Graduate’s Story – Lee Poh Chin, MAICS 2023
Lee Poh Chin (Singapore), MA Intercultural Studies (2023)
“The journey, not the destination matters” (T. S. Eliot, poet, essayist, Nobel Prize Literature laureate in 1948).
“I’m here for the ride,” says Lee Poh Chin, principal-mentor of an international school ministry in Kampong Speu, Cambodia, before she came to EAST. The PhD holder in Human Movement and Exercise Science from University of Western Australia wanted a school that prepares her to serve among Khmer people. “EAST has not disappointed me,” she says.
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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