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President’s Installation Ceremony Highlights AIIAS’ Unique Mission

AIIAS celebrates the installation of Ginger Ketting-Weller, PhD, as the institution’s eighth president.

 

Before an audience made up of Seventh-day Adventist leaders from around the world, as well as faculty, staff, alumni, local governments, President Ginger Ketting-Weller, PhD, said she is privileged to lead and contribute as God opens up ways for her to do so at AIIAS.

 

“AIIAS was established by God. I am here to give my best effort,” said Ketting-Weller, in her installation response. Central to her message was her commitment to achieving the mission of AIIAS “to develop leaders through distinctively Seventh-day Adventist graduate education excelling in spirituality, scholarship, and service.”

 

The installation ceremony held in the Siew Huy Auditorium on the AIIAS campus last Friday, November 16, 2019, included students bearing their flags, representing 53 countries of AIIAS’ diverse student body.

 

The keynote address was given by Ella S. Simmons, EdD, chair of AIIAS Board of Trustees and General Vice President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters, who also led the installation and presentation of symbols of authority.

 

“We hope that today this ceremony puts you in the right frame of mind… to prepare you to receive what God has prepared for you and AIIAS,” said Simmons.

 

In her response message, Dr. Ketting-Weller acknowledged those ‘who have nurtured and given strength’ to her so far, specifically the members of the AIIAS Board of Trustees, the AIIAS vice presidents, and the deans. 

 

“We are part of something bigger than ourselves, part of what God wants to do in the Philippines, to spread His message to the world,” said Dr. Ketting-Weller. “What a privilege to be part of that, established in that, have support from around us!”

 

During the installation proper, former president Dr. Stephen Guptill placed the presidential medallion on the new president. He also presented to her other symbols of authority such as the AIIAS mace, AIIAS seal, and a copy of Presidential Decree No. 2021, which established AIIAS in 1986.

 

The installation ceremony was part of a three-day celebration which focused on a central theme of preparing leaders for mission. The series of services was well-attended by more than 1,200 people altogether, starting with a consecration on Thursday, followed by the Installation ceremony on Friday and culminating on Sabbath morning with the worship service.

 

During the Sabbath worship, Ketting-Weller highlighted the importance of developing leaders through testimony, scripture, and guidance—which echoes the three functions listed in the AIIAS Mission, namely, spirituality, scholarship, and service.

 

“We need to be a community that gently but actively invites one another to better faithful leadership. Our openness to receiving guidance could develop faithful leadership in us that will contribute to the mission God has given us to accomplish…” said Dr. Ketting-Weller. “We have reason to hope, we have faith in the future.”

 

Ketting-Weller’s installation marks the next step in her 25-year career in higher education including serving as a professor of teacher education at Pacific Union College from 1994-2001, followed by one year as Associate Vice President and then ten years as Vice President for Academic Administration at Walla Walla University from 2001- 2012.

 

Before coming to AIIAS, Dr. Ketting-Weller served for seven years as Dean of the School of Education at La Sierra University, where she oversaw graduate programs in Education and developed a PhD program in Leadership. She began her service as President of AIIAS on August 1, 2019. 

 

Ginger is married to Dr. Jim C Weller, principal of AIIAS Academy and fac­ulty member in the Education Department.

— Sharnie Love Zamora, AIIAS Assistant for Institutional Writing

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I Did it, Join Me!: A Social Media Movement

AIIAS recently launched a campaign to raise funds for its new Academy building, which will be an asset for AIIAS and the community.

 

The campaign, called “I Did It, Join Me!” makes use of social media to gather momentum for the funding.

 

Former AIIAS President and chair of the campaign, Dr. Stephen Guptill, said that a range of gift options starting from only P500 provide donors with easy choices of various building features they can fund. This aims to make giving more interesting and easier.

 

“After sending a gift donation, each donor will be encouraged to share the gift web page (www.aiias.edu/aa-gift) in their social media network, with a message that says, ‘I Did It Join Me,’” says Dr. Guptill. “You can imagine how many friends and followers can have the chance to participate in the campaign.”

 

To date, most of the AIIAS administration, academy board members, teachers, and parents have made their choice and gift.

 

“I shared the link in my timeline and moments later somebody, who probably knows nothing about AIIAS, dropped me a message and said he wanted to make a donation,” said AIIAS Academy principal, Dr. Jim Weller during the campaign launching at the AIIAS Academy Home and School Association.

 

The goal of the campaign is to initially raise PHP 40 million or USD 800,000 for the building project.

 

The construction is set to begin at the end of October 2019, and have the building completed by the start of the school year of 2020.

