Desmond Teo: Reflection on Faculty Development Days
Faculty in training Desmond Teo shares his reflection on the Faculty Development Days which happened at the end of last semester.
More than 30 EAST resident and adjunct faculty members gathered for a time of development and strategic planning from Nov 12-14th. On the first morning, newly minted Dr Josephine Goh distilled key insights from her dissertation titled “Making Room for Formation: A Hospitable Space in Mentoring Groups”. Based on fieldwork done amongst mentoring groups at EAST over the past several years, she mapped out the various dimensions that contribute to a transformative mentoring environment in an Asian seminary. Affirming strengths that the research surfaced about the mentoring culture at EAST, she led faculty members in giving thanks to God and encouraged them to press on in these areas. She also facilitated times of reflection and discussion on ways that EAST can strengthen the mentoring system at EAST, so that future cohorts of students can continue to experience deep transformation as they pursue theological education at EAST.
Christmas Greetings
EAST President, Faculty, Staff and Students wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Exposition of Mark (Onsite) – May 2026 Intensive Course
Exposition of Mark (Onsite)
NT551, 3 Credits
19 – 29 May, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
(from Tuesday to the following Friday, excluding Saturday and Sunday)
An expositional study of the Gospel of Mark, focusing on its genre, structure, and historical context. The course examines its purpose, role within the biblical canon, and major theological themes. Its relevance for contemporary life, mission, and ministry is explored, equipping students to understand and apply Mark’s message effectively.
Hallur Mortensen, PhD, first joined Operation Mobilization in 1999 working in London. After theological studies he taught at Peter Achimugu College of Theology in Nigeria as a missionary with Mission Africa (2010-2013). In 2017 he rejoined OM and is currently serving as Kanto regional leader in OM and in an assistant pastor role in Agape Community Church in Atsugi, Japan. His particular interest centres around the three spheres of Biblical Studies, Mission, and Japan. He is married to Shino from Japan and they have four children.
Registration deadline: Monday, 11 May 2026
Alumna Mei-Mei Lee: Treasured Possession
The testimony below was first shared by alumna Mei-Mei Lee during Faculty Development Days 2025 as a devotional.
A father gave his young daughter a pearl necklace, and she adored it so much that she wore it every single day. Years later, when the girl was older, her father asked her, “Please give the necklace back to me.” And do you know what she said? “No.” She refused, saying, “This is my favorite. I love it.” Sometimes, we are just like that little girl with God. We cling so tightly to things we cherish—a ministry, a relationship, a position, or a dream—that we cannot let go. For me, that thing was my ministry.
Christian Marriage (Online) – PIM Day Course
Christian Marriage (Online)
LF360, 2 Credits
Saturdays, 14 March – 2 May 2026, 10.30 am – 1.30 pm
Aims to build a thriving marriage by exploring important topics like understanding God’s design for marriage, communication and conflict resolution, power of forgiveness, impact of family background and upbringing, physical intimacy, and maintaining romance in marriage. It offers assessments for marriage and practical skills in handling challenges unique to ministry couples.
Course limited to Partners in Ministry program and visiting students.
(This course is for couples only, husbands of students must attend together)
Marriage & Ministry (Online)
EF521, 1 Credit
Saturdays, 14 March – 2 May, 10.30 am – 1.30 pm
Aims to build a thriving marriage by exploring important topics like understanding God’s design for marriage, communication and conflict resolution, power of forgiveness, impact of family background and upbringing, physical intimacy, and maintaining romance in marriage. It further equips students with vital skills in handling challenges unique to ministry couples such as maintaining healthy life-balance and emotional well-being, setting boundaries to resist temptations, and forging strong ministry partnership with one’s spouse.
The class teaching sessions are held as one cohort together with the LF360 Christian Marriage PIM class (see above). The EF512 Marriage and Ministry credit class has other required assignments in addition to attending the LF360 class sessions.
Course limited to program students and visiting credit students.
(This course is for couples only, spouses of students must attend together)
Jacob Li, ThM, PhD, Candidate, has been serving EAST since 2015. He enjoys teaching classes on the New Testament, homiletics, leadership, education, and Christian marriage in churches, para-church ministries, and seminaries across North America and Asia. He holds a Master of Continuing Education (University of Calgary, Canada) and a Master of Theology in Bible Exposition (Dallas Theological Seminary, USA). He is currently completing his PhD in Education (Liberty University, USA).
Josephine Li, MABS, DMin Candidate, was born and raised in Hong Kong. At the age of 19, she emigrated with her family to Vancouver, Canada, where she studied Business Administration at Simon Fraser University and Interior Design Management at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In 2013, she completed her Master of Biblical Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in the USA, where she concentrated on Women’s Ministries and Cross-Cultural Missions. Josephine’s passion is to reach out to and equip women, especially wives of pastors and leaders, for God’s service. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Western University, Canada, specializing in building the holistic well-being of ministry leaders for ministry resilience.
Registration deadline: Wednesday, 31 December 2025
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