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. 

 

Below is an interview of Cynthia Oh by William Carey Publishing, the publisher of the above book, as part of their video series on Missions Books: Interview with Authors.