EAST Mentoring Group Retreat 2023

 

EAST MG (Mentoring Group) Retreat 2023

EAST held its first in-person MG Retreat in January 2023 after a hiatus of large-scale physical retreats since 2020 due to the pandemic. It was such a heart-connected time as EAST students, alumni, faculty, staff, and their family members reconnected as one large family. Together they worshipped, prayed, played, heard and discussed thematic messages, had personal retreats and just have had heart to heart fellowship.

The other highlight was to hear from the heart of the speaker, Bishop Rev Dr Gordon Wong of the Methodist Church in Singapore. Speaking on the theme of “A Consecrated Life,” each of the three plenary sessions was followed by Q&A time which saw a steady flow of questions on Slido from those present. One retreat participant, Neil, said that he was deeply ministered by the answers and how Bishop Wong answered the questions in a down-to-earth fashion, some of which elicited further responses from the audience. The EAST President, Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok echoed the sentiments of those present when he said that the Bishop spoke with candour and humility, reflecting practical and wise insights from decades of pastoral, teaching, and leadership ministries.

The office of mentoring started planning for the MG Retreat a year ago at the beginning of 2022. The theme “A Consecrated Life” was chosen as it went well with the Chapel theme of “Growing in Christlikeness”. Village Hotel Katong was also a fresh venue for the MG Retreat, a departure from our usual location at Changi Village Hotel. There were lots of good eateries in the area and East Coast Park was just a 15 minutes walk away, a perfect location for many to have personal time with God and be both spiritually and physically fed.

The participants left the retreat spiritually refreshed and emotionally prepared for the start of another academic term. It was a good time of community fellowship, wholesome family fun and listening to God. All glory be to God!