CCH: Receive and Give as Jesus Gave
Christmas Greetings from EAST Leadership Team
Dear Friends,
Just returning from a trip to Manila, I saw that their eager anticipation for Christmas began as early as September evidenced by huge, colourful beautiful Christmas trees all over the city and shopping malls. They heighten the joyful Christmas feeling urging shoppers to snag a bargain for a gift. Magically, they instil the feeling of joy through Christmas carols, delightful and catchy jingle.
Reflections on Gender & Sexuality in Christian Ministry Class
The Study on Gender & Sexuality in Christian Ministry online course was recently conducted by Dr Heng Hwee Chuang, an EAST Adjunct Faculty. Below are some reflections from her students regarding what they have gleaned from the eight-day intensive course.
Chakriya Sok, an EAST Cambodian student, said, “Attending the Gender and Sexuality class as taught by Dr Hwee Chuang has been a fantastic experience. My professor is a knowledgeable and experienced individual on the subject. I appreciate how she simplifies complex concepts, making them easy to understand. Her kind interactions and encouragement added to my enjoyment of the class.”
Chakriya further elaborated: Read more
Alex Tang’s Advent Reflections – Blessed Hope
Dr Alex Tang, an adjunct faculty of EAST, is a man who wears many hats as a Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Johor Specialist Hospital, Associate Professor of Monash University School of Medicine in Malaysia, a member of many professional bodies, Chairman of the Johor Branch of the Malaysian Paediatric Association, founder of Spiritual Formation Institute at Holy Light Church in Johor Bahru and an elder at that church. He has recently penned an Advent Reflection for the upcoming Advent Season below.
Advent is my favourite season of the year. As the year draws to a close with numerous moments of drama, joy, and pain, I look forward to December, my designated Sabbath month: time for reflection, contemplation, and prayers. This is also the season of Advent, which always reminds me of hope. The first advent culminated in the birth of God incarnate to a young girl, and hope became flesh.
Advent, originating from ‘adventus,’ the Latin term for ‘coming,’ is a multifaceted season in the Christian calendar that transcends the mere anticipation of Christmas. It is a sacred period of spiritual introspection, a time for us to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the historical birth of Jesus Christ and contemplate His promised return. This dual nature of Advent imbues it with a depth and richness that is both reflective and forward-looking.
Let’s #GO
At EAST, students have the opportunities to go overseas for short term mission trips either as part of their Field Internships, Cross-Cultural Team Internships or even Mentoring Group Ministry Weekends. In all of these experiences, students come away with life-changing experiences and often in a team environment, they form lifelong friendships through the bonds fostered over the period of 3-4 weeks of living together and ministering daily together.
In the most recent Cross-Cultural Team Internship experience led by Taivan Tuya ( MA Leadership) from Mongolia in June, the team consisted of Mikeel Arana (MDiv Christian Ministry, Philippines), Jane Ding (MDiv Teaching & Exposition, East Asia), Worchuirin Horam (MA Leadership, India) and Chakriya Sok (MA Christian Ministry) as they spent 19 days together in three different parts of Vietnam – a city area, by the mountainside and by the seaside reaching out to the people there and sharing the good news whenever the opportunities arise.
Field Supervisors’ Tea 2023
This year’s annual Field Supervisors’ Tea held on 4th October was uniquely helmed by Dr Lau Ying Kheng and her FIRM students. A third year Master of Divinity student in Intercultural & Theological Studies, Brandon Chan, shared about his experience in Cambodia. Students are required to do practicum 240 hours a year or an equivalent of 10 days. Brandon has been to Cambodia for a mission trip 16 years ago and recently, he returned to the same village for his field practicum.
Here are some thoughts that Brandon shared, “Kingdom work requires an eternal perspective. We must labour with patience, compassion and joy. God will send the fruit even if it takes 15 years.” He gave the illustration of gifting an army knapsack to a young boy over 15 years ago and this boy who is a young man now, still remembers his kindness and generosity. Brandon was in Cambodia organising a youth camp and teaching Bible Study Methods and other classes.
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