1. How did you come to Torch Trinity?

Hi, I’m Erland De Vera Palean from the Philippines. Growing up in the church allowed me to know God in the context of people who believe in Him. However, struggles came my way because when my mother first became a Christian, my father harshly disagreed with it. It was a constant struggle for me to believe in the evangelical faith because I also had time of resisting the truth.

?I accepted Christ as my Savior October of 1993. This was the time when I finally surrendered my whole life to Jesus Christ and received him as my Lord. Nevertheless, I had time of wandering in the world especially as a teenager. Yet, only months after my first semester in college, the Lord turned my life upside down bringing me to my knees and made me come back to his plan and purpose.

?Upon the advice of my Pastor, months of seeking God’ s personal calling and direction, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, I enrolled at FEBIAS College of Bible, a Bible College in the Philippines and took up my Bachelors in Theology degree where I majored in Pastoral Studies. This was my first theological training before coming here at Torch. I also served as the youth and pulpit pastor of Evangelical FREE Church in GMA, Cavite, Philippines.

I believe that God has been preparing me for a greater task in the ministry. After a year and a half, I’ve realized that the ministry has a lot to do with building relationships and establishing close and life changing ties with the people whom Jesus used to serve when He was doing His earthly ministry. I’ve been praying for the Lord to lead me to a seminary where I can grow and be trained more for the ministry ahead. It was through the advice of my friend’s father in the Philippines that I came to know of Torch Trinity, because he knows Dr. Terry Casino.

At the heart of the gospel is the heart for people. And for me to be able to communicate the gospel to them, I should understand who and where they are coming from. I should know their culture and how they treat the gospel in their context. Given a rare privilege to be a part of the Torch family, I believe that the Lord would equip me more here so that what He has done in me may be a blessing to the family of God as a whole. I hope to be equipped more in evangelism and in missions which I believe Torch Trinity can provide since it is a very mission- oriented seminary.

2. Your time at Torch Trinity

My time here at Torch Trinity has been amazing! Words cannot contain the joy I have in having this distinct privilege to be a part of a diverse community of students who are seeking to glorify God in their lives in different capacities. I am just in awe of the marvelous blessings that the Lord has been pouring in my life since I became a part of the Torch family back in 2008. My professors, the staff and my colleagues here have all been wonderful!

3. Your current ministry involvement and future plans

I am currently serving as the English Ministry pastor of Sekwang Presbyterian Church in Eunpyung-gu, here in Seoul. We have our Children’s Worship and English Bible Class on Saturdays and our Adults’ English Worship is on Sundays.

4. How is TTGST preparing you for your calling?

I believe that the Lord has made all things beautiful in His time. And here at Torch, where He has designed me to be at this moment, I believe that he will show me more of Himself as I listen and obey His voice. And now, no matter what the odds are, I’m committed to follow God’s will and His purpose- for all that is in this world and beyond it, both seen and unseen, revolves around God and His wisdom. Amen.