Alumna Cynthia Oh: EAST and my Writing Story
I love to write but I had not imagined myself to be a published author. The story started in 2013 when I began taking up courses at EAST. With encouragement from my EAST mentor Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok and classmate Ms Boo Hwee Leng, I plucked up the courage to do a Mdiv in Intercultural Studies, instead of taking courses at random. When I made that decision I had no concrete plans except to equip myself should the Lord call me to missions. I remember that afternoon, having lunch with them at the KKH food court, sweating in my seat thinking,“ What am I getting myself into?”.
Field Supervisors Tea & Field Practicum Reflections
What is your impression of EAST? – A reflection by Faye Hohaia, OMF International Assistant General Director (Thanawat Wichapho’s Field Supervisor)
Having never been to East Asia School of Theology (EAST) before I was not sure what to expect on my first visit, but what I discovered about EAST is worth sharing. EAST is not only based in Singapore and carries East Asia in its name, but it engages in God’s mission in East Asia. Students from all over East Asia are being trained and equipped to be Jesus’ hands and feet wherever they are placed. Students from even further a far in our world are coming to be trained and equipped there too so they can share the good news of our good God in East Asia and beyond.
This is not just a school that simply teaches their students head knowledge about God. Their focus on the whole person and the whole gospel was very obvious from the moment I walked in. The day I visited EAST they were focusing on generosity in hospitality. The students had invited their supervisors to come to a special afternoon tea. They had cooked delicious dishes from their home countries and took great joy in sharing their combined efforts with their supervisors. Hospitality was not just restricted to food; they lead us in a time of worship through song and prayer and then we heard testimony of how God is leading them into a variety of ministries.
Student Council: Happy Teacher’s Day!
On behalf of the EAST Community, the Student Council has sent words of appreciation to their Teachers @ EAST:
To all the Teachers at EAST,
Knowing that each one of you is following God’s calling for your lives, I want to express my deepest gratitude as a student. I’ve witnessed your tireless efforts to provide us with the best possible learning experience, going the extra mile to support those who need extra help. Your commitment to not only teaching your subjects but also nurturing our relationship with God is truly inspiring. May God continue to sustain and to give you strength and joy, so that you cannot help but praise him for his goodness. –Sebastian, Secretary (Student Council)
Dr Alvin Tey: Teaching (and Learning) to Transform Lives
A blessed Teacher’s Day to all! And I do mean to all, as I am sure that all of us are teachers in one way or another!
Teaching is a calling. It is a calling not merely to impart knowledge and experiences, but to transform lives. Mirroring the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30) to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and the Second Commandment (Mark 12:31) to love others as ourselves, teaching is meant to be holistic in nature. The aim of teaching is firstly to transform the whole life, to love God more and more with our heart, soul, mind and strength, and secondly to transform us to love and serve others. Importantly, even as we are individually called to teach in our different capacities and different seasons of our lives, we are also called to learn and grow as in our walk with God (see Deuteronomy 4:10 and Proverbs 9:9).