Pray for the Church in Malaysia
Design: Wong Ee Yuing
Dr Alex Tang, a church elder and an EAST adjunct faculty, recently wrote of how the church in Malaysia has responded to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and made a call to prayer as Malaysia faces another wave of the pandemic.
In it, he noted how the past year has been “the great reset” for Malaysian Christians: churches going digital, a revitalised body life centred around small groups, Christians seeking to know the Scripture and Christian theology more, “flourishing partnerships” among churches, innovative ministries to the needy affected by the pandemic, and a deeper dependence on God. With that as a backdrop, Dr Alex urged continuing prayers for the Malaysian Church as they now face an unprecedented State of Emergency declared by the Malaysian government valid until August 2021 due to the renewed intensity of the pandemic.
Update on Tuvshuu & Burnee
Tuvshintugs Tsogtbaatar (Tuvshuu), MA in Leadership (2018) and Burenjargal Jargal (Burnee), PIM Cert/ Grad Dip in Christian Ministry (2018), with their daughters Gerel (11) and Inuka (8), and family pet Lila. (Youngest son, Tergel, inside mum’s tummy at that time) Early November 2020
Over a week ago, on 7 November, Tuvshuu and Burnee, EAST Alumni from 2018 welcomed the arrival of their third child and youngest son named Tergel. In Mongolian, “Tergel” means “full moon”. He has been given this name in the hope that his life will fully reflect God’s light, just like how the full moon reflects the light of the sun. Also, that his life will be full of light and be complete like the “full moon”. His arrival has already brought much light and completion to the Tsogtbaatars, living up to his name.
Breaking News from Ulaanbaatar
Baatarsuren Bayanmandakh (Baataraa), our alumnus from Mongolia, sent us an urgent prayer request on 11 Nov:
“Today we have the first local Covid-19 cases (4 persons) in Ulaanbaatar. The government announced total lockdown for five days. People are scared and confused. One of my team members is in the countryside (Dornod province) and cannot come back home during the quarantine period..”
Pray for Baataraa and his team, who regularly go out to the deserts to share the gospel, follow up new believers, and make disciples, among desert nomads. These herders, who live in gers or portable round tents, make up 25 to 40 percent of its 3.3 million people. The uncertainty of Covid-19, plus the harsh winter conditions – the temperature dips to minus 40 degrees Celsius at its worst – makes it harder to reach the the nomadic people. From the 2020 census, there are 1.3 percent of Christians in Mongolia currently (48, 859 people).
Song for SG55 – One
Enjoy this newly composed National Day song by HeartDriven Music, words and music by Ryan Kong.
Taken from the Song Story, shared by the composer, Ryan Kong:
This National Day, HeartDriven Music, Project Providence and the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) are collaborating to release this song, ONE, as a rallying cry for every one of us to play our part in whatever capacity we can, as one nation. While we look forward to resuming our normal lives again, let us not forget the life lessons which Covid-19 has taught us. Let us not waste this opportunity to go the extra mile, to reach out in love beyond what is convenient for us.
Project Providence helps to house homeless and stranded foreigners in Singapore. AGWO aims to reach out to all guest workers in Singapore – to care for them and cater to their essential needs, while also adopting a spirit of hospitality for a welcoming environment that is free of discrimination and prejudice.
EAST Aleph: Welcome, New Students!
Photo by Chan Chong Hiok. Design by Tan Eng Kwang.
We welcome our new program students who have recently began their learning journey with us through EAST Aleph! How do we help new students transition well into a multicultural community of learners while physically in multiple locations due to COVID-19 restrictions? By creating multiple opportunities for interactive activities with and among the new students using online means.
The EAST Aleph two-week immersion program orientate students to the cultural and academic norms, provide spiritual and relational connections, and begin building the personal and ministry foundations for lasting transformation in their study life. For this year, online exercises are conducted to familiarise participants with effective collaborative learning and community-building platforms.
Above photo shows EAST President, Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok, on an online Zoom session with the new students.
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