Re-Digging The Wells

POLISHED SHAFT I TUNG LING BIBLE SCHOOL

POLISHED SHAFT SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP 2021

SCHOOL OF MINISTRY TERM 2, 2021

RE-DIGGING THE WELLS

REDIGGING the wells

Tung Ling Productions Pte Ltd

TUNG LING BIBLE SCHOOL ADDRESS: 2 Gambas Crescent, #10-04/05 Nordcom II, Singapore 757044 TELEPHONE: +65 6345 4353 FAX: +65 6345 4639 EMAIL: admin@tungling.org.sg WEBSITE: www.tungling.org.sg

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Chairman’s Message Principal’s Message Leadership Perspective Deans and Staff School Management Board

SCHOOL OF MINISTRY 16 Lecturers FEATURE: 20 Arielle Yang 24 Gwee Ting Ai 28 Jean Yong 32 Carmen Li 39 Testimonies PHOTOGRAPHS: 60 Devotions 62 Lectures 64 Worship 66 Silence and Solitude

SOM

School of Ministry

POLISHED SHAFT COMMITTEE

CONTENTS SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP 70 Lecturers FEATURE: 76 Raymond Tan 80 Fidelia Lim 84 Chang Tou Chen 89 Testimonies PHOTOGRAPHS: 106 Devotions 108 Lectures 110 Worship

SOL

School of Leadership

Class Monitor : Jerome Jude Arokiaraj Jacob Selvaraj Class Monitress: Carmen Li

Class Monitor: Leon Koh

Editors (Left to Right): Tan Ju Quan, Gwee Ting Ai, Jean Yong

Editors (Left to Right): Chang Tou Chen, Charmaine Wee (SOM)

Treasurers (Left to Right): Arielle Yang, Jean Yong

Photography (Left to Right): Tan Xue Qi Alyssa, Low Yingzi Vanessa, Wee En

Treasurers (Left to Right): Serene Chee, Yen Yeen Peng, Emily Sin

Photography (Left to Right): Kyaw Thiha Pine, Pastor Lee Beng Hoon, Clarissa Neo

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

earth and connected by an elaborate system of water channels or surface drains that direct rainwater into the cistern.

Debris and dirt would be channelled into it.

After a while, sediments would settle at the bottom of the cistern, making the water murky. Cisterns were a common source of water in Israel. These cisterns were often dug in the open courtyard of houses during the summer months and were often empty.

A cistern by its very nature cannot supply fresh flowing water.

REDIGGING

As a believer, we fall into one of these four categories – a well, spring, river or cistern.

What kind of believer are you?

the wells

Congratulations to the graduating cohort of the School of Ministry, Term 2 and the School of Leadership 2021. I am certain the past 3 months have been defining and divine for many of you.

As you soldier on, may I encourage you to keep pressing upwards, onwards, and towards the goal of the high call of God in Christ Jesus.

Are You A Well?

The theme you have chosen, ‘Re-Digging the Wells’, is both a timely and prophetic one.

that gushes forth clear, pristine, cold water even till today, thousands of years later.

WATER AS LIFE SOURCE

And if there are no springs or other water sources nearby, then what? Inhabitants of the land often do one of these two things – they either dig a well or a cistern.

Proximity to a water source is the main consideration for the location of any city, town or village in the days of antiquity.

Without water, the community within it cannot survive. Ancient cities were built around water sources. In the Old Testament, we find great cities situated by the great rivers like the Nile or the Euphrates.

Other cities were located around the shores of fresh water lakes.

In the absence of rivers or lakes, we find cities drawing their water supply from natural under-ground springs. Israel, for example, is a land of springs. The City of David or Zion, for instance, drew its supply of fresh water from the Gihon Springs, which interestingly sits right underneath the City. The Gihon is a beautiful karstean spring

There are many wells in the Old Testament that were dug by the patriarchs. Abraham dug wells and several of these wells later became cities that actually grew around those wells. Isaac and Jacob dug wells too.

Some of the wells mentioned in scripture were very deep, measuring hundreds of feet deep and lasting for a long time. In John 4, Jesus visited the well at Sychar.

This was a well that Jacob dug and centuries later, the well was still producing good, clean, drinking water. The town of Sychar drew its sustenance from this well.

A cistern, on the other hand, is an underground storage tank dug up from the

When we receive salvation, the first thing the Lord does is to put a well in us. This is consistent right through the word of God and it is called the well of salvation. It is from this well that we need to learn to drink from daily. Isaiah 12:3 talks about drawing living waters from the well of salvation. Jesus also spoke about drawing waters from the well from which you will never thirst again (John 4:14). If we are truly born again, a well dwells within us and we have to learn to drink from it.

Are You A Spring?

A well can become a spring and it happens when we are baptised in the Holy Spirit.

When we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, the waters of salvation start bubbling up within and we feel this wonderful effervescence of the Spirit. That’s where a new language springs forth. The psalmist says, “All my springs are in you”. In other words, God is the source and initiator of everything we desire. When we become a spring, people are drawn to us for a refreshing drink.

Are You A River?

That spring in us has the potential to gush forth, overflow and become a river. When it does, it blesses many people around us.

Jesus said, ‘out of your innermost being will flow rivers of living waters’. A torrent of life flowing from a well which started out as a spring is now a river. As a river, many thirsty will come to us to be quenched.

Are You A Cistern?

Unfortunately, wells can become clogged and as a result no longer produce living waters. Envy, competition, strife, bitterness, hatred, a religious spirit may clog our wells and prevent us from being from fruitful, life-givers. Once this happens, the ability to refresh and impact the community is lost. This was exactly God’s displeasure with His people the Israelites when they exchanged the fountain of living water for dry cisterns that did not produce any water.

“Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But my people have changed their glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,” says the LORD. “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:11-13

OUR SINS REVEALED

The Lord speaks of two evils or sins – “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters” and “They have hewn for themselves cisterns that cannot hold any water”.

Forsaking God, our source and well-spring is a sin. God calls forsaking Him an evil and a sin. Have we forgotten our source?

Where do we draw our sustenance from?

Are we drinking daily from the well that God has provided?

When we forsake the source of living waters, we end up digging our own cisterns.

We start doing our own thing, with our own strength, in our own ability and what happens then is that we start to see a gradual decline of spiritual power in our

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

lives and in the church. Why? Because these cisterns we have built are incapable of holding the living waters.

In my opinion, I think that this is the greatest temptation in every revival. After a while, we stop depending on the Lord and we start depending on our own strength.

When that happens, we forsake the spring of living waters.

KEY TO DIGGING SUCCESSFULLY

Numbers 21 gives us a clue to digging a well.

When the children of Israel came to “Beer”, a well that Abraham had dug, they were commanded to sing to the well. And as they sang to it, water came gushing out.

Here’s the key – singing! The well is voice activated. We have to sing to it. Singing is an important part of our Christian experience because singing connects us to our well.

Remember the first time you were saved.

Did you feel the unspeakable joy? That was the well within you springing forth. Don’t lose the joy. Don’t allow sin or the enemy to plug and cover up the well. God wants

those wells to flow again in your heart. He wants the living water to spring forth once again. Don’t lose the joy of serving the Lord, your source.

In Ephesians 5, Paul exhorts us not to be filled with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. And the way we do that is to speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, and giving thanks always for all things.

Thanksgiving is an important part of our journey because it causes us to have a rejoicing spirit, which is key to having the joy of the Lord. We cannot produce joy but we can rejoice. And it is the living water from a joyful heart that refreshes and waters the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

GUARDING THE WELL

The journey of the Israelites in the wilderness was an interesting one where they stopped at forty different locations.

Each location was a watering hole or an oasis. It is the same with us. Just take a look at your life. Each place the Lord brings us to in life is a watering hole. Each time we touch

God, the ground water table rises and the higher the table, the less we need to dig.

Every well must be protected because it will be attacked. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and this is what he does best. He seeks to shut all the wells of God. That’s what the Philistines tried to do with the wells Abraham dug. Our job as believers is to stay vigilant and alert. We need to protect the wells in us. The stronger the well, the more it will be attacked. Satan knows that if our well is powerful and thriving, the more we can impact and influence those around us.

So are you a well, spring, river or cistern?

My earnest prayer is that the wells that God has placed in all of you will become mighty torrents of living water, enabling you to spring forth with a powerful overflow into the community and into the Nations.

Keep the springs of living waters within you ever flowing to quench the thirst of our people and parched land.

NATIONAL DAY AWARD 2021 The Board, Management & Staff of Tung Ling Bible School would like to extend our heartiest Congratulations to our Board Members on receiving the National Day Award 2021.

MR. RICHARD MAGNUS

Congratulations on your appointment as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Finland

MR. RICHARD MAGNUS on being conferred “THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, 2021” for his distinguished contributions to the public service and the public.

MS. WONG KOK YEE

Rev Yang Tuck Yoong Chairman of the Board, Tung Ling Bible School

Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church

MS. WONG KOK YEE on being conferred “THE PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL, 2021” who has rendered commendable public service in Singapore.

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

both physically and emotionally. It can be exhilarating with the ‘eureka’ of hitting a water source but exhausting when nothing shows up.

We must clear

the mud, remove the debris, unclog (or unplug) the choke, and clean-up the well for fresh streams of waters to flow through.

OH, WELL, well, well...

Some of my most precious moments at the Bible School are the one-onone scheduled time with every student. It is usually on these occasions that I get to hear students’ personal stories at length. Their joys and pains in the journeys of life. Their struggles and break-throughs in difficult times. Their wilful waywardness and subsequent grace encounter with God. So often, I hear many who had come to the Lord while young but got waylaid and distracted by the vicissitudes of life.

Without exception, I also hear how God’s hand was upon each life at critical junctions and crisis situations that brought them back to Him.

Each life story is, as it were, the re-digging of wells like what Isaac did in Genesis 26, which is the theme for this issue of the Polished Shaft.

We can say that Isaac’s life is characterised by re-digging wells. The digging of wells is a laborious and difficult task. Without the means of modern technology and tools, it is a back-breaking job, yet imperative for sustenance. Digging wells is demanding,

Recorded in Genesis 26, Isaac and his tribes were confronted by famine. Instead of moving to Egypt like his father Abraham did, God told him to remain in Gerar for a while. Despite the hostile, dry and difficult condition in Gerar, the Lord blessed Isaac with abundance to overflowing. To experience God’s blessings through the arduous process of re-digging wells, Isaac did three things which are applicable for us to emulate: 1. Clean-up the well 2. Contend for the well 3. Claim the well

CLEAN-UP THE WELL

Gen 26: 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham.

Notice the Philistines had stopped the well that Abraham had dug after his death.

The well was covered up and rendered useless. Isaac had to re-dig and clean-up the well that his father Abraham had dug.

For whatever reason, the Philistines had stopped the well. Either through deliberate acts of filling the well with earth, mud and debris or through sheer neglect over a period of time, the well had ceased to function yielding fresh water.

The stopped or clogged well is so reflective of the journey in our Christian walk. How many of us when we first came to the Lord were excited, enthusiastic, and ‘on fire’ about our faith. But due to busyness, distractions and poor discipline, the wells of our soul are left unattended and soon enough, stop bubbling with fresh flowing water. Over time, the well is choked up with dirt and filth. The enemies of our souls had polluted and plugged up our wells.

To be restored, we need to purge and purify the well of our souls. The cumulation of unwanted earth, discarded debris, all kinds of junk, garbage and filth that must be cleared. In James 1: 21 it says, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness 07 and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

We need to be revived by the Spirit of God and be renewed through His Word. Through confession and repentance we can return to the ways of the Lord. As in Hebrews 2: 1 we must give more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

We need to ask God to purify us like the Psalmist says, “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

13Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

(Ps 19: 12-13) It may be the dirt of wilful sins and lies, doubts and fears, ungodly beliefs and hidden faults that are choking our spiritual lives.

We need to rise up with the shovel to redig the wells that the enemy had stopped.

We must clear the mud, remove the debris, unclog (or unplug) the choke, and cleanup the well for fresh streams of waters to flow through.

For Isaac to restore the well that his father Abraham had dug, he had to first CLEAN UP the well. For us, it means seeking God to purge, cleanse and purify the souls of our wells, that out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water (John 7: 38).

CONTEND FOR THE WELL

Gen 26: 19-22 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. 20But the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours. ”So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarrelled with him. 21Then they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also. So, he called its name Sitnah. 22And he moved

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

May I encourage

you to CLEAN UP the well of your soul, CONTEND for the well of God’s promises and CLAIM the well of God’s blessed destiny in your life.

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recent Tokyo Olympic, the participants had to CONTEND vigorously for the elusive gold. It takes perseverance.

from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Re-digging wells is tough enough without contention. When the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen and opposed their opening of the well, Isaac simply moved on. He re-dug another well, and another well. From “Esek” to “Sitnah” to “Rehoboth.”

Instead of giving up, Isaac persevered. He was not contending with the people of Gerar.

He was contending for the well of God’s blessings. He clung on to the promises of God’s blessings and persisted in re-digging the wells that his father Abraham had dug.

The story of Johann Sebastian Bach is a classic example of persistent digging in the well of his musical brilliance. After a series of prominent positions in several cities, he spent the last 27 years of his life working as a musical director and choirmaster at Saint Thomas School and the church in Leipzig.

Unfortunately, not many appreciated his musical talent. They said he was a stuffy old man who clung stubbornly to his obsolete forms of music.

But Bach continued to write his most enduring music. On an average, he wrote

one cantata each week. Today, a composer who writes one cantata a year would be considered a musical genius. Most of his cantatas conclude with a chorale based on a hymn bound to a biblical text. Amongst his most eminent works are the ‘Ascension Cantata’ and the ‘Christmas Oratorio.’

Bach also composed his epic Mass in B Minor; St John Passion; and St. Matthew Passion that are still being performed in churches today.

But music was never just music to Bach.

Nearly three quarters of his more than 1,000 compositions were written for use in worship. He never stopped digging the wells of his musical talent, the effect of his music and his devotion to Christ. His persistence and perseverance, as well as his impressive cantatas composed for church worship, led to him being referred to as “The Fifth Evangelist.”

If there is any thing that is of significance and worthy of pursuit, often, we must contend for it. It may demand all of our energy and attention to do it again and again. When opposition comes between us, we need to persist as Jude 1: 3b says, “I …urge you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” The Greek word translated “contend earnestly,” is used to describe an athlete striving with extreme intensity to win in a competition. At the

For Isaac, he had to CONTEND earnestly for the well that his father Abraham had dug. For us, we need to CONTEND fervently for the depth of our faith.

It takes persistence.

CLAIM THE WELL

Gen 26: 23-25 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

Even though God seemed to have blessed Isaac tremendously at the well of ‘Rehoboth,’ it was not His ultimate destination. God had said earlier in Gen 26: 3, “to sojourn in the land” meaning to stay for a while or temporarily. It was not meant to be permanent because God had greater things in store for Isaac.

But, ‘Rehoboth’ was seemingly good enough. After a few acrimonious attempts at re-digging wells, Isaac had finally dug a well without contention and strife. There was enough room for everyone to flourish and that’s what ‘Rehoboth’ means. It is easy and comfortable to settle into.

It could be easily perceived as God’s blessed provision.

To remain in ‘Rehoboth’ was irresistible.

But it was not God’s plan. All the wells that Isaac re-dug with toil, sweat and striving were only a ‘dress rehearsal’ in preparation for greater things to come.

How often do we settle for just good enough, when God actually has the best for us? But it does require divine perspective, discernment and obedience. Especially when things are seemingly good and attractive from a human perspective.

It took discernment and wisdom on the part of Isaac to understand God’s plan and the willingness to act in obedience.

Isaac moved to Beersheba and lived there for the rest of his life. That was to be his ultimate destiny.

At Beersheba, there was a different order to things. Instead of digging well as a top priority for sustenance, Isaac built an altar first. Then, a tent and lastly, a well. There seemed to have been a shift in focus from the physical and earthly pursuit to that which is spiritual and heavenly. The altar is a significant expression of worship. The tent is a picture of communion and fellowship.

The well is a representation of abundance and overflowing blessings.

Isaac had moved beyond physical blessings to having the blessing of God’s presence in his worship. Beersheba was known as the ‘Well of Seven’ or the ‘Well of Oath.’ It was

at Beersheba that Abraham first exchanged an oath with King Abimelech to inherit the land (Gen 21: 22-32). It was again at Beersheba that Abimelech came to Isaac later and renew their oath (Gen 26: 26-31).

