Student life

Orientation

At the beginning of each academic year, the returning students, under the direction of the Student Council will host an orientation for all new students. The purpose of the orientation is to help all staff as well as students at EAST get to know one another and to be briefed or updated on the school policies. Traditionally, the orientation promises to be a time of fun, laughter, friendship, food, inspiration, and even education. Attendance at the orientation is compulsory for everyone.

Spiritual supervision

All programme students at EAST will be assigned a spiritual supervisor as part of EAST’s value to mentor our students and help develop their character. The Spiritual Supervisor meets with the student informally on a regular one-to-one basis and during the Family Group time in order to provide spiritual direction and formation and guide the student in his/her life, relationships, studies, and ministries. The overriding concern is the character development of each student.

Family group time

All programme students are assigned to a Family Group with a Spiritual Supervisor. Each group is led by a student who is appointed by the Spiritual Supervisor. The purpose of the Family Group is to provide the student a community for encouragement, accountability, and growth. Besides the official Family Group times scheduled during school time, group members also meet informally outside school, at home, etc.

Chapel

Chapel is an important component of the EAST experience. It seeks to help students grow in their spiritual life through worship, prayer, and service within a community of believers. All full-time students are expected to attend the weekly Chapel since it is also viewed as an integral part of the field education programme.

Prayer time

Prayer is another important discipline that EAST hopes to cultivate in the students. Students are encouraged to form prayer groups and to utilize the prayer tower in the school. A time for prayer often takes place toward the end of the Chapel service. Students are encouraged to submit updated praise and prayer items to the Prayer Coordinator for intercession by the entire school.

The Worldwide Day of Prayer is held twice a year, during which the entire day is devoted to prayer for the needs of different countries around the world.

Community outreach and witnessing

EAST’s heritage derives from a ministry that is born out of the desire to obey Christ’s Great Commission. As such, the students and Family Groups are encouraged to organize and be involved in regular community outreaches, personal witnessing, and discipleship.

Fellowship and recreation

To cultivate the family bond among the EAST family, fellowship lunches, and other special fellowship functions involving faculty, staff, and students are organised periodically. Get-togethers may also be organized on an ad-hoc basis with professors by their respective classes.

The student-maintained Agape Room offers both students and their families a place to rest, relax, chat, and eat together. After a hard day of study, students may also unwind with a game of table tennis at the Recreation Room, or a game of tennis at the nearby Farrer Park tennis courts, or a swim at the nearby swimming club. Inter-collegiate games are organised once a year with other seminaries in Singapore to foster closer fellowship among the theological community.