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International Christian Colleges
April
2007
Training tomorrow’s Christian leaders…
Beginnings
International Christian Colleges began as the educational ministry of
Lighthouse Baptist Church, Baguio City in 1990. Rev. Alex Celeste, consultant
of School Tomorrow in Northern Luzon, and wife Wendelin had administered and
taught in Christian schools using the School of Tomorrow system. Determined to
continue in education ministry, the couple pioneered a church in Polo Field,
Baguio City, which included a church-school ministry.
In April 1990, Lighthouse Baptist Church signed a contract with the School of
Tomorrow, Philippines to use the ACE curriculum for their kindergarten and
grade school . At that same time, Korean missionary couple Rev. & Mrs. Seung
Young Oh from Incheon City, South Korea joined the church and partnered with
Rev. Celeste in the church ministries. The two couples then prepared to open
the Lighthouse Christian School in June, 1990 initially with eight students.
Rev. Alex Celeste was the administrator and teacher, while Mrs. Celeste
handled the kindergarten classes assisted by Miss Ellen Calado. Classes were
held in a rented two-story residential house turned learning center along Navy
Road, Polo Field, Baguio City.
But the killer quake struck Baguio City in July 1990, a month after the school
opened, causing damage on the rented. Classes were suspended for three months
but it turned out to be a blessing because when classes resumed, there were
not only eight students who came back but 14. Before the school year ended,
the student population went up to 24.
Training their own church workers and teachers was necessary, thus a Bible
College was started in 1991 with with 15 students. Rev. Oh eventually managed
the Bible College while Rev. Celeste was in charge of the basic education.
Two ministries flourished separately
Rev. Oh’s Bible College in Quezon Hill continued with the help of other
Filipino pastors and teachers, evolving into a seminary and taking on Asia
Mission Theological Seminary for its name. It uses the ACE curriculum for its
program for Immanuel Christian School.The seminary was expanded that students
from Korea, Myanmar and even Vietnam came to enroll.
In June, 2000, Asia Mission Theological Seminary and Immanuel Christian School
moved to its new facilities Upper Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet. Another additional
college, the Baguio-Benguet Christian Colleges, began to teacher education,
Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Bachelor of Science in Social Work.
Eventually, BBCC became the mother college and AMTS became one of its
department and ICS its basic education program. The college of education also
needed its laboratory school, so the BBCC Laboratory School for basic
education followed.
Lighthouse Christian School, on the other hand, was concentrated on its basic
education offering kindergarten through high school in Navy Base, with a few
post high school students being trained in Bible College for Church
ministries.
The two became one
In October, 2002, Dr. Seung Young Oh requested Rev. Celeste that their two
ministries be merged. Being good friends and partners in the educational
ministries, Rev. Celeste accepted the offer. In April, 2003 a special worship
service was held to install and dedicate the new set of officers of
Baguio-Benguet Christian Colleges, now the principal institution, and
Lighthouse Christian School as its department offering an individualized
international curriculum, the School of Tomorrow system; the BBCC Laboratory
department, the conventional school using the BEC as the Teacher education’s
laboratory for student teachers and the three colleges, the college of
Theology, College of Social Work and the College of Education. Immanuel
Christian School was eventually dissolved.
With the merging and ultimate unification of the programs, the college now
began to run smoothly now with a new name - International Christian Colleges –
Metro Baguio, Inc.
ICC’s school climate
From the moment that a student sets foot at International Christian College,
he ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illuminated
by the light of faith, and having its own unique characteristics. Describing
an environment permeated with the love and freedom sums this up.
At ICC, everyone should be aware of the presence of Jesus, the Master, the
genuine Teacher. The Christian spirit should be evident in the lives of
everyone – teachers and students alike – showing forth this familiar and
moving presence of Jesus.
The prime responsibility for creating this unique Christian school climate
rests with the teachers, as individuals and as a community. The Christian
dimension of the school climate is expressed through evangelistic witnessing
and sharing the gospel of salvation to the students, the inculcation of
biblical values in words and deeds, in individual behavior, in friendly and
harmonious interpersonal relationships, and in a ready availability. Through
this daily witness, the students will come to know Jesus as Savior and
appreciate the uniqueness of the environment to which their youth has been
entrusted.
Our vision
International Christian Colleges believes that the ultimate measure of
effectiveness of any institution of learning is its impact and contribution to
the spiritual, moral, intellectual, physical, social, economic, and political
development of the individual so as to meet the needs of the people he serves.
Our mission
ICC is committed to the development of graduates who possess Christian values,
intellectual capabilities in response to the needs of the changing society and
social awareness and concern for the total development for a better quality of
life.
Programs and degrees
The school’s basic education uses the ACE-School of Tomorrow System which
offers individualized education through PACE’s (modules) that begins in the
foundational and formative years of a young child from preschool to
kindergarten, elementary and high school. This is an innovative Bible-based
international system of education that is used in 137 countries all over the
world. This system is applied in preschool (with ACE and CHRISTI) for four
years old, ABC’s (with ACE and CHRISTI) for five years old, and for levels 1
to12.
As soon as a child learns how to read, he is then placed in the Learning
Center where he reads in order to learn, with the guidance and supervision of
academically trained supervisors (teachers) and monitors.
On the other hand the Laboratory School is a graded, conventional system,
manned by Christian teachers who are chosen based on their Christian maturity
and faithfulness in God’s service and ministry.
The College department offers two degrees - Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED)
and the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) majors in Mathematics and
English. ICC also offers Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Bachelor of
Arts in Theology. These programs and degrees are recognized by Department of
Education and Commission on Higher Education. The seminary offers Associate
Degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Master of Divinity in Theology.
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
Philippine Schools Online Directory
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