Alumnus Yutaka Gakiya – Shy Person to Ordained Preacher
Rev Yutaka Gakiya’s Ordination at Sakai Evangelical Church (October 2021)
EAST News caught up with Rev Yutaka Gakiya who graduated last May and has since returned to serve in his home church, Sakai Evangelical Church, Osaka. He was ordained as a Pastor in October 2021. It was a significant milestone for Yutaka as the ordination denotes the official start of his duties and responsibilities as a minister of God’s Word. It was also a proud moment for his father, Rev Akira Gakiya, who is the Senior Pastor of the church to witness Yutaka following his footsteps in serving God full-time.
Update from Senior Alumni Rev Simon & Hannah Son
Rev Simon & Hannah Son
EAST News caught up with Rev Simon & Hannah Son through a Zoom interview recently. Both Simon and Hannah graduated from the inaugural class of 1995 when EAST was established in 1992, with a Master of Divinity degree and Partners-in-Ministry certificate respectively. Although Simon and Hannah are both Korean Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC) Staff, they had undergone their Great Commission Training Center (GCTC) days in Manila back in 1984, having to learn English which was not their native tongue. After that, they pioneered the student ministry in Hong Kong where they had to learn yet another language, Cantonese. They were missionaries in Hong Kong for six years before Dr Victor Koh invited them to equip themselves for further studies at the newly established EAST in 1992. Simon had to complete a year of English preparation in 1991 in Singapore before beginning the course at EAST in 1992.
Prayer pointers – 20 January 2022
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV.
In a constantly changing environment, the pace of change has accelerated and continual learning is important for lifelong ministry. Students must acquire the mindset to learn, unlearn and relearn, trusting our Lord’s leading in the process.
Starting 2022!
Our first week of the January 2022 semester was a welcome for our new students and a time of gathering as Mentoring Groups to start off this new season.
As a community, It was good to see each other again after the December holidays, and we appreciated getting to start the semester with intentional times for Mentoring Groups to gather. This is one way our new students get connected with everyone in the wider EAST community, and with the fellow students journeying alongside within the same Mentoring Groups. The EAST community is where we rally around each other in fellowship, prayer and encouragement.
We give thanks for our community in school and continue to walk with each other in the semester ahead.
Alumna Esther on Life Lessons at EAST
Alumna Esther & Family
Esther is an EAST alumna who graduated with a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry in 2017. She came from Indochina to be equipped at EAST. She came as a single lady and has returned to her home country married, and now has a son Josiah who is turning three. Together with her husband, they are pastoring a local church of over 40 members. Below is an interview of her experience at EAST, some life lessons and prayer requests.
EAST Library Catalogue
EAST Populi
National Library Board eResources
The Digital Theological Library
