Thursday evening,  June 30, 2011 was a rainy evening when the BSM SY 2011-2012 acquaintance party was held at the   BSM dining room.  It was an opportunity for students and BSM staff to know more about each other.   Some  alumni were invited as guests; particularly Rev. Jessie Villagracia and Rev. Pat Martinez. The two BSM alumni have both established ministries. Jessie is the current District Superintendent of NWVDC while Pat is the current Presbyter of the Section if Capiz.   Two other alumni were present; Joses and Benjie  Calusay  who  graduated in BSM last school year and are currently pioneering a church in Santiago City, Isabela. Both came home in time  for the acquaintance party and to join their parents to a trip to Australia.  A special dinner was served featuring spicy recipes of Joses Calusay.   The event was highlighted by an inspirational message from Pastor  Rey Calusay. He  challenged the students to learn to communicate to people with their hearts. It was a memorable evening for the students for once more they were made to feel very much at home at FARM  and were officially tagged as BSM Batch 20.

BSM students auditioned for music team ministry of FARM headed by Jireh Calusay  Majority of the students auditioned as vocalists  and a few    as instrumentalists. The rest were comfortable to be part of the audience and render indulging ears to their classmates.

Training and mentoring the BSM students is a challenging process that requires knowing first the kind of raw material to start with. A popular BSM line is `We accept you as you are but will not let you stay as you are”. Consequently, BSM conducts English Measurement Test and Doctrinal  Evaluation Test at the beginning of the school  year. The students took an IELTS exam administered by  Jireh Calusay. The purpose of the  exam was  to test their listening skills, concentration and listening with understanding. The students  were allowed to listen to a recorded conversation   and after that they have to answer prepared questions.   Secondly, they took a doctrinal test  composed of selected representative questions to measure their general knowledge of the Bible and the Biblical view of key doctrines and issues.   Results of tests revealed the rustic minds of some students especially those who have finished their college education many years ago. Nonetheless, the students enjoyed the exercise and were challenged   to take up again the mind set of a learner.

To see more pictures, click this: Photo Album:BSM Students Take Measurement Tests

         Twenty students from different parts of the Philippines   went through   screening and interview before they were officially enrolled last June  21, 2011. After submission of all requirements for admission, each student was personally interviewed by no other than Rev. Rey Calusay, PGCAG General Superintendent  and Director of Home Missions Department and his wife Zenaida who is the academic dean of BSM.  The interview is primarily designed to ascertain the student’s call and commitment to plant a church after completion of training.

BSM SY 2011-2012 students were  officially welcomed in FARM, Inc. church family last June 26, 2011. Sara Labaso from from Surigao del Norte  gave her testimony and thanked the FARM family in behalf of the student body  for embracing them as adopted members of FARM Inc. for the duration of their 10 month training. The training of church planters has been one of the avenues through which FARM members participate in missions and church planting    through their untiring and generous sponsorship of  needy students. Since 1986, they have been sponsoring the tuition fees and board and lodging of BSM students. Some FARM lay leaders also serve as parenting elders of students.
As adopted   FARM members during their stay in BSM, the students   will be treated as church members and will be  part of all the activities in the church. As `new’ members, they are required to go through the discipleship program of FARM.  Younger students   will be included in as members in the FARM youth groups.  All of these made them feel they really are part of the FARM church family.

CHARGE
By Rev. Rey A. Calusay, PGCAG General Superintendent and Home Missions Director
To the Graduating Class of BSM SY 2010-2011

1TI 5:21  I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels,
2TI 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Charge
By the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, Savior and soon coming King, who will judge the living and the dead… I give you this charge.

-Live holy, ,continue to train yourself to be godly. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Sin is always a reproach to any people. The Lord says that bad leaders ddo not do what they preach. Do not copy them. Pursue holiness without which no man will see the Lord.

-Love God and surrender to Him with delight. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Enjoy worshipping Him and behold His face at all times. Build a body of worshippers and the church that would be lovers of God. Dismantle the stronghold of false worship and idolatry in the nation, and whereever there is a worthy altar for the true and living God.

-Lead in life through humble service for the people of God, without greed for power, position, or pleasure. Pagan leadership is an abomination, and should forever be banned from your system.

-Learn the ways of the Spirit now that you are about to embark on a race.. and stay in His anointing. Don’t despise prophesying. Do not quench the Spirit’s flame. He is the power of God to start a work and to complete it. Comforter and Friend.

-Labor ever to build His Church- not the concrete and wood. But the assembly of God, people redeemed by Jesus and belonging to God. Prepare His church for power and for purity, to be God’s army, and Christ’s Bride.

