FEBC’s 50^th Anniversary Thanksgiving Semester

Fifty years ago on September 17, 1962, FEBC opened with three students under the Rev Timothy Tow as Principal and lone teacher. One of the students was Ivy Tan who later became Mrs Timothy Tow. FEBC’s beloved Principal was called home to be with the Lord on April 20, 2009. By God’s grace, Mrs Ivy Tow remains well in health and strength to serve as Matron and lecturer of Elementary Greek to BTh and MDiv students.

Besides Mrs Ivy Tow, the other lecturers this semester are the Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo teaching Systematic Theology and Greek Exegesis, the Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew (Homiletics, Hebrew Reading I, Contemporary Theology I, Joshua, Judges and Ruth), the Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy (Book of Job, 1-2 Peter, Elementary Hebrew I), the Rev Koa Keng Woo (Bible Geography IV, Cults III), the Rev Stephen Khoo (Book of Esther), the Rev Tan Kian Sing (2 Thessalonians, Epistle to Titus), Mrs Jemima Khoo (Teaching Methods, Pianoforte), and Miss Carol Lee (Youth Christian Education, Women in the Bible II).

Besides our lecturers, we have the following tutors: Mr Dennis Kabingue (Greek Reading), Mrs Janice Lai (Hymnology), Mrs Anne Lim (Intensive English), Mrs Irene Lim (Intermediate English), and Eld Han Soon Juan (Advanced English). In addition, the Rev Dr Park Seung Kyu who holds a PhD in Church History from Kyung Hee University teaches the history of biblical fundamentalism as part of his ThD requirements at FEBC.

The opening day of prayer saw a hundred gathered in the sanctuary of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church for a time of fellowship and prayer. The Principal spoke on what it means to follow Jesus Christ from Mark 8:34-38, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

All members of the Board and faculty together with the students and alumni enjoyed a blessed morning of reunion and rejoicing. Among the alumni, we had Bro Mark Heath from the Class of 1984 who gave a testimony on how he has been blessed by his alma mater, especially now through her online courses. Mark serves in the Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia (BPCWA).

Classes kicked off on Monday night itself with the Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew teaching the Basic Theology for Everyone course on JJR (Joshua, Judges & Ruth). Praise the Lord for a good attendance of about 200 that night. The Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy teaches First and Second Peter on Thursday nights.

This semester will be an eventful one since FEBC will be celebrating her 50^th anniversary. On the very day of her 50^th birthday, the College family will head to Mersing for a thanksgiving retreat at the Resort Lautan Biru for three days and two nights. This retreat is open to part-time students and alumni as well. The Resort can take 160. Register early with Mrs Ruth Yap (ruth.yap@febc.edu.sg) with passport details and $80 fee (subsidised). FEBC alumni from Australia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Thailand will return to share with us how the Lord has used them in the Bible College movement and ministry in their respective countries. Thursday, September 20^th will be Open House; the public are welcome to attend the day and night classes freely. On Friday, September 21^st, we will have our Alumni Thanksgiving Service and Dinner at the College grounds, 9A Gilstead Road (dinner from 6-7 pm, and service at 7.30 pm). The 50^th Anniversary, Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Service will be held on the Lord’s Day, September 23^rd, at Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church, 6 pm; a dinner reception to follow. Dr S H Tow will be the Lord’s messenger. All are welcome.

Graduation Thanksgiving

Lo Su Shiang (MDiv 2012)

In December 2008, when I was in the process of applying to study in FEBC, the question crossed my mind whether father could make it to my graduation. Father is elderly. I wished he could witness my graduation. However, I dared not even ask God for it.

Father was instrumented by God in bringing about the turning point of my life. After father’s car accident in 2007, he regretted over his refusal of me to go Bible college many years ago. By then, I have already concluded that it is not important to study in Bible college. This was because in early 2006, I tried out the night class in a Bible college in Melbourne. It was ironical that the more I attended the class, the more I felt unease with the teaching of the Bible college. Finally at the end of one semester, I decided that since God had given Christians His Holy Spirit, the Greatest Teacher of all, I would learn the Bible myself under the tutorship of His Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, in an attempt to spare father from his regret, I attended one-week of FEBC classes in Jan 2008. The one-week in FEBC led to dedication of a year to seek God’s will. After ten months of seeking, the Lord confirmed His will and I enrolled to study in FEBC. These are all history.

A week and a half before FEBC graduation, mother had a fall. I happened to call home a day after her fall. Father answered my call but he dared not reveal mother’s fall to me. Father did not want me to worry. At that time, he was not sure whether they could still make it to my graduation.

Three days before the graduation when my parents arrived in Singapore, I still did not know whether I could graduate. It was indeed all by God’s grace that I could graduate from FEBC. Furthermore, God is so gracious to grant me my 2008 wish which I dared not pray. Father’s witness of my graduation meant a lot to me because of the key role he played in God’s calling of me. On top of these, God has also enabled mother to attend the graduation despite her fall. As I ponder upon these, my heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise. God is so good. He has time and again proved His faithfulness to me. What more can I ask?

Yet, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. I have never asked God for a ‘replay’ of the song ‘A Simple Offering’ in my graduation. The song has a part to play in God’s calling of me in 2008. I first heard the song during the call. Since then, every time I hear the song, it reminds me of my calling. However, I have never asked God for the song in the graduation. I have never imagined it to be in my graduation. Therefore, words fail to describe my feeling when I hear the song sang by Calvary Pandan Church Choir in the graduation… My God is so gracious and tender loving. He knows I needed the timely reminder and reassurance in the midst of the uncertainty. God has reaffirmed His calling of me. He did not make mistake in His call. Even if the ministry He used me to found would reject me, my God will never forsake me. I have not misinterpreted His calling of me! What can I say? I will bow myself in humble submission to His will. May all praise and glory to His Name. Amen!

Thank you, FEBC. Thank you, Dr Khoo and the Faculty. May God bless you all.