Mission Hub Renovation Update – September 2020
EAST is truly entering into an exciting phase of ministry. God has led us to purchase a permanent facility at 118 Joo Chiat Road which we fondly call EAST Mission Hub for its future endeavour to equip and raise servant leaders for the Great Commission.
The pandemic has shaken everything worldwide. For us at EAST, the Mission Hub renovations had been affected…a delay of at least three months. Thankfully, renovation work has resumed!
The 4th level of the building will house the administration and provide the dedicated space for faculty to study and prepare for courses. It will be completed ready for the office shift by Mid October.
Levels 3 and 5 housing the recording studios, meeting rooms, auditorium, library, and lounge are shaping up nicely.
God willing, the shift into 118 Mission Hub will be fully done by November. We look forward to inviting you and all who have given to make this dream possible. It will be a beautiful celebration to God’s faithfulness to EAST for 28 years!
We want to thank so many of you who have given sacrificially toward the cost of the purchase and renovation of EAST Mission Hub. Purchased at cost of $18 million including renovations, God has blessed us with donations of $5.8 m. Cru Sg has kindly taken up 60% of the building so that we can raise the rest of $18m at “our own time”.
We have launched in faith and are trusting God to move you and others He will lead to give generously and sacrificially to service the loan, and help us buy up the rest of the building. Once again, thank you for being our treasured partners in ministry and in our journey of faith. May the Lord bless you richly for your special part to EAST.
Getting to know Dr Benson and Mrs Josephine Goh
Dr Benson Goh (professor of Greek and New Testament studies) and his wife, Josephine (Mentoring Group coordinator), helped organize the “Discipling the Young in Today’s Digital World” webinar. They also spoke at the webinar together with the keynote speaker, Dr Felicia Tay, a clinical psychologist from a public hospital. It was attended by more than 280 participants. Recently, we got up close and personal with Ben and Jo, as they are called by friends and colleagues.
To begin with, how did they meet? In school, where else!
Ben and Jo met as undergraduates during their respective Engineering and Business studies on Nanyang Technological University (NTU). As they got to know each other more through their love for Christ and involvement with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), friendship blossomed into love.
Asking the Right Questions in Facilitating Bible Study
In one of our recent Ministry Weekend webinars, our faculty Amy Lau spoke on using helpful questions as a way of engaging the text in Bible study. This was organised as part of an equipping series on the preparation and facilitation of online bible study.
One of the tips given was to use ‘who, what, why, when, where and how’ questions as a way of directing attention and facilitating the understanding of certain key points within the text in the Bible.
Here’s the video of this webinar for more details on this tip:
Useful Tips for Leading Online Bible Study
In one of our recent Ministry Weekend webinars, Jacob Li, our faculty was sharing a number of useful tips for leading bible study online. These are relevant for anyone using online platforms for teaching ministry.
Here’s a little snippet of the points covered:
Technology
Engage
Ask Questions
Cheer
Homework
Sounds useful? Here’s a video of the session:
Shalom, and the Lord grant you effectiveness in your ministry online.
MGs in Ministry Weekend Action
Our Mentoring Groups have been serving together over the recent weekends in various webinars as an outreach to the community over online platforms.
As the webinars covered a range of varied topics, we have gleaned much from the learning experience of hosting the webinars and listening along to our speakers’ messages.
This year’s Ministry Weekend has indeed been a unique one for our Mentoring Groups, as we learned how to reach the community online instead of physical seminars. Yes, it was a steep learning curve as online platforms were new to many of us. Still, we are giving thanks for the learning experiences we have had in adjusting to such new normals in ministry.
As we look ahead to new normals and new challenges in ministry, we can keep Deuteronomy 31:8 in mind as our encouragement from the Lord:
The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
– Deuteronomy 31:8 –
Be blessed and encouraged, as you walk with the Lord today and in the days ahead.
EAST Library Catalogue
EAST Populi
National Library Board eResources
The Digital Theological Library
