New Faculty: Dr Mona P. Bias

In September 2023, Dr Mona P Bias joined EAST in Singapore as a resident faculty of Singapore. Below is a short interview with her to get to know her better and introduce this learned professor of the Old Testament to our wider community at EAST. We are honoured and privileged to have her join us as part of EAST Community and know she will be a blessing to many.

1. Kindly share with us how you became a Christian, felt called to Christian ministry and finally, how God led you to serve at EAST.

It was on my second year in college when I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Someone shared the Gospel to me using the Four Spiritual Laws. I was then faithfully discipled and mentored by some Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) staff.

As a young person, I dreamt to be a medical doctor to serve in the boondocks and remote places of the Philippines. I actually passed the entrance exam to medical school. About that time, the Director of the International School of Theology-Asia asked me to take some classes at ISOT-Asia, which I did just for fun. On the third quarter, I realized that the Lord was calling me to full time Christian work. It was then that I decided to just finish the Master of Divinity program.

On completion of the said program, I joined the staff of CCC. Five years later and after ISOT-Asia moved down to its new location in Quezon City, the then Director of the school asked me to teach Evangelism and Follow-up. It was at this time when I realized the need for OT Professors. I went for further studies then came back to teach OT courses at the school. Exactly 20 years later, I responded to God’s call to join the faculty of the East Asia School of Theology.

The Lord through His Word and a series of events revealed where He wanted me next to invest my life. On February 01, 2021, I had a dream-vision in which there was an Asian man who was urgently calling me to teach at their seminary. His face was definitely Asian; but I could not tell if it was from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Cambodia. So, in my mind, I asked: “What country?” For some reason the first country that came to mind was Myanmar. I had to wait some time for an explanation of this dream.

On July 2022, the President, the Academic Dean, and the Director for Human Resources at East Asia School of Theology (EAST) in Singapore presented to me the school’s need for an Old Testament professor. Along with this, they also shared their vision to open Extension Centers in several “closed” or what they call “creative access” countries, in some of which they already have set up such schools. The need and the vision they presented deeply resonated with me. Later, I learnt that the only full time Old Testament faculty member with whom I will be    working comes from Myanmar. In a brief conversation, his wife also made this comment:   “Even before you shared your dream-vision, my husband said to me, ‘Mona should be here.’”

The Lord continued to confirm His calling for me. I responded positively, submitted the needed requirements, and arrived safely in Singapore on September 20, 2023 to begin work at EAST. I praise the living God for how He has led me thus far . . .

2. Could you introduce an interesting less known fact about yourself and the favorite course you have taught so far? (How many years have you been a Bible Teacher?)

Growing up, my parents would bring us to the province to visit our grandparents. One day, my grandmother said, “Even though you are studying, you need to learn how to work in the farm.” From that point, I got interested in farming and raising livestock and secretly desired that one day, I would have my own ranch.

Since graduating from ISOT-Asia I have been teaching and preaching in the churches where I have been involved in as well as in the churches where I have been assigned as a staff with the Church Resource Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.

After completion of my PhD studies, I taught as full time faculty for 20 years at IGSL. The main courses that I taught are the Biblical Hebrew courses. And since I spent so many hours working on the Book of Job, this is one course that I would like to teach wherever it is a need and interest.

3. Share your favorite bible passage or verse, and explain why it is your favourite.

“Do not fear for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my powerful right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Fear naturally grips me when moving to an unknown place, facing a “big” problem, or working on a big project for the first time; but when I remember the said verse, I am greatly encouraged to plod on and accomplish the task at hand.