FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE

EBC started its new term with a blessed day of prayer on Monday 5 January 2015. We had a good attendance of over a hundred faculty, students and alumni. The principal spoke from Psalm 98 which is a psalm of joy and praise for God’s protection and preservation of His people. With heartfelt gratitude to God, Matron Ivy Tow shared about FEBC’s beginnings and inaugural day of prayer back in September of 1962 when the Founding Principal Rev Dr Timothy Tow in a hall of “majestic emptiness” in the new premises read Psalm 34:10, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” The Lord is true to His promise. In a time of great distress when LBPC sued to evict us, Mrs Tow shared how the Lord comforted her with this verse, “Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.” (Deut 3:22).

This semester (Jan-May 2015) the College has a total enrolment of 605 students: 90 day students (fulltime: 50, part-time 40), 359 students in the “Basic Theology for Everyone” night classes, and 156 distance learning students. The students come from 11 countries: Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Singapore.

We thank the Lord for nine new fulltime students: (1) Allan Tang Tuck Kong (Singapore), (2) Bae Myung Ho (Korea), (3) Chieng Yew Jinn (Australia), (4) Cing Sian Lian (Myanmar), (5) Elisabet (Indonesia), (6) Kim Yechan (Korea), (7) Lee Young Won (Korea), (8) Samuel Joseph (Singapore), and (9) Wang Shuai Yong (China).

This semester the Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo teaches Systematic Theology IV (Eschatology), The Westminster Standards, Greek Exegesis II; Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew Old Testament History II, Revelation, Contemporary Theology II, Hebrew Reading II; Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy the Gospel of John, Homiletics, Hebrew Elementary II (assisted by Clement Chew); Mrs Ivy Tow Greek Elementary II; Rev Stephen Khoo Church Administration; Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo Bible Geography I, Cults I; Rev Tan Kian Sing Ephesians; Mrs Jemima Khoo The Christian School, Beginner Pianoforte; Miss Carol Lee Adult Christian Education, Thinking and Study Skills; Mr Dennis Kabingue Greek Reading II; Mrs Anne Lim English Intensive I; Mrs Irene Lim English Intermediate I; and Elder Han Soon Juan English Advanced I.

The online courses are Calvin’s Institutes II, Life of Christ I, and The Bible and Miracles.

As you know, the College directors had to attend State Court hearings in January last year due to Life BPC’s 2^nd lawsuit against FEBC. LBPC had sued for $250,000 for utilities they claimed we owed them from 1970 to 2008. The court hearings resulted in FEBC having no case to answer. Life BPC through their lawyers then proposed to settle out of court. Applying the biblical law of charity, FEBC offered Life BPC a settlement sum of $300,000. Jesus said, “And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. … Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:40, 43-45a). Also, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8). The suit was eventually withdrawn on 21 January 2015.

In the Life BPC Weekly of 4 January 2015, the Rev Charles Seet called for Lifers to live peaceably with FEBC quoting Romans 12:17-18, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” As a gesture of good will on our part, we presented to the Rev Seet the remaining 120 copies of his book A Consecrated Life (Romans 12:1-2) published by the college back in 1998 which I am sure he can put to good use. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt 5:9).

With the “Scheme for the Shared Usage of Nos 9, 9A and 10 Gilstead Road, Singapore” issued by the High Court in place, FEBC has begun renovation and repair works. FEBC all these years had a “scattered” library. We did not have enough space for expansion. There was hardly room for study carrels. A new and spacious central library which is really an expansion of our open library located at the 2^nd Storey of the Extension Block at 9A will now house 20,000 volumes with room for more and ample space for study tables and carrels.

Not just 9 & 9A, we have rights to 10 Gilstead Road as well, in Beulah House and the New Beulah Centre (5-storey block) behind Beulah House. Beulah House was supposed to be built for FEBC. God is just to give us our share of Beulah House. “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” (Ps 16:5-6).

 

The 2^nd storey of Beulah House will soon house the FEBC offices and bookroom. The 2^nd storey comes with high ceilings, coloured window panes, and wood flooring. It has a charming colonial and yet kampong feel to it. Hebrew, Greek, and English classes are now conducted at the New Beulah Centre (4^th storey). We are also thankful for the additional living quarters at the 5^th storey of the New Beulah Centre.

The L-Annex and Extension Blocks at 9A already a half-century old need a lot of repairs. Our dormitories which the Judge remarked as “Spartan” will get a new lease of life. The corroded water and sewage pipes in the toilets need to be replaced. The pitched roof needs waterproofing. Please pray the renovations and repairs will proceed smoothly and safely.

We look forward to our 40^th Graduation Service which will be held on the Lord’s Day 10 May 2015 at Calvary Pandan BPC, 6 pm. It will also be a Thanksgiving Service with a special dinner to celebrate and remember how the Lord has protected and preserved FEBC all these years, especially the last six years when we had to fight the lawsuits. Thank God for victory and vindication. The Lord has surely magnified His Word above all His Name (Ps 138:2).

The Daily Vacation Bible College (DVBC) will be held from 4-9 May 2015 at FEBC. The Principal will teach the book of Galatians. The FEBC family will go for its annual retreat at the Resort Lautan Biru, Mersing, 11-13 May 2015, and 2^nd Reformation Pilgrimage (England & Scotland), 15-26 May 2015 (DV).

Please note that the combined FEBC-TLBPC prayer meeting will be held at the FEBC Hall starting 13 February 2015, 8 pm. All are welcome.

This evening at Calvary Pandan BPC (Sunset Gospel Hour) will see Joseph Poon ordained as a minister of the gospel. The ordination council comprising Rev Dr S H Tow, Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Rev Dr Das Koshy and Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo have examined him and found him worthy. Joseph graduated from FEBC with his MDiv in 2012. The Lord has called him (and his wife Sharon) to serve at the Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia (BPCWA), Perth. We praise the Lord for raising another fellow minister to shepherd God’s flock with clear conviction of the truth of the present infallibility and inerrancy of Holy Scripture (VPI/VPP). JK

BIBLE COLLEGE OF EAST AFRICA (TANZANIA)

The Rev Dr Park Seung Kyu (PhD, Kyung Hee University, ThD Far Eastern Bible College) who was pastor of the True Life Korean Service from 2006 to 2012 is now missionary to Africa teaching at the Bible College of East Africa (BCEA) in Arusha, Tanzania. FEBC alumni Judah Pallangyo, Joseph Amos and Apasia Moshi are also lecturers there. Dr Mark Kim and Rev Eben Yoon (BCEA Kenya) continue to make frequent shuttles to Tanzania to oversee the work. There is a kindergarten on campus to serve the children from the surrounding villages. The Session has decided to support the kindergarten and Dr Park.

We are glad that Dr Park’s parsing and declension guides to the Greek NT have been accepted for publication by Old Paths Publications (USA). His verse-by-verse parsing and declension guides to the Greek NT underlying the KJV are valuable tools for students of biblical Greek and the Textus Receptus. At FEBC, students after completing 1^st year Greek would proceed to read and translate about 70 chapters of the Greek NT in their 2^nd year. Greek Reading is meant to familiarise students with the Greek NT before they are introduced to Greek Exegesis in their 3^rd year. Dr Park’s quick referencing guides would be especially helpful to 2^nd year Greek students. JK