Getting to know Dr Benson and Mrs Josephine Goh

 

Dr Benson Goh (professor of Greek and New Testament studies) and his wife, Josephine (Mentoring Group coordinator), helped organize the “Discipling the Young in Today’s Digital World” webinar. They also spoke at the webinar together with the keynote speaker, Dr Felicia Tay, a clinical psychologist from a public hospital. It was attended by more than 280 participants. Recently, we got up close and personal with Ben and Jo, as they are called by friends and colleagues.

To begin with, how did they meet? In school, where else!

Ben and Jo met as undergraduates during their respective Engineering and Business studies on Nanyang Technological University (NTU). As they got to know each other more through their love for Christ and involvement with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), friendship blossomed into love.

Till today, the couple share a common love for evening walks, playing board games (“first as a couple and now with our kids”), people watching and praying in the MRT, and movies – including Tamil shows – after their getting involved with migrant workers ministry.

When asked about their children, the Gohs would reminisce about their firstborn, Samuel, who survived for five days after birth in 2002 “but was a fighter till the end.” They also have a daughter Joylynn (17) and son Benedict (14) who keep them endlessly happy and content.

Ben and Jo started their theological studies at EAST where he did his MDiv in Teaching and Exposition and she a Grad Dip in Pastoral Counseling. In 2011, the young family moved to Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, USA where Ben completed his PhD in Biblical Studies, and Jo an MA in Theological Studies and an MA in Spiritual Formation. They returned to Singapore in 2017.

Let’s hear more from Ben and Jo:

How did you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? How were you called to serve Him in fulltime vocational ministry?

Ben: I came to know Christ as a teenager. I was searching for trustworthy and reliable relationships and was also questioning about my own identity. During that time, national gospel rallies were often held in Singapore. My sister who shared the gospel with me brought me to the Luis Palau Missions in 1986. I heard how Jesus loves and died for me even before I knew him. So I placed my trust in Him as my Savior and Lord.

At university I joined the discipleship ministry of Cru Singapore, NTU. As I got involved in missions, I felt the Lord calling me to serve Him full-time and I joined Cru after graduation. I was a new staff training director and Campus Director before I came to EAST for studies.

Jo: I was born in a staunch Taoist/Buddhist family, and enjoyed a happy childhood. But when Dad passed away when I was 13 years old, the question of eternity became a struggle for me. Four years later, at junior college, a senior shared the gospel through the Four Spiritual Laws with me and I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

I first discovered the adventure of living the Spirit-filled life at university when I joined Cru. I experienced the joy of sharing the gospel and leading others to Christ, and God’s heart for missions. In 1995, after a mission trip to Taiwan (where Ben was the team leader), I saw that “the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Mat 9:37), and answered God’s call into full-time time with Cru.

What made you decide to serve at EAST?

Ben: At the point of completing my MDiv at EAST, I asked the Lord to show me His direction for the next phase of full-time ministry. God showed me the need to equip and train theologically-educated and spiritually-formed ministers in Asia for the global harvest. EAST’s vision of providing sound theological and biblical training, coupled with a focus on developing spiritual leaders for the harvest field, strikes a similar chord as God’s call for me. As such, I joined EAST and served as Operations Director from 2008-2011, and then went to Asbury for my doctoral studies so that I might return better equipped to fulfil God’s call for me through EAST.

Jo: I served with EAST’s Partners in Ministry (PIM) program that equips wives of students for ministry, while I did my Grad Dip program. One day during school chapel, I saw a glimpse of heaven with many different tongues (nationalities of students). This has inspired me to serve at EAST: to equip missionaries and church leaders who come from all over the world in head, heart and hand. It is a great privilege to serve alongside colleagues who are not armchair theologians but passionate teachers who are excited about the Great Commission and life transformation.

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