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
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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.

The students prove their learning through a year end evauation test. The test comprise of 5 questions from each course taught during the schoolyear. Results of the exam will serve as one of the bases for evaluating the students’ eligibility for graduation.

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The  students for SY 2010-2011 come from different regions of the Philippines, hence speak different dialects. A FARM, Inc. friend-member, Brother Harald Hesse   found them handy to record some Bible verses and Christian phrases. Brother Harald is a Norwegian married to a Filipina and is connected with a radio and media ministry. Recording was done in the following dialects: Tagalog, Ilonggo, Karay-a, Cebuano, Bicolano, Ilocano, Kannanae, Akaeanon and  Romblohanon.

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Throughout the schoolyear, the BSM students attended evening classes every Thuesday and Thursday for 18 units in  Early Childhood Education under Mrs. Glenda Mrcelino. Mrs. Marcelino is an ECE national evaluator and principal of Filamer Christian  University, Kindergarten Departmnet in Roxas City. The students managed to attend the extended classes on top of their regualr BSM academic load. However, thay have to work overtime in order to complete the course requirements before the school year ends.

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         The church planting students in BSM have just tackled the 8th block of courses for this SY 2010-2011. Three BSM alumni availed themselves to teach. MS. Jean dela cruz taught Life Management, Rev. Pat Martinex taught Bibliology and Rev. Warren Aragona taught Cross culture Missions along with his wife Dr. Victoria Aragona.
         The three are among the graduates of BSM when BSM was in its pioneering years as a training school. Pat Martinez was among the 18 pioneer students when BSM was offccially started in 1986. Warren’s batch of 26 students came in next. Jean belongs to the 4th batch of 21 students. All three planted churches after their training in BSM and the rest is now history. Pat is now pastoring a flourishing church in Panay, Capiz and is the sectional presbyter of the Eastern Capiz Section in the North Western Visayan District. Warren, among many other exploits for God’s kingdom has been an exemplary missionary to Cambodia. Jean returned later to her profession as a Math instructor but has continued to be a market place pastor. Recently, she has expressed the undying joy of being in the harvest field and is corrrently making preparations to plant a church again in an urban setting.
          Therefore, what the current students had during this block are not just teachers who teach from a set of notes, but mentors who have the field experience and the consistent and undying passion for the work of God. The three radiate through their lives and words the spirit of the pioneer that is chatracteristic of BSM philosophy of training.

      Living in the last days shouldn’t be taken for granted. This was the overall message being communicated in the Movers Overnight last October 1, 2010. The night’s program was designed to inform, remind and warn the young people about the Second Coming. The program kicked off with praise and worship time with a surprise. In the middle of the third song in the line up, a blasting sound and screams echoed throughout the hall and the lights went out. When the lights were back, only one among the music team on stage was left. It was Joses Calusay, who acted how it would be if one is left behind during the rapture.     
       FARM Youth Pastor Jireh Calusay and FARM Senior Pastor Rey Calusay delivered complementary messages on how to live in the last days. Later the night, the Movers viewed a video presentation on the end times. The Movers became aware of the numerous proofs pointing to the return of Jesus Christ: wars, rumors of wars, natural calamities, false prophets, unreasonable government laws, and many others. The rapture was explained, how it will happen and how to be included in it. The Movers crowded at the front, crying and dedicating themselves to God during the altar call. The BSM students, serving as co-counselors with the FARM Youth leaders ministered to the movers during the altar call.

       School organizations are a big part of students’ lives. Students of  ACLC, Roxas  City (Ama Computer Learning Center) started a school organization with the guidance of  Mr.  Alexis Gaylan, ACLC  faculty member and  a   member  of the FARM family. The name of the organization is Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, hereinafter called “Chi Alpha” or simply “XA.” ‘Chi Alpha’ are terms from  the Greek words ‘Christi Apostoloi’ which mean  ‘Christ’s Ambassadors.’   
      A month earlier, the Street Signs Band of  FARM held a concert at ACLC as per request of the school.  Consequently, FARM was granted permission to  minister  to the students through the Chi Alpa Ministries. FARM acted on  this opportunity by mobilizing the church planting students of Berean School of Ministry.
      Eight selected BSM students led by  Percival Navarro (BSM Ministry Development Director) conducted  the initial meeting with the students. Coincidently, Mark Sullivan,  youngest son of former missionaries based in Roxas City, Steve and Jacque Sullivan is spending a week with the Calusays and he  gladly joined the team. 
      An interesting  skit was presented by the BSM students to promote Chi Alpha meetings.   With Mark Sullivan as anchor man, the BSM students entered in the room one after the other as if each came from different places and each  had to overcome some  obstacle  just to be at ACLC that day. Joses Calusay for example came in wet and said he had to swim across the ocean just to be  in time for the meeting. Benjie Calusay came in with tattered and bloody shirts (catsup of course) as if he had just been from a fight against wild animals. Eve Baclangen came in clad in operating room attire with hands wrapped in gloves  and said she had to leave the hospital just to be in time for the meeting. Another came covered with leaves and grasses and said had to cross the mountains and jungles to be there. Karl Alibuas came in with a pillow and   a blanket as if he just woke up.  Afterwards, fun questions were asked to make the student’s actively participate. 

      The Berean School of Ministry is concerned that the students being trained to be future pastors are developed in every area of their lives. Personality Development is offered as part of the curriculum and included in the course is personal grooming. Ms. Clay Dalid, another volunteer teacher from among the members of FARM, Inc. was invited to teach. Ms. Clay Dalid is a style designer and consultant, an artist-painter, a business woman, and currently a student studying law. She did four sessions to teach and demonstrate to the students how to express personality in the way they dress. Bringing along with her a huge bag of different fabric and accessories , she guided the students how to bring out their inner moods through colors and styles. She shared tips for choosing the dress style that fits, which color shouts one’s personality, and even what hair style is best for ones physical features.
       Basically, Ms. Clay teaches style, not fashion. She differentiated fashion and style and emphasized that one should have style, not just follow fashion. She said that style is who you are, while fashion is a compromise with other’s style, such as that of a designer. Fashion is wearing the style of others. Fashion fades after a week or two, while style lasts as long as a person.
       The fourth day was time for the BSM students to put their knowledge to practice and to show their individual styles. Ms. Clay helped the students put up a style (not fashion) show.  She even invited a few of her law classmates to witness the show. The majority of the ladies wore little black dresses accented by colorful shiny accessories. Others wore eye- catching colored dresses with scarves and shawls. The Calusay brothers stunned us with their tuxedos while the others made us wonder with elegance in simplicity. And of course, a show isn’t complete without a finale. A couple out of the BSM students, Mr. Ben But and Ms. Janice Flores, were fairly selected to wear the finale attire of a bride and groom. Janice wore a wedding gown designed by Ms. Clay herself.
       The brief class with Ms. Clay has initiated the students in discovering and developing their individual styles that will best express their personalities. Now they’ve known that style is that which speaks out who you are, and should not be compromised with fashion.You’re not speaking who you are if you’re wearing fashion and not your style. It doesn’t matter if your style doesn’t look nice to others; the idea is that you tell them who you are. Style is being truthful to who you are.

        The students are enjoying the rich teaching times under Mrs. Minnie Panaguiton – Chan, a holder of doctorate degree in education. She is also  currently the head of the education department of Filamer Christian University, a leading and historic teaching institution  in Roxas City.  Mrs. Panaguiton is one among the skilled educators who  are members of  First Assembly  and  have volunteered  to teach in BSM courses that are within their areas of expertise.  Mrs.  Chan is teaching the course on Personality development.