Beersheba is a significant place of Oath where the covenant blessings of Abraham flowed down to Isaac. It was that night after Isaac moved up to Beersheba that he laid hold of God’s promises and claimed the well of God’s covenantal blessings. (Gen 26: 23-24)

My heartiest congratulations to you on your commencement!

For Isaac, he had to CLAIM the well of Abraham’s blessings. It was not in the well of “Esek,” nor the well of “Sitnah.” Neither was it the well of “Rehoboth,” however comfortable or irresistible it may have seemed. Isaac’s destiny was in Beersheba.

For me, my ‘Beersheba’ is at Tung Ling Bible School. For the last eighteen years, I had laid hold of the calling and claimed the joy of serving others with the passion of teaching the Word of God. What about you? Where is your Beersheba?

My prayers for you as a class of 2021 at SOL and SOM, is that each of you will find your ‘Beersheba.’ Are you prepared to re-dig the wells of God’s destiny in your life?

The last three months at Tung Ling may have been the initiation to you re-digging your wells for purity with perseverance, and to possess it. May I encourage you to CLEAN UP the well of your soul, CONTEND for the well of God’s promises and CLAIM the well of God’s blessed destiny in your life.

Mrs Ong Guek Ju Principal, Tung Ling Bible School

Dean, School of Ministry (English)

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES

for the next generations (Gen 26:18). Isaac had plumbed the depth of God’s promises.

2 Chronicles 34 & 35 provides a parallel narrative about King Josiah. Like Isaac, Josiah also followed after the footsteps of his father David. “He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

(2 Chron 34:2) This verse very much sums up King Josiah’s ‘plumbing the depths’ to reverse the nation’s spiritual decadence with three significant acts.

1. RE-DIGGING THE WELL OF FAITH IN GOD

Firstly, Josiah “walked in the ways of his father David.” As it were, he re-dug the wells of faith that his father David had first dug.

Josiah was 16 years old then: “in the eighth years of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David.” (2 Chron 34:3). It is significant that he ascended the throne at the age of eight and the nation’s reform happened in the eighth year of his reign. The number eight in the Bible symbolises a ‘new beginning.’

Plumbing The

DEPTHS

The predominant consideration of any well-digger is how deep to plumb before reaching the water table underground.

That is how we get the idiom ‘to plumb the depths.’

In digging wells, it seems, the deeper the better. Shallow wells often bring expected predicaments. They bring groundwater contamination; the well gets clogged up due to dirt and debris, and the limited water source results in the well drying up eventually.

Josiah became one of the few good kings Judah had. He did not take his cue from his biological father King Amon’s evil reign, nor from his grandfather King Manasseh’s vilest acts. Instead, he followed after his forefather, King David and sought the ‘God of David.’

Likewise for believers and leaders, the shallowness in the well of life and leadership has its awkwardness. Without digging deep into character, often leadership is upended prematurely. To ‘fly high and last long’ as touted by one of our lecturers in the leadership class, it demands discipline to plumb the depths of character inside out.

It is interesting to note that God here was referred to as the ‘God of David.’ It does seem like Josiah did not even know the name of God. It might be so, but four years later, he began to purge the land from idolatry and lead the nation to the worship of God. It was a progression of Josiah’s personal walk and growing faith in God.

In the book of Genesis, when Isaac re-dug the wells at Gerar, he was following after his father, Abraham’s footsteps. The significance of Isaac re-digging those wells is more than sustenance. He was acting in obedience to God’s instruction. Therefore, he was able to carry and establish the Abrahamic covenant

Plumbing The Depth of Our Faith

The lesson for us is that we need to grow in our faith. We must continue to plumb the depths and go deeper in our faith towards God. We must grow from simply knowing the ‘God of David’ to having a personal intimate knowledge of who He is.

Whether you are 16 or 60, there’s no barrier to going deeper with God. As in digging wells, the deeper you go the better. Don’t stay shallow. Don’t stagnate.

Don’t be complacent. On the surface of the well, the water is often muddled with dirt and mud. We must plumb the depths and get below muddy water to deeper faith in God. The Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3: 17-18 – “I pray that… Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

In all your seeking and re-digging, dig deep, that you may know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3).

In your spiritual pursuit, GO DEEPER!

2. RE-DIGGING THE WAYS OF GOD

It was attributed to Josiah that he “did what was right in the sight of God.” He removed the wrongs of idolatry and participation in all forms of pagan worship. He was then 20 years old, into the twelfth year of his reign.

Having walked with the Lord for four years, Josiah started purging Judah and Jerusalem of their evil practices associated with idolatry, including the horrific practice of children-sacrifices. Josiah set about to put things right in the ways of God. Despite Josiah’s act to remove pagan gods and idol worship in Judah, it was not possible to avert God’s judgement on them – “Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.” (2 Kings 22: 16-17). So, the LORD said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.” (2 Kings 23: 27)

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Yet, Josiah continued to pursue what was right before God. His unflagging zeal to right the nation’s wrongdoings was not just an outward act of righteousness, but an inward conviction to follow in the ways of God. He did it because it was the right thing to do and not because it would exonerate them from God’s judgement. He did it out of pure obedience for righteousness’ sake rather than pragmatism.

It was said that “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”

(2 Kings 23: 25)

Plumbing The Depths of Righteousness

As leaders and believers, we need to plumb the depths of righteousness, going beyond outward reform to an inward change of hearts; from perfunctory obedience to an obedience of the heart. We do what is right out of conviction rather than convenience.

To plumb the depths of righteousness, we need to constantly check ourselves, being mindful of the propensity within us to sin and the need to turn from our wicked ways and practices. As David says in Psalms 139: 23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

In all your doings and in re-digging the ways of God, plumb the depth of

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES CHANGING PATHS, AFFIRMING LIVES

Plumb the depth of faith in God. Go deeper.

righteousness. In your spiritual practice, GROW IN PURITY!

3. RE-DIGGING THE WORD OF GOD

Lastly, Josiah “did not turn aside to the right or the left.” Rightly so, when Shaphan the scribe handed Josiah the book of the law that was discovered in the temple by the high priest, he had it read to him.

That was in the twentieth year of his reign, when he was 26 years old.

For hundreds of years, the scroll had not been seen; it had been lost and forgotten.

Finding the scroll was an emotional experience for King Josiah. It was like digging wells and finding treasures buried underground. Josiah had the rediscovered book of the law read to him, instead of placing it in the museum for safe-keeping.

When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he tore his clothes in realization that the nation had failed to observe the laws and the commandments of God. He sprang into action. He got his men to consult with the prophetess Huldah. He rounded up the

priests and the prophets. He assembled the elders and the people in the temple. He had the book of the law read publicly to the people, great and small. After the reading of the laws, Josiah stood by the pillars of the altar and renewed the covenant to keep His commandments and to practice the ways of God. And the people stood with him.

Reading the Word of God is vital and acting in obedience to the Word of God is absolute. When we read the laws of God, we must not miss the love of God. When we follow the laws of God, we must not miss the heart of God. When we observe the sacred rituals, we must not forget our spiritual relationship.

The reading of the Word resulted in the re-installation of the priesthood services in the temple and the restoration of the Passover celebration. So, the Priest stood at their stations and the Levites by their divisions. They slaughtered the Passover animals and offered burnt sacrifices on the altar of the Lord.

Without giving attention to the Word of God, as D.A. Carson says, “People do not drift towards holiness. We drift towards compromise and call it tolerance; we drift towards disobedience and call it freedom; we drift towards superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch towards prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide towards godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”

(Quoted in “Reflections” Christianity Today 7-31-00)

“Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover.

None of the kings of Israel had ever kept a Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel.” 2 Chron 35:18

Plumbing The Depth of The Word

As leaders we must continue to plumb the depth of God’s Word and be directed to act accordingly. Unless we take time to dig into the Word, we will not know who and what God wants of us. We will not be illuminated without His Word nor His Spirit. Nor can we experience relationship with God without the Word and worship.

I am looking forward to be refreshed in Tung Ling Bible School

In all your knowing and re-digging, plumb the depth of His Word and Worship. It is your spiritual nourishment and provision.

GET HUNGRY - NOT GO HUNGRY! Plumb the depth of faith in God. Go deeper.

Plumb the depth of God’s way.

Grow in purity.

Plumb the depth of God’s Word.

Get hungry.

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 NASB 2 0 2 2

C O U R S E

SOM (English)

03.01-24.03

D A T E S :

SOM

TERM 1

SOL

(Chinese)

Mr Philip Ong

04.04-24.06 事奉学校 (华)

Dean, School of Leadership A: 2, Gambas Crescent, #10-05 Nordcom II, Singapore 757044 T: +65 6345 4353 F: +65 6345 4639 E: Admin@Tungling.org.sg W: www.tungling.org.sg

04.07-22.09

SOM (English)

04.07-22.09 TERM 2

SCHOOL

Management Board

DEANS and Staff

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MRS. ONG GUEK JU

Principal & Dean of School of Ministry (English)

MS. RUFINA ONG Administrator

MS. CARA LOH

Registrar & Programme Co-Ordinator

MS. WENDY TEO

Finance & Logistics Executive

MR. SAM GEORGE

Audio Video Operations Specialist

MR. PHILIP ONG

REV. YANG TUCK YOONG

PASTOR LESLIE CHUA Treasurer

MS. WONG KOK YEE

MS. ELIZABETH

REV. VINCENT GOH

MR. RICHARD MAGNUS JUDGE (RETIRED)

REV. DR. EU HONG SENG

Dean of School of Leadership

Administrative Assistant

MR. BENJI WONG

Maintenance Supervisor

Chairman

Member

REV. CHIA BENG HOCK Member

Member

MRS. ONG GUEK JU

Principal & Dean of School of Ministry (English)

Member

Member

MR. PHILIP ONG

Dean of School of Leadership

School Of Ministry

LECTURERS

PASTOR RUPERT LIM • Praise & Worship Pastor Rupert Lim is a trained professional musician who gave up his established music career to follow the call of God. He served as a full-time worship director at Cornerstone Community Church for more than 20 years and is currently serving as worship director at Christ Methodist Church. He lectures at various Christian institutions and is also one of the lecturers at the School of Ministry, Tung Ling Bible School.

He speaks regularly at worship seminars and conducts training and workshops to worship ministries of churches of various denominations. Pastor Rupert is married and have 2 lovely children.

REV. HENSON LIM • Knowing & Fulfilling Kingdom Assignments

REV. DR MARGARET SEAWARD • Hearing the Voice of God

Rev. Henson Lim is the author of Say to Archippus and Alignment Check, and founder of Archippus Awakening, a kingdom initiative dedicated to the awakening of saints to know and fulfil their God-given kingdom assignments. Henson managed an advertising agency for 14 years before stepping into ministry in 2004. After obtaining his M.Div from TCA College, he served as Dean of a school of ministry and later, Deputy Senior Pastor of a local church. Called to the ministry of teaching and preaching, he declares the Word of God with a passion to spur others to rise above mediocre Christianity that they may live lives worthy of their calls in Jesus Christ.

Henson is married to Serene and they have 7 children.

Rev. Dr Margaret Seaward is a dynamic teacher of the Word and has been a missionary instructor in Biblical Studies for more than 50 years. She is the wife of the late Rev. Dr Fred Seaward, former Senior Pastor of Elim Church. They came as faith ministers and had pioneered churches in Singapore and Malaysia. They came to Singapore in 1955 as missionaries from the United States under the Assemblies of God. Together they have planted churches in Singapore and have been actively involved in missions.

SENIOR PASTOR DANIEL FOO • The Spiritual Believer • Finishing Well Senior Pastor Daniel Foo is the Senior Pastor of Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church.

He had worked in the financial markets for over 20 years before heeding the call to give himself fully to the ministry.

He is a gifted teacher of the Word, and his ministry focus is on spiritual leadership and teaching the Word to equip the saints for effective ministry.

He is on the faculty of Haggai Institute, Tung Ling Bible School and Eagles Leadership Institute. He serves on the team of the Love Singapore Network of Churches.

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DEAN ONG GUEK JU • The Joy of Personal Bible Study Dean Ong Guek Ju is a gifted teacher of the Word, regularly training others in her capacity as the Principal of Tung Ling Bible School and Dean of the School of Ministry. Her passionate desire to train and mentor young women and leaders from all walks of life comes through her experience as a professional life coach from Lifeforming Leadership Coaching and as an adjunct faculty at the Haggai Institute for Advanced Leadership Training in the Mid-Pacific Centre, Maui. She has authored a book entitled, “From Strength to Strength.”

DEAN PHILIP ONG • Character Formation From a CEO of an international Ad Agency to the Founding Chairman of a non-profit organization, and now as the Dean of the School of Leadership, Dean Philip Ong had spent more than 30 years in the advertising business. In 1995, he started an advertising company in Jakarta and at the same time, together with a group of believers, they started a local church. On returning back to Singapore in 2002, he became the founding chairman of Equipping Leaders for Asia (ELA), a non-profit organization challenging men to rise up as Spiritual Leaders in their homes, workplaces, churches and community.

Having dealt with leaders and leadership pitfalls at different levels, Philip felt a compelling need to teach about character formation. He has been teaching Character Formation since 2007 at Tung Ling Bible School.

PASTOR JEREMY WITHEROW • Prophecy: Principles, Practices & Activation Pastor Jeremy Witherow is from New Zealand, and at the age of 23, he was born again and baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Called to the ministry, he left his career as a chef and gained a Bachelor of Ministries and a Master of Theology degree.

Jeremy served as a pastor in Singapore for nearly a decade before returning to his homeland, and now serves the Body of Christ through an itinerant teaching and prophetic ministry.

He is the author of: THE VOICE OF PROPHECY: Reclaiming God’s Guidance for Today’s Church, which received an endorsement from Bishop Bill Hamon.

DEPUTY SENIOR PASTOR CHUA SENG LEE • Mental Health and Soul Care Deputy Senior Pastor Chua Seng Lee has been a full-time pastor since 1992. He has spent more than 2 decades working with youth and young adults.

He has also served as council member in the National Youth Council for 4 years, after which he was invited to chair the National Steering Committee for Youth Mentoring for 4 years. Currently, he is a deputy senior pastor with Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church.

SOM LECTURERS

BROTHER JOSEPH CHEAN • Father Heart of God • Go-Forth Mission Brother Joseph Chean is the national director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM)Singapore, a global movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to presenting Jesus personally to this generation.

Joseph is married to Kim and has 2 lovely girls, Olivia and Ashley. He attends and serves at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, an Anglican church where he served as a youth pastor and Chaplain’s Assistant in St. Andrew’s Secondary School for 8 years (1989-1997). During that time, he also pioneered Eternal Splashes, a creative arts outreach ministry that trains and disciples youth to do street evangelism in Singapore.

He joined YWAM since 1997 and has served in various leadership roles before assuming the role of National Director of YWAM Singapore in 2012.

REV. JENNI HO-HUAN • Silence & Solitude Rev. Jenni Ho-Huan was raised and ordained in the Presbyterian Church. Her desire is to live with authenticity and help others develop a vibrant faith-life in their particular circumstances and personalities through developing a strong inner life. Jenni was host of the first Christian podcast and founded the To Really Live community. An avid writer, Jenni was columnist for Impact magazine; and has authored 6 books and blogs. Jenni holds a Bachelor of Arts (NUS), Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Theology with a focus on Personhood (Trinity Theological College).

BROTHER MAX JEGANATHAN • The Gospel and Culture: 21st Century Biblical Apologetics Brother Priyan (Max) Jeganathan is a speaker and writer for Thinking Faith. He is passionate about the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives. Max has spoken in banks, businesses, universities, government, and political institutions, as well as in debates and at churches and conferences.

He has worked as a lawyer and a political and policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament, including time as an Adviser to a Senior Cabinet Minister and as Senior Social Policy Adviser to the Leader of the Australian Opposition.

Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid-1980s. He was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford. His research interests relate to the relationships between faith, politics, public policy, economics, and moral reasoning. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. Max lives in Singapore with his wife, Fiona, and their 2 young children. He loves movies, good company with friends and playing with his kids.

