The last two months of 2019 allowed for three more visits to three different institutions in two different regions of Asia. 

The first institution is located in the Middle Eastern region of Asia and it is a visit to Program for Theological Education by Extension, or PTEE, located in Amman, Jordan. PTEE was visited last 04- 06 November and it was a joint visit with MENATE or the Middle East and North Africa Association for Theological Education. The team from ATA was composed of Drs. Allan Harkness, Founding Dean, AGST Alliance; and Dr. Qaiser Julius. MENATE team was composed of Drs. Hani Hanna, Academic Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary, Cairo (ETSC); and Nabeeh Abbassi, director for Arab Center for Consulting and Training Services (ACCTS). Established in 31 May 1981, its mission is “to provide evangelical theological education by extension to equip Christians for leadership wherever they live in the Arab world for the  advancement of the Kingdom of God” and its founders designated it to be a program with courses for at the Bachelor’s level with a vision of developing leaders for church growth and transformation of society in the Arab World. And being an extension program, it has no one permanent campus but rather in local churches in 12 countries in the region and in 4 Western countries. PTEE was founded by different Middle Eastern church denominations, institutions, and organizations. 

The next two institutions are found in South East Asia. The first being TCA College, located in Singapore, and it was visited last 06-08 November by a team composed of Drs. Ng Peh Cheng, Associate Secretary of Educational Development, ATA; Rahmiati Tanudjaja, Overseer of the Missions Department, South East Asian Bible Seminary, Indonesia; and Rev. Dr. Lin Khee- Vun, Principal, Anglican Training Insititute, Sabah, Malaysia. Founded by Rev. Dr. Naomi Dowdy in 1979 with a mission to “train ministers to spread the Gospel message and equip leaders for the church and the Christian community” , the institution is an interdenominational college which is made up of two Schools of Theology- one for English and another for Chinese, and the School of Counselling and Leadership. TCA College, in its founding years, was known as Trinity School of Bible and in 1983 changed its name to Trinity Center for Asia and eventually in 2006 the name “TCA College” was embraced and to this day Rev. Dr. Naomi Dowdy serves as its chancellor while Rev. Dominic Yeo serves as its Vice Chancellor and Rev. Dr. Dennis Lum as its 4th and current President. 

The second institution is the Phnom Penh Bible School (PPBS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The institution was visited by a team composed of Dr. Chiu Eng Tan, ATA CAED member; Rev. Prak Vuthy, Cambodian Methodist Bible School; and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Ro, Associate Accreditation Secretary. The team visited last December 9 to 12. Founded by the late Daniel Yee- Wah Lam, backed up by many Cambodian believers and Christian organizations, PPBS was meant to help meet the growing pastoral needs of the Cambodian Church. Its vision is to provide the Cambodian Church with leaders of sound Christian character and ability to faithfully serve the Christian community, effectively teach the Bible and boldly proclaim the Gospel through words and actions. While supported by many churches and organizations in numerous countries and regions, PPBS is primarily supported by Country Network (CN), a non- denominational organization founded by Daniel Lam. 

We praise God for the work He is doing in and through these three institutions. Let us continue to pray that these institutions will persevere in their unique, God-given calling.