Along my studies I have little by little understood that theology belongs to street and marketplaces and should belong to our every day lives so that real transformations by the Word of God occur. (Thailand, '05 Grad)
My greatest appreciation for the vision of the seminary in bringing the training and tools to my country. (Philippine student)
Asia has a plethora of religions and invites a tendency to blend some of the old practices . . . That's why we insist that students be able to discern what is biblical, what is unbiblical; what is truth, what is untruth; and not simply accept everything that is presented to them. (Dr. Nienhuis)
Donations
ABTS attempts to make a maximum impact for the Kingdom with a minimum of expenditure. Still, we find ourselves limited by our financial resources.
If you have interest in helping to address this need, please contact Dr. Robert K. Rapa, Dean of ABTS, at abts@abtscu.org. Following are a number of areas of opportunity:
Office Space: ABTS' Chiang Mai, Thailand office team currently consists of four couples and two Thai workers, with more needed. We need adequate office space for the professors and their books, as well as a common area where normal seminary administrative tasks may take place. The office space we are now utilizing will need further upgrading and expansion as the ABTS program grows. If you would like to contribute toward renovation or expansion of our offices, please contact Dr. Robert K. Rapa, Dean of ABTS, at abts@abtscu.org.
General Operating Budget: ABTS operates on missionary work funds and minimal tuition funds generated within Chiang Mai, our headquarters site. A substantial portion of our yearly budget expenses are made up of rent and utility costs. This is our greatest area of financial need.
Professor's Travel: ABTS takes the education to the student, rather than having a centralized location for classes. This means that Professors travel several times each year from Chiang Mai to designated regional teaching sites. Professor's travel is thus a major line-item in our operating expenses.
Textbooks: Some students in SE Asia have little opportunity to build theological libraries. Professors select significant texts for each course, as a means of enabling students to have lifetime resources for their ministry. Textbook subsidies enable ABTS to help pastors and other Church workers supplement whatever resources they may already have.
Student Scholarships: Even though we operate as a ministry, and make tuition as affordable as we are able to, it is a significant sacrifice for many of our students to gain the education offered through ABTS. Scholarship funds enable more students to attend more classes.
Individual Missionary Support: Each faculty or administration family is an ABWE missionary, sent out and supported by local churches and interested individuals. Several of our missionary families are currently undersupported. For more information, please contact the ABTS office.
For further information on donation options please go to page called Donor Opportunities.