Alumnus Terrence Thomas: “Do not put God in a box.”
Terrence Thomas, an EAST alumus who graduated seven years ago with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry, recently made a trip back to Singapore with his wife Tamara (a Vice President in Human Resource at an MNC) from the US. EAST News took the opportunity to catch up with this beautiful African American couple to find out what God is doing in and through their lives and ministry.
Below is a short interview with them.
Q: What have you been up to since your graduation from EAST in 2016?
A: My hometown is Connecticut but Tamara and I went back to Cincinnati in Ohio to settle down back in 2016 and I was on staff with Citygate Church from 2018-2020 before being ordained as a care pastor in 2021. During Covid, ministry went virtual but we were doing food pantry and also delivering food to needy people. Our church was providing groceries and even toilet paper (remember the toilet paper shortages?) to people around us. The smaller churches were also able to use facilities and resources from Citygate church. Our church has over 3,000 members and 21 care pastors led by Pastors Eric & Kim Petree. It is a non-denominational church which has a vision of being “a church that looks like heaven”. Tamara and I counsel new couples, or couples in distress by journeying with them, and I (Terrence) conduct both weddings, officiate funerals as well besides doing care visits and a lot of behind the scenes work in the church.
Leadership 101
Bae Jaeseong came to EAST to learn how to be a better leader.
The former Cru Korea missionary to Japan and HR Administrator says he was attracted to the school’s leadership professors who are backed by a proven track record. “For example, our President, Rev Dr Chan, directed a fruitful ministry in East Asia for years; and Dr Roland was the national leader of Cru Singapore.”
As he looks back to his three years at EAST, Jaeseong is grateful for the many classes that developed his thinking as a leader. “I’m impressed by Dr Lewis’ class on denominations and theological views – what are the core and what are opinions; and Dr Samuel’s ‘Cultural Maps’ for cross-cultural understanding. So helpful.”
A Rich Man
As Enkh surveys all that he has gathered over the last three-and-a-half years, he feels like a rich man. “We came to Singapore with only the first month’s rental,” he says, “but God has blessed us with much – books, clothes, schooling needs, and treasures that money cannot buy.”
Such treasures included practical knowledge he could bring back to his three congregations of “first-generation believers” in and outside of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s captial city. “I have already started teaching my leaders back home what I learned here, e.g., Bible Study Methods by Rev Jacob Li, spiritual disciplines by Dr Lewis, and Theology by Dr Raymond Go.”
“I really like Dr Raymond Go; he would entertain my many questions – even disagreements – in class.”
When I am weak
Yami Asai Shimray (India) recently graduated with an MDiv in Christian Ministry and also received the EAST Spiritual Multiplier Award. She served as part of the pastoral team at New Horizon Church. She was recently married to Mathingmi Hongchui in a beautiful wedding service at Grace Baptist Church. Both of them are deeply committed to build up the Church in India and beyond. Yami will leave for her DMin studies in Family Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, joining her husband who is reading a PhD (Christian Education in Family and Generational Studies) at the same seminary.
Growing up in Manipur, India, ‘fear’ was not in Yami Shimray’s dictionary.
At six, she fell into a river during a riot but climbed back up “to everyone’s amazement”; at seven Dad passed away and she became Mummy’s helper at home while she worked; all through university and Masters degree in Tourism Management, she worked to support herself.
Meet at the Well
Meet our Valedictorian Jasmine Lee Wan Shan, 36, from the recent 28th Commencement. She worships at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church and has graduated with a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry.
Four years ago, Jasmine Lee and ladies in her cell group started a “Meet At The Well” ministry, which gathers believers from different churches for friendship and fellowship in the Word.
“The program centers around conversations that concern singles, within an informal setting of food, games and spiritual encouragement,” says Jasmine.
In a way, Jasmine’s stop at EAST has also been a “meet at the well” for her.
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