FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” (Ps 34:10).

FEBC started the new year with a day of prayer on January 2, 2018. We praise the Lord for all Board, Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends who came to pray with and for the College. Pr James Tan was the Lord’s messenger that morning. Pr Tan is a BTh (2009) and MDiv (2016) graduate of FEBC and now serves as missionary teacher at the Bible College of East Africa (BCEA). FEBC alumni Dr Kim Kyung Soo and Dr Park Seung Kyu both missionaries and principals of BCEA Kenya and Tanzania respectively are calling for more Singaporeans to serve with them in BCEA. We pray that our local graduates would answer the call to be missionaries and serve the Lord overseas as the Lord leads.

Six new full-time students joined us this semester—Korea: (1) Kim Young Sug, (2) Kwak Won Young, (3) Yun Seong Kweon; Philippines: (4) Gyzza Berindex Dandoy; Singapore: (5) Yong Xuan Rui and (6) Felicia Koh. Won Young is a returning student after taking a break last semester. Xuan Rui and Felicia are studying for a semester to earn their CertRK/BS before they enter the university.

Total enrolment this semester (Jul–Nov 2017) is 567: 98 day students (fulltime: 47, part-time: 51), 293 students in the Basic Theology for Everyone (BTFE) night classes, and 178 distance learning students. The students come from 15 countries: Australia, Cambodia, China, England, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The lecturers/tutors and courses offered this semester are: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo: Systematic Theology II (Anthropology), Greek Exegesis II, Life of Christ II; Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew: Old Testament History II, Contemporary Theology IV, Hebrew Reading II; Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy: Homiletics, Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, Job; Rev Stephen Khoo: Church Administration; Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo: Bible Geography III and Church Music I; Rev Tan Kian Sing: Colossians and Philemon; Mrs Ivy Tow: Greek Elementary II; Mrs Jemima Khoo: Teaching Children, Beginner Pianoforte; Miss Carol Lee: Theological Research and Writing; Dr Jose Lagapa: Biblical Missions; Mr Clement Chew: Hebrew Elementary II; Mr Dennis Kabingue: Greek Reading II; Miss Joycelyn Chng: Biblical Phonetics; Mrs Anne Lim: English Intensive II; Mrs Irene Lim: English Intermediate II; and Eld Han Soon Juan: English Advanced II.

FEBC events this semester to look forward to (DV):

1. Daily Vacation Bible College (Apr 30–May 5). Ko Ling Kang (BTh 2009, MDiv 2015) who had just completed his ThM studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (USA) will teach a course on “Calvinism: The Old versus the New”.
2. 43^rd Graduation Service (May 6). This will be held at Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church, 6 pm. The Rev Kiantoro Lie, pastor of Calvary Batam Bible-Presbyterian Church, will be the Lord’s messenger. We will also see the ordination of Pr Clement Chew of Tabernacle BPC that night.
3. Annual Retreat (May 7–9). As usual, the retreat will be held at the Resort Lautan Biru, Mersing.
4. 3^rd Bible Lands Pilgrimage (May 13–23). This trip is to Turkey and Greece. We shall visit the cities of the Seven Churches of Revelation, the city of Athens, and the islands of Patmos, Crete etc. Two credits to students who submit a research project.

PHILIPPINES BIBLE CONFERENCE

Report by Dr Jose Lagapa

Praise the Lord for His abounding grace upon the Philippines Bible Conference 19–21 December 2017 at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon. There were 69 pastors and preachers who attended coming from seven provinces in the Philippines. The theme was Biblical Separation. This was in conjunction with the commemoration of the 500^th anniversary of the 16^th Century Protestant Reformation which occurred in 1517.

The Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy was the Conference speaker. He gave seven messages on Biblical Separation which ended with a Q&A session. Elder Richard Tiu gave the two morning devotions focusing on the historical background of the 16^th Century Reformation. Thank God for granting the participants a blessed time of learning God’s Word focusing on the doctrine of separation. Many pastors acknowledged the lack of teaching of this important doctrine for more than a decade. It was a common theme among fundamental Baptists in the past.

True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church wholeheartedly supported this conference both spiritually and financially. The Lord used the Church to shoulder the expenses of this Conference. Thank God for Pastor Jeffrey Khoo, the Session, and the members who prayed and contributed much to the success of this endeavour.

Noteworthy also of thanksgiving is Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church for kindly allowing Rev Koshy to speak in this Conference. Mrs Carolyn Koshy, son Cornelius, and daughter Dorcas, helped much in the conference through their encouragement and labour of love.

Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) donated many of its publications such as Meditations from Psalms, Asian Awakening, Ting Li Mei: The First Chinese Evangelist, Lessons from the University of Life, and The Burning Bush, the College’s theological journal. The Bible Witness Media Ministry of Gethsemane BPC gave out many issues of its Bible Witness magazine, Calvary Pandan the Read, Pray, Grow (RPG) devotionals, Calvary Tengah the Reformation 500 booklet, and Ms Tan Xin Yuan her newly published book The Journey to Heaven.

We appreciated much the prayers and financial help of Hokkaido Bible Center, Sapporo City, Japan, through the Rev Dr Robert Kluttz. We specially thank God for the brethren in Japan whose great love for the Word has sown the seed of encouragement to start this Bible Conference six years ago. We also give thanks to God for the encouragement and prayer support of like-minded Bible-Presbyterian Churches in Singapore and the Philippines, and some Fundamental Baptist Churches in the Philippines.

We thank God for the kind and supportive staff of the University Food and Lodging Services of the Farmers’ Training Center, Central Mindanao University. We praise the Lord for the burden and zeal laid upon Dr Einstine Opiso, Mr Jonas Ba-a, and Prof Patria Solidum and their respective families for their labor of love. We also praise God for the wholehearted support of FEBC students Cornelius Koshy, Loreto Yubat, Crisa Jane Zagado and Aprilaiza Sible, and the Bible Equipping Seminar and Training (BEST) students who ministered to us through music. We thank God for all those who in one way or another contributed to the success of the Conference. Most of all, we give all the glory and honor to the Triune God who had ordained and provided for this Bible Conference.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  … Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:14, 17).