This is an edited transcript of the 2023 Graduation Student Address.

In the year 2017, GCI Philippines National Director Dr. Eugene Guzon encouraged me to study at GCS; this was later confirmed by an invitation of our then incoming GCI President Dr. Greg Williams.

I have a confession to make. I remember just giving Dr. Eugene and Dr. Greg a big smile but I did not respond with a yes. Alone with my wife I told her, “No, I’m not going back to school – and they can’t make me!” I even had the thought: “They don’t have the leverage to make me go back to school, I’m a volunteer in ministry – I can walk away if going back to school was a requirement to serve in ministry.”

I credit my wife not glaring at me and saying, “Audie, what an unconverted way of thinking!” She just probed and asked why not? I said I’ve been attending lots of very helpful weekend church seminars and conferences. I’ve got in my head so much information and things to do for ministry but I’m limited and unable to put them all into practice – why add more to what is already a clogged long line of info and things to do in my brain. What I need to do first is fast-track putting into practice, first-in-first-out, before I give GCS a go. I was a little more pleased with this answer… with a smirk that Jesus would have returned before I get everything into practice and I wouldn’t have to go to GCS.

My wife was unconvinced but empathetic and so was God, because a year later, after God doing some re-arranging in my life that was clear to me only he could do – with the “hound of heaven” I took my first GCS class.

My first ever GCS class was New Testament Survey. I was still a reluctant student till about halfway into that class. But it was a beginning of something magnificent.

I am here to say what I did not want at first has turned out to be one of my greatest blessings these past five years. God has used my classes with GCS to bring spiritual renewal to my life. Something I did not expect but I’m immensely grateful for.

How about you, my fellow students, fellow graduates? You have your own beautiful story to tell how you got here, don’t you? I believe we honor God and we honor his church that has established GCS with our graduation.

Not surprisingly, any personal renewal from God positively affects family, career work, church, and ministry. It may have something to do with theology (our knowledge of God) affecting practice or lifestyle; our theology affects how we see ourselves and treat ourselves, how we see others and treat others.

It is life-changing when the theology and ministry classes are like a “burning bush” and you marvel and are stunned and in awe learning about our Trinitarian God - how it is most coherent and in agreement with the scriptures. Understanding the Father, Son and Spirit also adds depth of meaning to creation, salvation, church, prophecy, and all the other doctrines.

I experienced firsthand the importance of teachers. Both the teacher of the class and authors of books of the class. Like the evangelist Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch, we need the help of those who have given and dedicated their lives to concentrate on their particular field for the benefit of others. Thank you very much GCS professors.

GCS classes are set up to serve students well whether fulltime or part-time. GCS does not uproot you from where you currently serve in ministry but rather serves you while you are serving others.

The online lectures, directed readings, written assignments, practical application experiences, interaction with fellow students and professors, and exams made inroads to my heart regarding God and ministry.

Sure, the study load is always challenging and one gets stretched out and even stressed out, but many times – I found myself singing the Disney song “A Whole New World” from the movie Aladdin. When you come to a point of finally seeing something clearly or apprehending a particular truth about God for the first time, even though it had always been there, it's “A whole new world…a new fantastic point of view… a dazzling place I never knew…but when I'm way up here it's crystal clear… a hundred thousand things to see…. I've come so far I can't go back to where I used to be…a whole new world.”

It has been said that study is one form of worship when we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength; when we like to learn more about who he is, what he's done for us and what he is currently doing for us and the wonderful future he promised for us. Our studies help us praise God.

I believe I can say and proclaim on behalf of students and graduates that GCS is accomplishing its mission of “Equipping Men and Women for Ministry” through classes grounded in biblical, Christ-centered, historically orthodox faith. The instruction and learning opportunities foster intellectual curiosity, the student is helped to be sensitive to the lead of the Spirit, and you find yourself willing to respond and participate in God’s mission. Thank you faculty, staff and administration of Grace Communion Seminary and Grace Communion International.

By the mercy and grace of God I have been transformed from being a reluctant GCS student to someone who in thanksgiving supports GCS students. I am sure you my fellow students have also something to share that has changed you.

As we graduate, let us bring with us a continued enthusiasm for the things that we learned. It is a newly formed track or pathway that needs to be more constantly used in order to create a more permanent highway. We will all learn more as we apply what we have learned, and as we share what we have learned with others. As we do so, let us continue to experience and be amazed how Trinitarian theology affects everyday thinking and living - affects our peace, hope, love, courage, endurance, and faith.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all as we live, work, and serve the church.

Audie Santibanez, GCS News, Fall 2023

Last modified: Thursday, January 1, 2026, 6:04 PM