FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE

Pastor Jeffrey Khoo

It is by God’s grace that Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) continues to be a school of prophets to train and equip His people whom He has called to full-time service. FEBC remains as one of the very few Bible colleges and seminaries which is fundamental in its theology and ministry, subscribing to the Reformed Faith as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and upholding the Holy Scriptures to be verbally and plenarily inspired and preserved (VPI/VPP), and hence totally infallible and inerrant, our sole, supreme and final authority of faith and ministry. FEBC also takes a separatist stance against liberalism, modernism, neo-orthodoxy, charismatism, ecumenism, neo-evangelicalism, neo-fundamentalism and all kinds of false isms of the day.

Day of Prayer

FEBC reopened with a Day of Prayer on Monday, 15 July 2024. It was a needful and profitable time of consecration for the FEBC family as board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends gathered for a time of worship and service to seek God’s blessing as we begin a new academic term. The Rev Dennis Kwok of Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church was the Lord’s messenger and he spoke from 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 on how we must be faithful stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truths as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 states, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Faithful stewards are to be accountable and responsible. As such, preachers and teachers of God’s Word must have hearts and mouths that are good and righteous. The Academic Dean, the Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, read to us Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” That good verse teaches us that “The good man deliberates before he speaks, takes time to consider his answer, lest he should say anything false, or inexpedient, or injurious to his neighbour. A Latin adage runs—‘Qui bene vult fari debet bene praemeditari.’” (Pulpit Commentary) ie, “He thinks before he speaks, meditates what he shall say, what answer to give to men” (Gill). This is in keeping with what the Apostle James says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. … My brethren, be not many masters [didaskaloi, ie teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (Jas 1:19–20, 3:1–2).

What a blessing it is to have spiritually mature and wise teachers who will study to answer truthfully and honestly. There is no blessing but only judgement for speaking proudly and wickedly, spewing error and heresy, spitting out falsehoods and false accusations. Make no mistake about it, a wicked mouth is due to an evil heart. Our Lord rightly denounced the self-righteous, self-deceiving, narcissistic, hypocritical Pharisees as such, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt 12:34–37).

Our Lord also commanded and warned, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt 7:1–6).

Let us not be quick to judge others based on our finite and limited human intelligence and on proud and corrupt imaginations. God forbid that we should criticise and condemn others based on ignorance or hearsay or even outright slanders and lies. This is destructive—it destroys relationships, it divides churches, it detracts from the gospel of Christ. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Prov 6:16–19). Let us rather take heed to do this: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Tim 2:15–16).

We were reminded that being a good and faithful steward requires not only hard work but also heart work.

In Memory of Mrs Ivy Tow

At the opening night, we held a special service in remembrance of the late Mrs Ivy Tow, FEBC’s first Matron, who was called home on 17 May 2024 at a ripe old age of 86. Her son Jonathan, in gratitude to the College, hosted a buffet dinner for the Board, faculty, staff and students. There was a nostalgic presentation of video/photo slides (produced by Crayson) of Mrs Tow’s life and ministry with her husband and FEBC’s founding Principal, the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, who was called home earlier in 2009. (Find link at www.febc.edu.sg.)

Assistant Matron Mrs Eileen Khoo who had served with Mrs Tow for eight years after she graduated from FEBC gave a testimony of her experiences with Mrs Tow and what she had learned from her. Mrs Khoo having been trained by Mrs Tow will now have to assume that role of matron with God’s help.

Enrolment and Students

Total enrolment this semester is 610: 36 fulltime residential students and 574 part-time/online students from 15 countries: Australia, Cambodia, China, Congo, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, UK.

We warmly welcome nine new students from five countries: (1) Indonesia: Timoti Kurniawan; (2) Korea: Ko Hyunmyung, Lee Hagyeom; (3) Myanmar: Hrang Lian Hre, Pau Sian Tuang, Thang Sian Muan; (4) Philippines: Crissan Dave Lariba, Tiffany Batao Gayon; (5) Thailand: Chatchanok Sumangkhaset.

Teachers and Courses

The lecturers/tutors (and courses) for the July to November 2024 semester are: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo (Epistle of James, Covenant Theology), Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew (Old Testament History III, Homiletics, Hebrew Reading I), Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy (Theology of Prayer), Rev Dr Koa Keng Woo (Bible Geography III, Cults I), Rev Stephen Khoo (Church Administration), Rev Tan Kian Sing (Epistles of John), Rev Clement Chew (Elementary Hebrew I, Acts of the Apostles II), Rev Dr Jose Lagapa (Church History I), Rev Samuel Joseph (Greek Exegesis I), Rev Zhu Jianwei (New Testament Introduction [Chinese]), Miss Carol Lee (Thinking and Study Skills, Women in the Bible I), Pr Cornelius Koshy (Elementary Greek I), Pr Joshua Yong (Contemporary Theology I, Greek Reading I), Miss Joycelyn Chng (Introduction to Christian Education), Mrs Patricia Joseph (Elementary English I), Mrs Ng May Shyen (Intermediate English I), Mr Aw Beng Teck (Advanced English I), Mrs Cheng May Lynn (Beginner Pianoforte).

We welcome a new English tutor in Mrs Ng May Shyen whose mother Mrs Anne Lim was English tutor from 2003 to 2020. Mrs Ng has a BA (English and Economics) from NUS, PGDE from the National Institute of Education (NIE/NTU), and a Master’s (Early Childhood Education) from Macquarie University (Australia).

Fourteen Basic Theology for Everyone (BTFE) courses are offered to the public on campus and online this semester: (1) Systematic Theology III: Soteriology, (2) Epistles of John, (3) Epistle of James, (4) Cults I, (5) Introduction to Christian Education, (6) Theology of Prayer, (7) Contemporary Theology I, (8) Church History I, (9) Thinking and Study Skills, (10) Acts of the Apostles II, (11) Women in the Bible I, (12) Old Testament History III, (13) New Testament Introduction (Chinese), (14) Covenant Theology.

Audio Books

Thank God that not only can good theology be read but also heard. The Rev Joseph Poon of Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia (BPCWA) with his team of church members have converted several of FEBC’s publications into audio books. One of them is Theology for Every Christian (all four parts).

Rev Poon said, “With so many sound materials we have readily available from FEBC, we felt that we have no excuse for not getting them onto platforms that can help get the Truth to as many as possible.” Praise the Lord!