REV. JOEL BAKER • Conflict Resolution • Jewish Roots

REV. DR SAMUEL KIM • Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

Rev. Joel Baker has been in full-time ministry for more than 30 years. He holds a BA in Jewish Studies, and a Masters Degree in JewishChristian Relations taken in Jerusalem where he lived for 10 years.

Rev. Dr Samuel Kim is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Zion Church in Singapore, and lectures on the History of Redemption Book Series across the Asia Pacific. A pastor deeplyrooted in the Word of the Bible and a fervent preacher of God’s redemptive message, Rev. Kim is also a member of the English translation team for Rev. Dr Abraham Park’s History of Redemption Book Series.

He pastored in South Africa for 4 years, and served as the Dean of the School of Ministry at Tung Ling Bible School from 1996-2001. He is currently Senior Pastor of FlameTree Church on the Sunshine Coast of Australia where he lives with his wife and family. They have a passion for the wholeness of the Body of Christ and the manifest Kingdom of God.

PASTOR CHRIS HAYWARD • Breaking Bondages

REV. JAMES JAGJEET SINGH • Prayer & Fasting

Pastor Chris Hayward has been the president of Cleansing Stream International (CSI) for over 21 years, having served in pastoral ministry for 17 years prior to that. Recognized as the largest mass deliverance ministry in the world, CSI, has ministered to over a million people in 36 countries, involving over 7000 churches, in the US alone.

Pastor Hayward’s calling has been to follow the example of 2 Timothy 2:2 (“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”)

As a result, CSI, with its unique approach of working through churches, has prepared, trained and discipled multiple thousands around the world in the ministry of inner healing and deliverance, using it’s now entitled, “Cleansing Stream University”.

Rev. James Jagjeet Singh is an itinerant Evangelist under the Assemblies of God, Singapore. He graduated from Assemblies of God Bible College with a Bachelor of Theology. He carries a prophetic anointing and the fire of the Holy Spirit wherever he goes.

His passion is to see revival come upon the churches.

Pastor Hayward has written 3 books, “God’s Cleansing Stream”, “The End Of Rejection”, and, “Wounded In The Church”.

During his tenure as president, the CSI workbook has gone through 5 editions and been translated into 12 languages. He currently lives in Santa Clarita, California with his wife Karen, of over 49 years. They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

REV. DR PHILIP HUAN • Mentoring • Leadership in the 21st Century Rev. Dr Philip Huan has been a pastor for 21 years in the arenas of Worship, Cells Oversight, Family-Life, and as Senior Pastor.

He functioned as pastor overseeing Leadership Development in RiverLife Church, developing systems for grooming multiple levels of leadership. Founder of a consultancy – ChurchLife Resources www.churchlife-resources.org, Philip has consulted for pastoral teams, church boards and ministry teams. Since 2004, Philip has intentionally made mentoring a part of his ministry, and has since mentored Senior & Associate Pastors, Board Chairpersons, Youth and Young Adult pastors, as well as leaders in the marketplace.

Passionate for people and leadership development, Philip has taught leadership modules adjunct in Singapore Bible College, Trinity Theological College, Tung Ling Bible School and Covenant Vision School of Ministry.

Philip is currently a pastor with Kingdom Community Church, a church-plant inaugurated in December 2011. Philip holds a Masters of Divinity (Trinity Theological College) and a Doctorate of Ministry (Asbury Theological Seminary, USA), and has authored a book, “Enduring Church Growth — Issues on Discipleship, Leadership & Followership” (Armour Publishing). His wife, Jenni, previously served as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. She currently devotes most of her time to the family while being a published author and regularly writing for Christian publications and forums. They have 2 children, Abigayle (18 years old) and Keith (12 years old).

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SOM FEATURE

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sightings at home. In 2006, when I was 24, the attacks progressed from oppression, nightmares and insomnia to strangulation.

I would simply be lying in bed, preparing to go to sleep, when an unseen force would tighten around my neck until I was breathless.

This carried on for three months and I was slowly sinking into depression with suicidal thoughts. All the amulets, charms, chanting and visitations to apparently powerful spiritual masters did not seem to be working.

I then confided in a Christian friend whom I met during clubbing as by then, I had started to party and drink regularly as a way of coping with my nightly distress.

He suggested that I give Christianity and Jesus a try. He said, “Just call out to Jesus in your heart when the attacks happen again. You have nothing to lose.”

The True

LIGHT; My True

FREEDOM ARIELLE YANG I Emmanuel Assembly Of God

At first it was just the occasional sightings of spirits or ghostly figures.

I was only five and my parents thought it was either due to bad luck or the opening of a third eye. They brought me to various mediums hoping to bring me some relief.

But no relief came. Instead, things got worse and when I was about seven, nightmares, insomnia and oppression followed me. I gradually accepted these disturbances as periods of ‘ups and downs’ in my ‘luck cycle’. Meanwhile, I continued to seek various mediums and worship a plethora of gods but never sought Christ for help. I was in fact put off by Christianity.

My family members were affected as they too started experiencing weird or spooking

I gave him a skeptical look but went home thinking that he did make sense, that I had absolutely nothing to lose. That night, the strangulation came again and instead of chanting in my heart, I called out to Jesus and immediately, the strangulation left, and I felt an overwhelming sense of awe and peace which I had never experienced before. I knew then that Jesus was different, but I still found it hard to accept Him. I then prayed in my room, telling Jesus that I could not yet believe in Him fully but asked that if He was real, He would resolve my issue and reveal Himself to me.

A week later, I went to my friend’s church on my own. As the worship songs started, I just could not stop tearing and felt an indescribable love. As the pastor gave the salvation call, I simply knew it was time for me to be reconciled with Jesus and to accept Him into my life. I received Jesus that night and immediately after, the strangulation stopped. In the next two months, my seven years of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic knee injury were also amazingly healed by God. Occurrences of oppression and nightmares still happened once in a blue moon, but they did not bother me.

However, three years after being a believer, where I felt that I had been a ‘Sunday Christian’ all these while, I experienced night terrors again almost every night for about five months. I was very disturbed and upset as I thought that these problems had been resolved. At that time, two friends of mine somehow told me about Pastor Mike Connell who would be visiting my current church, Emmanuel Assembly of God. I went to Emmanuel AG for the first time and right after Pastor Mike prayed for me, I fell under the power of the Holy Spirit and manifested. I was in shock as I had never heard or seen anything about deliverance and manifestation till then.

The spirit that spoke through me said that it had been with me, ‘protecting me’ for 20 years. I suddenly recalled that when I was seven years old, I had gone to a

medium who was possessed by this spirit, and he had given me something to eat for extra protection and blessings by this spirit.

I had no idea that a seemingly harmless act could still affect me 20 years later.

This incident was the catalyst to my journey of deliverance and inner healing. By God’s love and grace, I was set free in 2010 ten months later. I could sense the tremendous difference and breakthroughs in my inner being and in my life after this period.

I then started to receive occasional promptings from the Lord in the next few years to go to different places for short-term volunteer or mission trips. These trips have opened my eyes and broadened my mindset about God and His involvement in humanity across different ethnic groups, geographies, and social issues through His believers.

My whole family has also since accepted Jesus and they too sense His tangible acts of love, healing and transformation in their own lives. On hindsight, I realize I have come full circle with Christ, remembering that an American missionary actually brought me to his church near my home for about a year when I was only three years old. I thank God that He has never forsaken me despite my rejections of Him throughout my growing up years. I also thank God for sending people who truly cared for me and helped me all the way to complete freedom.

SOM FEATURE

In my last 15 years as a Christian, I have never thought of going to a bible school but interestingly, as I was praying for direction for the year 2021 last December, the word “Tung Ling” came to mind, but I swiftly brushed it aside. In March 2021, a current Tung Ling student then whom I had not known managed to reach me after learning about my testimony. We met up for coffee and he was strongly encouraging me to attend Tung Ling though he knew nothing about my prayer impression a few months ago. This caught my attention, and I asked the Lord for more confirmations which came in the next week or so.

I am so glad that I signed up to attend Tung Ling eventually as it has been a joyful and meaningful season to spend three months just to strengthen my faith foundation and to widen my fellowship circle. If people can understand the importance of upgrading for professional development, why don’t I also take some time to deepen my spiritual development with the Lord? Regardless of how the future unfolds and which career or ministry direction I would undertake, whatever I have learnt at Tung Ling has provided a good foundation and practical tools to continue to strengthen myself and to help others. I am grateful for my time here and I encourage anyone with the time or desire to come to Tung Ling to draw fresh waters to refresh your soul and spirit once again.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9, NIV)

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

(Psalm 36:9, NIV)

SOM FEATURE

and started work in 1991. Work opened up a whole new world for me and it was there I met my husband. We were married in 1994 and posted to New York City in 1995. In 1996, I had my first child; and after returning to Singapore in 1998, I had my second child in 1999 and my third in 2002.

When my first child was three, he was diagnosed to be on the Autism Spectrum.

This was the beginning of God opening another new world to us. Together with my son, we entered the world of Special Needs.

A typical week for us was one spent going from therapy to therapy; everything from Speech Therapy to Occupational Therapy to Social Classes. From the time my son was in Kindergarten until he graduated from ITE in 2016, he was in mainstream schools. One of his greatest challenges is in the area of socialising. He was bullied a lot and was never able to excel in school. My heart used to hurt so much as I watched how he was never able to make friends, and how he was always left out of groups.

I begged the Lord to open doors for him in a Special Education School or a school which provided stronger support for children with Special Needs. But God

GWEE TING AI I St. James’ Church

This is not how old I am.

After my ‘A’ Levels in 1985, some of my best friends enrolled in TLBS. In those days, TLBS was in a house along West Coast Road and all the students had to stay in. I was only a 4 year old Christian then but I already had a deep desire to know God in an intimate way.

This is the number of years I waited to enrol in Tung Ling Bible School (TLBS) as a student.

Sadly, I was not allowed to enrol in TLBS and I had to be content with listening enviously to my friends as they shared all their amazing Tung Ling Stories!

Yes, 35 years.

In 1986, I went overseas to pursue my undergraduate degree, returned in 1990

35.

closed all the doors and remained silent.

When my son got into ITE after his ‘N’ Levels, we were of two minds – we were thrilled that he had been accepted into the Digital Animation Course – something which we knew he would love because he is a natural with computers and he is very good in art; but we also heard horror stories of ITE being filled with “gangsters” and young people who were street smart and ready to make their own way in the world. How would my son survive? But God’s hand had definitely led him there; and it was in ITE that he began to make friends. We noticed that his peers were far more accepting of his differences and would go out of their way to include him and support him. We were pleasantly surprised when he began to post wefies with new friends everyday!

This is also where he grew up and became an independent young man. Today, he is 25 years old and works at Enabling

My life was

defined by their lives. Those were whirlwind years where I did not have much time to think about myself.

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Village. God’s ways are certainly not our ways! (Isaiah 55:8-9) I spent many years being a full-time mum.

I dabbled in some Part-Time work but most of my days were spent chauffeuring my three kids from one activity to another, one therapy session to another, one tuition centre to another. My life was defined by their lives. Those were whirlwind years where I did not have much time to think about myself.

Amidst these whirlwind years, I had three unexpected surgeries, two of them lifethreatening. In 1997, I had an emergency Ovarian Cyst operation which left me with only one ovary and one fallopian tube. I was sent to A&E for severe abdominal pains and was later told my cyst was at bursting point. If it had burst, I would not be writing my story now. But God’s hand was on me.

And despite only having one ovary and one

SOM FEATURE

back into his life and both said it would be a good time for him to enrol in SOM. So in January 2018, he started SOM at TLBS.

Give WHAT LASTS FOR ETERNITY

While my desire to go to TLBS was always on the back burner, it was then that God began to fan the flame again. I was happy for my husband (I never imagined he would go to TLBS!), I was also abit indignant and asked God, “What about me? Have you forgotten about me?”

In God’s economy, 35 years is not too late; it is just in time.

And His timing is perfect.

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

fallopian tube, God blessed us with two more children! With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) In 2014, quite by surprise, God called me to serve as a Full-Time Staff in St. James’ Church where I still work today.

2017 was a turning point for our family when my husband decided to leave the corporate world. He had never heard of TLBS until God brought two old friends

The ministry depends fully on the generosity of kingdom-minded believers and well-wishers.

God never forgets. (Isaiah 49:15) • Your financial pledges or donation will enable the School to continue to bring in top-notched lecturers and support a competent team of dedicated faculty and staff to equip the body of Christ.

Three years after my husband graduated from TLBS, it was finally my turn. Despite Covid-19 and all the restrictions, here I am; a student at TLBS; and I am savouring every minute of it.

• A portion of the giving will also go towards helping to provide scholarships or subsidies to less fortunate but worthy students who cannot afford their tuition fees.

In God’s economy, 35 years is not too late; it is just in time.

And His timing is perfect. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

• Through your giving, it will enable the School to bless the churches locally through organised lectures, workshops and seminars.

We invite you to be part of the kingdom-ministry at Tung Ling Bible School through your financial giving.

Here are some ways you can contribute to the ministry: • Monthly pledge to TLBS • Bank transfer or GIRO to our DBS account no.: 012-003312-5, Account Name: Tung Ling Bible School Ltd • Cheque donation payable to: Tung Ling Bible School Ltd • Log into PayNow app and enter our UEN number: 198403071C OR • Scan the QR code:

2 Gambas Crescent, #10-04/05 Nordcom II, Singapore 757044 • T: +65 6345 4353 • F: +65 6345 4639 • E: Admin@Tungling.org.sg

• By way of bequests to TLBS, please email to admin@tungling.org.sg or call the office at 6345 4353 to discuss.

SOM FEATURE

SEEK THE LORD:

Seek. Trust. Obey

JEAN YONG I Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

My first day at Tung Ling Bible School (TLBS) affirmed the calling God gave me to rest and to hold fast to His ministry for me. In their introductions, Dean Ju and Rev. Yang Tuck Yoong both shared about the theme of ‘Re-digging the Wells’ for School of Ministry (SOM) 2021, Term 2. The moment I heard the theme for this term, my eyes brimmed with tears as I realised God was speaking to me in that instance. The thing is, my husband and I had just returned to serve in a ministry called “Meet At The Well” (MATW) after taking a sabbatical. We were unsure of how we would fit in with the new team in the ministry and whether things have changed since we left. ‘Re-digging the Wells’ resonated with me as I sensed God assuring me that His mission for us in the ministry is not finished yet and there are more exciting things in store.

I remain

“

confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

(Psalms 17:13, NIV)

MATW started in late 2018, and the ministry was born out of a desire with my church friends to create a safe community for Christian singles to journey alongside each other, and to gain intimacy in our walk with Jesus. Before we started the ministry, we sought God for a name and a vision. We were all familiar with the story of Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac at the well, but the Holy Spirit reminded us of the story of the Samaritan woman encountering Jesus at the well. Through our ministry, God has brought like-minded Christian singles together and allowed us to affirm our identities as singles. In my time serving, I observed that many individuals came with hurts, wounds, and past emotional baggage.

God has strengthened and equipped us for His kingdom as we interacted as a community. It was through MATW that I first met my husband, and we are thankful for how God united our hearts in ministry and covenantal marriage.

As a teacher by profession, it was challenging for me to carve out time to attend TLBS as being away for 3 months from school seemed impossible. My dream to soak in God’s presence and connect with other students eager to hear God’s voice had to be pushed aside year after year.

Teaching was fulfilling for me, and I enjoyed making lessons fun and meaningful for my students. However, my heart still yearned for a time of rest and being refreshed in God’s presence.

2020 was a challenging year as I struggled to juggle between providing emotional support to my students facing difficulties at home and a caregiver to my mum who went through depression. I remember vividly one evening coming back from teaching to an empty home. Both my parents were hospitalised for different reasons, and it had

been an emotionally draining period at school. I was on my way to the hospital when tears started flowing. I remember crying silently in the back of the taxi and hoping the driver would not notice my despair. Amid my tears, God comforted me.

I knew God was there with me, wiping away the tears from my face and telling me that I will never be alone.

During my efforts in encouraging others’ hearts and strengthening their will to live, God encouraged my own heart through His Word.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalms 17:13, NIV) “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV) Through the verses above, God filled my heart with peace and gave me a renewed sense of hope. I knew I could trust Him in His perfect plan and timing.