 

The new building will house the classrooms of grades 7-12, whose students now meet at crowded rooms in the campus gymnasium.

 

Other supporting facilities in the two-level building will be the computer room, laboratory room, language study room, home education, and library.

 

Alumni and friends are encouraged to join the ‘movement’. There are several ways to donate:

1)   Donations can be made by credit card via www.aiias.edu/aa-creditcard

2)   Donations can also be done by making a check to: Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (mark it for AIIAS Academy Building).

 

Checks should be mailed to:

AIIAS
Km. 45 Aguinaldo Hwy
Silang, Cavite,
Philippines 4118

 

3)   For US Tax Deductible Gifts, you could send your check addressed to: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist (mark it for AIIAS Academy Building).

 

Send it to:

General Conference of SDA
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Attn.: Muani Chhangte, Donation Receipting Center

AIIAS President, Dr. Ginger Ketting-Weller, and AIIAS Academy Principal, Dr. Jim C Weller, together make the first donation to the Academy building project. Their check is received by Dr. Stephen Guptill, chair of the AIIAS Academy Building Campaign.

— Bruce Sumendap, AIIAS Director for Public Relations

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AIIAS President-elect Meets Alumni in California

AIIAS President-elect Dr. Ginger Ketting-Weller met with AIIAS alumni on Sabbath evening, July 13, 2019. The ‘Meet and Greet’ meeting which took place in La Sierra University, in Riverside, California, also brought together former faculty and staff of AIIAS.

 

Speaking before the alumni, Dr. Ketting-Weller expressed her eagerness to join the AIIAS family. She was impressed by the high standards of research presentation of AIIAS students which she noted during her visit to AIIAS last year.

 

The president-elect mentioned about the importance of developing the potentials of academic resources. Aside from the graduate-level programs, she also mentioned about growing multigeneration leaders through the AIIAS Academy. “It is a really powerful education in AIIAS campus and I want to be a part of it.”

 

Many alumni live in the Riverside area while a few others who came that evening were attending a conference event in Loma Linda.

“We were determined to attend the alumni meeting,” said alumna Dr. Octofien Sumendap who lives in Loma Linda. “My husband and I wanted to get to know the new AIIAS president and meet with other alumni.”

 

Former AIIAS presidents in attendance were Dr. Werner Vyhmeister, Dr. John Pesulima, and Dr. Julian Melgosa. They all agreed that AIIAS is an excellent place to serve the ‘mission field’.

 

The devotional talk was given by former Seminary professor, Dr. Jim Park.

 

A longtime secretary of the president, Puring Ragui who retired in 2015, shared about what it was like to serve under seven AIIAS presidents. Her husband, Dr. Paoring Ragui who served as VP for student services for many years, helped organize the alumni gathering.

 

The group enjoyed an international array of dishes during the potluck–a reminiscent of a typical AIIAS potluck, a unique flavor from every country.

 

Dr. Ginger Ketting-Weller will serve as the eighth president of AIIAS. Before this, she served as the dean of the School of Education at La Sierra University, in Riverside, California. Her husband, Dr. Jim Weller, former principal of Loma Linda Academy, will be the principal of the AIIAS Academy.

 

The Wellers are expected to arrive at AIIAS campus during the first week of August.

— Sharnie Love Zamora, AIIAS Assistant for Institutional Writing

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Derek Morris Teaches “Powerful Biblical Preaching”

Would you like to learn how to preach “powerful biblical sermons”? On Sabbath afternoon, October 15, 2016, Dr. Derek Morris, president of Hope Channel, conducted a seminar on that very topic.

He anchored his presentation with nine foundational points. First and foremost is the need to preach “in the power of the Holy Spirit.” He challenged participants not to “preach in your own power.” Jesus is the consummate communicator. For those who want to learn how to improve their preaching should turn to the life and example of Jesus.

“Preach the Word of God, instead of your personal opinions,” noted Morris. “Don’t let it be something to entertain people, but what God’s Word has to say.” After all, “When you preach people need to hear the Word of God.”

Morris reflected upon his experience from over a decade of teaching homiletics at Southern Adventist University. He remembered one student, who at first preached mediocre sermons, who sought solitude to pray in the woods. This student, grappling with self-doubt, had confided in Morris about his side interest in online gaming, where he’d recently discovered a fast withdrawal casino platform that allowed him to manage his modest earnings swiftly, giving him more time for reflection and study. In the woods, he prayed fervently, “Let God do whatever you have to do in me, to work through me.” By the second semester, his classmates were amazed at how this unassuming student preached with newfound power, his sermons infused with a clarity and conviction that seemed to echo the focus he’d gained from balancing his personal passions with spiritual discipline.