-Long for His appearing. The start of the journey may test your determination, the rest of the journey may exhaust your resources, strength and patience. The rigors of serving may suck all your reserves. You may loss precious and essential things in life , and may end up with nothing more left..  But the thought of a face to face encounter with Jesus Christ will always revive you and lift you. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Challenged by Saturation Challenge!

Joses Calusay

Karl Kenneth Gange Alibuas

Brigitte Mangapan Paulino

Jennielyn Sariego Samonte

Severo Loayan Calang, Jr.

Daren Silva Abellano

Ever Pesante Cornelio

Juliet Deloria Duronio

Aquilles Osita Valles

Clarissa dela Cruz Concepcion

Eve Ann Sagudang Baclangen

Ben Judah Magbanua Calusay

Janice Puntillas Flores

Jilmer Jimenez Resurrection

Lerma Martinez Anar

Paquito Castillon Ongon, Jr.

Juliebeth Jumalon Lomukso

Ben Teologo But

Olive Nonisa Tuscano

Jane Dangan Tumlos

Daren Silva Abellano
From: Dumarao Assembly Of God, Dumarao, Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Assistant Pastor
Will plant a church in San Juan, Ilocos Sur
Granted Certificate of Completion

Karl Kenneth Gañge Alibuas
From First Assembly Roxas Missions, Roxas City, Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Student, Pre-Law
Will plant a church in San Juan, Ilocos Sur
Granted Certificate of Completion

Lerma Martinez Añar
From Ferrol Assembly Of God Pob.Ferrol, Romblon
Occupation before BSM: Full Time Church Worker
Will plant a church in San Andres, Romblon
Granted Certificate of Completion

Eve –Ann Sagudang Baclangen
From Capital Christian Center, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Occupation before BSM: Registered Nurse
Will plant a church in Poblacion Bucay ,Abra
Granted Certificate of Completion

Jesus Alojado Bermejo Jr.
From First Assembly Roxas Missions, Roxas City, Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Tricycle Operator
Will continue 2nd year in BSM
Granted Certificate of Attendance, SY 2010-2011

Ben Teologo But
From First Assembly Of God – San Joaquin, Iloilo
Occupation before BSM: Church Worker
Will plant a church in Sta. Catalina ,Ilocos Sur
Granted Certificate of Completion

Severo Loayon Calang Jr.
From Poctoy Children Adult Learning Mission – Poctoy, Surigao City
Occupation before BSM: Government Employee
Will plant a church in Clavier, Surigao City
Granted Certificate of Completion

Ben Judah Magbanua Calusay
From First Assembly Roxas Missions, Roxas City,Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Graduating student, BSC Major in Marketing
Will plant a church in Santiago City, Isabela
Granted Certificate of Completion

Joses Magbanua Calusay
From First Assembly Roxas Missions, Roxas City,Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Fresh Graduate, BSC Major in Business Administration
Will plant a church in Santiago City, Isabela
Granted Certificate of Completion

Clarisa de la Cruz Concepcion
From Jesus Our Hope International Assemblies of God – Larap, Camarines Norte
Occupation before BSM: A mother to her brothers & sisters
Will plant a church in Vinzons, Camarines Norte
Granted Certificate of Completion

Ever Pesante Cornelio
From Jesus Our Hope International Assemblies Of God – Larap, Camarines Norte
Occupation before BSM: Welder
Will plant a church in Bazud, Camarines Norte
Granted Certificate of Attendance, SY 2010-2011

Juliet Deloria Duronio
From First Assembly Roxas Missions – Roxas City, Capiz
Occupation before BSM: Elementary Teacher
Will plant a church in Luisita, Tarlac
Granted Certificate of Completion

Janice Puntillas Flores
From Prince Of Peace Fellowship Church – Magsaysay, Lanao Del Norte
Occupation before BSM: Full Time Church Worker
Will plant a church in Sultan Naga Demaporo
Granted Certificate of Completion

Juliebeth Jumalon Lomukso
From Prince Of Peace Fellowship Church – Magsaysay, Lanao Del Norte
Occupation before BSM: Full Time Church Worker
Will plant a church in Sultan Naga Demaporo
Granted Certificate of Completion

Paquito Castillon Ongon Jr.
From Ferrol Assembly Of God – Ferrol, Romblon
Occupation before BSM: Auto Mechanic,Welder
Will serve as worker in home church
Granted Certificate of Attendance

Brigitte Mangapan Paulino
From Faith Assembly Church – Loakan, Baguio City
Occupation before BSM: Pastoral Staff
Will plant a church in Cangapan, Benguet
Granted Certificate of Completion