At the start of 2021, I took a step of faith in applying for no-pay leave to enrol in TLBS. I waited upon God for His approval as I believed that if He wanted me to have a season in TLBS, He would make all things fall into place. Soon after, I received confirmation that my application for nopay leave was successful. Praise God! Through all these, when I felt the loneliest, when I felt the most fearful, when I felt darkness creeping in, God manifested His goodness and faithfulness. A rainbow in the sky, a text from close friends, a carefree smile from my nephew…God used all means to get my attention and to tell me that He loves me and cares for me.

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SOM FEATURE

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalms 27:4, NIV)

At the end of our ‘Father Heart of God’ module, we were asked to pen down a letter from God. In that letter, I was prompted to include the following truths, repeatedly:

In my time in TLBS, I am gaining a fuller understanding and experience of what it means to dwell in God’s presence. Each day, my eyes and heart behold His beauty in worship. Each day, I sit at His feet and seek Him on His throne. Each day, I receive fresh manna from Heaven.

“I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Rest in Me. Rest in Me. Rest in Me.”

As I rest in God, I want to rediscover the depths of His love. As I rest in God, I want to trust His unfailing love and purposes.

As I rest in God, I want to fall in love with Him again and again, all the days of my life.

Each day, my eyes and heart behold

His beauty in worship. Each day, I sit at His feet and seek Him on His throne.

Each day, I receive fresh manna from Heaven.

SOM FEATURE

In 2012, I become a mother to a beautiful baby girl, Hailey. I was a working mum and professionally, the Lord blessed me tremendously.

From

MOURNING To DANCING

Spiritually, even though my husband and I knew God since we were young, we had both backslided. We did not have a church wedding and although we attended church and experienced the grace of God, it was all rather superficial. We had no real relationship with God. But we were happy the way it was and on social media we seemed like the perfect family.

My world collapsed in 2018 when we were on a holiday in Japan.

I knew I hear God, but the pain was too intense. How could I be still?

He changed my heart, led me to forgive my husband, and he moved back home.

Shortly after that, my friend passed me a book about marriage, and the first page said, “Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22, NIV) SUBMIT?? No way. I chucked the book away.

After he came home, he seemed to be growing in his relationship with God and that brought me much comfort. But lo and behold, shortly after that, he lied again. It seemed to me that leopards never changed their spots!

My entire trust had been broken, and I was disgusted with the man who was my husband. I searched high and low in the Bible for something in God’s Word that would justify my desire to divorce him.

My heart shattered and my barely restored world collapsed again. The second time was much worse. My husband became violent, and I suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

But God remained silent.

I told God, “I did my part to forgive him; he wronged me again! Now I can move on, right?”

I discovered that my husband had been leading a double life. He had been unfaithful to me many times over the years and had a huge debt of almost six figures.

The world taught me to protect myself and my daughter, so I insisted on separation, and he moved out. I was certain I was ready to move on in life without him.

After having been married for more than ten years, how could I not have known?

My daughter Hailey had just started Primary One and what saddened me most was when she told me she made a friend who also did not have a father. The two of them went to a pond to make a wish together – “We pray our daddies will come home.”

Lies, lies and more lies. That was how good his lies were.

When I found out the truth in Japan, I was devastated and shocked. I hid in the hotel room for three days and hardly ate anything.

I heard God say to me, “Be still, know that I am God”. (Psalms 46:10a, NIV)

Not long after that, I went into depression.

I felt there was no hope and I blamed myself.

All I wanted to do was to end my life. In my despair I asked God many questions. I told Him to take my life or change my heart.

CARMEN LI I Chapel Of The Holy Spirit

I was born and raised in Hong Kong.

In 2007, I came to Singapore. I told my then-boyfriend not to waste my time and I would only stay on in Singapore if he married me. And he did, after only two months of dating each other!

I felt there was no hope and I

blamed myself. All I wanted to do was to end my life. In my despair I asked God many questions. I told Him to take my life or change my heart.

Wrong.

God showed me His way. He told me to forgive my husband 77 times. (Matthew 18:22, NIV) 77 times?! Either God is mad, or I would go mad!

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SOM FEATURE

Our family is

God then asked me, “Who are you not to forgive this man? Jesus died on the cross and paid for his sins already; are you saying Jesus is not enough? Fix your eyes on Me. Not the problem. Not the marriage. On Me.” Because I knew I heard God clearly, I surrendered again - not to my situation with my husband, but to God. In my darkest valley, God said to me, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) I trusted God. The journey to reconciliation is one I do not wish on anyone. It is hard.

But with God alone, it is possible.

Today, we are a family again. Hailey’s prayer at the pond was answered. Her daddy came home. Today, he is a changed man, the husband I married no longer lives; but Christ lives in him.

Submitting to my husband has a new meaning now; it is not him whom I am submitting to but the Jesus in him.

Today, God has restored our family, and he has turned our mourning into dancing.

(Psalms 30:11, NIV) My parents witnessed how God brought us back together, and they said, “your God must be real”. My mum came to know the Lord and was baptised early this year, and we continue to pray for my dad’s salvation.

The Lord has also started using my husband and I to encourage couples who are struggling the same way we once did.

Our family is a living testimony of His Word and His miracles. All glory to God!

a living testimony of His Word and His miracles.

All glory to God!

School Of

REDIGGING the wells

Congratulations ESTHER ANG WHUI SHEE

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

Glory to God For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light Matthew 11:30 ESV

Brandon Natal BBTC

MINISTRY Term 2, 2021

SOM TESTIMONIES

Whoever believes in me,

“

ASHER

as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Cell Group

Covid caused me to pray: God, let me live my life with the knowledge that You will return one day, and I will return to You one day.

Through a few confirmations, I was brought to TLBS. An unexpected damaging event in 2012 crushed me.

And I believed in a lie. During the prayer by Pastor James Singh and Dean Ju, I was set free from the lie.

It almost robbed me of my destiny.

I am alive again. I am grateful for TLBS and I am now living in His knowledge and blessings and I know more blessings will come.

(John 15:1-11, NIV)

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(John 7:38, ESV)

Going to bible school was never part of my plans but a series of events led me to TLBS this year, a decision I am very glad I made. It has also made me realize the significance and joy of taking a hiatus amidst busyness and routine; to seek spiritual refreshment, reinforcement, and realignment from God, who is the source and co-author of my life.

I am very thankful for my time here and am expectant of what is ahead!

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

(John 7:38, ESV)

“No rush, just be quick.” This motto followed me for years, and brought me career achievements. He allowed me to taste “success” as I desired.

Yet as I pursued more of the world’s definition of success, I was never satisfied. All ready for my next job promotion, God said “Quit”.

The Lord then led me to TLBS. He had prepared this for me long ago; to “re-dig my wells”, to taste His living water so I will never thirst again.

I wholeheartedly praise God for hearing my anxious prayers for a sense of purpose which led me to TLBS. I had not heard of TLBS previously and it was by God’s grace that I was able to rush and meet the application deadline. God quickly confirmed my choice of bible school when Dean Ju announced that the theme chosen for the term is, “Redigging the Wells”. This blew me away as I happened to have started in-depth studies on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well before enrolling with TLBS. This is truly a special time for me.

Indeed His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)

The greatest romance of my life is the Lord Jesus! He pursued me when I was distracted and desiring to go on my own path and weaved His burdens into my heart.

I came to a point of complete surrender and listened to the gentle whisper that led me to TLBS. It has been such a fruitful journey so far and this verse truly sums up the work God is doing in me “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle –” (Psalms 144:1, NKJV)

“No rush, just be on your knees”.

DIANA TENGARA St.John’s-St. Margaret’s Church

ESTHER ANG Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

ARIELLE YANG Emmanuel Assembly Of God

CARMEN LI Chapel Of The Holy Spirit

SUMA HARIDAS Cornerstone Community Church

SOM TESTIMONIES

BENJAMIN Cell Group

I was encouraged to attend TLBS SOM by my daughter and a church brother who had a life changing experience after he attended SOM in 2020.

I come to SOM wanting to learn God’s Word; to be better equipped to serve God. In SOM, I am truly blessed by the lecturers’ anointed teachings and their fervour for God. I am also encouraged and have benefitted from the many life-changing testimonies of TLBS alumni. Though I am now retired from the marketplace, I hope to be “rewired” and to be a better vessel for God.

PETER LOW In Christ Singapore

I came to TLBS expecting to encounter and experience God in a special way, having witnessed how several of my friends’ lives were so positively impacted after they attended SOM. I recall the lecture on “Praying and Fasting” when Pastor James Singh released a prayer for me to “forget all of your past, where you nearly died”. Before attending TLBS, Pastor Don Wong of the New Charis Mission had prayed something similar for me to forget all the past and move on.

All l need to do now is to obey and follow the way He wants me to go.

JEFFREY CHEW The New Charis Mission

I heeded a call this year to serve God full-time in church.

This was something I had longed to do for quite some time. Seeing that SOM had impacted my two children in the past, I knew this is a place that I too must go, in this transition from the Marketplace to Ministry.

Every day here in TLBS is a divine encounter. It is not just learning and aligning but an experiential journey with the Lord.

The reason for my coming to TLBS unfolded on orientation day.

First, we were introduced to the theme: “Re-digging the Wells”. This was followed by the message by Pastor Yang entitled, “Are You A Well?”. I was amazed and astonished at how these connected to the vision I had in 2018, while in Japan, to start a “Deep Well” ministry.

I am grateful for the Lord’s leading and this journey He has prepared beforehand.

TLBS is the “Rehoboth well” where I will learn, receive, and be equipped for my calling. Truly, TLBS is the good soil where we will yield a “hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty-fold” of the word. (Matthew 13:8, NKJV)

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV)

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Working in this secular world, I assumed that it was impossible to take a three month leave of absence to come to TLBS. I sought God’s permission on the matter, and it was granted at the start of 2021. I am glad to have been able to enrol in SOM Term 2. I have enjoyed every moment with my classmates, TLBS lecturers and staff.

I have been encouraged by the strong testimonies. I came every day with expectation to hear from God and to know His plan for me.

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” (Proverbs 8:17, NIV) RICHARD KWOK Cornerstone Community Church

JOSEPH LEO Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

THOMAS TAN Church of Singapore (Balestier)

TLBS is the “Rehoboth well”

where I will learn, receive, and be equipped for my calling.

Truly, TLBS is the good soil where we will yield a “hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty-fold” of the word.

(Matthew 13:8, NKJV)

SOM TESTIMONIES

EPHRAIM

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Cell Group

My decision to attend TLBS came from having time between my graduation from university and my first day of work; where I wanted to be spiritually refreshed and build more biblical foundations for working life. The theme of “re-digging our spiritual wells” has been very relatable to me and for my time at TLBS. The spiritual wells in my life that were dried up have slowly been springing forth water as I encountered God through His Word during the lectures. I truly feel refreshed and am thankful to TLBS for giving me this opportunity.

JONATHAN TANG St. James’ Church

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

(Proverbs 21:1, NKJV) Once, I lived my life as a Christian Pharisee, thinking that righteousness comes from striving to lead a “less sinful” life as compared to others.

That is until the Lord showed me how sinful I really am. Yet, He is merciful, showing me what it really means to believe that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Do not let the church define Christ, let Christ define the church (You). Jesus Christ is our Judge and Redeemer.

BRANDON JANANTO Aflame Family Centre

I recall the lecture here at TLBS by Pastor James Singh, where I felt as if the Holy Spirit was trying to speak to me.

This prompted me to pray the following: “God, if this is truly you, Lord, please show me a sign through this lecture.” God truly showed me a sign that day and I wrote down His message for me. I heard him so clearly and thanks to my time in TLBS, my relationship with God has progressed and my spirit has become more sensitised towards Him.

The king’s heart

“

is in the hand of the LORD. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

(Proverbs 21:1, NKJV)

CHRISTIAN GABRIEL LUCAS Jesus Reigns Ministries (Singapore)

Although my pastors had been encouraging me to study in TLBS after my National Service, my enrollment came as a surprise.

It is amazing because I did not expect that this was God’s way to reconnect with me. As His ways are higher than mine, my heart rejoiced as I decided to encounter God like never before reconnecting with and experiencing Him deeper. He has been constantly revealing things in a more personal way. Through past hurts, current struggles and even my calling, God has been transforming my life.

Now, I am learning how to R.E.S.T: “Release Everything, Surrender Totally” to Him.

STEPHEN JOALER OBLEA ESPIDILLON Jesus Reigns Ministries (Singapore)

SOM TESTIMONIES

ISSACHAR Cell Group

Have I not commanded you?

“

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I came to TLBS because I wanted to seek God for direction as well as learning about His Word more.

TLBS has taught me many things and all the modules were fascinating. In the ‘Father Heart of God’ module, I learnt to bring my hurt and anger intentionally to God even though I always knew that I should do so. It was in this module that I could openly bring before Him my past experiences and current feelings. I know that this journey of healing is still ongoing, but I give thanks to God that I can be real and vulnerable before Him.

(Joshua 1:9, ESV)

“…. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV)

I was serving full-time in ministry for about a year when my pastor first suggested I attend TLBS. I was so excited at the prospect of gleaning new insights from intentional Bible study. Truthfully though, I did not seriously consider the weight of juggling school and working full-time. I shared my struggle with a friend a month into attending TLBS and she said, “Three months of struggle, a lifetime of benefits.” Things are challenging now, but I look forward to reaping the benefit of great spiritual growth from walking with Jesus in my three months here!

I have been a Christian my whole life but I have always struggled with accepting my identity as a daughter of God. I always thought that my life is not bad enough to need God to rescue me, but I am also not good enough for God to use me.

I came to TLBS to find out what it truly means to be a Christian, to understand more about God, and to unashamedly seek Him. Indeed, God has been slowly revealing Himself to me, and I am reminded that God’s arms have always been opened for me, so I am learning to run towards Him, instead of away from Him.

In December 2020, I asked God for direction for the new year and TLBS was strangely impressed upon my heart for the first time. As I ended university and began my job search, I struggled between wanting to attend TLBS and feeling pressured to work immediately after graduation.

However, my mom was later diagnosed with cancer in February 2021. As I was unable to start work while caring for her, I saw this as a clear answer from God to confidently pursue SOM and abide in Him in this difficult time.

Praise God for this opportunity to learn spiritual disciplines before I join the workforce!

I am currently standing at life’s crossroads, and I am uncertain of what is ahead. However, one thing my heart desires is to take the steps God has planned for me. Through my time in TLBS, I discovered the breadth and depth of God’s word and His nature. In any season, we are called to make room for Him to move, for us to dig deeper into His well and not to rely on the cisterns we build. Indeed, whatever that brings a smile to Daddy God’s face shall be the strength that carries me on the road ahead.

LINDSAY CHONG Christalite Methodist Chapel

ALYSSA TAN Woodlands Evangelical Free Church

CHARMAINE WEE Life Bible-Presbyterian Church

JESLYN TEH Bethesda Cathedral

MANDY MAK Bethel Assembly of God Church

“Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9, ESV) For the past year or so, I have been stuck at a crossroads, not knowing my next step in life and unsure of my calling. I wanted to devote this season to God, learning to obey and trust Him. My friends who have attended TLBS encouraged me to apply for SOM, so I decided to come to TLBS to seek God and deepen my faith in Him.

RAYANNE VILLAMOR Light of Christ Church Woodlands

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SOM TESTIMONIES

JUDAH

For I know the plans

“

Cell Group

Praise the Lord for granting me my heart’s desire. Being at TLBS is a divine appointment, which started when a friend released a word to me after he prayed.

The theme, “Re-Digging the Wells”, was so apt and it was again confirmed by another friend who had sent me a word of encouragement as I began my time at SOM. As the Lord calls, He will provide. To my amazement, my fees were also sponsored without me uttering a word.

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

(Psalm 27:8, NIV)

The loss of a loved one and my job left me totally broken. I sought comfort in worldly things until I miraculously came to know about TLBS. I have learnt to dwell in His words every day for healing.

The vision I had in one of the modules appeared in a worship song called “Faithful God”; ‘You stay the same. You will not change.

Your promise is true.’

At TLBS, I am learning about building my identity and security in Christ and seeking God’s direction despite trials in my life. The deep teachings by the anointed and warmhearted lecturers and the prophetic words spoken over me are helping me deal with the blockages and past hurts in my life. I am also learning the importance of humility to acknowledge that we are all broken and God will continue to prune our lives and character throughout our life.

