Blessed Advent 2017
What about Christmas that it is marked as a time of joy? Some said it’s not the presents, but His presence. Who is He and why is it so? “He” is Jesus Christ, whom the Bible identified as the Son of God and was born on earth as a baby on that first Christmas. The Bible records the fulfillment of the prophesied Saviour in Him as the One who would later die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Christmas to Christians is therefore a looking back at that momentous time when it heralded the birth of the Saviour of the world.
Dr James A. Francis (1864–1928) summarized the impact made by the life of Christ in what is later commonly entitled as “One Solitary Life”:[1]
Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village. He is brought up in another obscure village. He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life. He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life. While still a young man, the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a trial; he is nailed to a cross between two thieves, and when dead is laid in a borrowed grave by the kindness of a friend.
Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Today we look back across nineteen hundred years and ask, What kind of trail has he left across the centuries? When we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life…
Throwback Tuesday – Transforming Leadership Class 2017
The Transforming Leadership class with the top-of-the-world feel.
The Transforming Leadership class in 2017, as taught by Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok, Mr Nelson Lo, Mr Liong Kwok Wai, and Rev Jonathan Yao, saw fellow classmates sharing their leadership journey, and learning principles relating to the heart, head, hands, and habits of Christlike leaders. The practice of these in the power of Holy Spirit bring about empowered servant leaders for the Great Commission wherever they are.
Students have these to say:
“Everyone’s leadership journey had taught me much and the lessons from the four lecturers were amazing. They had made me think and encouraged me to reflect upon it.” – Program Student
“I am deeply encouraged by the learning experience and appreciate the hardworking lecturers and the warm classmates. You guys rock!” – Visiting Student
Do join our leadership classes next semester (Jan-Jun 2018). Find out more by clicking on the Classes tab above.
Class photo with edited background of skyline courtesy of Kenneth Goh.
Throwback Tuesday – Teaching & Learning 1 Class 2017
The Teaching and Learning 1 class conducted in 2017, as taught by Dr Jeannette Shubert and Ms Josephine Lam, learnt how to assess the audience, developed lesson plans, and facilitate an engaging learning process. Great teachers are avid learners who impart principles and practices for a holistic transformative learning journey.
Would you like to be an effective Bible teacher and facilitator who is continually being transformed as a humble learner? Come join our classes. Click on the Classes tab for more class information and Promotions tab to feast at EAST for free.
Photo courtesy of Josephine Lam.
New Book: Faith In An Age Of Terror
Two resident faculty of EAST, Dr Lewis Winkler and Dr Kwa Kiem-Kiok, have contributed essays to a seminal work, Faith In An Age Of Terror (2018). It seeks to address the issue of terrorism and reviewed possible responses by Christians. The nine authors, sought to answer the following questions: “What are the roots of violent human behaviour? Why does religious fundamentalism have violent potentials? What do the Bible and the Quran each say about religious violence? How should inter-religious dialogue be pursued, and what are the appropriate ways for religious believers to commend their faith to those who do not share it?”
The two chapters contributed by the EAST faculty are:
- Winkler, Lewis E. “Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities.”
- Kwa, Kiem-Kiok. “Maintaining Religious Harmony: Tensions with Terrorism.”
More information on the book may be found by clicking on the book cover above.
EAST “Giving Week”
We are in the middle of the Singapore #GivingWeek. While EAST is not listed in the associated giving.sg site, we welcome any gifts toward our mission of “Developing Christlike leaders for the Great Commission” in East Asia and beyond. As this is our 25th Anniversary year, be sure to ask for a copy of Running With Unwavering Passion, a compendium written by our own faculty.
For information on our needs and how to give, do visit our giving webpage. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
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