On July 15, 1961, PMI officially opened her first day of classes at Elim’s Bible Camp, Tagaytay City.  Rev. Arsenio. Dominguez and his wife Edith, together with Josefa Costelo, Gloria Nave, Betty Javalera and Freddie Alonzo were the first faculty and staff.  On her second year of operation, 30 students enrolled and Samuel Abuton and Benjamin Santos were added to the staff.  After two years of stay in Tagaytay, Mr. And Mrs. Miguel Calanog, parents of one of the students, donated one half hectare of land in Silang, Cavite.  This is the site of PMI until now.  When classes started in July 1963, a building to serve as both classroom and dormitory though incomplete was already erected.  Another one was put up with just the roofing on to serve as kitchen.  As buildings were erected through the help of Christian organizations like OMF and FEBIAS, PMI staff also grew during her early years that include Drennen Watts, Abella Angel, Robert and Maryanne Samms, and Juana Costelo.  Starting on the fifth year of PMI, new personnel were added which included David and Evelyn Feliciano, Mr and Mrs. Benjamin Dayrit, Mr. and Mrs. Hernando Olavidez, Eddie Dominguez, and Jesus Gochioco.

Since its inception, the Dominguez’s and the faculty and staff trusted God to supply their needs while faithfully conducting their ministry in PMI. And God had been faithful to them and in 1962, Allen Finley, a representative of Christian National’s Evangelism Commission (CNEC) now Partners International, offered to help PMI.  This offer was outrightly turned down by PMF for fear that it would lose their identity as a Filipino missionary organization, though the PMI leadership felt, this should be accepted.  However, after seven years of existence, it became more and more clear that it was simply beyond PMF’s capacity to maintain a Bible school.  Hence, the PMF Board reluctantly introduced PMI to CNEC.  This partnership allowed PMI to expand her ministry as training center for those who will engaged in full time pioneering ministry.  Moreover, through the help of CNEC, PMI started a medical ministry and livelihood projects and gave birth to two organizations, the Missions Cottage Industries Foundation, Inc. (MCIF) and the Missions community Services, Inc. (MICOS).

From 1961 to 1969, PMI was under the tutelage of PMF.  While PMF regarded PMI as the training center for their missionaries, it has been quite apparent that PMI has been set up to serve the whole evangelical community.  Hence, when PMI became a distinct organization from PMF in January 1969, its first Board members came from different mission agencies and churches in the Philippines which included Wen Torres, Mike Lacanilao, Cyril Weller, David Billings, Richard Thompson, Sulpicio Maniquis, Edison Chua, Mrs. P. Ortega, and Angelino Apelar.  Until now, PMI is interdenominational and conservative in her theological outlook which serves the evangelical churches by training competent, mission-oriented Christian leaders,

Rev. Arsenio P. Dominguez had served PMI as president from her inception in 1961 until 1993.   From 1993 to 1996, Pastor Wilfredo Fulgencio became president.  Rev. Felicito M. Vargas assumed leadership from 1996 until May 2001. Engineer Ruben L. de Leon, a well-honed manager from multinational companies of Romm and Hass and Monsanto, USA took the responsibitlity of steering PMI as she traverses the beginning of the new millennium.  In September 1, 2004, the Board of Trustees appointed Rev. Hector T. Belandres as the school president.

On May 5, 1998 PMI received from the Philippine Government through the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) the Permit to Operate the Bachelor of Arts in Theology course with four tracks: Pastoral Studies, Christian Education, Church Music, and Intercultural Studies.  PMI is also a member of the Philippine Association of Bible and Theological Schools (PABATS).  In May 2001, she received the final recognition from CHED.
 

a. General Objectives of PMI

The Philippine Missionary Institute was established for the following objectives:
 

i. Enlist, educate, and engage men and women for the evangelical ministry;
ii. Produce evangelical and religious books with Philippine orientation; and,
iii. Train Christian leaders in the community life of our people.

b. PMI MISSION AND VISION

Identity

We are a Filipino Christian training institution committed to develop highly competent church workers, ”tent-makers,” and career missionaries from the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Vision

A globally recognized Christ-centered dynamic missions training institution equipping Christian servant-leaders for church growth and community transformation.

Mission

Building the capability of Christian servant-leaders to serve as catalysts of holistic missions towards church growth and transformation of rural and urban communities in Asia and beyond by providing comprehensive theological, biblical and ministerial education.

Goals:

1. Leadership and Governance:
• Establish a strong and competent leadership and management to achieve PMI vision and Mission

2. Academic
• Establish curricula for basic and higher education that are at par with international standard, contextual and transformational.

3. Students
• Produce servant-leaders who are well-equipped for effective and efficient ministries.

4. Human Resource
• Maintain and develop highly qualified and committed faculty and staff.

5. Alumni
• Establish dynamic and supportive partnership with PMIAA.

6. Linkages
• Develop mutually beneficial linkages with local and international networks/partners.
• Establish strong prayer shield over her leadership, faculty and staff, students and partners.

7. Research and Development
• Develop strong research center for church growth and missions.

8. Extension Programs
• Establish viable satellite training centers in strategic locations.

9. Facilities Development and Management
• Build, maintain and manage properly all facilities essential to a world-class operation of PMI.

10. Resource Generation
• Ensure continuing viable academic and effective resource generating programs.