FEBC’S 39TH GRADUATION SERVICE TONIGHT

Once again, we thank the Lord for another successful academic term.

We have just returned from our Daily Vacation Bible College (DVBC) held in Mersing, May 5-8, 2014. A total of 76 signed up for the one-credit hour course on “Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology” (exam on May 10) taught by the Principal—the Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo. The Resort Lautan Biru (RLB) in Mersing, just about three hours from Singapore, was a most conducive venue for our DVBC. The annual retreats of FEBC have been held there since 2001. It is truly a home away from home for the College family. We praise the Lord for the RLB caretakers—Mr and Mrs Raymond Tan—for their careful and cheerful service all these years. Surely their labour of love is not in vain.

The 39th FEBC Graduation Service will be held tonight at Calvary Pandan BPC, 6 pm sharp. The Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Academic Dean of FEBC, will speak on the topic, “Witnessing for Christ until He Comes” (Acts 1:8-11). We have a total of 26 graduands this round.

True Lifers Chua Peng Hwa and Christopher Tan will be awarded their Certificate of Biblical Studies (CertBS), and Samuel Eio will be conferred the degree of Master of Religious Education (MRE). Three foreign students under True Life scholarship support will be receiving their degrees: John Chemalan and Shadrack Kimutai (Kenya) will be conferred the MRE, and Jose Lagapa (Philippines) the Master of Theology (ThM). Three of the degree candidates have submitted excellent theses in partial fulfilment of their degree requirements: Samuel Eio wrote on the topic, “Towards a Historic Understanding of the Doctrine of Biblical Preservation”, John Chemalan on “Justification by Faith Alone” (a critique of the New Perspective on Paul), and Jose Lagapa “A Biblical and Theological Examination of New Calvinism.”

Come and rejoice with all our graduates and pray for their good success in their future ministries. The Americans put it well when they call their graduation exercises “Commencement”. Indeed, the journey for all our graduates is only just beginning as they step out in faith to serve the Lord with what they have learned and have been equipped to do, “holding forth the Word of Life” (Phil 2:16), and “holding fast the Faithful Word” (Tit 1:9).

The Calvary Pandan and True Life Choirs will be singing. There will be a dinner reception thereafter. All are welcome.

REFORMATION PILGRIMAGE

By the providence of God, the FEBC has already organised 17 pilgrimages to the Holy Land (Israel), and a couple to Bible Lands (Turkey/Greece). FEBC under the late Rev Dr Timothy Tow was the first in Singapore to organise such pilgrimages, and has been doing this for the last three decades. Today, we find many churches and parachurches following suit. Many Christians who have been on such pilgrimages have experienced in a vivid way the Bible coming alive to them. God willing, there will be an 18th pilgrimage to the Holy Land in December 2014.

This week we embark on a new pilgrimage, from May 14th to 24th. The Lord has opened a way for us to visit the countries which gave birth to the 16th Century Protestant Reformation. According to Church historian Philip Schaff, the Reformation was next to Pentecost the greatest revival the Church had ever experienced. In a Reformation pilgrimage, we study Church History live. As we visit the famous historical sites of the Great Reformation in Germany, France and Switzerland, we shall review the life and work of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, William Farel, John Hus and others.

This is FEBC’s 1st Reformation Pilgrimage. We have a total of 47 participants from nine churches. We look forward to a blessed time of holy worship, Bible study, and Christian fellowship. Two credits for pilgrims who submit a research project after the trip (deadline: July 21, 2014). We depart on Wednesday night; pilgrims to be at Changi Airport T2 by 5.30 pm. We covet your prayers for us. JK

GOD LOVES ME

Salvation Testimony of Leanne Joy Wong

A testimony is a brief summary of facts; a true account of how one soul passed from eternal damnation to eternal salvation. It is an eye-witness, mind-witness and heart-witness, first-hand account of God’s power, His wisdom, His love, His mercy, His grace and patience. All glory belongs to God. It is the one miracle we are guaranteed to witness here on earth. The transformative work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is astounding as I call to mind my horrific past, and think upon His goodness in saving me—to the uttermost.