“But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

(2 Corinthians 10:17, NKJV)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Because of Covid-19, my company had to close temporarily and I was only paid a partial salary. Although, I was so worried about my future, I chose to stay with the company and take it as a time to rest at home and wait. I thank God that I was able to keep my job while having time to myself during this difficult season.

My desire during this time was to know God more. One of my church sisters told me about TLBS and I sensed that it was God opening the door for me to know Him more.

God has a plan for me!

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10a, ESV)

EILEEN FOO WAN YUN Cornerstone Community Church

SHIRLEY LIM Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

ANN LIEW Lighthouse Evangelism

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I came to TLBS longing to find my way back to intimacy with God and to regain joy in my quiet time.

When Pastor James Singh and Dean Ju prayed for me, they released words to me about ancestor worship and darkness.

The following week, I asked Sister Margaret Seaward about eating food offered to idols and she led me into a time of repentance, asking God for forgiveness. That day, I felt comfort from the Holy Spirit throughout my bus journey back home. I was finally at peace.

Singing “Amazing Grace” will never be the same again.

WARUNEE HONGTHONGKITSEREE Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah)

LYNN LIAO Victory International Church Singapore

SOM TESTIMONIES

MANASSEH Cell Group

A few years ago, the Lord impressed upon my heart to be further equipped by His Word, and to have deeper encounters with Him. When my late husband was stricken with cancer in 2020, what refreshed and sustained me through that dark season in my life was drinking from His well of Living Waters.

This January, my dear husband went home to the Lord. I decided the time was right for me to fulfill my longtime desire to attend TLBS; to experience a deeper encounter with God, and to let Him prepare and empower me for the journey ahead.

When I was offered a place in SOM, I was rather hesitant knowing that there will be assignments and tests.

Remembering the transformed lives of those who had attended before me gave me the courage to take up the challenge.

ANNIE TAY RiverLife Church

DORIS KHOO Bethel Assembly of God

My time in TLBS has been fruitful; I am refreshed and renewed.

Every morning during worship, I can sense God’s awesome presence causing me to realise my unworthiness (Isaiah 6:5).

As I surrender each area of my life to Him and make Jesus the centre, I feel more and more liberated in my spirit. To God be the Glory!

Thank you TLBS, I am indeed blessed!

After hearing how wonderful TLBS is from my daughter and church friends, I desired to experience a deeper relationship with God. In the months leading up to school starting, a family member’s illness cast doubt on whether my husband and I would be able to attend SOM in 2021. But I felt God repeatedly say, “Come back to me”. I know that His timing is sovereign. I am excited to be on this journey, digging deeper into His spiritual well and I look forward to a time of renewal in His presence, to continue running the race for His glory.

CHONG LAI MAY Rock of Ages Church

JULIE CHU In Christ Singapore

I am on sabbatical this year, and desire to seek God and be in His presence. My church mates encouraged me to join SOM. I sensed that I needed a transformation of my mindset and a spiritual awakening. “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

(Psalm 27:4, ESV)

One thing have

“

I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

(Psalm 27:4, ESV)

I enrolled in TLBS with the primary goal of developing a deeper appreciation of God and His Specific plan for me in the next lap of my life.

I came to TLBS with the purpose of learning more about scriptures in everyday living. Rev. Yang and Dean Ju shared about “Re-digging the Wells.” This reminded me of my 2018 visit to Jacob’s Well.

The Lord assured me that I will never thirst again because of the Living Water that I drink, I am in the right place, being equipped and ready to serve Him as He calls.

I have always wanted to go to Bible School to learn more about the Bible. I decided to apply to TLBS as the course is only 3 months.

God opened the door, my boss allowed me to work half a day for 3 months. I have learnt a lot in TLBS from different lecturers.

I have been challenged to pray and ask God what plans He has for me after the end of the course.

I thank God for giving me this precious time to sit at His feet to learn deeper about Him. All Glory to Him!

GEORGINA LOO Living Sanctuary Brethren Church

MARY TAYE St Andrew’s City Church

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SOM TESTIMONIES

NAPHTALI

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Cell Group

Heaven and earth will pass away,

“ I heard God’s call to come to TLBS while completing my final year of university.

It was a struggle not to conform to the world to jump right into a full-time job right after graduating.

However, I thank God for giving me the courage to obey His call. God has revealed to me His desire for me to be more sensitive to His Holy Spirit, dying to myself daily and using the gifts He has given me for His glory and not my own.

TLBS has been a fruitful time of pruning and purifying to be more like Christ.

Being here in TLBS made me realise how much God loves me.

I am thankful to be given an opportunity to be here, grateful for God’s plan in my life.

These three months in TLBS allow me to reconcile with God, change my misconceptions about Him, and see through the devil’s lies.

Thank You Lord for bringing fresh living water in my newly dug well, enlarging my heart, and bringing me through another experience with You.

GLORIA LEE Light of Christ Church Woodlands

ANGEL LUO Logos Christian Church

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will never pass away.” (Mark 13:31, NIV)

but God’s words will never pass away.”

(Mark 13:31, NIV)

C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

I would be lying if I say I do not have any doubt of God’s existence, but time and time again, my life has proven to me that there is something in Christianity worth exploring.

And if this God is of infinite importance, what would be more profitable than for me to go discover Him and dig deep into His Word?

Since coming to TLBS, God has only become more and more real to me.

I am very thankful for all the knowledge and revelation that I have received for the past three months in TLBS. But more than just gaining new knowledge, I knew that there is a deeper stirring in my heart to want to live a life that is set apart for God; a life with deep reverential fear of Him and a life that will fulfil His calling for me.

The journey ahead of me is an exciting one as I continue to allow Him to guide me every single step!

I joined TLBS as I was brought back to the Lord on 13 June 2021.

I had drifted far away from God as I prioritised my studies instead of cell group, relationships and even God. However, I came back to the Lord when a guest preacher who did not know me or my circumstances at all spoke directly to me in my situation and I finally broke down and wept. I repented of my sins. Out of gratefulness, I decided to enrol in the school my brother had gone to so as to strengthen my relationship with Him!

JANICE TAN Fairfield Methodist Church

WEE EN RiverLife Church

GRACE LIM Bethesda Cathedral

SOM TESTIMONIES

After imprisonment for drug offences and treatment in ICU for overdosing on multiple occasions, God restored my life at The New Charis Mission in ways I could not have imagined.

REUBEN Cell Group

Attending TLBS is timely for me and a blessing from God. I felt tired, restless and dry in my spiritual walk before coming here. My experience here has led me back to the “well” – the centre of my life who is God. I have found again the river of living water and the well that never will run dry! I have found rest at His feet in His presence as I come closer to Him every day at TLBS.

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.

It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

(John 4:14, NLT)

SAMMY BHOY SARMIENTO St.John’s–St.Margaret’s Church

I came to TLBS after my former pastor dropped the suggestion to me.

It was a leap of faith as I have never attended anything like this before.

While the lectures are intense and challenging, I believe God is moulding me into Christ-likeness.

I am refocusing my attention on God, His kingdom, and my calling. I have also been challenged to really walk closely with God in obedience and to desire Him in every aspect of my life.

His presence is everything to me for without God I can do nothing, but with Him, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

(Philippians 4:13, NKJV)

EDWARD LOH Biastes Church

I want to thank God for equipping me on my education journey and the opportunity to study at TLBS (while working). All this would not be possible without God. Coming to TLBS has allowed me to dig deeper into God’s word, experience God’s grace and mercy and to have a better understanding of my relationship with God and with man. Everyday I come to class with expectancy and encountered God personally!

GIDEON TAN The New Charis Mission

But those who

“

drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.

It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Attending TLBS was God’s plan for me to grow in spiritual discipline and draw nearer to Him. It has been a season of rest, refreshment and seeking God’s direction for my life. During my time in TLBS, I experienced what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and not just a believer. Being baptised with the Holy Spirit and receiving the gift of tongues was also a significant turning point in my journey at TLBS.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

(Isaiah 55:6, ESV)

I have wanted to join a Bible school since I was water-baptised in 2008 but did not find any open doors. Being the sole breadwinner in my family, I could not afford a break in my career.

When I got retrenched recently, my last day was 2 July. I sought God and he reminded me about Bible school.

In fact, I found out that TLBS was starting SOM Term 2 on 5 July! God’s timing is perfect. Since day one in TLBS, the Lord has been teaching me to re-dig my spiritual wells.

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it will certainly come, it will not delay”. (Habakkuk 2:3, NASB)

GUAN YU CHEW St.John’s–St.Margaret’s Church

JEROME JUDE AROKIARAJ JACOB SELVARAJ Cornerstone Community Church

TLBS has been a wonderful experience.

Different trainers, from different backgrounds, teaching different subjects.

It has given me an opportunity to broaden my perspective. I am glad to have met with lovely brothers and sisters in Christ who have come from different churches across the country. My desire is to grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord and to work with my Kingdom Family in making sure His will be done. Thank you, TLBS!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, NASB 1995)

I have set and realised some goals in my life, only to fall short in many aspects of spiritual and personal growth. Building on the love and advice I received at the New Charis Mission, I came to TLBS to learn how to relate to God more intimately; how to deepen my relationship with Him through the process of meditating on His Word. I am grateful to have also heard how God has guided others on their life journeys.

The entire experience has encouraged me along the path of proactive surrender to God and to apply what I know to be truth!

JOSHUA MOSES New Creation Church

JU QUAN TAN The New Charis Mission

(John 4:14, NLT)

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SOM TESTIMONIES

The LORD directs

“

SIMEON

Attending TLBS is a dream come true: a dream to soak in God’s presence, a dream to be refreshed in God’s community, and a dream to be filled with God’s anointing.

Cell Group

I thank God for calling me to come meet Him at TLBS. With great expectancy, I came to TLBS, but soon after, I found myself struggling.

Trusting God and surrendering control has been a journey. The struggle is real, yet there is joy amid the pain.

Our Father in His grace and mercy directed and dug out the parts for cleansing and renewing. The end result... is definitely worth it!

God is with us. Indeed, faith arising is a process that only Christ can perfect.

To my fellow SOM classmates: thank you all for being encouraging and inspiring! Press on!

I was at the crossroads of my life when I decided to come to TLBS to seek deeper intimacy with God and also His direction and will for my life.

At TLBS, I find my strongholds being torn down bit by bit as Father God reminds me that what I ultimately need is to just rest in Him, enjoy His presence every day, and let Him take control.

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”

(Psalm 37:23-24, NLT)

JULIA AO KAIJUN Faith Sanctuary Church

ELLEY LIN New Creation Church

The theme of ‘Re-digging our Wells’ is a timely reminder to re-connect with Jesus, our true source of living water. As He fills us to overflowing, my prayer is for my life to bear much fruit for His glory. God’s dreams are infinitely bigger and better than what we can ever begin to imagine!

JEAN YONG Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”

(Psalm 37:23-24, NLT)

Leaving my comfortable job in February this year was not easy, but I was very sure that God had called me to full-time ministry.

Looking back, I am glad that I obeyed His call, which eventually led me to attending TLBS. I thank God for making my paths straight and bringing me to a place where I can deepen my relationship with Him and be equipped for ministry. I thank my church for granting me study leave, and I thank Jehovah-Jireh for miraculously sponsoring my school fees. The joy of the Lord is my strength! Fire!

JULIA LIN LIXIAN St.John’s–St.Margaret’s Church

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The Lord has been so gracious to me, bringing me out of the miry clay to set my life back on track towards the path of deeper knowledge and revelation of Him. God led me to attend TLBS earlier this year to have a deeper walk with Him, and for Him to reveal Himself as a loving Father to me.

As a beloved Child of God, I seek refuge, strength, and identity in Him for no one can ever separate us from the love of God. (Isaiah 43:2, NKJV)

VANESSA LOW Church Without Walls Ministry

SOM TESTIMONIES

ZEBULUN Cell Group

Good things come to those who wait. I waited 35 years to come to TLBS. God’s timing is perfect and He knows just what we need, when we need it.

I thank God for my supportive family, boss and colleagues for making it possible for me to be here.

From day one, my spiritual lungs began to take in huge gulps of fresh, invigorating, life-giving spiritual air through the daily worship, devotions, chapel, lectures and fellowship.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

(Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Lacking in parental love, being bullied at home, and humiliated in school, I grew up seeking happiness in the wrong places and landed myself in the wilderness. But God did not forsake me; despite backsliding, God never stopped pursuing me and brought me back.

As I look back at how God led me to SOM, I saw His providential grace at work. This has been an enriching season as I seek to know more of Him. I have been truly blessed by the teaching of anointed teachers in TLBS and the testimonies of fellow TLBS students/alumni.

With the recent passing of my brother, I was unable to work and took a sabbatical. God directed me to TLBS to rest and be restored. This reminded me of Isaiah 41:9-10 which the Lord gave me in 2016; He has called me, chosen me, He did not reject me.

He is with me; will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me.

Our God is personal and purposeful in guiding His children. In my case, He answered my call, cleared my self-doubts, and bolstered my faith.

Thank You LORD.

“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)

Since 2013, I have heard about how wonderful TLBS is.

In the past year, I struggled to sign up for SOM as business activities usually pick up from mid-year onwards.

Attending class might impact my business. God sent His Word on 4 different occasions to assure me:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) So here I am: trusting, obeying and submitting my ways to Him. Business can wait but obedience cannot.

CHONG KIM LI Woodlands Evangelical Free Church (WEFC)

Trust in the Lord

“

with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

GWEE TING AI St. James’ Church

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JANICE LIM Faith Methodist Church I am so thankful to my pastor for recommending me to TLBS. I also thank God that despite the pandemic, classes are on-site instead of on Zoom. I am learning from gifted pastors and teachers who walk the talk. Hearing their amazing encounters with God has compelled me to seek God deeper as I serve Him in big and small ways.

For me, TLBS will be a season of fresh perspective, renewed mind and soaking in God’s teaching. Special thanks to Dean Ju for her passion, “heart work”, morning devotions and her tender loving care.

Early this year, I began to feel restless and a little lost. A friend told me about TLBS and encouraged me to attend. I came to TLBS not really knowing what to expect except to rest and grow deeper in the Lord.

JOANNE CHU LENG LI Impact Life Church Ltd.

JOYCELYN TAN Trinity Methodist Church

But coming to TLBS, I was blown away. Every day is a mountain top experience. I am filled with His Manna from all His humble servants. It is a deep privilege to be here, and my heart is full of thanksgiving to the Lord for my time with TLBS.

CHRISTINA TAN Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church

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The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

DEVOTIONS

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LECTURES ‘but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect’ 1 Peter 3:15

WORSHIP

‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.’ Colossians 3:16

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Silence &

SOLITUDE We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grassgrows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...

We need silence to be able to touch souls. ~Mother Teresa

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1. SEEK THE LORD EXCLUSIVELY 2. SEEK THE LORD EARNESTLY 3. SEEK THE LORD EXPECTANTLY “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” ~Jeremiah 29: 12-14

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School Of Leadership

LECTURERS

SENIOR PASTOR DANIEL FOO • 7 P’s of an Outstanding Leader Senior Pastor Daniel Foo is the Senior Pastor of Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church.

He had worked in the financial markets for over 20 years before heeding the call to give himself fully to the ministry.

He is a gifted teacher of the Word, and his ministry focus is on spiritual leadership and teaching the Word to equip the saints for effective ministry.

He is on the faculty of Haggai Institute, Tung Ling Bible School and Eagles Leadership Institute. He serves on the team of the Love Singapore Network of Churches.

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PASTOR DR PHILIP LYN • Leadership Vision and Communication

MR. KENNETH KWAN • Effective Teaching & Preaching Online

REV. HENSON LIM • The Art of Effective Preaching & Presentation

REV. DR NAOMI DOWDY • Generational Leadership & Succession

DR NEAL PATTERSON • Nehemiah Model of Spiritual Leadership

Pastor Dr Philip Lyn is the founder and senior pastor of Skyline Church, Malaysia, a vibrant and growing citychurch that prioritises prayer and the workplace. He studied medicine at Oxford and Biblical studies in London. He is both a practicing medical specialist and pastor and leads a full team of bi-vocational pastors who integrate secular work and church ministry as one calling.

He ministers widely in many nations and is currently writing his third book on Christians in the Workplace. His first 2 were “Slingshots” and “The Call of Issachar”. He is married to Nancy and they have 3 adult children.

