Philippine Pastors Institute Class of 2026
An update from Jeffrey T. Jo, National Leader for SGC Philippines…
What do we do with people who haven’t yet heard the gospel of Christ in a remote region? Surely, we need to pray for them, but as the apostle Paul penned in Romans 10 …
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
In response to these rhetoric questions in verse 14, we started three years ago to equip our pastors and church leaders in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, both in theology and ministry with the hope that they will have a deeper grasp and inspiration from gospel truths, that they can then take out. In God’s kindness and with the support of SGC, we were able to establish the PPI or Philippine Pastors Institute.
Last Sunday afternoon, July 19, 2026, 9 out of 11 students of PPI graduated in their Pastoral Theology course after a 9-month study. Eight are lead pastors of their local churches and one serves as an associate pastor. It was a well-attended gathering where the graduate’s immediate family and local church elders were present to witness and celebrate with them in their milestone achievement.
The coverage of their classes included the following.
Understanding one’s calling by and for the gospel.
The pastor, his marriage and family.
The pastor and his devotion to Christ-like humility and zeal.
The pastor’s study and preaching.
The pastor and his counseling ministry.
The pastor and his church-care.
The pastor and raising up more leaders.
Revisiting SGC 7-shared values and 7-shaping virtues.
Why we believe what we believe, revisiting our Statement of Faith.
In the last 9 months of classes, we have witnessed how these men have improved a lot in their preaching - not only homiletically but also in the centrality of their sermon, which is Christ! Their preaching is no longer focused on morality (how to be a good person/Christian) but on gospel fidelity - who Christ is and His finished work on the cross, along with His glorious resurrection and ascension to heaven. Moreover, in a culture where wives are neglected and debased, here they are cared for well and treated as “co-heirs in the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7), being a ‘secret-weapon’ of their pastor-husband.
In addition to all of this, most of the graduates are now underway in the SG ordination process. Many have confessed that studying with PPI has prepared and helped them a lot in their required papers and in understanding the significance of gospel partnership not only in the Philippines but also globally.
I have two great hopes for these men…
First, that they will shepherd their local churches faithfully and passionately, humbly serving their local church in the SG way, both in values and virtues.
Lastly, that through the kindness of God, they will deeply understand and embrace mission as their shared responsibility in the Great Commission.
May we all have a heart for the gospel, a mind for truth, a spirit of humility, a hand of generosity and a passion to reach the lost, for the glory of the mystery of godliness!
