Ruth Hwmay: My First Semester of Studies @EAST

 

Ruth Hwmay is a new student from Myanmar and studying Graduate Diploma in Theological Studies. She worships and serves with Agape Baptist Church in Singapore. She shares about her first semester of studies at East Asia School of Theology (EAST) below.

While I have previously not considered attending a seminary, yet this semester marked the beginning of my first year of seminary studies. This semester, I took four subjects: Christian Marriage, World Mission, Exposition of Matthew, and Spiritual Life and Transformation. Each of them provided me with a transforming understanding of God that I had not experienced before.

Through the Christian Marriage course, I came across a new perspective on Christian marriage–it is service-oriented, as Christ comes first in Christian marriage.  In the past, I had understood that marriage is merely a measure between two people, such as career and property.  Furthermore, I have come to realize that being in a Christian family, in addition to Christian marriage, is the most fundamental ministry that any believer can engage in.

The World Mission course was initially an unfamiliar subject to me, but it helped to open my eyes to a more expansive picture and mission of the global Church. Learning about the history of missions and the lives of missionaries helped me to understand where Christianity came from, and the hardships and faith of the missionaries inspired me to go deeper and bolder in my personal vision and faith journey.

Previously, I was unfamiliar with the terms of missions, mission, and missionaries. Now, however, I have learned that as a Burmese, I am a missionary even in Singapore reaching out to both locals and other races.  I learnt about mission agencies around the world for which I could serve and partner with based on my calling, gifting and skills from God.

Through the course on Exposition of Matthew, I better understood this Gospel. I was deeply moved as the author of this book wrote in such a way as to focus on how Jesus prayed, discipled, died on the Cross and was resurrected for us, and His command for us to then share the gospel to the world. The lectures, assignments, and papers helped me to be transformed in my thinking and application.

Finally, the Spiritual Life and Transformation course had a significant impact on my heart, life, and identity, both before and after I received Christ. This course offered assignments that require deep reflections and heart work. I took a long while to complete some of the seemingly “short” assignments since it require much reflection on my life before I came to Christ and the changes thereafter. I have likewise been transformed by the lessons learnt and the healing and restoration I have in Christ.

I would like to thank all of my lecturers, mentors, fellow students and staff from EAST, my church in Myanmar and Singapore, my cell group members from Agape Baptist Church, and my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world for their guidance, prayers, and support during this semester.  Without these, I will be unable to complete it successfully. Furthermore, I would like to thank my beloved mother for her unwavering support and encouragement, especially for my emotional and mental support, even though she is not yet a believer.

I would like to say “Thank You, Jesus” for saving me and choosing me as the first generation of your Kingdom from among my family members. I have been blessed throughout my life; through all of my ups and downs as you have always been by my side.  Your love is everlasting and eternal.  I learnt much from this first semester and would like to continue to grow in the coming semester.  Allow me to end my sharing with the following verse that speaks of His everlasting presence and provision: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:5-6, NIV).