despite this emphasis in teaching, much of his training is in pastoral care and counseling. He presently leads discipleship and pastoral care seminars throughout the Philippines. He is also a popular preacher and is traveling most weekends to speak throughout the northern Philippines. His ability to preach fluently in English, Ilokano and Tagalog helps greatly.
Dr. Bot has been able to come to Virginia through the help of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ruckersville. Spring Hill met him through Bob and Celia Munson, who are Spring Hill members and missionaries sent by the church to the Philippines. The Munsons work on medical mission projects in Baguio and are students at PBTS. They have studied in several of Dr. Bot's classes, and he has worked with them, providing pastoral care training for church leaders, during medical mission stops.
Dr. Bot's vision for the church in the Philippines has led him to Virginia. He is concerned about the challenges faced by pastors and churches in his country. Eighty percent of evangelical Filipino pastors have no formal pastoral training. A majority of these same pastors receive only around $20 a month from their churches. Seminaries have not kept up with the need for pastors in the Philippines, and most pastors do not have the time or finances to attend seminary.
Dr. Bot's vision is to have organized, free, regional seminars in all parts of the Philippines to provide training for local pastors in areas of doctrine and pastoral care. These seminars would be taught by seminary professors. Seminaries are very common in the larger cities in the Philippines, but little is available in the more provincial regions.
With this goal in mind, Dr. Bot hopes to gain further training in biblical studies and in education technology while here. He also hopes to talk with people in Virginia who share his passion for the people of the Philippines.
Information about Dr. Bot is available from Dan Carlton at [email protected] or (434) 973-7473.
Special to the Herald
Dan Carlton is pastor of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ruckersville. Bob Munson is a member there.