Japanese-Language Seminary
Celebrates First Commencement

 

 

 

 

 

The Biblical Seminary of North America (BSNA), a Japanese-language seminary established in 2002, held its first commencement on Feb. 26, 2005, at South Bay Free Methodist Church (Lomita, CA). BSNA is jointly sponsored by the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist Church and the OMS Holiness Church of North America.

Students Kyohei Mitsuoka, Akio Suzuki and Nobue Kato completed the seminary's two-year course for lay people. During their commencement ceremony, Mitsuoka sang an original song he composed for the seminary's Church Music class. Given the assignment of putting a Scripture passage to a familiar melody, Mitsuoka set the words of John chapter 1 to the music of a Japanese folk melody.

The ceremony was attended by a special guest, Dr. Akio Hashimoto of Japan, president of Asia Theological Association /Japan (to which the seminary belongs). The theological association will play a vital role in assisting BSNA when it begins offering courses for its M.Div. degree for the first time this fall.

BSNA's board consists of busy pastors, and the seminary has been challenged financially. Despite administrative difficulties, God has greatly blessed the ministry as He has assisted them in solving problems. The board happily reports that enrollment is increasing.