New Graduate: Japheth Chew, Malaysia
Japheth Chew, Grad Dip in Intercultural Studies (2023)
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” (Saint Augustine).
Japheth Chew is no stranger to road trips.
Before EAST, he had lived in Brisbane (Australia), Kansas City (USA), and Swansea (Wales) for missions, worship and prayer training.
Besides serving for three years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with YWAM and Open Doors, he ministered among the disadvantaged in Darjeeling (West Bengal), and Mother Theresa’s “Missionaries of Charities” in Calcutta for three months. He also served for a year in missions at Cornerstone Community Church in Singapore.
This early exposure has given him a hunger to “keep learning new things.”
New Graduate: Sarah Angela Ong Pantaleon, Philippines
Sarah Angela Ong Pantaleon, MDiv Christian Ministry (2023)
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take” (Angela N. Blount, award-winning author)
Many classes at EAST have blessed Anj.
“Amy Lau’s ‘Bible Study Methods’ taught me to study God’s Word contextually,” she says, “and Dr Jeannette’s ‘Teaching’ class showed me how to write lesson plans.”
“These and many other classes are important for my future ministry,” she says.
But to move forward, Anj also discovered that she had to take a few steps back to “unlearn and learn.”
New Graduates – Kim Hak-Soo & Park Ok-Hee, Korea
Kim Hak Soo (MDiv Christian Ministry) & Park Ok-Hee (Partners in Ministry)
“If life were a road trip, I conclude that the roughest, windiest and steepest roads lead us to the most breath-taking views” (Allie Penner, The Well Blog).
In 2019, Kim Hak-Soo was invited to a chapel service at EAST. As the worship team played, he felt a deep connection with God which extended that short tour into a four-year road trip.
One of the first things that impressed the associate pastor of Korean Church in Singapore was “Servant Leadership.” “I’d heard the term before,” says Hak Soo, “but at EAST I experienced it.”
“Through the teaching and lives of Leadership professors like Dr Chan, as we were invited to professors’ home for meals, and the camaraderie of my mentoring group guys in prayer and ministry weekends. I saw servant-leadership – the willingness to serve like Jesus – in action.”
Graduate’s Story – Lee Poh Chin, MAICS 2023
Lee Poh Chin (Singapore), MA Intercultural Studies (2023)
“The journey, not the destination matters” (T. S. Eliot, poet, essayist, Nobel Prize Literature laureate in 1948).
“I’m here for the ride,” says Lee Poh Chin, principal-mentor of an international school ministry in Kampong Speu, Cambodia, before she came to EAST. The PhD holder in Human Movement and Exercise Science from University of Western Australia wanted a school that prepares her to serve among Khmer people. “EAST has not disappointed me,” she says.
Leadership 101
Bae Jaeseong came to EAST to learn how to be a better leader.
The former Cru Korea missionary to Japan and HR Administrator says he was attracted to the school’s leadership professors who are backed by a proven track record. “For example, our President, Rev Dr Chan, directed a fruitful ministry in East Asia for years; and Dr Roland was the national leader of Cru Singapore.”
As he looks back to his three years at EAST, Jaeseong is grateful for the many classes that developed his thinking as a leader. “I’m impressed by Dr Lewis’ class on denominations and theological views – what are the core and what are opinions; and Dr Samuel’s ‘Cultural Maps’ for cross-cultural understanding. So helpful.”
EAST Library Catalogue
EAST Populi
National Library Board eResources
The Digital Theological Library
