Ministry Outreach 2023

Ministry outreach is carried out annually by all Mentoring Groups (MGs) at EAST where students, faculty and staff launch out and minister to various sectors of our community with the love of God. It is an opportunity for MGs to take faith steps, reach out, bond together, and experience “classrooms without walls.” Students are also able to observe and learn from faculty mentors as they serve together.

EAST had an invitation from St Luke’s Hospital to conduct a Christmas celebration on 21 Dec 2022 during their chapel service where their healthcare staff were treated to games, carols and sharing of the gospel. David (GradDip) led the games, while Eddy (visiting student) led them in carols, and Anj (MDiv student) shared her testimony of God’s love and were able to connect especially well with the Filipino healthcare workers.  Josephine Goh (resident faculty) took time to share and encourage further two Myanmar nurses who confided that the Covid pandemic has been a time where they needed hope.

In late January 2023, another MG led by Mrs Sophie Lo, Partners-in-Ministry (PIM) Faculty, ministered to the elderly at St Luke’s Elder Care where they presented a gospel narrative skit. What brought joy to the MG members and faculty mentors were that they brought smiles to the elderly through an afternoon of games, interaction and an opportunity to share Christ’s love and message with them through drama and deeds.

During the Chinese New Year (CNY) season in February 2023, a number of MGs, 2 PIM ladies with their children, and the Advancement Team did an outreach to neighbouring blocks of flats by handing out goodie bags filled with loaves of bread, tea, groceries and a CNY greeting card. Where opportunities arose, residents were engaged in spiritual conversations, received prayers, and heard the good news of God’s love. This is the second year that EAST has been engaging with these residents and the reception is warmer than last year’s. Some of the MG members and children were even given “angpaos” by the residents as it was during CNY.

One of the PIM ladies was encouraging her children to use the “angpao” money to buy drinks for the other MG members as a way of encouraging them to be generous. The children, however, held on to their angpaos until they returned to the EAST campus, handed their angpaos to their mum, and said, “We want to give our angpaos to EAST.” Their mum was so surprised and asked them why? Their response was, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive.” Such truths from the mouths of babes!

Dr Keith Shubert and Rev Jacob Li’s MGs had the opportunity to mingle with the rough sleepers and members from New Hope Community Services where they brought raw food to their premises to prepare hot pot together and ate a hearty meal with them by serving them. At the beginning of the interaction, this community was a bit distant from the MG members but their countenance changed to a brighter, happier look, after time was spent with them in Christian hospitality. In the Bible, hospitality is understood to be “showing kindness to strangers.” The MG members were able to see first-hand from their mentors’ humble willingness through preparing food and serving to those who are most overlooked in the society.

With grateful hearts, overall we saw 120 residents received goodie bags, 31 residents received prayers, and another 102 heard the good news of God’s love!

To God be the Glory!

 

See below for a video on what EAST mentoring group is all about: