The Philippines Advent Christian Conference (approximately 30 churches) exists independently of the Mission. The pastors are well trained and doing a fine job of leading their churches. In 2004, an orchard was started with more than 500 trees already planted. Within a few years, these trees will be fruit bearing, with the fruit being marketed, and the profits used to support pastors and church planters. This is a progressive conference with good leadership. The Mission has a limited ministry of providing further training to the churches in our Advent Christian Conference. Jeff and Penny Vann have a website, which highlights the various aspects of that ministry. The training includes seminars, preaching and translation work.

What is Oro Bible College?

An Advent Christian Theological Institution founded in 1971.

Oro Bible College offers theological education that demonstrates spiritual character formation through discipleship and mentoring. The entire OBC program reflects a creative adaptation of traditional and updated training patterns for the specific purpose of preparing students for effective ministry performance and leadership.

Goals and Objectives

OBC seeks to develop students spiritually, intellectually, socially and morally by equipping them with the foundational knowledge of God's Word, teaching them the Christian values and ministry skills needed to fulfill the Great Commission and deepen commitment for fulltime ministry, church service and leadership.

Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts in Theology

Concentration Courses:
Theology                     24 units
Biblical Studies            21 units
Ministerial Studies        27 units
Church History             6 units
Biblical Languages       6 units
        Total                84 units

General Education Courses:
Languages and Literature              24 units
Math and Science, Computer         15 units
Humanities, Social Science            15 units
Physical Education                        8 units
          Total                              74 units

Choir                                          4 units
Music                                         6 units
Field Education                           45 units                  
        Total                                55 units

Classes are held Mondays to Fridays beginning with spiritual life formation programs and activities. Classes are from 9:00 to 12:00; 2:00 to 5:00; 6:00- 8:00. Field Education programs and activities are done on the weekends. Students go out to do community extension activies teaching kids, feeding and tutorial. Upperclass students go to local churches to lead worhship, teach Sunday school, preach, counsel and assist pastors in the ministry.

The degree is four years. It consist of 7 semesters of academic requirements and one semester of internship. Students do their internships at churches that call for an intern or in para church ministries.

All teaching faculty of the college are full fledge masters in their specific field and are experienced in church ministry. All faculty and staff are also involved in ministry while working at OBC.

The focus of the Field Education program of OBC is Evangelism Church Planting and Missions. OBC goal is that each student will be able to plant a church before graduation.

Graduates turn out:
    From 1973 - 2004    =   113
    From 2005 - 2009    =    45
          Total                      158

OBC graduates are working in BPACCI churches, Non-BPACCI churches, para-church ministries and others are in the government and private sector service, but are still leaders in their own churches. 

AAMS (American Advent Mission Society) is the official name of the Advent Christian mission work here in the Philippines, established in the mid-1950s. It has shifted focus over the years so that the work now concentrates on assisting OBC in the training of Filipino Christian leaders, many of whom become Advent Christian pastors in the BPACCI (Bishop of the Philippine Advent Christian Churches, Inc.). Currently there are five missionaries here. Jeff and Penny Vann came to the Philippines in 1996. They are due to retire from service here as early as August 2009. Grant Aldridge, the first long-term AAMS missionary from New Zealand, came to the Philippines to be the business manager of AAMS in 2002 and retired from service here in April 2009. Jeff and Rhonda Walsh and family spent 15 months in the Philippines in 2001-2002 and returned in 2005.