Mr. Kenneth Kwan is an Author, Global Virtual Leadership and Motivational Speaker, who has spoken to over tens of thousands in 18 countries on developing a success-oriented mindset and what is required to lead sustainable change. He has helped Global Companies and Government Organisations to create proactive and highperformance cultures. During the early days of COVID-19, he started a virtual training program to help pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers and cell group leaders to teach better online. What started off as a project to help 30 people that he knew, it ended up with 4,400 over people from 40 over countries He has trained many senior pastors and preachers on this approach.

Rev. Henson Lim is the author of Say to Archippus and Alignment Check, and founder of Archippus Awakening, a kingdom initiative dedicated to the awakening of saints to know and fulfil their God-given kingdom assignments. Henson managed an advertising agency for 14 years before stepping into ministry in 2004. After obtaining his M.Div from TCA College, he served as Dean of a school of ministry and later, Deputy Senior Pastor of a local church. Called to the ministry of teaching and preaching, he declares the Word of God with a passion to spur others to rise above mediocre Christianity that they may live lives worthy of their calls in Jesus Christ.

Henson is married to Serene and they have 7 children.

Rev. Dr Naomi Dowdy is widely recognised as a global leader for apostolic strategies to implement God’s purposes in the 21st Century. Her passion to develop leaders causes her to travel extensively to the nations, preaching, mentoring and equipping churches to fulfil their calling and destiny in God. As an Author, five of her books are considered “must have” in the personal library of Pastors and Leaders. They address current issues that need to be shared with Churches for a balanced biblical understanding in today’s world. Besides first serving as an Evangelist and then as the former Senior Pastor of Trinity Christian Centre, Singapore, for some 30 years, she is the founder Chancellor of TCA College, Singapore and continues to serve as President of several other organisations through which she mentors and empowers leaders.

Dr Neal Patterson has been in the ministry for over 55 years.

Together with his wife, Ruth, they have pioneered and pastored several churches in New Zealand in addition to the establishing of Bible schools in Singapore and Indonesia.

Dr Neal served as Senior Minister of a large thriving church, Napier Christian Fellowship located in Napier, New Zealand. Dr Neal served at Tung Ling Bible School Singapore as a lecturer, Dean and Principal for 7 years.

The Patterson’s now travel extensively as international itinerant teachers.

DR JOSEPH UMIDI • A Spiritual Leader as a Coach Dr Joseph Umidi serves as Executive Vice President and Professor at Regent University where he has trained Christian leaders for 35 years. He has researched and discovered keys to increase student retention and flourishing that apply to churches and organizations.

For the past 42 years, he is also serving in senior leadership roles of several churches. He is Founder and President of Life forming Leadership Coaching, Inc., a Coach Training organization world-wide in 24 countries and 14 languages.

He has authored numerous articles and books dealing with Organizational, and Personal Transformation and is mobilizing a movement of spiritual fathers and mothers to mentor the next generation. He is married to Marie, Founder & President of TMCJ, Inc. and the delighted grandparents of 3 grandchildren.

REV. BRUCE HILLS • Unleashing Self-Leadership -Inside Out Rev. Bruce Hills is the International Director of World Outreach since January 2017.

He first joined the World Outreach in 2010 as Leadership Development Director, a role he served up to his present appointment. Bruce has been in full time ministry for over 30 years including pastoring one of Australia’s largest churches (2000-2009).

He is known for his prophetic and insightful preaching and respected for his experience and wisdom. Bruce is married to Fiona since 1983 and lives in Melbourne. They have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

SOL LECTURERS

REV. DR JOSHUA SUDHARMAN • Leadership Insight #1: LKY Leadership Style Rev. Dr Joshua Sudharman is an Anglican clergyman, currently serving as Warden of St Peter’s Hall (the Anglican wing of the hostel at Trinity Theological College) and Warden of Diocesan Training (overseeing training of laity, church workers andpastors).

He also chairs the Education Board which oversees Anglican schools and preschools. He was until recently the Vicar of St John’s – St Margaret’s Church, and oversaw a project to construct a nursing home and preschool beside the church. He is married to Faith, and they have 2 daughters, Emmanuelle and Aletheia. His reading interests centre around leadership, and his thesis for the Doctor of Ministry degree at Duke Divinity School was entitled, “If Lee Kuan Yew Were A Pastor: Reflections On Lee’s Relevance For Christian Leaders”. His favourite movies include “Lincoln” and “Facing The Giants”. His favourite football team is best left unmentioned, lest it generate needless animosity with rival supporters!

PASTOR IAN TOH • Leadership Insight #2: Sexuality & Porn Pastor Ian Toh is the Senior Pastor of 3:16 Church. His heart burns fiercely for the destiny of Singapore and her next generation. He loves doing life with young kingdom leaders and the people on the top of that list are his 4 children, Roslina, Elias, Jan and Isaias. Together with his entrepreneur-florist wife Lilis, they’re the spiritual parents of 3:16 Church. The church seeks to be real, relevant and ready in today’s world and in particular, that people far from God may know what God’s family feels like. God has given Ian a heart for broken lives and families.

He also serves as the Director of The Love-Aid Project, a community outreach initiative that aims to bring love, dignity and hope to at-risk youth & low-income families in Singapore. With 20 years of ministry behind him, Ian have witnessed God’s restorative hand in the lives of many couples. He finds great delight whenever He see the Holy Spirit bringing back God-design into families in Singapore.

PROFESSOR LIM SIONG GUAN • Leadership Insight #3: Leadership and the Culture of Honour Lim Siong Guan is a Professor in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, instructing on leadership and change management. He was the Group President of GIC from 2007 to 2016. He has been Head of the Singapore Civil Service, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, and Principal Private Secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He co-authored two books with Joanne H. Lim: “The Leader, The Teacher & You – Leadership Through the Third Generation,” a book on leadership and governance, and “Winning with Honour in Relationships, Family, Organisations, Leadership, and Life, a book on winning in life and work. He also wrote a third book, “Can Singapore Fall?”.

He is the founder chairman of Honour (Singapore), a charity that seeks to promote the culture of honour and honouring for the well-being of Singapore.

PASTOR NORMAN NG • Leadership Insight #4: Social Media & Influence

REV. COLONEL MERRILY MADERO • Building Leadership Team

DR JOHN ANDREWS • 2:52 Leadership Growth Model

BROTHER LOO KAI YEE • Leadership in Conflict Management & Resolution

Pastor Norman Ng is the Deputy Senior Pastor at 3:16 Church and the co-founder of 2 social movements that disciples the church on key issues such as same-sex attraction and abortion TrueLove.Is and the Heartbeat Project. Before that, he spent 10 years in the marketing industry, largely with a top Fortune 500 company. He is a mentor to marketplace leaders, creative professionals and influencers, whose reach is measured in the millions.

Through his leadership, the church has challenged the status quo to shape culture through disruptive storytelling, short films, prophetic design and digital strategy. The films have reached over 50 countries and 3 million people to date.

He shared the same primary school, secondary school, Junior College and University with the girl of his dreams.

Today they share the same room and are happily married with 3 amazing kids.

Rev. Colonel Merrily Madero is called and anointed to preach, teach, and serve around the world. She is an Ordained Minister with the Assembly of God Church and lives in the USA. Merrily is President of M3 International, a nonprofit ministry conducting Leadership Development, predominately in South East Asia. Merrily is a retired Colonel from the US Air Force, serving on active duty for 30 years. She commanded four large organizations, served in multiple Director positions, lived in five different countries, including serving at the US Embassy in Afghanistan. She has Bachelor Degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Christian Theology, and three Master Degrees in Personnel Management, Military Science, and National Resource Strategy.

Merrily is also on the Board of Directors for the Dream Centre’s of Colorado Springs, in Colorado, USA. She has one daughter who is a medical doctor, completing a combined Emergency Medicine – Internal Medicine, 5-year residency in New York City.

Dr John Andrews has been in full-time Church leadership since 1987. Though called to the UK, John has ministered in almost 40 nations of the world.

Based in his local church New Life Church, Scunthorpe, he has authored 14 books and currently serves on the Apostolic Team of One Church Gloucester and wider network, while also being released to teach to a wider trans local context. As a leader, teacher and author John has a passion to equip and inspire leaders as well as empower followers of Jesus into effective lifestyle and service

Brother Loo Kai Yee is the founder and principal executive coach of Teambiosis. He empowers leaders to build highperforming teams by leveraging their strengths, diversity and even their points of conflict. His proven approach to leadership development is backed by more than 3 decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, where he held senior positions in manufacturing, HR, organizational development and culture change. He holds an MBA and first-class honours degree in chemical engineering.

He is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and is licensed to deliver leadership programmes such as Radical Collaboration® and Achieving Authentic Success®. He is also a volunteer coach with Transformational Business Network Asia and Coaching Mission International. He is married to Eva, who is also a certified coach and facilitator.

They have three daughters and 2 grandchildren who are the joy of their lives.

REV. VINCENT GOH • Silence & Solitude Rev. Vincent Goh is an ordained ministry with the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) of the Methodist Church in Singapore for the past 26 years. As an itinerant minister, he has served in 6 different Methodist Churches in Singapore. Currently, he is a pastor with Paya Lebar Methodist Church. His interest in Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction led him to embark on a Master of Arts in Spiritual Direction with the University of Divinity (Melbourne) in 2008-2009.

He has one motto in life: “To know Christ personally and to make Christ known to all.”

Rev. Vincent Goh is married to Shu Yann and they have 2 children, Abraham and Grace.

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SOL LECTURERS

DATO DR KIM TAN • A Christian Stewardship & Entrepreneurship

PASTOR JOEY BONIFACIO • Values-Based Leadership & Change

PASTOR DR CHEW WENG CHEE • Leadership for the Long Haul

Dato Dr Kim Tan is the Chairman of SpringHill Management, a private fund management company specialising in biotech and social venture capital investments. He is a partner of several social impact funds including Inqo Investments (South Africa), Springhill Equity Partners (US), Novastar Ventures (Kenya) and Garden Impact Investment (Singapore).

He is the co-founder of the Transformational Business Network, a trustee of the John Templeton Foundation (US) and the Centre for Enterprise, Markets & Ethics (Oxford) and is on the advisory board of the Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures (US). He was the founder chairman of NCI Cancer Hospital (Malaysia) and the inventor of sheep monoclonal antibodies. He is a Pro-Chancellor of Surrey University (UK) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). He is the author of a number of books including Jubilee and Social Justice, Understanding the Bible through Eastern Eyes, Fighting Poverty through Enterprise and Social Impact Investing: New agenda in fighting poverty.

Pastor Joey Bonifacio serves in the International Apostolic Team of Every Nation Ministries, a worldwide family of churches and ministries that exists to honour God by establishing Christ-Centred, Spirit Empowered, Socially Responsible churches and Campus Ministries in every nation. He is the Senior Pastor of Every Nation Singapore and a member of the board of trustees of the Real-Life Foundation, a Philippine based non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the marginalized.

Joey has also authored 6 books: The Promise No One Wants, The Mystery of the Empty Stomach, The LEGO Principle, The One Lesson That Changed My Marriage, The Values Driven Heart and Storm Proof.

He has been married to wife Marie since 1982. Together they have 3 sons and 5 grandchildren.

Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee is the Senior Pastor of Sidang Injil Bornoe (SIBKL), a rapidly growing English congregation of over 4000 strong in Kuala Lumpur. He was a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist before he gave up his medical career to serve the Lord full time in 1999. Formerly a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Theology from Regent College Bible School, Vancouver, Canada.

He was the President of Sidang Injil Borneo (West Malaysia), overseeing 31 Bahasa Malaysia SIB Churches in West Malaysia until 2007. Pastor Dr. Chew has ministered extensively in Conferences and Church Camps both locally and overseas and he has written a book entitled, “Is Life Worth Living?” a study on the Book of Ecclesiastes, and has written his 2nd book entitled “Chew on Revelation”. He is married to Pastor Dr. Lew Lee Choo who is the Deputy Senior Pastor of SIBKL. They have 2 sons, Jonathan and Christopher & daughter-in-law, Rachel and 2 grandsons.

REV. JAMES JAGJEET SINGH • Leadership Prayer & Anointing

EXECUTIVE PASTOR LIM LIP YONG • Cultivating the Inner Life of a Leader

Rev. James Jagjeet Singh is the overseer of Eagle’s Nest Church and an itinerant Evangelist under the Assemblies of God, Singapore. In this dual office, he carries a prophetic anointing and the fire of the Holy Spirit wherever he goes. His passion is to see revival come upon the churches. He graduated from Assemblies of God Bible College with a Bachelor of Theology. He is married to Rosie and together they have 2 children, Josiah and Sarabeth.

Executive Pastor Lim Lip Yong is The Executive Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church. He is very much a homegrown preacher and an excellent teacher of the Word.

An accountant by training, he responded to God’s call into the full-time ministry in 2001.

He preaches with passion and is an engaging communicator whose messages stir and challenge the hearts of his listeners. He is married with 3 children.

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BROTHER LIM KIM PONG • Discovering Leadership Strength Brother Kim Pong is the CEO and Founder of StrengthsAsia.

At StrengthsAsia, he is a coach, a speaker, and a facilitator. His vision is to help everyone in every organization in Asia build a culture of engagement to bring their best to impact their families, work, relationships, communities, and nations. Under the leadership of Kim Pong, StrengthsAsia has one of the largest strengths-based and SoundWave coaching platforms in Asia. The Gallup Organization recognizes him as among Asia’s most accomplished practitioners of strengths-based development and talent management strategies. He is among the first 20 Gallup Certified Strengths Coach in the world and he was trained by his mentor, Curt Lisveld, who was a giant in the world of strengths engagement.

Kim Pong is a SoundWave Accredited Coach Practitioner and a member of the SoundWave Academy.

As a member of the SoundWave Academy, he works with the global team in accrediting coaches globally. SoundWave is a resource that helps people and organizations engage each other through the quality of their conversations.

Kim Pong is a founding board member of the Transformational Business Network (TBN) Asia.

TBN Asia is part of TBN, which is an established impact investment collaborative platform in the world. TBN Asia brings people and organizations together to fight poverty through enterprise. Kim Pong is a member of the Covenant Community Methodist Church.

He is a Singapore boy, husband, father of 2 boys and 2 girls, banker-turned-entrepreneur, an accidental pastor and a lover of Slayer espressos. To follow Kim Pong and his thoughts, you can go to kimpong.com.

SOL FEATURE

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My name is Raymond and I am currently a full-time staff at The New Charis Mission.

I am a prison counselor and I am also a certified trainer/speaker and mentor for schools where I minister to youth at risk.

I grew up with my grandmother and since young I have always yearned for belonging and acceptance. So, when I was 12, I started mixing with the wrong crowd in my neighborhood and picked up smoking.

I am blissfully married to the woman I love who is also my best friend and a wonderful helper whom God has provided.

Nevertheless, I still managed to score decent grades for my PSLE and got into a boy’s school in Potong Pasir. It was during chapel services in my secondary school that I was introduced to Jesus and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at age 13. But even though I had accepted Christ, I still chose to live life by the ways of the world.

Every day, I thank God for all that He has blessed me with and I am eternally grateful for this new lease of life that He has given me.

Standing on His

GOODNESS and MERCY RAYMOND TAN I The New Charis Mission

Honoring my spiritual father/mentor/boss, Pastor Don Wong of The New Charis Mission who has been so instrumental and significant to me, in my transformative journey. In this journey of faith where I learnt so much from him, truly “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is clearly the hallmark of his mentoring.

Who I am today is a far cry from who I was 11 years ago, when I walked into The New Charis Mission broken, wretched, with nothing to my name. By the grace and mercy of God, I am truly grateful and thankful for my transformed life ever since then.

I came from a broken family. My mum divorced my biological father who was an alcoholic and gambler, when I was 5 years old. I still remember vividly the night my mum left our then home holding both our hands (me and my 2-year-old kid sister), with my father lying on the floor in a stupor.

At age 15, I started partying with drugs and things became so bad that I was asked to transfer out of school and I went to a neighborhood school. I had no problem adapting and in no time, I found myself belonging to a new group of friends… and got even more deeply involved in drugs.

So much so that for O levels, I was marked absent for all my subjects!! From then on, life just spiraled down even further.

