New Student Ai Tam’s Faith-filled Journey to EAST
Ai Tam is second from the left.
How did the initial rejection by the immigration authorities to study in Singapore become a spiritual exercise of faith affirming God’s call for one’s life? Ms Do Thi Ai Tam, a Vietnamese new student with East Asia School of Theology (EAST) Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, shares of her eventful and faith-filled journey of His provisions coming to EAST.
Reflecting on the year 2025, I cannot stop giving thanks to the Lord for every milestone I have gone through. I have truly experienced His faithfulness in my academic journey to EAST and Singapore. Earlier on, I applied to join EAST as a program student and was duly accepted. I then applied to the Singapore immigration authorities for my Student’s Pass in April 2025. I had not expected any problem as I have a high level of confidence in my qualification and education. After submitting all the needed documents, however, my application was rejected. This left me greatly disappointed and confused. It also raised a question of whether God wanted me to pursue theological education at all.
New Student Ajay’s Formative Beginnings at EAST
How does one’s journey to apply for studies at East Asia School of Theology (EAST) and the initial immersion experience be truly formative? Mr Ajay Daram, a new EAST student from India studying Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies (MAICS), shares his missional journey to and recent experiences at EAST.
Coming to EAST to pursue the Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies (MAICS) has been a significant step in my journey of discerning God’s call to serve His mission in Asia. Over time, I became increasingly aware that effective Christian witness in today’s world requires more than passion alone; it requires deep theological grounding, cultural sensitivity, and spiritual formation. I sensed a need to be trained in a community that takes both the gospel and the Asian context seriously. EAST stood out as a place committed to forming servant-leaders for God’s mission, and this vision resonated deeply with my own sense of calling.
Student’s Testimony: Field Supervisors’ Tea 2025
Field Education is an important aspect of theological education at EAST. Students practice what they have learnt in class through actual field ministry under the supervision of Field Supervisors from churches, mission agencies, and like-minded organisations. An annual Field Supervisors’ Tea was held recently at EAST to thank them and recount the impact of students’ field ministry. Below is a student’s testimony of his field ministry. Here is Fred’s story:
St. Andrew’s Cathedral is a very beautiful church in Singapore, located right beside City Hall MRT station. I have brought several friends there when they came to visit Singapore. They all liked this place very much and enjoyed taking photos there. During those visits, I also noticed many tourists taking photos. But after taking pictures, they just left. No one gave them any gospel tracts, and no one shared the gospel with them. When I saw that, my heart felt very burdened. I remembered the Bible says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” I also thought of the saying, “If someone comes to a treasure mountain, how can they leave empty-handed?” They already came to the church, yet they did not hear the gospel. What a pity that is!
Wishes & Prayers for SG 60
For SG60 With Love
Below are Wishes and Prayers for SG60 from the EAST community, in Singapore and around the World. May God bless Singapore to be a blessing to the nations within her borders and beyond.
I want Singapore to be strong and prosperous in the next 60 years, where her people live in unity and harmony. I want Singapore to be a nation where equity, integrity and truth are the foundations of everyday life; where there is no discrimination of race, colour, social status, individual ability or appearance. I want Singapore to be a community of love, where people look after one another and where generosity roars. I want Singapore to be a friend to her neighbours and a contributor to all efforts of peace around the world.
May God bless Singapore with strength and prosperity and give into her heart, equity, integrity and truth that she would live out in her everyday life. May God help her embrace everyone, regardless of race, colour, status, ability or appearance, with love and generosity and also bless her with friends from many shores and enable her to contribute to every effort of peace around the world.
• Chan Wei Har, Alumna, Singapore
Alumna Worchuirin Horam: Bringing Food to the Needy
Worchuirin “Achui” Horam, Manipur (NE India)
Achui has graduated with an EAST Master of Arts in Leadership (MALD) in May 2025.
At the height of Covid-19 in 2021, a group of ladies raised some funds for pandemic-victims in India. Among those who hand-delivered rice, flour and oil to needy families in Delhi was Achui.
A year later, the ten-year high school teacher felt God’s call to enter full-time ministry. “And so I came to EAST,” says Achui. “But God’s curriculum was nothing I’d imagined.”
In April 2024, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Read more
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