New Student “Anna”: Dreams Come True
Anna is among the new cohort, being orientated at a Singapore foodcourt.
Below is a reflection by “Anna”, a new student who hails from a country which is home to snow leopards and nearby to Mount Everest:
Wanting to pursue further studies was always my dream that remained inside my heart for the longest time. When people were going abroad, I was excited for them but for myself, I had to console my heart.
I come from a humble family raised by a single-parent – my mother. I felt like this dream of mine needs to be sacrificed for the good of the family. At the same time, I was trying to know my purpose in God. I continued the fellowship that He gave as the word of God says that we are called with a purpose.
I never knew that God would answer my prayer in this way. Desiring Him and wanting to be His instrument to reach out to the unreached through care and support made this dying dream of mine come alive again through East Asia School of Theology (EAST).
Nobody actually believed that I was leaving the country – not even myself. It only hit me when I was up in sky at some high altitude. Upon landing in Singapore, I could not stop thanking God. As each day passes, I am able to experience His goodness. At EAST, I am certain that I will learn, equip myself and would be able to head towards the direction where God is pointing me. Especially, I will become an instrument among young-adults who needs care, support and guidance of our churches back home. I will be at the places where He wants me to be at.
Your prayers and guidance is needed as I step in this faith journey that I am taking.
“It’s the one step that God is waiting for us to take.”
Do keep “Anna” in your prayers as she pursues Master of Arts in Leadership over the next two years in EAST. May she be equipped well to serve God’s purposes for her home country.
Alumnus Amos Chew: Let Others Feed Us
Amos is doing pottery as part of his FIRM (Formation, Integration, Reflection and Ministry) class.
LET OTHERS FEED US
Amos Chew Jing Ming (Singapore)
MA Leadership
Amos, 34, believes that as a leader, he must let others feed him.
“We cannot stop learning,” says the UK-trained sports coach who served on missions in the Philippines, and was trained by GLO in Australia.
The former teacher among students with learning difficulties finds meeting people from diverse ministries and denominations at EAST enriching.
“I learned from Dr Raymond’s ‘Theology II’ class that when people do things differently from my brethren upbringing, they’re not wrong. They have a history.”
“That was impactful for me.”
For the past year, Amos has ventured into ministries among Myanmar refugees in Mae Sot, Thailand, and elderly folks at church.
“Going to the refugee camp with my faculty mentor Toe Set showed me real needs out there that I’d never known before,” he says.
“Ministering to elderly folks taught me to slow down, connect with people and understand their loneliness.”Amos confesses that initially academic study was a steep learning curve. “But it’s ok; I’m here to learn.”
And among his many assignments, the toughest were still those outside of the classroom. In 2024 he walked with an 18-year-old church youth who suffered from muscular cancer. “He passed away in November, but I still feel heavy hearted whenever I hear that someone is sick,” he says.
“But God taught me precious lessons though this, like the fragility of life, how to be a friend.
The article above is written by Dr Lau Ying Kheng and first appeared at EAST Commencement Magazine 2025. Amos Chew Jing Ming graduated with a Master of Arts in Leadership on 17 May 2025. Following his graduation, he will continue to serve in his local church as a full time worker. Meanwhile, he will also serve in EAST with the EAST Extension Centre in Vietnam for a stint of 6 months. His father William Chew currently also serves at EAST as a part-time Information Technology staff.
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.
EAST’s 31st Commencement: Honouring Legacy, Celebrating Vision
On 17 May 2025, East Asia School of Theology (EAST) will celebrate its 31st Commencement Ceremony at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church. This significant milestone will not only mark the graduation of 30 students from eight nations, but also the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) upon Rev Seung-Rock Yoon—a leader whose servant-hearted influence and missionary vision have deeply impacted EAST and the wider Body of Christ.
Celebrating a Vision Fulfilled
The journey of EAST’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program began not without challenge. Initial hesitation from senior leadership underscored the weight of launching such an endeavour. Yet, it was through the persistent vision and support of Rev Seung-Rock Yoon, then East Asia Orient Director of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC), that the DMin program took root. His catalytic role—both in challenging the vision and in raising the resources necessary—enabled the launch of the inaugural cohort nearly five years ago.
Dr Lewis Winkler: Summative Project Reflection
If you were to reflect on your growth experiences in the past couple of years, what would they be? How would it affect your present faith journey and ministry? Below is a brief reflection by Dr Lewis Winkler, EAST Resident Faculty of Systematic Theology, about what the graduating cohort of students have experienced at EAST.
The Summative Project gives graduating students the opportunity to reflect upon and share about what God has taught, wrought, and accomplished in and through them during the course of their studies at EAST.
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