This is Part 2 of 2. In Part 1, we explored the challenges faced by Filipino believers and why training indigenous pastors is both urgent and essential. In Part 2 below, we share how God raised up Abraham Ramos to strengthen the church from within—by training faithful men to teach, shepherd, and lead.
A Pastor’s Son, A Pastor in Training
Abraham was born in the Philippines with a unique blessing: he is the son of a faithful pastor.
Each day, Abraham watched his father teach, lead, and shepherd his local church. By the time he was in high school, he knew it was how he too wanted to spend his life.
“He passed on to me that vision of raising up a next generation of leaders and pastors from our church,” Abraham shares. “I had that desire, as well. I wanted to be equipped—trained to train pastors.
Abraham applied to TMU’s biblical studies program, with that desire fueling him. After graduating, Abraham’s desire to train pastors in the Philippines led him back home. There, the Expositor’s Academy (TEA) had begun, partnered with Abraham’s local church.
We’re not here to replace the church, but to assist, to strengthen, to build a stronger foundation of pastoral training, training members to maturity.
He remembers how Pastor Sean came and shared the goal of TMAI: to train and equip indigenous pastors to shepherd churches and take over teaching at the training center. “This is exactly what I want to do”, he thought. “It aligned.”
Abraham jumped at the chance to learn how to teach and equip fellow pastors. He enrolled in TEA and devoted himself to the training process, learning how to preach, shepherd, and teach.
TEA’s preaching program transformed him. “I’ve seen how it’s changed my ministry. I’ve seen how it’s changed my dad who is a senior pastor and the leaders of our church.”
“This is what TEA is about,” Abraham explains. “We’re here to partner with our church, to strengthen the church, not take over the church.
We’re not here to replace the church, but to assist, to strengthen, to build a stronger foundation of pastoral training, training members to maturity.”
As was done in his own life.
For the People, For the Church
After completing another degree at the Master’s Seminary, Abraham is now a professor at TEA.
“From when I got saved, this has been my heartbeat,” he shares. “That’s the only reason why I go through biblical training—whether in the US or in the Philippines—because I want to train pastors.”
“From when I got saved, this has been my heartbeat,” he shares. “That’s the only reason why I go through biblical training—whether in the US or in the Philippines—because I want to train pastors.”
Yet the work is not for the sake of more trained indigenous men. It’s for the people. The people that these men will minister to, be examples to, and train in righteousness.
This is an opportunity afforded not only to those who have the means—as many in Southeast Asia cannot fathom being able to afford a seminary education. “What makes TEA unique is that it makes training possible for any student,” a graduate of TEA shares. “In the Southeast Asian context, they make it affordable to do the training.”
For a people living day to day, in a country rife with poverty and derelict of biblical resources, this is a lifeline.
A lifeline to aid in the maturing of Christians throughout the nation.
Training That Produces Maturity
Another TEA graduate shares this sentiment, “Here is the technical training, but this is supposed to mature us and humble us so the Lord would find us useful. That our churches would become mature, and our people would become mature.”
I believe that’s what TMAI can bring to the pastors in the Philippines. This is maturity in character, discipleship, and example.
He continues, “One of the burdens in my heart is not just about teaching and training anymore, but a burden to teach in a way that produces mature churches in the Philippines. I believe that’s what TMAI can bring to the pastors in the Philippines. This is maturity in character, discipleship, and example.”
The end product of all labor by student, faculty, or donor is for the sake of the body of Christ. Each and every member of the Body, growing in righteousness and living as a holy example in dark, lost nations.
One cannot love what one doesn’t know, nor live what has not been exemplified. TMAI has helped TEA to produce this love for Christ, His church, and faithful preaching through the dedication of its faculty, graduates, and students, one man at a time.
“TEA has achieved that vision of raising and equipping ‘ordinary’ pastors for extraordinary faithfulness.”
Through training centers, translation, textbooks, courses, conferences, and all that is to come in the US and around the world.
All for the glory of God and His people.
