On Home Ground

The Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) reopened with a day of prayer on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 on home ground. The college family comprising—board, faculty, students, alumni and friends gathered together from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm for a time of worship,

Bible study, fellowship and prayer in the sanctuary of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. The Principal had asked for the Multi-purpose Hall of Beulah House, but was turned down though FEBC has every right to use Beulah House as judged by the Court. Nevertheless we are glad to use the old church sanctuary. Our gathering therein brought back fond memories of the day of prayer and daily chapel services when our late founding Principal and Pastor—the Rev Dr Timothy Tow— was at the helm. Our good Lord does all things well.

The year 2012 is FEBC’s 50^th year of “holding forth the word of life” (Phil 2:16) and “holding fast the faithful word” (Tit 1:9). These two watchwords of the College were read to the students when the Principal gave the call to worship. This was followed by the singing of the college anthem. The lyrics of the FEBC Anthem were penned by the founding Principal in the early days of the College when it went through a time of great trial. Students were told by some lecturers that FEBC was a sinking ship and they should bail out quickly. The College which started out with three students was reduced to one soon after. The only student that stuck with the College was Ivy Tan (who is Mrs Timothy Tow, the Matron of the College). The Lord did not allow the College to fail, but upheld it, and caused it to be deeply rooted and firmly built up at Gilstead Road despite many attempts to destroy it since its founding. Mrs Tow, now already past threescore years and ten but still going strong by God’s grace, quoted two verses from the Scriptures to encourage the students: Psalm 34:10, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing”, and Deuteronomy 3:22, “Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.”

The Principal led the congregation in the responsive reading of Psalms 12 and 13, and in the singing of the hymn, “He Leadeth Me.” Joshua Yong, an FEBC alumnus (MDiv 2010) and missionary lecturer at the Bible College of East Africa (Kenya), spoke from 1 Samuel 7:12 reminding all that it is the Lord Himself who is FEBC’s Ebenezer, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” The Principal followed up with a word from Nehemiah 2:8 highlighting that it is all because of God’s good hand upon us that we are delivered from the lawsuit instituted by the Board of Elders of Life BPC to evict FEBC from her birthplace and home. We must always be thankful and grateful to God for His grace and goodness upon us and never forget how He saved us. The latest issue of The Burning Bush (January 2012) with the article, “‘Remove Not the Ancient Landmark’: The Founding and the Protection of the Birthplace and Doctrine of the Far Eastern Bible College” is our “memorial stone” in thanksgiving to God for the preservation of His inspired Words and protection of His school of prophets.

The Directors and Faculty then gave a word of encouragement to all the students both old and new. This semester we have five new students from four countries (China, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore). They each gave their respective testimonies of call to ministry.

One student publicly confessed his sin of cheating in the exams last semester. The appropriate disciplinary action will be taken by the faculty for the good of this errant but repentant student. We pray the Lord to keep all our students from temptations and falling into sin. The whole service ended with senior students praying for the College, and the Dean of Students—Rev Dr Das Koshy— closing the meeting in prayer. JK

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Greetings from FEBC Alumni

Setsuko Takashima (Japan)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you very much for your prayer for my activity. Thank you very much for your kindness to send me your Weekly. I enjoy to read your Weekly and I can know your tidings.

I thank God that He sustained my body so that I am healthy this year, so that I could hand out tracts to children also. Maybe I can do this for another two years.

As you know in Japan, TOHOKU areas were hit by tsunami and earthquake. I thank God He helped me escaped from disaster.

In Japan, there are very beautiful things in nature this season.

God bless you richly next year, malana-ta.

Sun Sokha & Lee Nam Soon (Cambodia)

Greetings to you and all True Life BP Church members in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How are you? How are the ministries over there? We are fine by our Lord’s grace and mercy. Thank you for sending Sun Sreilakena to help our Phnom Penh Church for the last 2 months.

Thank God for bringing many newcomers to hear the Word of God with us in Phnom Penh Church last Sunday when we celebrated Christmas. Many raised their hands to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Please pray for these people that they really become true believers.

Thank you for your love and offerings last time once again. We’d like to say “Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year” to all of you. May our Lord continue to bless and use True Life BP Church to preach and hold forth the Words of life everywhere for His Name’s sake. Take care.

 

Joshua Yong (Kenya)

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As I prepare to return to Kenya, I would just like to express my thanksgiving to the Lord for using you all to be a blessing for me.

I have truly enjoyed my first year there and by God’s grace have found no lack.

I truly appreciate the support you have given me, especially your prayers for me. To know that brethren are praying for me means so much to me.

You are constantly in my prayers too. May God bless and keep you.

Rev Errol D Stone (Perth, Australia)

Greetings in the blessed name of our risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Praise God for the Day of Prayer today and for the beginning of another semester in this Golden Year of FEBC.

The Bible College has faithfully contended for the truth of God’s Word for 50 years, withstanding attacks by the Adversary from without and from within, but God has used the FEBC as a Beacon shining throughout the world for His glory and honour.

May the Lord continue to grant all diligence and faithfulness in 2012, regardless of the challenges that face the Bible College.

In Psalm 40:10, the Lord wanted David to obey His Law and tell others about His goodness. The faithfulness of God should be proclaimed and has been proclaimed by the FEBC for 50 Golden Years. The Word of God says, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation” (Ps 40:10).

The Word of God speaks about the wicked messenger and the faithful messenger saying, “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health” (Prov 13:17).

Praise the Lord for the precious memories of the faithfulness of our founding Principal and also for Mrs Tow who has faithfully attended and served the FEBC for the 50 Golden Years.

I am looking forward to the DVBC @ FEBC, 30^th April-5^th May 2012, Graduation on May 6^th, Retreat and DV the 50^th Anniversary.

Rev Hien Gia Nguyen (Brisbane, Australia)

Greetings to you all in the blessed Name of our risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

How we give thanks and praise to the Lord for His sovereignty, grace, goodness and faithfulness that He has preserved the Far Eastern Bible College for the past 50 years and seen her through all her troubles despite the hatred, opposition, oppression and persecutions from Satan and from those who do not have a high view of God’s Word. It is truly only because of our Lord’s holy Word, holy Truth, holy Name and His own glory that He has preserved FEBC, granted her the victory, and used her as His school of prophets to shine forth His Truth and to spread the sweet savour of Christ, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish” (2 Cor 2:14-15). All thanks, praise and glory be unto the Lord our God alone.

We continue upholding you and FEBC in our prayers and may the Lord keep watching over FEBC, preserving her, blessing her and using her to train and equip His people with His Truth and sound doctrines to hold forth His Word and contend for our holy faith in Him and in His Word in these last days of doubt, compromise, deception and apostasy.

May the Lord strengthen you and all the faculty and students and grant you a successful and fruitful semester for His glory.