Alumna Cynthia Oh: EAST and My Writing Journey

 

I (Cynthia) love to write but I had not imagined myself to be a published author.

The story started in 2013 when I began taking up courses at EAST. With encouragement from my EAST mentor Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok and classmate Ms Boo Hui Ling, I plucked up the courage to do a MDiv in Intercultural Studies, instead of taking courses at random. When I made that decision I had no concrete plans except to equip myself should the Lord call me to missions. I remember that afternoon, having lunch with them at the KKH food court, sweating in my seat thinking,“ What am I getting myself into?”.

To complete the MDiv, I needed a source of income. So I prayed to the Lord for a part-time job where I could serve Him through writing. About two weeks later, I met a lady who came to EAST for a day course. She was serving with the United Bible Societies China Partnership (UBS CP) and told me they were looking for a communication manager. She found me reasonably bilingual enough and asked me to apply. I did and I was recruited.

I soon realised that the Lord was giving me more than a writing job. Serving with UBS CP provided a unique field opportunity for me to reflect on and apply what I was learning at EAST. Issues on contextualisation and cross cultural communication became real. My work brought me to different places in China where I interviewed Chinese Christians from all walks of life. Being new to cross-cultural sensitivities, I made some blunders along the way but was grateful to be given time to learn. Had I not studied at EAST, I would have been more “blur” and made even more mistakes! After graduation, I was asked to serve full-time with UBS CP which I gladly did.

As I served, the Lord began to show me something fascinating. First, I saw a common thread in the stories I hear from Chinese Christians about the Bible – how they did not have Bibles during the Cultural Revolution, how it was so precious to them and how they rejoiced at having Bibles now. Second, I was surprised to learn that China is the world’s largest Bible printer and exporter. Yet, I sensed that I did not understand the full significance of these stories and the Bible press. I realised I was entering into the middle of a larger story, the story of the Bible in China. I’ve been privy to a beautiful narrative unfolding before my eyes but I did not know the head and tail of it. So I started researching and writing in 2020, not knowing where the Lord would take me to.

It has been a trying but good four-year journey with writing this book. One important place the Lord took me is to see that nothing is too difficult for Him. The Bible has gone from a banned book to a bestseller in China. I am nobody but the Lord counts me worthy to be His scribe. I am holding on to this lesson as I step out into the missions field next month. I do not know the assignment the Lord has for me but with what He has taught me thus far, I know I can trust Him in the next place He is taking me to. Last but not least, I thank Dr Lau Ying Kheng who taught me writing and encouraged me to write when I was on staff with Cru, and EAST for equipping me with a robust missions education which has richly informed my writing and ministry. I am grateful.

 

The reflection above is written by EAST alumna Cynthia Oh who has just published the book, From Banned Book to Bestseller: Bible Mission in Contemporary China. She graduated from EAST with a Master of Divinity in Intercultural Studies in 2015. Here is an initial review of the book by Dr Brent Fulton of ChinaSource.