Allen preaches, lectures at partner seminary in the Philippines

The Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS) in Baguio City, the Philippines, is strategically positioned in the eastern part of the world to have an immense global impact for the Kingdom. For this reason, Southwestern Seminary has partnered with PBTS through its Global Theological Innovation (GTI) program in order to strengthen PBTS to even more effectively reach the nations through the equipping of God-called ministers of the Word.

This partnership began roughly one year ago when Southwestern President Paige Patterson spoke at PBTS’ Lide-Walker Bible Conference, symbolically sealing the relationship between the two institutions. One year later, that partnership continues to thrive, and its most recent perpetuation is the visit of David Allen, dean of Southwestern’s new School of Preaching, as this year’s Lide-Walker lecturer and preacher, Jan. 11-14.

Allen went at the invitation of PBTS leadership, and at their request, he spoke on a subject in which he is well-versed: the book of Hebrews. Having written the volume on Hebrews in the New American Commentary series and Lukan Authorship of Hebrews in the NAC Studies in Bible and Theology series, Allen was able to share his knowledge of this New Testament Scripture with the nearly 700 people in attendance. Allen lectured each morning, covering such topics as authorship, background, and structure, and he preached a message from the book each evening.

Allen says the conference was well-attended—in fact, it was the conference’s highest-ever attendance—and his message well-received. In addition to being asked to return in the future, Allen also entered discussions with PBTS leadership about organizing Expository Preaching Workshops, similar to the ones Southwestern hosts each year, in strategic locations in the Philippines.

Specifically, these would take place in Baguio in the north, Manila in the center of the country, and Mindanao in the south. Allen expressed his excitement at the prospect, and discussions are now underway for these workshops to possibly take place in 2017.

“This is what we want to do within our new School of Preaching,” Allen said. “We want to branch out beyond the United States to other countries to help other theological seminaries understand what text-driven preaching is and how to do it.

“And another part of our vision for the school is to help train pastors in these many countries in the art of text-driven preaching through preaching workshops and training institutes. So this is the vision that we have, and [my experience at PBTS] was an early opportunity for us to fulfill that vision and meet that goal.”