by Rix Navarra
“Pangarap ko noon pa man na makapag- college. Akala ko hindi na matutupad. Pero natutuwa po talaga ako at nagpapasalamat po ako sa Diyos dahil nabigyan po ako ng second chance para makapag-aral muli sa pamamagitan ng Penuel.”
That was the testimony of Minerva “Eva” Esguerra during their church’s Thanksgiving Night. Like almost all of the students of Penuel Bulacan, she is one of those who were close to believing that they will never be given another chance at school again. Many haven’t finished high school decades ago. A couple of students were out-of- school youths.
Penuel has been a school of formation among these Bulakenyos whom we can say are marginalized. The institution has been very true to its vision of being instrumental for their journey. Penuel Bulacan students are pastors in the rural poor communities, leaders of youth ministries in relocation sites, ministers to those in the drug- addiction rehabilitation centers.
Penuel has indeed given students the second chance to not just study in an educational institution that provides affordable quality theological training but to reconsider their ministries and orient it in a way that they can effectively minister to the community, especially among the poor, being catalysts of change and sharing the Gospel through equipped students.
Penuel School of Theology 