New Student Kristian Peace Braquis: His Grace is Sufficient

 

Kristian Peace Braquis is one of our new students from the Philippines this semester. He is beginning with the Master of Arts in Leadership program. Below is his reflection of how the Lord has led him and his young family to EAST.

(Lk 14:25-33) 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

When my friend, Mikeel came back to Philippines after his study at East Asia School of Theology, we invited him for lunch to hear his story. Amazed of what God has done to him and how He equipped him to be of help in his church and ministry, I also desired to study in a theology school to serve the church and to minister to those who are in need. But I didn’t consider going to EAST as I’m aware of the cost of living in Singapore and I’m just starting a family with a one and half year-old kid that time. However, God was already setting us up for one of the best seasons of our faith journey.

Mikeel contacted Aitee of East Admissions Team, and through her, both Mikeel and I were invited to a zoom meeting with the Admissions team. They were so encouraging that they even prayed for me. Then, all throughout the process, Aitee was so helpful in leading me through the ICA process. She even went the extra mile to coordinate with ICA to correct my answer when I misunderstood a question in the Student Pass Application Process. She also made sure that my Medical Report reflect all the important particulars that it will be acceptable even it was from a clinic in the Philippines.

Amidst handling a number of applications, Aitee never failed to answer my queries on time. She is very knowledgeable in this area and it is such a big help for international students like me to be assisted by her.

During our time of preparation, there are a lot of God-ordained meet ups with random people and missionaries happened confirming His call for me to leave everything and follow Him. It wasn’t an easy decision; we had to pray for months to be sure if this was really from the Lord and not just a fleshly desire. But God spoke through Mark 10:28-30 “Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”

I praise God for using the faculty and of EAST Admissions Team to pray with us and support us in all of the ICA requirements even while we were in the Philippines. God also prepared an affordable place for us to stay conducive for our family. The EAST community had been very helpful with us in transitioning to Singapore. And so here we are today, experiencing God’s unfathomable ways of bringing us here in Singapore even if we didn’t have the means – His grace is sufficient and He blesses others to provide for us day by day.