Dear fellow alumni and friends of SBC:

I praise God for this opportunity and privilege to serve Him as president of SBC following Dr. Pedro S. Gape’s retirement last May 31.  I am greatly indebted to Dr. Gape for mentoring me through the years and for his far-reaching legacy as SBC President for 23 years.  He has served a total of 47 years in SBC and in different capacities. We honored President Gape in a Testimonial Program last June 7, 2008.

Having been on board as president of SBC a scant three weeks (my appointment as the 11^th President took effect June 1), I have been attempting to better define the direction of our school.  As you know, it would be difficult to separate leadership from vision.  It is said that all good leaders are driven by vision—they are not satisfied with maintaining the status quo.  They long to take their ministry somewhere. 

In the context of our Vision-Mission and in light of present realities characterized by a steady decline in enrollment and by economic difficulties (skyrocketing of prices!), I would like to share with you our priority thrusts for SBC’s development in hopes of enlisting your unflinching support towards the realization of these hopes and dreams for the school and the ministry.

The major programmatic areas of a higher educational institution are given—quality instruction through the excellence of our teaching, development-oriented research and community development, and employability of graduates.  However, we need to narrow down our focus in operational terms to crystallize the near-future direction of our school. 

For the next five years, our priority thrusts are: 1) Maximization of Auxiliary Sources of Income—through review of farm development initiatives, formulation of special income generating projects, campus space utilization for greater productivity, and linkages with partner organizations and foundations; 2) Physical Plant and Facilities Development--a physical environment conducive to the realization of our Vision-Mission, face-lifting of our buildings to meet the demands of accreditation and to ensure a hospitable environment, campaign for building fund for a new administration cum classroom building, the Elementary Building, and asphalting/cementing of campus road network; and 3) Faculty and Staff Development through improved salary and benefits and scholarships for graduate education and special trainings.

All these priority thrusts are expected to redound to academic excellence and better educational services to our students and the community.

The purpose of setting up these three-point agenda is to provide us with a sense of direction and focus as well as a gauge in terms of what we have accomplished at the end of the day.  The Bible tells us a key aspect of leadership—knowing where you want to go before asking others to follow you. The challenge for us in the leadership team is to produce an enthusiastic buy-in by our school community, alumni, and friends like you.  I am grateful to our administrators and faculty/staff for their manifestation of support as I shared with them these directions and priority thrusts during our first cabinet meeting and the faculty and staff orientation.

In the process of pursuing these initiatives, we will always be in touch with reality, not intimidated by the difficult, not wasting time with the impossible.  As someone has put it, “Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.”  We are aware that our excellence at work and our personal example are more important than our plans.  Consistency and coherence are higher values.  As we adopt changes and new responses to pressing issues and needs that confront our school, our commitment to spread the Gospel remains unchanged and deeply grounded.

I am writing you so you will always think of SBC when you pray and consider helping the school with a generous gift.  We note with appreciation those who have given and continue to give.  We are specifically praying for a new administration cum classroom building.  Those of you who have visited SBC lately must have noticed the need for new buildings to replace the wooden and now dilapidated structures. 

Let us cry out to God that these plans will come to pass.  Our best-laid schemes and plans are often overturned by God’s good surprises.  Be a part of God’s good surprises for SBC.

Like you, I am hesitant to make an investment unless I have confidence that it will accomplish something significant.  With the manifold ministries of SBC, I assure you your help will accomplish something very significant—all for God’s glory. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alvin Lynn P. Bergante