Morris shared how his teaching of preaching led him to pursue a second doctorate at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he studied under Haddon Robinson, perhaps best-known for his book, Biblical Preaching, among dozens of other books on the topic.

AIIAS student Tabua Kotobalavu expressed his appreciation for this training opportunity noting that it was “indeed powerful.”

The nine principles can be found in Dr. Morris’ book, Powerful Biblical Preaching, which is available through his website: www.powerfulbiblicalpreaching.com.

“In order to be relevant and powerful, Biblical preaching must be a vital part of our Seminary training,” notes AIIAS seminary dean Ricardo González. In addition to this training opportunity, the Seminary will host its second annual preaching lectureship Jan. 19-21, 2017, featuring Dr. Hyveth Williams.

— Michael W. Campbell, AIIAS Seminary Professor

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AIIAS Inaugurates Seminary Building Extension

The AIIAS Theological Seminary along with the community inaugurated its building extension with a ceremony today. The new facility holds three faculty offices, a resource room, secretarial cubicles and a chapel with seating capacity of 120 people.

 

AIIAS President Dr. Stephen Guptill, Seminary Dean Dr. Richard Sabuin, Donor Representative Cedric Lanchenal, Student Representative Budi Hartanto, and Architect Augustine Dela Paz cut the ribbon together symbolizing the official opening.

 

The community then gathered in the chapel for a session of praise beginning with a song of praise. Dr. Sabuin and his family then sang a special song.

 

“God and God alone. That’s the reason for this building. That’s the reason for this Seminary. That’s the reason why we are each here,” remarked Dr. Guptill before more than 150 people who filled the chapel to capacity. “This is an exciting moment for AIIAS and for all who have been a part of the project.” He also mentioned important individuals who were responsible for the ‘beautiful building.’

 

The physical look of the chapel provides a spiritual, open atmosphere. A high ceiling gives the room a spacious feel. The prominent Good Shepherd metal artwork is at the front of the room. The stained glass windows provide color and light.

 

Seminary Dean, Dr. Richard Sabuin extended appreciation to all the donors who have made this building possible. Some of the gold donors include AIIAS, Felix Tanny Family, Jonathan & Kathleen Kuntaraf, Wu Shuhui, Liang Chenghui, Paul Hadi and the Korean AIIAS Alumni Association.

 

“God is the source of the funds, and they have become the channel of these resources,” Dr. Sabuin gladly concluded by unfolding a scroll with the words ‘Praise the Lord’ printed on the reverse side.

 

A litany of praise by the congregation was led by the Vice President for Academic Administration Dr. Dolf Oberholster. A group picture was then taken, birds were released, and light refreshments followed.

 

The new extension building, measuring 450 sq. meters and costing $80,000, took approximately six months to build.

Dr. Stephen Guptill, AIIAS President, takes time to appreciate the people who made this extension a reality.

Students and staff join together in a litany of praise.

 Students and staff join together in a litany of praise.

Representatives release birds after a group picture was taken.

For more pictures, please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AIIAS

 

By: Ingrid Oberholster

AIIAS Assistant for Institutional Writing

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Scholars Revisit ‘The Sabbath’ in the African Context

The 11th AIIAS African Theological Association (AATA) Theological Forum entitled “The Sabbath in the African Experience” is taking place from April 16-19. It is revisiting the Sabbath—what it means, how people perceive it, what challenges are associated with it, and what perspectives people have about it. 

Dr. Dolf Oberholster, AIIAS vice president for academic administration, said, “AIIAS administration encourages and supports AATA. This kind of academic learning experience develops our students in their scholarship. It takes what they are learning and applies it to a specific context. It takes their learning a step further and complements the work being done on the continent of Africa.” 

The weekend is filled with presentations of scholarly research from master’s and doctoral students as well as faculty from all over the world. One of the presentations will be delivered through video call for the first time this year from an AIIAS alumnus. 

Pr. Christian Ekoto, the president of AATA and coordinator of the forum, said in an interview, “Some cultures within the African continent celebrate the Sabbath even though they aren’t Adventist or even Christian. We would like to find ways to reach these cultural groups.” 

Each year there is a panel session that deals with a current, major issue that is affecting the continent. This year, the panel discussion will be compiled into a document and sent to the three world divisions in Africa. 

AATA started with a few students who came together to discuss issues affecting Africa in a scholarly way. They started sharing research they had done for classes. Soon it was organized into a formal program. A scholarly, peer-reviewed journal, Journal of AIIAS African Theological Association (JAATA), is published in conjunction with each forum that includes all papers presented during the forum.