When I entered the Army, I thought the discipline and regimental lifestyle would

reform me. But it didn’t. I even signed on as a regular and served for 5 years, but I kept a double life. Many of my army mates advised me to give up my life of vice, but in vain. I ended up being charged and sent to detention barracks for a total of 5 times during my service, for insubordination and other disciplinary issues, but I still did not change.

When I returned to civilian life, I continued to keep up a double life. Yes, I was going to church faithfully on Sundays and attending cell group meetings but I also led another dark secret life, hidden from everyone else… a life of smoking, drinking, drugs, gambling, and so on.

In 2005 I was sentenced to imprisonment for fraud. What happened then left me a memory that has stayed with me until this very day and it changed my mindset completely. On my very first visitors’ day during my incarceration, my aunt, my mum, my grandmother visited me. But it was via tele screening, meaning I had to look at a monitor screen in one room while my visitors saw me through another monitor screen from a different location.

Yes, I was going to church faithfully

on Sundays and attending cell group

meetings but I also led another dark secret life, hidden from everyone else…

SOL FEATURE

The first person to enter my screen was my aunt, then my mum, then my grandmother.

All of them started crying when they saw me. This is the memory that has stayed with me until now. And I promised myself there and then that I would never go through that ever again. I would never want to see my loved ones go through that ever again.

But did my life change after my release?

Sadly, no. That memory merely changed my mindset about committing crime but not my lifestyle. All I had resolved was that

Until one night… I finally decided that enough was enough.

then, I only found out because a friend had brought me there to visit once.

And I decided… to end it all

So, I said to God… “God, that is a place for ex-convicts and drug addicts. People with messed up lives. Why there?”

But first I had to work up the courage. So, I drank, and drank, and drank… and stuffed myself full of drugs… just to pluck up the courage. And then I went to the parapet on the roof top of my block.

And I got ready to jump.

And God answered with this that pierced my heart… “Are you any better than them?”

At this point, I could so relate to John 10:10, because I had allowed the thief to steal, kill and destroy … to steal my joy,

John 10:10

John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!”

they may have life, and that they may have it more

Over at The New Charis Mission, we received this from the Lord:

abundantly!”

And money became my prime motivation and drive. To me money was security.

I joined the booming property industry and made good money. But needless to say, money became more a curse than a blessing.

And it all came crashing down in 2009… when one day, I looked back at my life and saw how meaningless it was. What was the significance of it all? What was the purpose of my life, I started asking myself.

I fell into depression.

These questions kept weighing on me so heavily that for 6 months I couldn’t function.

But strangely fear seeped in. And as a result, despite all the alcohol and drugs that I had taken, I was not high! Instead, I was literally super conscious and alert.

I became so clear minded that I heard myself telling myself… to pray. At least for the last time.

And I did. I prayed this: “God if You are real, give me the courage to jump… or You show me a way out” And God answered me… in my desperate pit of despair and showed me… “The New Charis Mission”.

I asked God… why there? At this point, I only knew The New Charis Mission as a place for ex-convicts and drug addicts to help them change their lives, and even

In 2016, I was sent to and graduated from City Harvest School of Theology. This opened doors for me to share the word of God on mission trips and elsewhere. I also attained my double diploma in Criminology and Counselling Psychology. Most importantly, my family was made whole.

Truly, when God is at the center of it all, I had come to experience what Jesus says in:

“I have come that

so long as I did not commit any crime that would land me in prison, I was ok.

I am grateful that God has never given up on me. Not only did He save me from taking my own life, He gave me a new lease of life in every sense, a life that can glorify His name! God has resurrected the areas of my life which were dead. Relationships, 79 meaningless and hopeless life, debt and failures… God turned all these around.

Isaiah 61:3 “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” kill my hopes and destroy my life. I called my friend right away to ask about admission to The New Charis Mission.

On 20 March 2010, I admitted myself into The New Charis Mission for a 12month residential program. There, I was given the opportunity to be trained and equipped. Pastor Don and the leaders there believed in me and provided me with many platforms to learn and to serve the community. It was there that I found the passion to work with young people.

It was also the beginning of a new lease of life for me in my relationship with God. It was there that God healed the hurts from my childhood, and I truly experienced the grace and love of Father God as I witnessed restoration and reconciliation in my family.

Meaning… we are all trophies of His grace and how this has become truly so for me.

All glory to God. May He continue to use each one of us for His kingdom work, and may we all respond: “We have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back” God bless you!

SOL FEATURE

the sight of doctors, nurses, even parents having to hold their struggling children down during invasive procedures as they fought against the pain. And very quickly, that was my everyday sight and became my new normal.

It was a painful sight for my mother, and when the experts couldn’t give definite answers, she looked again to the God of her youth – and walked into a church near our home. During this time, prayer was the only thing we could hold on to. Back then, I learnt that prayer was talking to Jesus as a friend. During my treatment, whenever I felt afraid or disheartened, I would tell Him my thoughts and feelings, and without fail, I would feel His tangible presence and comfort come over me. And just like that, Jesus walked with me through the everyday of my new normal.

A Mother’s

All the while, in her own secret place, my mother pressed on in hope and continued to pray for me. One day, during my own quiet time, I chanced upon 1 Sam 1:10-11 which reads:

PRAYER FIDELIA LIM I Petra Community

When I was just nine years old, doctors told my parents that I had contracted a rare and aggressive type of cancer and advised that they sought a second opinion on a possible treatment plan. In other words, the doctors weren’t quite sure what to do. I remember vividly the scene of my mother weeping bitterly after receiving the news, and the helplessness written on my father’s face as he tried to console her.

At that age, I didn’t know yet what that meant, but I remember how quickly things unfolded – I was admitted into the children’s ward, began my chemotherapy treatment, and suddenly started losing my hair, my appetite, and the ability to attend school like all my other friends. I remember

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a

During my treatment,

whenever I felt afraid or disheartened, I would

tell Him my thoughts and feelings, and without fail, I would feel His tangible presence and comfort come over me.

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son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.”

AD 5

Somehow, I felt a deep connection with this verse, and wondered if just like Hannah, God had heard my mother’s desperate cries for me to live. I treasured this in my heart, and when I had the opportunity to ask my mother about this, she shared with me that she had indeed promised to dedicate me to the Lord if He preserved my life!

Because of Hannah’s persevering hope and prayers, she gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, meaning ‘I asked the Lord for him.’ And I believe that for the same reason, my mother is able to look at me today and say those very words with confidence: ‘I asked the Lord for her’. What a privilege to be a walking testimony of her answered prayer, and a testimony of the power of a parent who prays and hopes.

In my work as a counsellor, I have realised that the one thing that causes a change, or a turning point in a person’s life is when hope enters again. When a person finds a sense of hope, whether in a situation, in a cause or in a person, a spark comes back to his or her eyes. That person becomes alive, and suddenly there is reason to live again.

Hope is powerful because in it is the desire for life, for joy, for something greater.

And with God, how blessed we are that we always have a hope – and we will always have a reason to live.

When a person finds a sense of hope, whether in a situation, in a cause or in a person, a spark comes back to his or her eyes. That person becomes alive, and suddenly there is reason to live again.

SOL FEATURE

Luke 8:39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you…”

The more

encounters I had, the emptier I felt, but the emptier I felt, the more encounters I

sought, the higher

the highs I chased… trying to fill this

COME out Come HOME

emptiness, this

void inside me didn’t get filled,

instead it just got bigger.

You see, from as early as when I was 7, I knew that I was attracted to the same sex.

And when I stopped walking with God in my early 20s, I plunged into the darkness of a full-on gay lifestyle.

Prior to attending bible school in 2016, I had a long career in banking. And going even further back, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was a teenager.

But what I want to share here is what God has done for me in between. Just as Jesus said to the man in the Gadarenes whom He delivered from legions of demons in…

After not years but decades of this, one day in 2014, a friend of mine told me he was going to church that Sunday. I said to him I was too dirty to go to church.

And what he said next, shocked me.

He said no… I am righteous before God. I asked him, how could I be righteous before God, just look at all the things I was doing out there.

In the gay circle, I finally felt understood and accepted. More than that, in the language of the world, I had the time of my life. I was clubbing and partying away.

And because I was new and fresh to the scene, there were lots of guys who wanted me, and there were also lots of guys that I myself wanted and so, very soon I was into lots of one-night stands, experimenting with someone new night after night.

He said, no, I am still righteous before God, his pastor told him so. I thought what a strange pastor he had, so out of sheer disbelief, I followed him to church to hear out this strange pastor for myself.

Then, I had a boyfriend, but I “cheated” on my boyfriend because I wanted more sex.

Before long, I was addicted to gay sex.

Many times, I had sex with 3 or 4 or more guys in the same night… chasing after higher highs.

I came back again and again to hear this strange pastor. So, I found myself in this surreal twilight zone, rushing to the first service first thing every Sunday morning but then rushing right after service to a gay sauna for the rest of the day, for multiple sexual encounters and so on.

But after every encounter, I would feel empty, unfulfilled, unsatisfied. Yes, there was pleasure in each encounter… but it was temporary.

CHANG TOU CHEN I 3:16 Church

My name is Tou Chen. I am a bible school instructor at another bible school in Singapore and I also teach at affiliate bible schools in Malaysia and India. I also serve extensively at several ministries including Truelove.is under 3:16 Church and Choices under Church of Our Savior. In addition, I run 2 independent bible study groups that meet every week and I am also a guest preacher.

emptiness. But this

I want to tell you what great things God has done for me. I was not possessed by demons but after walking with God for only a short few years in my teens, I stopped walking with God and chose instead to walk into a trap that became just as unescapable for me, as it was for the man in the Gadarenes.

I didn’t know at that time that this emptiness inside me was my spirit panting for God. As I tried to fill myself with more and more gay sex, over time, this became a vicious cycle that I eventually found to my despair, I could not break.

Heb 11:25 describes this as… the passing or temporary pleasures of sin…

The more encounters I had, the emptier I felt, but the emptier I felt, the more encounters I sought, the higher the highs I chased… trying to fill this emptiness. But this emptiness, this void inside me didn’t get filled, instead it just got bigger.

And at this very first service, something filled me like never before … the word of God that I had starved myself of in all those decades, and I was hooked!

I did not know what to make of this… until a year later, when the pastor preached on the parable of the prodigal son.

What the pastor expounded that day blew me away like never before. The pastor said this: when the prodigal son was still a great way off, the bible says the father saw him… for this to happen, the father must have been personally looking out for the son all the time. Why? Because the father was yearning for his son to come home. I thought to myself… why would the Father

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God is saying right now… come home son, come home daughter. Let Him restore you with His love, comfort you with His presence, lift you up with His joy and delight in you.

You are worthy of His best… wherever you are right now. Whatever your past, don’t run away from Him, instead run to Him.

But yet the bible says,

Heb 4:16 says… “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

the father ran to the son,

Run to Him, not only when you have gotten it right, but especially if you have missed the mark, … otherwise why would you need mercy from the throne of grace.

And even if you miss it again and again, don’t run away from God, run to Him each time. He is merciful and gracious.

And Jesus understands your weaknesses.

The bible says in Heb 2:18 “For in that Jesus Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”

when the father saw the son, it was not the son who ran

yearn for this unworthy, good for nothing, piece of dung son to come home.

And then it hit me: Jesus was talking about me, I am that prodigal son… this was no longer about someone else anymore, this was about me.

But yet the bible says, when the father saw the son, the father ran to the son, it was not the son who ran to the father in sorrow and repentance but the father who ran to the son in compassion.

And then the pastor said this, which stunned me… do you realize that the son was still filthy at this point, just returned from feeding pigs, homeless, smelly, filthy and yet the father fell on his neck, yet the father kissed him with his own lips, and yet the father put the best robe on him. … when he was still filthy.

It was as if God was saying to me…

Son, come home now… just as you are.

This broke my hardened heart and set me on tears for years to come, every time I remember this. And from that day on, I started walking with God again.

to the father in sorrow and repentance but the father who ran to the son in compassion.

When I opened the door of my life to Jesus again that day in 2015, I unlocked amazing grace from God. So powerful that I broke free from the chains of gay sauna and gay sex almost immediately. But the addiction to gay porn and gay masturbation took much longer to overcome. I sought God for answers on this and He showed me step by step, truths from His word that would set me free. And finally, on 6 June 2018, when I said yes to the final piece that God showed me in Num 33, something rushed into my heart like what we read of in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, and from that moment on, I was set free from all the chains of same sex attraction by the power of His grace and of His spirit, hallelujah!

does mean that I am now victorious against such temptations, I am no longer unable to overcome such temptations.

Now this does not mean I don’t experience any more attraction to the same sex, but it

On the contrary, God says you are worthy because of what Jesus has done for you. And

And my point is this, if God will do that for me, He will do the same for you too, if you want it. You may not have walked away from God entirely, your struggle may not be same sex attraction… but whatever you may be so trapped in, however rejected you may feel, I understand… because I have been there before.

But more importantly, God understands.

And there is a community in the body of Christ that understands. You are not alone, and you are not unworthy.

Jesus understands where you are right now. And He came for the helpless and the hopeless to rescue us, restore us and help us walk with Him. So, wherever you are right now, don’t wait until you are more “fixed up”. Come, just as you are right now…

Psalm 34:8… “taste and see that the Lord is good…”

God loves you.

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LEADERSHIP 2021

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CARMEL

One thing I ask of the Lord,

“

this is what I seek: that I may dwell

Cell Group

in the house of the Lord all the

days of my life. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.’’

(Psalms 27:4)

WU ZHIMIN In Christ Singapore

J.Q. LIM 3:16 Church

RUTH KABERA Grace Covenant Church

SERENE CHEE Christ Methodist Church

TIMOTHY LIEW Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

I joined School of Leadership to respond to a challenge to put God first. I am so glad that I obeyed and took the leap of faith to prioritise and set aside this time with God. It has been a wonderful time of rest, healing and renewal. The classes and testimonies have inspired and encouraged me to have faith that it is God’s will for me to be fruitful for His Kingdom when I choose to follow Him and work on His assignments for me.

For my King and His Kingdom.

STUDY AGAIN?!?! I’d have never thought that after working for nine years, I would be going back to school. So, if you are reading this, sign up for Tung Ling Bible School so that you won’t have to come back later in your career!

Sitting under the tutelage of many honest practitioners of the faith for the past three months has inspired me to continue to walk humbly with God. Their sharing from the overflow of their life has shown me a glimpse of the “things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

I have always wanted to attend bible school to know more about God and to be equipped.

At Tung Ling Bible School, I always look forward each morning to chapel worship, to encounter the presence of God. And the lectures have been a precious time for me to be renewed and refreshed in the Lord.

Psalm 27:4 NIV “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.’’

Coming to Tung Ling Bible School was a divine appointment.

I stand amazed at how God knows my every need and lovingly orders my steps. Here, I have found renewed rest and a more intimate walk with God. I am refreshed, sharpened and equipped. I have also gained knowledge, understanding and wisdom at the feet of very anointed lecturers. Learning is such a joy here and I look forward to my encounter with God at chapel and class every single day. May I always be found faithful, just as He has always been faithful in my life.

I was eager to attend School of Leadership after an amazing time at School of Ministry in 2019.

When the Lord finally led me to attend this year, the theme of Re-digging The Wells was so apt.

I was led to unclog my well, make room, contend for my Rehoboth and walk into the destiny God has planned for me.

The inspiring faculty members challenged my worldview and sharpened my biblical perspectives.

Most importantly, the testimonies of my classmates have left footprints in my heart and left me wanting for the deeper things of God.

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HERMON

93

Cell Group

ONG GEK KUAN St.John’s–St.Margaret’s Church

LIVINGSTON Church of the True Light

At School of Ministry in 2019, I was richly blessed with a mountain top experience of God. This year, God beckoned me again, with Micah 4:2 “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord” for a time of rest, refreshment and realignment. He wanted me to re-dig my well on this same mountain. Every day, God’s tangible presence during worship refreshes me, my classmates’ love and hunger for God inspire me, and the authentic and sound teachings of the lecturers sharpen my vision and teach me skills for the long haul.

School of Leadership offers a great opportunity for leaders to learn essential skills, including even how to operate current technology as almost every meeting is held online nowadays. We thank God for such modules designed specially to equip us. God placed me here at the right season of my life.

I’m enjoying every moment at School of Leadership.

Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’’

KYAW THIHA PINE Petra Community After praying on how I ought to be equipped to fulfil the call of God on my life, I felt peace to attend School of Leadership as the next step - and the experience has been incredibly enriching.

