New Student: Sebastian Tramitz from Germany
L-R: Dr Joseph Khoo, Mrs Boon Aitee, Issac Do, Sebastian Tramitz
Below is a short reflection of our new student Sebastian Tramitz from Germany. He is embarking on a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry at EAST while relocating to Singapore and embracing a new culture, or many new cultures at EAST and equipping himself here. His short reflection of his journey to EAST is below.
I know about EAST through various people I met on my journey of finding my path to change location to Singapore. One key person was a board member of EAST whom I met at the church I attended. He got me in touch with Cru Singapore through another person on the board of Cru. He then connected me with a Cru ministry leader and alumnus of EAST, which finally led to the meeting of Jonathan Yao and a site visit on which I made a decision that I want to apply.
Why go for Theological Studies? Why consider EAST?
Why EAST?
When considering formal theological education, a couple of important questions need to be answered. First, should I even go in the first place? If so, then the next question becomes, where should I go?
Regarding the first concern, it should be asked, are there other and better ways to be trained and developed or is getting a formal degree the best course to take? It is also good to ask, what is my motivation? Do I want this degree for the status and respect it will afford, or do I see it as a genuine opportunity for growth and development that will open new doors of Christian service and a deeper level of love for and knowledge of God?
Clare Chen: God of Possibilities
A slice of Japanese life – mother with daughter. Photo credit: Clare Chen
Ms Clare Chen, a final year MA in Intercultural Studies student, recently went for a mission trip to Kyoto, Japan, a most unlikely place for her. Clare’s initiative to spend her term break for missions resulted in a mindset-changing missional experience for her. Read her reflection from the trip – why not Japan, what she had learned more about God, the Japanese people and herself.
“I would go anywhere for missions, but Japan” was the mentality I held for many years because it is a place of hard soil. But we all know too well what typically happens when you claim a “never” statement such as this: God laughs, and things happen. This December, I was led to go on a mission trip to Japan with a few schoolmates. Despite the challenges, God reminded me of his sovereignty. God is a big God and is there anything impossible with Him (Luke 1:37)?
Dr Lau Ying Kheng’s Reflective Poem for the New Year
Dr Lau Ying Kheng walking in the rain with her granddaughter Theo
As we enter into a new year, one of EAST’s resident faculty, Dr Lau Ying Kheng has penned a poem upon reflection from Ecclesiastes 9:11-12. Do enjoy her poem below.
Eccl 9:11-12 “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.”
New Faculty: Dr Mona P. Bias
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.
- 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.
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