BHTS Becomes Increasingly International!

Dr. David Upp’s

MISSION LINK January Twenty-Nineteen

When I first arrived at Bishop Han Theological Seminary, Bukidnon, Mindanao; I was the only Foreigner. As my Readers from 2018 know, last semester, we have had an Master of Divinity student from Myanmar: Myint Maung. Rev. Jezreel Saceda, my M. of Theology Advanced Hebrew student, is in Arabia for three months. Pictured here are two new Master of Ministry students at BHTS, from the BAJAO “Sea-Gypsy” Peoples [hiding names] who’ve begun planting a UM BAJAO Church on remote islands of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Their presence is a great Blessing & Opportunity for BHTS. Bajao live primarily in Boats, along hundreds of islands SE of the Asian Continent. I was able to teach them that Islam is NOT carried in the blood: following Jesus Christ is a free choice!

Students from More Diverse Ethnicities

Dr. David Upp’s MISSION LINK

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for January 2019

During three semesters at BHTS, I’ve rarely left Campus. About once monthly, I go to Malaybalay to shop &/or to get a wi-fi connection, usually paired with Worshipping at the UMC in Sumpong (pastored by a new BHTS Alum). But on Semester Break, Dec. 30--January 13… I get to go Exploring!

I will focus upon the “Tribal Areas” of the Cordillera Administrative Region of Luzon [Banaue, Batad, Sagada, Bontoc: staying in I-Fugao Family Homes] & the I-Vatan People (very remote Batanes Islands, between Taiwan & Luzon: earliest location of Austronesians in the nation)! Add the Anthropology Museum on Negros (at “Oldest American University in Asia”), Miagao’s Spanish-Filipino architecture, Bicol’s fiery food & peaks, Western frontier island of Palawan, & Typhoon Yolanda relief-work where MacArthur also came ashore. Pray: that my 4 ferry-trips & 15 flights ALL connect [or IF/when they don’t, that I shall be LED to my next steps]!

You might recognize these lyrics from “The Music Man” stressing how essential it is to be able to understand the people/places where we want to have significant Impact!

“Gotta Know the Territory, Territory, TERRITORY!”

Gen. MacArthur’s Return

“Earthquake Baroque”

18 Regions, 81 Provinces!

Active Mayon Volcanoì

Ancient Banaue Terraces

Dr. David Upp’s MISSION LINK

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for January 2019

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“This pilot project will test a program for world-wide theological educators to share knowledge and exper-tise with colleagues across the world, thus enriching Methodist Theological Education on a global scale. This will be accomplished by facilitating scholars to create learning modules consisting of short, focused, sets of video lectures which include course objectives, readings, and discussion questions. They will be distributed through the internet & intra- nets to users world-wide: Virtual Visiting Professors”. Robert Hunt & I met while we studied at SMU/ Perkins, on Seminary Singers Concert Tours. I later stayed with him & Lillian for Ministers’ Week . After many years as a SE Asia Missionary Professor, he became Professor of Global Christianity at SMU. Above, you see Robert: with retired Bishop Nacpil, my Dean Estrella, me, & Heads of Wesleyan College in Manila, breakfast, after a challenging day’s work. We are only one of several Teams around the world who will prepare, deliver-in-context, film & edit sets

“Global Theological Resources for a Global Church” Dr. Robert Hunt’s Vision for Methodist Education

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of sessions (subtitled in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese) featuring “Resource Scholars” selected through various UMC Central Conferences and serving at many different Theological Colleges. Experts from SMU will conduct training in the best ways to structure videos, bring regional insights, as well as Directing/Editing our Video Presentations. This is a highly cooperative endeavor, on many levels, including the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry “LEaD Hubs” (established by another of my Perkins’ classmates: Dr. Kim Cape) …you can read more about them in February’s ML. In the 1800’s early Methodist Missionaries began to dream of a day when their young converts could become teachers/professors themselves—even of a day when there would be no need for Foreigners to teach in the academies they founded. But now ALL high-quality Colleges include Global Faculty, for the enrichment & cross-cultural analyses of whatever is being taught. NOW we can help all of our schools be enriched through this Global Theology Initiative.

Dr. Robert Hunt’s Global Theology Team

Dr. David Upp’s MISSION LINK

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for January 2019

I’m scheduled to teach FIVE Master’s Degree-Level Courses this term. My assigned Semester Courses for our Master of Theology are Wisdom Literature and Biblical Theology; along with Master of Divinity subjects: Homiletics, Asian & Ethno-Religions, & Parables of Jesus. [2018-19: Dr. Josie Calixto & I swapped Biblical Languages, she’ll teach Greek, since I’ve been teaching Hebrew.] That is a very demanding schedule, not least because it is spread across so many Seminary Departments: New Testament, Old Testament, Church Ministry, Theology & Ethics, Religions! None of my seminary professors did such work, but it is quite common out on the Mission Field.

Which Books would YOU include in “Wisdom Literature”? [Ecclesiasticus? Psalms? Daniel?] Is Biblical Theology a tool for dodging Scriptural Truth: Human Concepts displacing God’s Word? How does UMC Theology of the Bible fit into that? Need Anthropological study for Ethno-Religions? Are all World Religions originally Asian Faiths? and How should these courses be taught IN the context of The Philippines, not somewhere else?

* As usual, I start a New Year of Mission Link on Albert Schweitzer's Birthday. "Our Hero" & My Life’s Model as I was growing up, managed to combine Bible Study, Medicine, Teaching, Musical Concerts, & Foreign Missionary Work into One Lifetime... but I've escaped his Burden of Global FAME!

Comparing ... Albert Schweitzer and David Upp: Bushy WHITE MOUSTACHE? YES! YES! THREE Earned Doctorates? YES! YES! Prof+Medicine+Music+Pastor? YES! YES!

New Semester Begins at BHTS on January 14, 2019*

December TQ: HOW Many UMC Full Foreign Missionaries outside US? [Reference Point: We USED to have 758, in India alone!]

A: Only 36, according to umcmission.com. This is NET (subtracting Interns, mission-Bureaucrats, home missionaries, and “pending assignments”). [Update: now 35: Adam Shaw’s been Deported for his Inciting Rebellion on Mindanao.]

You would think our 13 Million Members should be sending Many More!! January TQ: WHERE & How Many Balikbay an [“Ov erseas Filipino/a W orkers”] are now Living Abroad? = %? January Bonus TQ: A t a continuous Birth-Rate of 1.5 Children-per-Woman, W HA T would Total Global Population be by the y ear A D 2300?