Deep in December, Jumping into January
Ying Kheng (left) & Sonia
Roland and I (YK) spoke twelve times – at church, the YMCA, two Christmas parties, four youth camps, our 400-strong campus conference, and a wedding in Hong Kong (where I spoke for Sonia, a staff I’d mentored for years).
Our church also had three days of gospel campaign where we served as counselors. Praise God that 60 persons received Christ.
But it was not all work and no play.
EAST News 2009 issue 3
The A - Z to EAST
A Note from the Principal
Dr. Ho Chiao Ek
In October, two of our resident faculty members spoke at chapel.
Toe Set, dean of students, shared how his family faced a vicious spiritual attack by the enemy recently. It was a new situation and he was unsure of what to do. But as he spent time with God, he was greatly encouraged that God intervenes on behalf of His people.
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With gratefulness
Our family in traditional Cambodian garb (June 2009)
Dear supporters & friends, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to you for your support in our lives and ministry through your friendship, prayers and giving. Thank you for your love for and trust in us that has enabled us to join God in His work at various fronts. The following are three interesting comparisons of changes in our lives and ministry since we last served in Cambodia.
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- With gratefulness, the Mahs (PDF, 628kB)
It’s a special privilege
Roland Tan (2nd from left)
It brings us great joy reaching out to teenagers and campus students (this year I spoke 21 times to youth and campus groups). Teaching seminary students at EAST brings with it another kind of satisfaction. Here we mentor people who have already made that commitment to serve Christ. It’s a special privilege to help shape the hands and hearts of these future shepherds, missionaries, and church-planters.
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- 2009 highlights (PDF, 1.3MB)
Faith . Hope . Love — which will last forever
Photo at Tomoki's athletic festival
Three weeks ago, soon after Tomoki’s kindergarten activity, Eri had bleeding. We paled and rushed to her personal clinic. Thankfully our baby was okay but Eri was diagnosed with placenta previa. Her doctor advised her not to do hard work. So Taka helps her as much as he can, especially in shopping and taking care of Tomoki. We hope her pregnancy condition will change into normal one during these two months. Please pray for her pregnancy condition. Read more
I need grace
Happy 70th Birthday Daddy!
All students at EAST are required to do practical ministry while studying. Every Friday afternoon I have joined Campus Crusade for Christ in reaching out to international students on Singapore university campuses.
What a joy to see a new believer, LiJing, whom I have been discipling, hunger for God’s Word! As we studied about Jesus’ betrayal, death and resurrection, she asked a good question, “Why didn’t Jesus stop Judas from betraying Him if He is God?” Furthermore, she brought her friend to hear about Jesus. It was exciting to see her plant a seed in her friend’s heart. May the Lord use His Word to speak to her friend.
Between mid-May and mid-June, I spent time at home. Attending my father’s 70th birthday celebration was the highlight. Dad beamed as family and relatives sang “Happy Birthday!” My prayer is that the seed of the gospel that has been planted in my parents’ hearts will sprout.
I have sensed God’s presence and help through your prayers during my transition to seminary life in Singapore. May the Lord rain showers of blessings upon you!
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- I Need Grace (PDF, 724kB)
Journeying with the pre-believers
Wai Ling (front row, 2nd from right) with International Student Ministry staff & students
I am enjoying my ministry very much and often I feel that I am on a mission trip every week when I meet students of different nationalities. Missions is really right at our door step! I personally had the privilege of leading 6 Chinese girls to Christ. I am able to connect and relate to the Chinese pretty well but when it comes to sharing Christ with the South East Asia students I lack confidence. I realized that there is so much to learn in sharing Christ ‘cross-culturally’. I need to understand the background of these students and how they are influenced by their upbringing, cultural and educational systems. If I don’t understand their worldviews it would be difficult to engage in a meaningful spiritual conversation with them at the heart level. Read more
Sowing & reaping
Class photo (Janice in pink dress, 2nd from left)
I just finished teaching Advanced Evangelism and Discipleship at East (East Asia School of Theology). As I was preparing this course, I asked the Lord for His input as to how I could help to grow the students in the practical aspect of evangelism and discipleship. The Lord impressed my heart to do field ministry with the students so that there would be a mutual observation, evaluation and learning. In the course of ten weeks, we had the privilege to witness to more than thirteen people and five accepted Jesus into their lives! I thank God for giving me the privilege to witness to the family members of some students. Besides witnessing, I also had the privilege to observe some students as they led their cell groups or discipleship groups. It is encouraging to see how God is equipping our students so that they can better equip others.
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- Sowing & reaping (PDF, 174kB)
God’s Word is not chained
Jeremy and Dr. Ho in the center, with a couple of students from Hong Kong
Last month, Dr. Ho and I spent two weeks in China teaching the New Testament. The class consisted not only of local students, but also representatives from Singapore and Hong Kong as well. These students remind us of the Bereans “for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They left deep impressions on us because of their diligence in working at their quizzes, exam, presentation and written papers.
This trip had pushed me a step further because I was required to translate all my class notes, and lecture in Chinese. However, my visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition helped me see the dedication of many heroes who gave their lives to the translation of the Bible. For God’s Word to be truly unchained, it must be heard by people in their mother tongue, their hearts’ language.
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- God’s Word is not chained (PDF, 685kB)
East Asia School of Theology (EAST) is an inter-denominational graduate seminary, committed to shaping Christlike leaders through solid biblical and theological knowledge, field-tested ministry skills, and character development. 