Student life

The following is a brief extract from the “Student Life” section of the Prospectus. Please review the above mentioned section for more detailed information.

EAST Aleph

“Aleph” is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is also the name of the two-week immersion experience for new EAST students. The EAST Aleph is conducted during the weeks immediately prior to the start of first semester each July. Participation at EAST Aleph is required for all new program students.

The EAST Aleph is designed to help new program students adjust to seminary life and class work. Cohorts of new students develop friendships in the context of learning EAST’s core values, worshipping together, ministering together, and completing a seminar (IS401 Evangelism and Follow Up Seminar). In addition, students begin a foundational course (LF420 Research, Writing, and Critical Thinking for BACM students and LF500 Research and Writing for Christian Leadership for MA and MDiv students).

Students who begin studies at EAST in the January semester should plan to attend the EAST Aleph in the following July. There will be a brief orientation for new students in January, but it is not a substitute for participation in EAST Aleph. Part-time program students need to plan ahead and coordinate with their employer/ministry supervisor so they can attend all EAST Aleph sessions.

Students’ Wives

Recognizing that students’ wives who are mothers are not usually able to take program courses, EAST offers a Partners in Ministry (PIM) two-year Certificate program. The PIM certificate program has been developed to provide quality training for wives of seminary students as well as women whose husbands are in full-time or bi-vocational ministry. PIM classes and Mentoring Groups are held on Mondays. For further information about PIM, see the Partners in Ministry description in the “Academic Programs” section of this Prospectus as well as the Student Handbook.

Mentoring Groups

Mentoring Groups (MG) are a unique aspect of community life at EAST. All program students are assigned to MGs which meet regularly throughout the semester. MGs are led by faculty members who serve as group mentors, and group members also function as peer mentors for each other in the group.

The MGs provide an environment for developing community, encouragement, prayer, fellowship, spiritual formation, integration, and character development. The desired outcome of the MG experience is life change, spiritual and character growth, mutual support and accountability. In order to foster community and openness, a student generally remains with the same MG leader(s) throughout his/her studies at EAST. As part of leadership development in MGs, students will from time to time be asked to assist in ministry roles and lead in various MG projects.

Student Council

EAST has an active Student Council (SC). Student Council members are nominated by the student body every second semester for the next academic year. The SC represents students and communicates their interests to the EAST faculty and administration. In addition, the SC helps to plan activities for community-building at EAST. Further information about roles and responsibilities of the SC is available in the Student Handbook.

Chapel

Chapel is an important component of the EAST experience. It is a time when EAST gathers and grows in spiritual life through worship, prayer, and service as a community of believers. All EFS and full-time program students are expected to attend the weekly Chapel as it is an integral part of the formational process at EAST. Part-time students are expected to attend Chapel when they have Wednesday classes (including MG and FIRM).

Prayer

Prayer is a discipline that EAST hopes to cultivate in each student. Each Chapel service generally includes a time of prayer. A prayer room located on the third floor of our campus is available for individual and small group prayer.

Twice a year, the EAST community sets aside a day for prayer, with a focus on the needs of different countries and ministries around the world.

Fellowship and Recreation

To cultivate the familial bond in the EAST community, fellowship lunches and other special fellowship function with faculty, staff, and students are organised periodically. Get-togethers are also organized on an ad-hoc basis with lecturers by their respective classes.

The student-maintained Agape Room offers both students and their families a place to rest, relax, chat, and eat together. (More information about the Agape Room is found in the “Facilities & Location” section in the Prospectus.) After a hard day of study, students may also relax at the rooftop garden on the fifth level.

Inter-collegiate games are organised once a year with other seminaries in Singapore. This friendly competition fosters closer fellowship among the theological community.

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, students and Mentoring Groups are encouraged to organize and be involved in regular community outreaches, personal witnessing, and discipleship.