By Cyrus A. Natividad
It’s great to be there at Camp Higher Ground in Barotac Viejo on the 76th Annual General Assembly of the Convention Baptist Minister’s Association, Inc. (CBMA). Camp Higher Ground is undisputedly one of the coolest places in Northern Iloilo. There’s an office building and a multi-purpose hall, a basketball court and some unique raw bamboo houses. But the surrounding nature — trees and green living things make it a good site for spiritual retreats.
CBMA President Rev. Samuel G. Talha being interviewd by Cyrus Natividad, Media Relations Officer.
The way up to camp Higher Ground is simply a mountain side which we often pass by on the way to Northern Iloilo — until we went there to fellowship with one prestigious, historical organization of pastors. It is a significant celebration that it has to be covered by Central Philippine University TV’s new program, Profiles of Central.
We interviewed a number of Pastors and Officers of the CBMA organization. We came to know those behind the strong organization of ministers and movers of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches’ missions all over the country. The CBMA is part of the oldest umbrella of Baptist churches in the country – the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, which the Jaro Evangelical Church in Iloilo City (oldest Baptist Church in the Philippines) belongs.
Donated bamboo cottages being prayed over by members of the CBMA.
We are proud to know among others that two of our Centralian Pastors hold the highest positions in the CPBC and CBMA organizations. Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso, an ordained minister of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches who had served in different capacities and later as University Chaplain of Central Philippine University is CPBC’s General Secretary, and Rev. Samuel G. Talha, Professor of the CPU College of Theology, and Department of Social Work is now the CBMA President. Both are supporting CPU in one way or another.
It is good to note that both heads of CPBC and CBMA have good plans for their respective organizations. It is a high calling for their intellectual, spiritual and theological endeavors — to expand, improve and develop the potentials of the Camp Higher Ground site. This year’s theme is: “Unleashing Ministers’ Full Potentials.”
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