FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE

FEBC reopened with a Day of Prayer on Monday, July 19, 2021. About 50 in the College family—faculty, staff and students—gathered for a time of exhortation, fellowship and prayer at the FEBC Hall from 8.30am to 12pm.

Word from the Principal

The Principal spoke from Luke 9:57–62, “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57–62). He charged all to serve the Lord unconditionally with 100% commitment for it is an honour and privilege to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords.

In this Day of Prayer, the Principal called on all lecturers and tutors to give a brief word of exhortation to the students. FEBC has a total of 19 in the faculty including two new ones—Cornelius Koshy and Eileen Chee—both MDiv graduates of FEBC. Cornelius, who is the son Rev Dr Das Koshy, teaches Elementary Greek. Eileen, who has just returned from her studies at the University of Haifa, Israel, teaches a new course on a History of Modern Israel. Both took the Dean Burgon Oath on stage to pledge their allegiance to God’s infallible and inerrant Word. Eileen also serves as Assistant Matron in the College.

Thank God for a fruitful mid-term vacation (May–July 2021). Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign students did not return but remained on campus to continue in their studies. Three courses were offered—Angels and Demons (Dr Jeffrey Khoo), the Epistle of Jude (Dr Jose Lagapa), and Jesus the Master Teacher (Ms Carol Lee). A total of 420 students from 66 churches and 17 countries enrolled.

Here is a testimony of a student who took the course on Angels and Demons: “I am really thankful to God for allowing me to enroll into this online course on Angels and Demons at FEBC for this Daily Vacation Bible College. When it was announced before the start of the DVBC, I was really determined to take this course because this subject is not commonly preached and taught in our churches and there are few biblical resources available. Through this course, I learned so many spiritual and practical lessons about angels and demons which are needful in fighting a good fight of faith in these last days especially on how to be protected from the lies and deceptions of Satan. Moreover, I praise and thank God because this course has synergistic effect with my previous courses that I had already taken especially on Systematic Theology and Heresies and Orthodoxy. Thus, this course further increased my understanding about the nature of angels and their role in our living and service to God as children in Christ as well as the tactics and nature of Satan and his demons to deceive man. Consequently also, God has given us His full armor that we ought to put on completely in order to counter and defeat the attacks and heretical teachings of Satan.” Dr Einstine Opiso

Total Enrolment

Total enrolment this semester (Jul–Nov 2021) is 665—25 fulltime residential students and 640 part-time students. The part-time students are all taking the courses online due to the COVID-19 situation. The student body is represented by these 16 countries: Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, and Thailand.

We welcome three new full-time students: Cho Hyeon Seo (Korea), Hkaw Du Htin Htut (Myanmar), and Maria Mae Durango (Philippines).

Courses On-Campus and Online

Twelve Basic Theology for Everyone courses are offered to the public online this semester—nine are livestreamed (Biblical Missions, Biblical Covenants, 1 Timothy, Theology of Worship, Contemporary Theology III, History of Modern Israel, 2 Chronicles, Heaven and Hell, Systematic Theology III in Chinese), and three are video-screened (Systematic Theology I, Hermeneutics, Christian Apologetics).

The lecturers/tutors (and courses) this semester are: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo (Systematic Theology I, Heaven and Hell), Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew (Hermeneutics, Hebrew Reading I, Homiletics, 2 Chronicles), Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy (Biblical Covenants), Rev Stephen Khoo (Church Administration), Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo (Bible Geography I, Church Music III), Rev Tan Kian Sing (1 Timothy), Miss Carol Lee (Sunday School Curriculum), Rev Dr Jose Lagapa (Biblical Missions), Rev Clement Chew (Hebrew Elementary I, Theology of Worship), Rev Zhu Jianwei (Systematic Theology III: Soteriology [Chinese]), Pr Samuel Joseph (Greek Exegesis I), Pr Joshua Yong (Contemporary Theology III), Miss Eileen Chee (History of Modern Israel), Dr John Whitcomb (Online: Christian Apologetics), Miss Khoo May Lynn (Pianoforte), Mrs Patricia Joseph (English Intensive I), and Eld Han Soon Juan (English Advanced I).

The Burning Bush

The latest issue of FEBC’s theological journal—The Burning Bush (July 2021) is hot off the press. Do help yourself to a copy at the reception table or from the FEBC Bookroom.This issue contains the follows articles:

“History and Theology of Bible-Presbyterianism: Refuting the Revisionist Bible-Presbyterians” by Jeffrey Khoo.

“Theological Education in a Disintegrating World” by Seung-Kyu Park.

“The Division of the Ten Commandments: A Scriptural Response to Calvin’s View” by Shermaine Tan.

“Songs in the Night” by Joycelyn Chng.

Collect your copy at the reception table, or from the FEBC Bookroom. You may also download a softcopy from www.febc.edu.sg (sv “Publications”).

Quiz and Craft

On the August 9^th holiday, FEBC students enjoyed a time of Quiz and Craft organised by the Assistant Matron. It was a fun time of learning and fellowship. It certainly chased away some of the blues brought about by the pandemic.

Most of the students have by now received their 2^nd dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. We thank the Lord for protecting the College family from infection the last year and a half. We pray the Lord will continue to protect us.

Pray also for more students to enrol for next year. We have already one application from Korea—the son of a missionary. Thangno’s eldest son from New Life Student Centre (Yangon) is also applying to come. Two from the Philippines just came in, both Baptists.

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2). JK