MG Retreat 2025
The beginning of January traditionally begins with a Mentoring Group Retreat for the EAST Community and this year was no different, except the location has shifted from Changi Village or Katong to Loyang, still in the eastern part of Singapore. The retreat was held at the Center for Performance Transformation (CPT) Training and Camp Centre. The surroundings were lush with greenery and it was by the seaside, a perfect location where one could spend an afternoon of personal reflection time and worship God.
The meat of the retreat was having Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai share from his heart with the EAST Community. The theme was “Returning to the Way of the Master”. On the first day, he spoke on “Searching for Greatness”. He shared from the text of Mark 10:35-45 where Jesus’ disciples had argued with one another about who was the greatest, It is a natural desire in all of us to want to be somebody and there is nothing wrong with that, as every single one of us is made in the image of Jesus, made in the image of God. However, Asians tend to be less straightforward about acknowledging this desire as opposed to the Westerners. Often, we have both the wrong ideas about greatness and wrong indicators for greatness. How we measure greatness may not be how the Lord measure it.
November 2024 Intensive Class Reflections
During November 2024, two intensive classes were held at EAST – “Intercultural Communications” course by Dr Alvin Tey and “Exposition of Hebrews” course by Dr Gilbert Soo Hoo.
Below are two reflections by students who attended the “Intercultural Communications” class. The first reflection is by Mr Tan Jing Fei, a Singaporean final year Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies student whose undergraduate degree is in law. The second reflection is from another final year MA in Intercultural Studies student who hails from Mongolia. Ms Nurjanar Shampan or “Nuugii” as she is commonly known shares her insightful reflection on her culture.
Ruth Po Gay: New Student’s Testimony of Healing
L-R: Blessing (cousin), Joel (father), Ruth, Thablay Wah (mother), Naomi (sister)
Ruth Po Gay is a newly enrolled student of EAST who has officially started her Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry on 3 January 2025 with an orientation at EAST. However, she has a powerful testimony of God’s workings in her life since she has arrived in Singapore last October. Her heartfelt sharing is below.
Over the past years, God has been molding and teaching me through the most challenging season of my life, where I even doubted my existence. While working full-time in 2023, I served in outreach programs in Kwin Baw Village, a predominantly Karen community in the Delta region of Ayeyarwaddy in Myanmar. During these mission trips, I simply helped among those sharing the gospel, teaching Bible lessons, and leading songs. This is when God placed a burden on my heart to serve by reaching out to children with limited access to education, sharing the gospel, and strengthening their faith. Although I have a passion for reaching lost souls, I struggled to submit to Him wholeheartedly and was confined in my own fear. I was so focused on myself and my plans, trying to fit God into them. While my heart was in the right place, my attitude was not.
Advent Reflection: Where is Jesus?
Below is a timely seasonal reflection by EAST Resident Faculty Rev Dr Lewis Winkler involving a true story of lost and found baby Jesus! Amidst the festivities, have you found the One who truly brings meaning to this season of Advent? Where is Jesus to you?
As part of our yearly Christmas traditions, our family erects a Nativity display, complete with a wooden stable, plastic barn animals, shepherds, an angel, three wise men, Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger. One year, however, baby Jesus disappeared. Although we searched high and low, He seemed to have vanished into thin air. When Christmas was over, we reluctantly packed up the stable, animals, and other important figures in the Christmas story, but baby Jesus, who was supposed to be the central figure of the scene, was still missing.
Faculty Development Days Reflections
At the end of each semester, EAST faculty come together to learn and grow as educators. The recent so-called Faculty Development Days was held with a dual focus on “Distance and Online Theological Education Competence” and “Nurturing a Disability-Inclusive Seminary” for the two days respectively. Below are some reflections by two of EAST faculty who were in attendance.
Reflection of day one by Rev Derek Atkins
I found the Distance and Online Theological Education Competence (D/OTEC) session very insightful. Ever since the Covid pandemic, there has been an explosion of distance and online classes of every kind, including among theological schools such as EAST. As we work toward utilizing this teaching method more effectively, it is helpful for us to consider what methods will help us deliver effective theological education in an online environment.
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