I Am Nothing. I Did Nothing

Born in 1986 into a Christian home, my parents were involved in the Charismatic movement in Singapore through Billy Graham. Father was a London-trained Methodist pastor. As a child I struggled with anger and I was a bold liar and thief. As much as I longed to be good and free from sin, I was aware of my powerlessness over it. I invited Jesus into my heart, as we were instructed to do at Sunday School, and was soon after baptised at age nine. I looked to father for spiritual guidance, prayer and went to him with all my questions; at best, I was a grandchild of God. As a child, I chided myself for being inconsistent with reading the Bible. I would request for all the junior reading materials and would complete the puzzles and games but always skipped the Bible verses. Our family would follow father wherever he was posted to preach; that meant changing church every couple of years and the lack of accountability. Church evolved into a social activity. In my teens I joined the worship team as a guitarist as Contemporary Christian Music entered the scene. By God’s grace He spared me from the gift of tongues that my peers possessed, but I slowly drifted from church friends as I left Junior College for the Polytechnic and I eventually stopped attending church when the spiritual high I experienced and treasured felt identical to the spirit of the nightclub. From there it was a downward spiral; a tizzy of rebellion.

The external manifestation of this rebellion was piercings on the eyebrow, nose and lip, two tattoos, the habit of smoking and an expulsion from the Polytechnic. I appealed and was accepted back in and was shocked into sheer hard work and determination. I had entered with the lowest ‘O’ Level score but also left with the lowest GPA in my course. I continued to wander in the world, groping about in darkness. I experimented with drugs and relationships. I worked at a night club. I was in search of acceptance, satisfaction and pleasure but everything and everyone disappointed me. I then turned my energy and attention to my work as an interior designer. I strove hard for excellence and slowly achieved confidence and pride in my work at the expense of everything else. I decided, after three years of work that I would pursue Architecture at university. By God’s providence, because of my poor GPA, I only received acceptance into one university, the Lord was directing me to Perth, Australia.

God is Everything, God Did Everything

I received commendation letters from the Dean for both semesters of the first year. My parents were pleased and the future looked bright! But yet, there was no joy. All I felt was the familiar emptiness and meaninglessness. “It’s time for me to go back to church” was the only thought that filled my mind. God, in His perfect way and timing, was gently drawing me to Himself. He had softened my heart that was hard with unrepentant sins and prepared me to turn away from my prodigal life once and for all. I was frantically looking for a church but God had mercifully chosen one for me. Through the introduction of a fellow Singaporean, I began worshipping at Faith Presbyterian Church in 2011. I was safe in God’s house, but there was still the filth and stink that remained. For a month I was falling asleep during the sermon and would disguise my smoking habit with perfume and breath mints. It was not until God sent a visiting preacher, Pastor Clive Hayden, whose words pierced my heart as he gave the Gospel message and the Lord opened my scaled eyes and I repented of my sins, confessed and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I had single-handedly transgressed all the Ten Commandments, yet my sins were forgiven. I was born again, I had a heart of flesh, I was a new creature, redeemed, freed from the bondage of sin. I was a baby, righteous in the sight of God, what joy! Like a baby, my hunger and thirst for the sincere milk of truth was desperate. At the same time I had to deal with big bad sinful habits and only by God’s grace and through much struggle, with persistent prayer, were they overcome. Every day there were victories. If I could look at a spiritual mirror, there was visible daily growth and strengthening. God’s Word was so sweet to my lips. I desired to please Him alone, to learn of Him, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, to fear Him, to love Him, to obey and trust Him. My pre-salvation state was rotten through and through. My heart, mind, body were thoroughly defiled and worthy of God’s wrath and just punishment. My guilt in the presence of His holiness deserves eternal damnation. I thus cling to my Saviour. It is true, that to live is Christ, nothing else.

May His kingdom come, may His will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.