About Us

Equipping Churches, Shaping Leaders, Engaging Society

The South East Asian Theological Schools, Inc. (SEATS) is a theological training community dedicated to equipping pastors and leaders for effective, missional ministry. Founded in 1986 as the College of the Shepherds, SEATS has grown into a trusted partner for churches across the Philippines and throughout South East Asia.

While rooted in partnership with the Baptist Conference of the Philippines, SEATS serves leaders from many denominations who share a passion for Gospel-centered ministry.

How We Equip

Our primary tool for leadership development is the School of Mission (SOM). Conducted in partnership with local churches across South East Asia, SOMs bring theological training directly to where ministry happens.

Students learn the essentials of a Christian worldview while working through the practical realities of ministry in their communities. They are equipped not only to strengthen their churches but also to help those churches serve society as the Body of Christ is meant to function.

The Functional Church

At the heart of SEATS is the vision of the Functional Church—a church that lives out its calling in four key ways:

1. Community Building – Expressing unity in Christ, building accountability, and revealing the joy of God’s kingdom in the world.
2. Proclamation – Declaring the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are culturally relevant and Spirit-empowered.
3. Truth-Telling – Serving as God’s prophetic voice in society, addressing justice, values, freedom, and discipleship in both church and public life.
4. Serving the Community – Demonstrating God’s love through mercy, education, healthcare, livelihood, and development ministries.

Challenges and Our Response

The Asian church is vibrant yet faces pressing challenges: rapid growth without equivalent social impact, limited access to formal training, and the need for sustainable, Gospel-centered leadership.
SEATS responds by offering:

• Graduate-level training in Missional Ecclesiology (Graduate Diploma, Master of Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry), accredited by and in membership with the International Council for Higher Education (ICHE).
• A faculty-apprentice model where seasoned professors mentor local leaders who in turn sustain theological education in their own contexts.
• A flexible delivery system that combines classroom learning, online accessibility, and mentored practicum for real-world application.
• A renewed focus on Gospel-centered preaching and mentoring to equip leaders who can faithfully proclaim Christ and engage society.

Our Mission

SEATS’ Mission is to develop functional leaders and churches through contextualized, practical theological education. We serve a global network by being a center for applied theology, equipping the church in Asia and beyond for mission and ministry.

Programs

All SEATS programs are rooted in the study of Missional Ecclesiology:

• Graduate Diploma in Missional Ecclesiology
• Master of Ministry in Missional Ecclesiology
• Doctor of Ministry in Missional Ecclesiology

Graduates of SEATS are prepared not only for effective ministry but also to train others, multiplying leadership capacity across the region.

SEATS is a member of the International Council for Higher Education (ICHE), which accredits its graduate programs.

Identification:
Ringgold Identifier: 669338
International Standard Name Identifier: 0000 0005 1351 7786

SEATS Affirmation of Faith

1. THE WORD OF GOD: We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully and verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Bible in its original manuscripts is free from all falsehood or mistake and so is entirely true and trustworthy in all its assertions on all matters of natural and theological fact and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2. THE TRINITY: We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
3. GOD THE FATHER: We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
4. JESUS CHRIST: We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal visible return to earth.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
6. REGENERATION: We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
7. THE CHURCH: We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
8. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT: We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
9. THE ORDINANCES: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
10. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
11. CHURCH COOPERATION: We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary, independent basis.
12. THE LAST THINGS: We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.