Jimer Jimenez Resurrecion
From Caticlan Assembly Of God – Boracay , Aklan
Occupation before BSM: Hotel Employee
Will plant a church in Calapan City, Mindoro
Granted Certificate of Completion

Jennielyn Sariego Samonte
From First Assembly Of God – San Joaquin, Iloilo
Occupation before BSM: Full Time Church Worker
Will plant a church in Luisita, Tarlac
Granted Certificate of Completion

Jane Dangan Tumlos
From First Assembly Roxas Missions – Pontevedra, Capiz
Occupation before BSM: OFW
Future ministry with husband
Granted Certificate of Attendance

Olive Nonisa Tuscano
From Sinait Assembly Of God – Sinait, Ilocos Sur
Occupation before BSM: Social Worker
Will plant a church in Pidigan, Abra
Granted Certificate of Completion

Aquilles Osita Valles
From Ivisan Full Gospel Assembly – Ivisan, Capiz
Occupation before BSM:Factory Worker
Will plant a church in Claver, Surigao
Granted Certificate of Completion

Every graduating class of  Berean School of Ministry say theirs is the best graduation ceremony ever. This year’s batch has many reasons to say so last March 30, 2011.  All twenty of them went on stage  to receive their certificates: 16 received certificates of completion and 4 received certificates of attendance. While on stage, each received a prayer shawl from  Rev. Rey Calusay, BSM and PGCAG General Superintendent  and also had a personal  picture taken with him.   Medals were awarded to five students for Academic Axcellence and another 5 for Outstanding performance.  Joses Calusay received the medal for Most Outstanding Graduate.
Rev. Jessie Villagracia, NWVDC District Superintendent gave the inspirational talk to the students. Later, Rev. Pat Martinez, BSM alumni president  inducted the graduates as the newest members of the association.  Rev. Rey Calusay gave a  very meaningful and challenging charge to the graduates and was joined by the attending pastors and BSM alumni in praying  for the graduates.
This batch of students will be remembered by the name `God’s Masterpiece’. They did a passioante speech choir of the poem by Amena Brown `Masterpiece’.  The event ended with a celebration meal with BSM  sponsors and students’ relatives and friends   at the Welcome Lounge. Click to download:  BSM GRADUATION CEREMONY 2010-2011

RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS
Top 5 Academic Awardees:
1. Joses Calusay
2. Eve Baclangen
3. Brigette Paulino
4. Clarissa Concepcion
5. Juliet Duronio
Top 5 Performance Awardees:
1. Brigette Paulino
2. Joses Calusay
3. Lerma Anar
4. Jimer Resurrecion
5. Clarissa Concepcion
Most Outstanding Student:
Joses Calusay
 Click this for more pictures

 

Click this for more pictures

BSM Students batch 2010-2011 dubbed themselves as `God’s Masterpiece’. For their graduation day presentation, they will perform as a speech choir. They are practicing to deliver Amena Brown’s peom entitled `Masterpiece’ with Joses Calusay as trainor-conductor. Click this for more pictures

MASTERPIECE
By: Amena Brown

You found  beauty in what doesn’t seem beautiful,
You took a lump of clay, gave it a name & called it human
Blew breath from Your  eternally deep lungs,
Depositing spirit into wombs and souls.

You made us whole from the first breath we breathed,
The first time we opened our eyes, You were all we could see,
But we were deceived to believe You were not enough
So we took a sip of sin’s bitter cup.

We gave up eternal lives for the  taste of a cheap lie,
But You’ve been pursuing us since in the beginning,
You made all the first moves, took all the first steps,
You knew the only thing that stood between us and  You, was death.

So You volunteered Yourself to take the place of harm’s way,
You became the great exchange of pain for peace,
Healing for stripes, death for life,
You are the only One who could make things right.

We could not fathom the cost,    but You paid the price,
You put Your word on our hearts,
You put Your Name on our lips,
And even after we sing all the songs we heard,
We’re left in silence of all You’ve done.

It amazes us that a God who can so easily overtake us,
Takes us, breaks us, and  makes us more like Him,
‘Cause everyday, You chisel our character,
Changing the picture of our lives by the brushstroke.

You want us to be Your masterpiece,
You want us to be the Master’s piece,
You are the only One who gives everlasting peace,
So we lay down all selfishness, all agendas, all affections.

We come to bring a sacrifice,
We come in the Name of the One who gave His life,
We want to follow Him,
Which means we take up heavy crosses,
Which means we take sips of the bitter cup of denying self.

And we cry out to You,
Cause we want You to hear this humble generation,
Seeking Your face & turning from wicked ways,
Cause we need You to heal our land,
We need You to have the heart of our kinds in Your hands,
We want You to scatter us like seed,
That every soul in this world would know Your eternity.