EAST 30th Anniversary Reflections
I graduated from EAST in 2018 with a Master in Divinity where fond memories remain of the campus in 1 Dorset Road. I came to EAST expecting to arm myself with theological training but God had more in mind for me – EAST equipped me to grow in head, heart and hands.
At EAST, learning is imbued in every facet of the student life not only in the class but outside the walls of the classroom. There is emphasis on the application of head knowledge distilled through the heart. I am grateful to the teachers who made every effort to teach with passion and conviction that caused learning to take place. I am blessed to have thoroughly enjoyed every subject in my course. Indeed, EAST plays a significant role in equipping their students to become holistic practitioners in the field.
Last Chapel of 2022
Rev Jacob Li & Mrs Josephine Li emceeing the final chapel as partners in ministry.
The last chapel service of the semester was held on 2 November 2022, concluding the series of chapels on the theme of “Committed to Growing in Christlikeness”. Mrs Josephine Li together with her husband Rev Jacob Li co-emceed the service. They warmly welcomed a few of our alumni who joined us for chapel that day including Bataaraa, a church planter from Mongolia, Ps Timothy Saw from Myanmar, and Mr Chan Kok Meng who is currently serving at Yio Chu Kang Chapel as a church staff. There were also some visitors who could be potential new students at EAST as well. Josie and Jacob started off with an ice-breaker by asking the audience to search for a piece of paper beneath their chairs. Four of them had to share a personal thanksgiving and the most memorable thanksgiving came from Kok Meng, who shared, “I thank God that I could be be married be Diana in 2018!” Everyone cheered as they are both EAST alumni and met while studying at EAST. The four who shared a thanksgiving walked away with an NTUC voucher each! There was much to be thankful for indeed.
Chapels, Start.
We have started Chapel on campus this semester with everyone gathering as a community to pray, worship, be encouraged by testimonies and be built up by the sharing of the Word.
We were glad to have our Dean of Academics, Rev Liong Kwok Wai encourage everyone about being a light unto the world as the opening message at the first Chapel. We were also glad to participate in Communion together as community at the start of this semester.
There will be several more sessions of Chapel to come, and we pray that they will continue to be fruitful, refreshing and encouraging to the EAST community and beyond.
EAST Community Gathers @ Aleph 2022
As we start a new academic year, EAST Aleph was held from July 1-15 for the cohort of new students. Aleph – the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet signifies a new start and more to come for our new students. This two-week immersion program aims to orientate the new students in several aspects – helping our international students to have a better understanding of cross-cultural living in Singapore, gain a better grasp of the various programs offered at EAST, and begin to experience and live out EAST values, etc.
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.”
EAST Library Catalogue
EAST Populi
National Library Board eResources
The Digital Theological Library
