Rev Asung Pharung Khapai’s Ordination Testimony
Rev Asung Pharung Khapai was ordained on 26th January 2025.
Rev Asung Pharung Khapai (MA Intercultural Studies, 2019) has been ordained by the Tangkul Baptist Churches Association on 26th January 2025. Below is his faith journey as he recalls how the Lord has led him all the way.
I grew up in a farmer’s family in a small hill village of Northeast India Manipur. My parents raised me in a Christian home with 6 siblings, but I was never serious in my Christian beliefs. I encountered Christ in the year 2000 through the study of the Gospel of John. I came to realise God’s unfailing love for me. Things were so different with new experiences and new journey of my life. I realised I was totally a new person in Christ. From the time I gave my life to Jesus, I started reading His Word, attending Bible studies and maintaining my quiet time regularly. With my earnest prayer and commitment, I enrolled in a Seminary for my theological education in my home country. I enjoyed learning God’s word, and getting to know Him more and more as I studied about Him.
Alumna Elizabeth Li: The Most Important Amazing Thing
L-R: Dr Lau Ying Kheng, Dr Roland Tan & Alumna Elizabeth Li
Hello. My name is 「感恩姐妹」”Grateful Sister”, and I am glad to be here to share about my life. I would like to share my journey through two major surgeries, in which I experienced something amazing and totally unexpected!
It started eight years ago. I broke my right thigh at home in 2015. A steel plate was mounted in my thigh and I recuperated at home. While recuperating, I discovered that my ability to express myself was compromised. I could not express what I wanted to express and I thought I was beginning to have amnesia.
Alumna Bessie Lim: Updates since Graduation
Alumna Bessie Lim graduated with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies in 2010 despite having challenges with her vision even back then. She always used to sit in front of the class so that she could hear better as she could not see the slides. She would also frantically take down notes as the lessons went by.
Over the years, her sight gradually deteriorated to the point where she lost her sense of depth and perception and she had to carry two canes, one white cane on the left hand for people who are visually impaired and a support cane on the right hand for her slipped disc problem. Bessie had no third hand to carry things so she decided to apply for a guide dog as a better solution. One day while making carrot soup, she dropped a small piece of carrot and she could not detect it. Several hours later, she noticed a pile of something black on the kitchen table top and it was moving. These had to be ants and she had a lot of cleaning to do and Bessie lost confidence in herself in being able to take care of a guide dog and soon withdrew her application.
Alumna Naleng Real: Reflects on Recent Trip to EAST
Cambodian alumna Naleng Real who graduated in 2007 with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies has from time to time found it refreshing to return to EAST for an intensive course to re-tool herself when the opportunity arises. Recently in May, Naleng was able to attend her younger co-worker’s (Chakriya Sok) graduation at EAST’s 30th Commencement and attend Dr Guy Saffold’s Organisational Change Strategies intensive course. Below is a short reflection by Naleng.
Motivation to Return to EAST and Singapore
After EAST in Singapore, my journey with EAST has been profoundly impactful, and when the opportunity arose to return for an intensive course on Organizational Change Strategies, I eagerly seized it. This decision stemmed from my respect for the institution and my desire to further enhance my skills to benefit my ministry in Cambodia.The decision to return to EAST for the intensive course at EAST are the following. Firstly, the curriculum of the course, designed by Dr. Guy Saffold, addresses the challenges and strategies of organizational change within Christian ministries. It is highly relevant to my current role as a project director for the “Sustainability Project” at Fountain of Hope in Cambodia. The practical nature of the course promises to equip me with advanced skills to guide my organization through the necessary adaptations and transformations to ensure sustainability.
Alumni Asung & Nim: Ministry Updates May 2024
Alumni Asung and Nim Pharung from Manipur, Northeast India, has sent their ministry updates below.
I am writing this update after 11 months. Some of you might still remember the last update sent by my nephew last year in place of me as there was no internet in my region. We are slowly getting back to normalcy now after curfews, police sirens, bombings and guns. The Lord is our Shepherd. He led us on a safe path.
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