Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary

Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary, Inc.
Former name	Ebenezer Bible Institute (1926-1962); Ebenezer Bible College (1962-1974);
Motto	Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us
Type	Bible college
Established	October 17, 1926
Founder	Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries
Affiliation	CAMACOP
Academic affiliation	PABATS, ACSI-PHIL, ZAMBASULTAPS
Location	Zamboanga City, Philippines; 6°55′24″N 122°01′27″E / 6.92320°N 122.02407°E
Website	ebcs.edu.ph
	Location in Mindanao Location in the Philippines

The Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary (abbreviated EBCS) is a Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) Bible institution in Zamboanga City, Philippines. It's the first and the largest by area Bible institution of CAMACOP.

History

The Ebenezer Schools (1903-1926)

When C&MA missionaries arrived at Zamboanga City in the 1900s, they realized they need a Bible school to train Filipinos in the way of the Lord. Ebenezer was built upon a foundation of two Christian day schools known as the Ebenezer Schools. The first school was for girls was established by Rev. David Lund and Mrs. Hulda Lund in 1903^[1] and the school for boys was established by Rev. John A. McMillan in 1920. The school for girls was located in Barangay Tetuan, while the school for boys was in Barangay Mercedes.^[2]

In 1925, Rev. Robert A. Jaffray, head of the C&MA South China field, visited the Philippines to assess the viability of the missionary work being conducted. He recommended the establishment of a Bible school to expand missionary work in the Western Mindanao region. Then on October 17, 1926,^[2] the two schools were merged to form the Ebenezer Bible Institute, with Rev. George Strohm as its first principal.^[3]

Post-war restoration

Classes were suspended during World War II and only resumed in 1946 by Rev. Herbert Jackson. For the first time in 1950, the Ebenezer Principal went to a Filipino, Rev. Vicente Pada. Ebenezer later transferred to their present location in Upper Calarian on July 12, 1957. In June 1962, the Ebenezer School Board voted to rename the school as the Ebenezer Bible College under the recommendation of Dr. Walter Roberto, an American educational consultant in the Philippines,^[2] with Principal Pada automatically becoming its first director. In 1984, Dr. Adynna Lim became the first woman head of the institution and served until 1993.^[3]

21st century

The Commission on Higher Education granted recognition to EBCS in 2002.^[3]

Ebenezer Leaders

Term in Office	Name
Ebenezer Bible Institute
1928-1929	Principal Rev. George Strohm
1930-1931	Principal Harry Edwonds
1932-1935	Principal Rev. Robert Hess
1936	Principal Rev. Herbert Jackson
1937-1941	Principal Rev. Robert Hess
World War II (1941-1945)
Ebenezer Bible Institute (restored)
1946	Principal Rev. Herbert Jackson
1947-1951	Principal Rev. Ernest Gulbranson
1951-1952	Principal Rev. Robert Hess
1952-1958	Principal Rev. Vicente Pada
1958-1959	Principal Rev. Robert Hess
1959-1962	Principal Rev. Vicente Pada
Ebenezer Bible College
1962-1967	Director Rev. Vicente Pada
1967-1973	Director Dr. Rodrigo Tano
1973-1974	Director Rev. Vicente Pada
Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary
1974-1979	President Rev. Vicente Pada
1979-1984	President Dr. Rodrigo Tano
1984-1993	President Dr. Adynna Lim
1993-1998	President Dr. Joel Ortiz
1999-2005	President Dr. Benjamin de Jesus
2005–2012	President Dr. Joel Caperig
2012–2017	President Rev. Roland Don S. Dulaca
2017---	President Rev. Richard Rojas

Gallery

Ebenezer Church
Ebenezer Convention Center

References

^ Halili, Servando D. Jr. (June 2011). "Protestant Missionary Work in Mindanao: A Short History of the Alliance Church in the Philippines". The Mindanao Forum. 24 (1): 93–96. ISSN 0115-7892 – via Philippine EJournals.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bangayan, Romy (1981-10-22). "Bible College Marks 55th Anniversary". The Morning Times. Zamboanga City, Philippines. pp. 1, 8.
^ ^a ^b ^c "About EBCS - Ebenezer BCS". 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2024-10-18.