Newly Arrived Students: Thanawat & Phichanida Wichaphon
L-R: Rev Jonathan Yao (seated), Wong Ee Yuing, Boon-Koh Aitee, Phichanida Wichaphon (Peung), Thanawat Wichaphon (Off)
Thanawat and Phichanida Wichaphons are the first couple to have arrived in Singapore from Thailand for our new semester this June. They are better known by their nicknames Off and Peung. Off has been enrolled in Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies since July 2022 and Peung has been attending online Partners-in-Ministry classes. They are thrilled to finally take the classes at EAST on-site in the upcoming semester and have face to face interactions with faculty, students and staff.
EAST News had the opportunity to ask a few questions to get to know this “cool couple” better (as some have described them) and share their journey to EAST. Read more
New Faculty: Dr Mona P. Bias
Dr Mona P. Bias
In September 2023, Dr Mona P Bias joined EAST in Singapore as a resident faculty of Singapore. Below is a short interview with her to get to know her better and introduce this learned professor of the Old Testament to our wider community at EAST. We are honoured and privileged to have her join us as part of EAST Community and know she will be a blessing to many.
- Kindly share with us how you became a Christian, felt called to Christian ministry and finally, how God led you to serve at EAST.
It was on my second year in college when I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Someone shared the Gospel to me using the Four Spiritual Laws. I was then faithfully discipled and mentored by some Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) staff.
As a young person, I dreamt to be a medical doctor to serve in the boondocks and remote places of the Philippines. I actually passed the entrance exam to medical school. About that time, the Director of the International School of Theology-Asia asked me to take some classes at ISOT-Asia, which I did just for fun. On the third quarter, I realized that the Lord was calling me to full time Christian work. It was then that I decided to just finish the Master of Divinity program.
New Faculty: Dr Alvin Tey
L-R: Dr Alvin Tey, Kalene, Josiah, Natalie & Charlotte
EAST welcomes Dr Alvin Tey as our newest resident faculty! We invited him to share with us some serious, some spiritual, and some fun things about himself and his family as he joins our EAST community.
- Kindly share with us how you became a Christian, felt called to Christian ministry and finally, how God led you to serve at EAST.
I came from a Chinese ancestral worshipping family and became a Christian when I was 17 years old through a friend from Singapore Youth for Christ. In the years thereafter, I grew as a Christian and was discipled through the NavTeens ministry. In the small family church which I worship in, I also grew through serving in various ministries (including missions). It was through my church missions ministry that I first got acquainted with Operation Mobilisation (OM) in the early 2000s and started serving in mission trips to OM’s ministry among the Dalits (Untouchables) in South India. Read more
Testimony of New Student: Viron Kasar
From L-R: Mali Jana, Mrs Boon Aitee, Dr Joseph Khoo, Viron Kasar
Viron Kasar, a brother of EAST Alumnus Pammiyo Kasar, and a nephew of Ps Didymus Kasar has arrived in Singapore and at EAST at long last since his application even before the Covid-19 pandemic happened. Below is an interview with him where he shared his testimony.
- How did you know about EAST?.
As I was interested in furthering my education, Uncle Ps Didymus Kasar and Brother Pammiyo Kasar suggested to me to study at EAST. I knew some EAST alumni and worked with them as interns during their time as Cross Cultural Team Internship (CCTI) Team India while I was working with Agape Outreach Ministry. However, I see EAST as providing academic and spiritual support and offering a unique perspective on Christianity that connects with Asian cultures which is critical in India.
- What made you decide to come to EAST?
Welcoming New Student: Dom Chen
Welcome Lunch with Dom Chen
Our new student for the second semester, Mr Dom Chen (pseudonym) has arrived in Singapore during the Advent Season. He had wanted to study at EAST back in 2019 but at that time, Covid-19 happened and the world was in a panic mode globally. We at EAST are as heartened as he is that he has finally made his way to Singapore and EAST after the pandemic has more or less settled down. Below is a short interview with Dom regarding how he came to know about EAST and his experience thus far. Do pray for him and his family who will soon be joining him that their years of equipping at EAST will be impactful for their lives, leading them to greater transformation in their Head, Heart, Hands by the power of the Holy Spirit for the Glory of God.
1) How did you know about EAST?
First of all, Nelson Lo, currently an EAST Resident Faculty, had been my mentor for two years during my college years. We have been keeping in touch for many years, even upon graduation. I knew about EAST from him. Then, Ronald Tang (pseudonym), an EAST alumnus was our pastor. He graduated from EAST and also recommended the seminary. Finally, my wife had been a full-time staff in Cru for seven years and we have friends who studied in EAST.
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