Oro Bible College (OBC), in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines, exists to prepare men and women for ministry in the Philippines and beyond. Advent Christian missionaries and Filipino Advent Christian leaders formally established OBC in 1972. More than 50 years later, OBC continues to offer quality theological education for Advent Christian students and students from other evangelical traditions.
A little more than 20 years ago, OBC gained formal recognition for its Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree from the Philippine government’s Commission on Higher Education. Degree recognition allowed OBC to attract a wider variety of students, including many from other denominations within Cagayan de Oro. About the same time, OBC launched its preschool program, catering to the growing need for education at the elementary level.
Now OBC is poised to take a new step forward. By God’s grace, later this year OBC will begin offering first grade elementary school classes on campus. Adding first grade classes is the initial phase of an overall development plan to provide all levels of elementary and high school education alongside the existing college program. This will provide much greater income, helping the college maintain and expand its continuing mission.
Speaking of OBC’s mission, President Jess Gawangon says, “The Philippines is witnessing a growing hunger for balanced and biblically sound teachings … more Filipinos are seeking theologically grounded institutions to guide their faith journeys. There is a clear need for institutions like ours to serve the entire Philippine evangelical community.” President Gawangon is enthusiastic about OBC’s future, stating “We firmly believe that God has positioned us to be a powerhouse for national transformation.”
While continuing to prepare men and women for vocational ministry roles, OBC is also recruiting students who want to be agents of Christ’s kingdom in business, law enforcement, sports, media, entertainment, government and politics. By developing biblically and theologically grounded students for such careers, the church can more effectively engage its community and culture. Adding elementary and high school education to OBC’s offerings will enhance this vision by engaging a greater variety of students and parents with the transformative power of the gospel.
One development within the local community has further created opportunity. Cagayan de Oro College (COC), a large college situated on the same city block as OBC, has recently begun to eliminate its elementary school due to lack of space. Many COC faculty and parents are already familiar with OBC and are encouraging the development of OBC’s elementary school. The demand for elementary education created by COC’s restructuring provides a major opportunity for OBC.
The goal is to start construction of the first floor of the new elementary school building on OBC’s campus by the first of May. This first floor will house three first-grade classrooms. OBC also needs to hire teachers for the first grade classes. Thanks to generous donations for missions from sources in North America and Asia, ACGC will provide significant financial help to OBC for the beginning of this development plan.
May the Lord use Oro Bible College to develop more and more leaders for gospel ministry in the Philippines, throughout Asia and beyond.
One Response
Although I am all for growth and improvement, I am concerned about OBC’s low infrastructure. As the road in front of OBC keeps being built up higher, and the land around it is built up as well, when there are monsoon type rains OBC gets flooded and sustains a lot of damage. Is there any provision for this? I used to dream about it being relocated up by the airport where Fe and Toto Mendoza lived, but there has never been a consideration for that At least it wouldn’t be below water level ….