Choong Voon: Renovation of Body, Heart and Soul
Meet a graduate from the recent 28th Commencement – Mr Wong Choong Voon, Malaysian, MDiv in Intercultural Studies and worshipped at Cornerstone Fellowship (Bahasa Indonesia). He is also the recipient of the EAST President Leadership Award and Academic Excellence Award.
Twenty years in full-time ministry, former Cru Malaysia staff, now Chinese Timothy Mission worker who served among slum-dwellers in Semarang, Java, before joining EAST. Choong Voon’s vision is to reach the unreached peoples in Malaysia and Indonesia.
“When I first arrived at EAST, I was all ready for hard work and discipline,” says the Micro-Electronics Engineer by training and EAST Student Council President (2020-21). “But my engine was in a very bad shape.” Years of late-nights, no exercise, and poor diet, he confides, led to an unhealthy body, heart and soul. “These bad habits carried on in my student life.”
The “turning point” came during his second-year school break.
Alumni Taught Mental Health to EAST Faculty
It was a treat for EAST faculty to be taught by alumni Tan Fang Fang and Kelvin Ng on practical issues relating to mental and spiritual health at the Faculty Development Days in May 2022. It was a much needed workshop after two years of the pandemic which has taken a toll on the mental health of many. This applies to EAST faculty as well who had to adapt to profound changes almost overnight in their course content formulation, instructional design, mode of delivery, and mediated mentoring. Fang Fang and Kelvin, who are both serving at Frankel Estate Bethesda Church, facilitated the time by opening up opportunities for honest conversations through case studies on the mental and spiritual challenges that one faces. Principles and best practices gleaned from the Word and Christian counselling were also discussed and explored in the context of faculty.
EAST Alumna Sophie Lo as Mother, Wife & Christlike Leader
L to R: Nelson Lo, Hannah Lo (17), Sophie Lo, Joshua Lo (15)
Leading up to this Mother’s Day weekend, we are featuring an EAST alumna and EAST staff Mrs Sophie Lo who is a mother, wife and leader in EAST Community. Sophie is a mother to two teenagers, Hannah (17) and Joshua (15), wife to EAST’s Dean of Administration Mr Nelson Lo, and works in the EAST HR Department. She graduated with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (2020) and was awarded the Spiritual Multiplier Award. Currently. Sophie also oversees the social media platforms for the WOW MOM ministry of Cru Singapore. Below is an interview with her on her juggling responsibilities among her varied roles and thoughts on motherhood.
- Sophie, how did you manage to juggle your responsibilities as a wife and mother while also completing your studies, and fulfilling your duties at the EAST HR department?
Slow and steady described my study journey at EAST. When my kids were very young, I took one course at a time, so that I could give attention to my kids and yet reaped the benefits from my studies. As my kids grew older and more independent, I began to take on more courses in order to complete my program within a time frame. The journey was slow and took me a very long time. Fellow students who started their program at the same time or even after me, have graduated one after another while I would still be registering for courses to complete my credits requirement. Despite the slowness and length of time taken, I have enjoyed my studies thoroughly, was able to apply most of what I learnt in my ministry, and could also fulfil my duties at the EAST HR department.
Alumnus Patrick Ng – From ADD to VP
Left to Right: Son Ryan, Wife Jacqueline, Daughter Kyrie, Alumnus Patrick Ng
A few months prior to entering EAST in 2010, alumnus Patrick Ng’s beloved mother passed away. Then while adjusting to seminary studies, he was also coordinating his home renovation and caring for two young school going children (Kyrie and Ryan). Pat was then diagnosed with a learning disability – Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). He went through a bout of depression while trying to cope with his ADD amidst his studies.
“EAST is a very family-oriented seminary!” – Alumna Jessie Suciati
Alumna Jessie Suciati with her husband Colonel Gene Tan, daughter Shannah, and twin boys Reuel and Leeron.
Alumna Jessie Suciati has recently relocated back to Singapore with her three children, daughter Shannah (14), and twin boys Reuel (10) which means “friend of God” in Hebrew, and Leeron (10) which means “my song”, after being away in Jarkarta for the past four years. Her husband Gene Tan serves as a Colonel in the Singapore Armed Forces and since their early days of marriage, they have moved from places to places due to different military assignments received.
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