Baptist Theological College/Cebu Graduate School of Theology:

A short history

The Baptist Theological College was founded in 1957 by the Philippine Mission of the Baptist General Conference. At its inception, the stated purpose of the school was to train men for the pastorate. The first class of four men began their studies in June of 1958. For the first nine years of its existence the school was known as the Baptist Bible School of Cebu. The present name was adopted at the beginning of the 1967-68 school year. BTC’s current mission can be expressed as: to glorify God by partnering with local churches in training men and women to serve God wherever He calls them to serve. Since the beginning, 2 Timothy 2:2 has conveyed the school’s goal: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (NIV).

The curriculum of the school has developed with the passing of years. The original course of study, which was limited to men, required two years of on-campus study. In 1961 the co-educational program was begun. At that time the Pastor’s Course was expanded to three years and a two-year Christian Education Course was added for women. By 1967 five different curricula were offered: a one-year Christian Life Certificate, a two-year Diploma in Christian Education, a three-year Diploma in Theology, and two degree courses, the Bachelor of Science in Christian Education and the Bachelor of Theology. After considerable study and discussion, the one-year and two-year courses were dropped from the curriculum of BTC, however a Certificate of Christian Ministry could still be obtained from BTC in cooperation with the Extension Department.

For the first twenty-two years of its history, the BTC campus was located in Argawanon, San Remigio, Cebu, where the 14-hectare campus became a well-known landmark. However, in 1980 the first Filipino President, Eliseo Sarcos laid the foundation for moving the school to Metro Cebu recognizing the changing face of the churches that students would serve upon graduation. This also allowed the school to take advantage of available adjunct and part-time faculty residing in or near Metro Cebu. Initially, third- and fourth-year classes were held at First Baptist Church in Cebu City while first- and second- year classes continued to be held on the San Remigio campus. Following the tragic loss of Rev. Sarcos to cancer in June of 1981, the transition to Metro Cebu continued. All classes were moved to Cebu City in 1982-83 at the gracious invitation of First Baptist Church to again use their facilities.

In 1985 a permanent campus in Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu, was purchased and the school transferred there. God led the school through rapid development following that move. A former shellcraft business was converted into a modern college campus. A warehouse/work station was transformed into a spacious library and campus chapel. Faculty housing was built, a multi-story academic building was constructed, and at the turn of the century BTC had the tallest structure in the neighborhood—a Student Center which included a great space for students and visitors to converge, a large classroom, housing for students or faculty, and a rooftop prayer center. Further campus development is now being planned to include another multi-story building to house female students and provide offices for BTC faculty and staff. BTC’s campus is owned by the Baptist Conference of the Philippines. The school is operated by the board members of Baptist Theological College, Inc. in cooperation with the leaders of the BCP.

Once on the Banilad, Mandaue City campus, the training options further developed. BTC began offering a Master of Ministry degree program. In 1999 BTC became the first ministry training school to receive a permit to offer a government-recognized Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree. By 2001, BTC received government permanent recognition for Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Religious Education and Master of Divinity degrees. In 2013 BTC received permanent recognition from the Office of the President—Commission on Higher Education for the PhD in Theology. An Upgrade program was also begun that guided BTC graduates from before recognition and graduates from other non-recognized Bible colleges to upgrade their training to a government-recognized Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree.

BTC has developed not only in terms of facilities and curriculum, but has been a leader in faculty development as well. BTC became the first ministry training school in the region (and perhaps the nation) where all of the Bachelor’s-level faculty members had earned Master’s degrees. A growing number of Filipino faculty have earned Doctor’s degrees and now teach in BTC’s Cebu Graduate School of Theology as well as the Bachelor’s degree programs. BTC maintains a highly qualified multi-national faculty—a leader among ministry training colleges and seminaries in the Philippines and SE Asia.

BTC is also a leader in equipping cross-cultural fieldworkers. In 1998 BTC students began serving one-year internships in Thailand. Summer teams ministered cross-culturally among Muslim peoples in the south and tribal peoples in Palawan. Bethlehem Star of Peace (BSOP) was born in the hearts BTC alumni in 2001 and soon captured the interest of other dynamic believers. The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission registered BSOP, Inc. as a non-stock, non-profit corporation in 2002. The BSOP international headquarters in on the campus of BTC. BSOP has grown from three original missionary appointees in 2003 to twenty-one current fieldworkers and missionary interns today serving unreached people groups in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and among Muslim tribal peoples in the southern Philippines! BTC alumni also serve God in more than a dozen other foreign countries.

BTC President, Dr. Ricardo Recodo, Jr. welcomes your partnership in this amazing ministry training endeavor.

Dr. Dennis L. Nordine, March 2016
Retired Professor, CFO, and Dean of BTC/CGST
Former OIC/President of BTC