The lecturers and friends here have not only encouraged me, but also shaped and built me up to become closer to the person God can use mightily. As I have been faithful to come up this mountain, I am believing God to “make firm the steps of the one who delights in Him” (Psalm 37:23), so that I may come down strengthened for His purposes.

VANESSA YAP RiverLife Church

MICHAEL ONG New Creation Church I was trying to get back to a management job after School of Ministry 2021 but without success.

A brother asked me to join his start-up. But at the 30th June 2021 reunion of Tung Ling Bible School, when Dean Ju shared the theme for this School of Leadership: Re-digging The Wells, my heart was moved. But I worried about the opportunity cost. However, within hours, I received a special blessing which enabled me to attend School of Leadership with peace.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?’’

The subject of leadership has always been very important to me and here I get to learn from giants of experience, digging deep into their understanding of God’s blueprint for leadership. I am so joyful to learn fresh revelations from such instructors on how to shepherd the next generation, in partnership with God. Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’’

Psalms 78:72 “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hand.’’

And I will give

“

you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’’

(Jeremiah 3:15)

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MORIAH

95

Cell Group

POLYCARP HO In Christ Singapore

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you REST”.

Tung Ling Bible School has been my resting place since 2020 when I attended School of Ministry. A place of refuge, a place where I encountered God daily, at the mountain top or in the valley. A place of re-digging my spiritual wells so that living waters may flow out of me again.

A place of Resetting my life, Equipping for God’s kingdom assignment, Surrendering my old self to the Lord, so as to be Transformed to do the will of God. Amen

Every good and

“

perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17)

KENNETH SOH Covenant Evangelical Free Church

RACHAEL GABRIELLE CHEW Toa Payoh Methodist Church

SUSAN LIM RiverLife Church

As an active lay ministry worker for many years, I had always hoped to get some form of formal and in-depth training in ministry leadership. I was, however, particular about attending a school that moved in the Spirit. Tung Ling Bible School has exceeded my expectations with its experienced faculty, committed staff, and united and loving student body. Thank you, Tung Ling Bible School, for the opportunity to deepen my well.

“Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

(Psalms 29:2, NKJV).

To God be the glory. Selah.

School of Leadership was Abba Father’s surprise birthday gift to me this year! In three months of ‘unwrapping’ and ‘unpacking’ the wealth of knowledge imparted by our lecturers, I discovered more about myself and learnt how to wield spiritual tools for Kingdom work.

The anointed worship sessions, faith-building devotions of my school mates, our fellowship and cell group, amidst an uncertain COVID-19 season has made every ‘Tung Ling’ moment even more memorable and cherished! “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17)

It is such a privilege to be here and I am thankful that God has led me here. The sharing from the many experienced pastors and ministers provided me with such valuable insights on their journey in serving the Lord. They were so inspiring! Their explanation of biblical principles with practical guidance helped me understand and appreciate leadership skills.

Testimonies from various classmates were very encouraging and impactful as well. God is so good! I believe that in this time and season at the School of Leadership, God is equipping and preparing me to equip others in God’s kingdom.

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OLIVES

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Cell Group

Come to Me, all you

“

who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

IRENE HENG LOW St. James’ Church

PASTOR SIMON DEVARAJ St. John’s-St. Margaret’s Church

ROY PHUA Zion Gospel Mission

YEO QIAN HE PEARL St. John’s-St. Margaret’s Church

In 2019, I was in the School of Ministry and my family and friends were confused and some thought it was a joke. Now in 2021, I am back in Tung Ling attending the School of Leadership.

They’re amazed and all of them sat up in wonderment. If only they knew of the extraordinary things happening in the school. And I wait upon the Lord, I’ll rise up like an eagle, and I will soar with Him, His Spirit leads on, in the Power of His love.

Hallelujah!

The School of Leadership in Tung Ling Bible School was first introduced to me years back.

It was only when the door to spend my sabbatical leave overseas was shut that I seized the opportunity to sign up. I knew God was calling me unto Himself to rest as I was weary and burdened. During devotion on Day 1, Dean Guek Ju shared Isaiah 2:3 which resonated with me deeply. Tung Ling is where I’m drawn daily to go up to the mountain of the Lord through anointed worship, devotions, and teachings to learn God’s ways so that I can walk in His path.

(Rev 22:20b)

A dream come true! At the end of School of Ministry Term 2 (2019), my classmates were discussing future plans and asked if I would consider attending the School of Leadership (SOL) – I felt stirred but said, “Maybe later”.

Then the pandemic happened and SOL didn’t happen in 2020.

SOL came to mind again when I was planning for 2021 and I immediately locked it in my calendar.

Before term began, someone asked how I felt and my response was, “Grateful for another season of worship and learning at Tung Ling.”

It has been another life-giving experience and transformation amidst disruptive and challenging changes. Amen.

“Re-digging The Wells” was repeatedly mentioned on Orientation Day. I was surprised that this was the theme for this term. Five years ago, these were the same words that the Lord spoke to me to go to the Bible College of Wales. It was déjà vu coming to School of Leadership to re-dig the well, Rehoboth, but this time it’s to dig deeper until a river of life flows out of it and other wells spring up. It is no coincidence that my theme verse for 2021 is Isaiah 54:1-2. Thank you, Lord!

Be it unto me according to your Word!

JENNY TAN St. John’s-St. Margaret’s Church

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) This verse was a divine invitation for me to enrol in School of Leadership this year. I sensed that the Lord wanted me to rest in Him and rely on Him for my life.

Being in this course helped me attend to my grief for the recent demise of my husband and daughter, who passed on in May, and be assured that we will meet again.

May the Lord be glorified as He works in and through me!

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PISGAH

What no eye

“

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has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

Cell Group

(1 Cor 2:9)

CHANG TOU CHEN 3:16 Church

PASTOR LEE BENG HOON Hinghwa Methodist Church

YEN YEEN PENG Covenant Evangelical Free Church

I started serving in ministry only recently and discovered that this responsibility is far more serious than any of my previous commercial commitments, as we deal with things of eternal weight and outcome.

So, I realized that I needed to keep levelling up and Tung Ling Bible School - School of Leadership has turned out to be just the place for that. I am learning not only from a world class panel of instructors of experience and inspiration, but also from the culture of authenticity and excellence that Principal Guek Ju and Dean Philip teach and exemplify daily. I thank God for them.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Eccl 3:1). It has been 6 years since Principal Guek Ju first introduced School of Leadership to me. Only in June this year, did I feel “Yes! This is the season and time for me”. I am amazed how the daily schedule has been arranged: from digging and throwing out the obstacles in my “old well” in the early morning, so that I may fly higher to the Heavenly Throne during worship, preparing ample space for me to receive what God has for me through the lecturers.

I am overwhelmed!

Obeying God, I signed up for School of Leadership but was still doubting the relevance of this program for me. A friend changed my perspective, pointing out that leadership is not about a position but about leading oneself and those in one’s sphere of influence.

Truly, it has been a joy every day, soaking in His presence, learning from lecturers and school mates; each, a spiritual leader faithfully fulfilling God’s assignment to them, leading themselves and others to grow in the process. All glory to God for His work here renewing minds and transforming hearts!

JON ONG Trinity Christian Centre Leadership is about influence. From young, God granted my desire to lead at local, then regional, and in the recent decade global level of Christian and secular organisations.

For years, I was able to effect direction and pace of initiatives, and manage issues, but I was missing something really important. Tung Ling Bible School of Leadership has shown me that I need to transform inwardly so that I may serve better outwardly. I am learning, in His mercy, to renew my mind and heart, so that I may serve God’s holy, pleasing and perfect will.

SEAH CHIEW KWAN Zion Gospel Mission

1 Cor 2:9 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” In January this year, I sensed God inviting me to School of Leadership for my sabbatical. During chapel worship in the 4th week of school, I realised why. A thick clogged sediment of tiredness inside me since my chemotherapy in 2011-12 got flushed away.

I could finally connect with myself in a deep way. Now I am like a river fully connected to its source, flowing at full capacity, with renewed life-giving water.

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SINAI

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LISA SEAH St. John’s-St. Margaret’s Church

FIDELIA LIM Petra Community

LEON KOH City Harvest Church

MOSES LIM Church of the Good Shepherd

If you were to mark the highs of my spiritual journey with the Lord, then School of Ministry 2019 and School of Leadership (SOL) 2021 would be among the peaks.

The Lord knew I needed a spiritual top-up and through Divine Appointment and a huge pulling of my heartstrings, I enrolled into SOL on Orientation Day after serving in the alumni band that same morning! My desire is to be like David who said, “One thing I ask and that I will seek, is to be in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life” (Psalm 27:4 paraphrased)

2020 has been a trying year of many changes. At the beginning of 2021, God gave me the word ‘Alignment’, and I felt led to enrol in the School of Leadership.

While preparing for the term, many things demanded my attention, and I wondered if I should really go. God reassured me with an interesting verse from Mark 6:39 where Jesus directed the people to simply sit down in groups to watch His miracle unfold. He has invited me to rest and remember what He has done so that I can bring this posture to the rest of 2021.

After years of living life independently of the Lord, my well became choked. I went into depression and much soul-searching – unwilling to be the broken seed.

Reading Isa 55:1-2, I realised that I had been drinking stale water, poisoning my hungry and thirsty soul. Finally, I surrendered.

Healing and restoration began in the School of Ministry 2021.

Since then, I have been re-digging my well and rediscovering my eternal purpose in Him. After drinking crystal-clear, refreshing, life-giving waters, I pray the small fountain in me will become a mighty River for His glory, that I will serve Him from such overflow.

My time in Tung Ling Bible School ranks among the best experiences of my life. It is a place where we learn about God, grow to be like Christ, worship our Lord, shed tears of repentance and joy, overcome struggles, get inspired by our fellow classmates and most importantly touched by the Holy Spirit…. Everyday. Every single day! It is like attending a church camp for 3 months. Marvellous, wonderful, life changing!

ELAIYARANI SUBRAMANIAM Cornerstone Community Church Discovering the adventures of life according to God’s guidance brings me immense Joy! I encountered God greatly in the School of Ministry Term 1, 2017.

God has upgraded me incredibly at various seasons since.

By God’s invitation, I recently launched my book titled “A Daughter Saved by The King”.

God is now inviting me to step out boldly to serve Him in a different capacity. As I obeyed to do His will, the Lord made a way to the School of Leadership. I am blessed to be here to rest, focus and gain strengths from the wells He has placed in my life.

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

One thing I ask and that I will seek,

“

is to be in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life” (Psalms 27:4 paraphased)

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TABOR

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RAYMOND TAN The New Charis Mission I have heard many life-changing stories from students who attended Tung Ling Bible School. Finally, I am here to experience it for myself.

Words seem inadequate to describe my thoughts and feelings, except to say I am deeply impacted and that there has been a paradigm shift to how I approach my service towards the Lord. My days at the School of Leadership have been nothing short of encounters, and I am so filled with the goodness and faithfulness of God just by listening to the powerful, amazing testimonies of my school mates. God has a special assignment for each of us in His Kingdom!

ELLY GIOK New Creation Church

PASTOR ANNA TAN MUI LENG Boscombe Life Church

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. All my desire is to follow Him and live in obedience to His calling. I had a wonderful encounter with the Lord during the School of Ministry and now it’s a season for me to go UP to the mountain top and seek His guidance and rest. I was so blessed to be part of this School of Leadership with fellow Saints, and I know that God has divinely appointed us together as a Family of believers to bring Heaven to Earth and be His influencers in our vocations. We rejoice in the Lord always!

God gave me Psalm 119:32 when I graduated from the School of Ministry in 2008. After 17 years of ministry, God spoke again through Psalm 27:8 to direct me back to the School of Leadership where I can listen quietly and immerse myself in the divine and precious presence of the Holy Spirit. Through Chapel devotions, my heart was opened and aligned to God. I’m more confident now to serve amidst changes in this pandemic.

As I surrendered my thoughts and plans to God and allowed Him to remove all the debris from my blocked well, the fountain of life began to flow again.

EMILY SIN Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church I was all set to return to work upon completing the School of Ministry in March, not expecting the Lord to direct me to the School of Leadership (SOL) in the same year.

I wrestled with the Lord because I’m not serving in any ministry currently, but someone told me, “If you have no one to lead, the only person you need to lead is yourself.” Beyond a season of character formation, SOL is also a season of Re-digging The Wells; making room for the Lord and being fruitful. May my life’s prayer be to walk with Him in joyful submission to His good and perfect will.

As I surrendered

“

my thoughts and plans to God and allowed Him to remove all the debris from my blocked well, the fountain of life began to flow again.

SHAHUL HAMEED Cornerstone Community Church The Psalmist says that He changes a wilderness into a pool of water; And a dry land into springs of water. Tung Ling was indeed a divine appointment for me, recommended by a man of God on our first meeting. In my life’s darkest seasons and deepest valleys, I was pointed to my Marah, my place of spiritual rest and nourishment with the sweet living waters of God and in the company of God’s apostles. I am now re-energized with the love for God to renew my covenant vow to pursue my koinonia with my Saviour Jesus.

Thank you, Father.

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ZION

No discipline seems pleasant at

“

the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Cell Group

(Hebrews 12:11)

CLARISSA NEO TIAN YI Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church

JOY APINYARNKUL Cornerstone Community Church

After graduating from the School of Ministry 5 years ago, a spiritual hunger birthed forth and my walk with God grew exponentially, leading me closer to Him and His call for my life.

Now that I am embarking on a new journey in full-time ministry, I am blessed once again to attend the School of Leadership with an incredible line-up of godly and anointed teachers to instill not only head knowledge, but also heart knowledge. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)

I wanna sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat JENI CHNG SIEW LUAN Bethesda Cathedral As a babe in the mission field, I felt the need to be better equipped for furtherance of His Kingdom’s work. I pondered much on the how, where, who and when.

Suddenly, an invitation came.

Though I had a short lead time, I stayed composed, prayed and waited for God’s approval and man’s clearance – honestly, all seemed impossible! When I commit it to HIM, He will make the way and all will fall into place. Jesus knows His bride. Here I am, back to school to unlearn and relearn, to be a new wine skin for the new season.

These are the words from the song ‘The More I Seek You’.

I hear the Lord’s heartbeat through the lives of my fellow School of Leadership students.

Recently, the Lord showed me my next assignment in a Singapore mission field that works according to His heartbeat.

The School of Leadership provides the training for this move.

It is wonderful to be able to sit at His feet and hear God’s heartbeat while I am being prepared for His good works.

RANDY WONGSO Cornerstone Community Church

ROBIN KHOO Lighthouse Evangelism

It has been a wonderful journey in the School of Leadership.

When the Lord led me to enrol for this, I was hesitant because I felt that I was too young and inexperienced. But I obeyed Him, and I’ve been blessed by so many ‘gems’ of truth and wisdom shared by many experienced, anointed lecturers that come to the school.

I can testify that those truths have helped me to grow in my spiritual maturity. And I personally experience what this song says: “Little by little everyday Little by little every way My Jesus is changing me!”

I graduated from the School of Ministry in 2020, I would describe Tung Ling Bible School as a “slice of Heaven”. I am so blessed to be surrounded by many fellow believers who are so fervent for the Lord. I really gained so much in terms of revelation, knowledge and valuable kingdom friendships from my time here. As I wanted to seek more knowledge and revelations for the Lord, I decided to advance my studies in the School of Leadership to expand my capacity.

So here I am, ready to be a sponge once again to absorb whatever the Lord wants to teach me.

105

DEVOTIONS How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts.

We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,Your holy temple.

Psalms 65:4 (NASB)

107

109

LECTURES Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

Psalm 84:10 (NIV)

111

WORSHIP But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73:28 (ESV)

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Heartiest Congratulations

PS ANNA TAN MUI LENG & PS LEE BENG HOON

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP 2021

博恩生命堂华文部核心同工祝贺

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REDIGGING the wells

Congratulations

Congratulations

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

TAN MIN SHYAN, CHRISTINA

TAN MIN SHYAN, CHRISTINA

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5 (NKJV)

From Psalms & Proverbs Cell Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (TRAC)

Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (TRAC)

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Congratulations

TO ALL OUR GRADUATES SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021 SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP 2021

SOM&SOL_2021_R1.pdf

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27/8/21

12:48 PM

CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH Congratulates the graduating class of SOM & SOL 2021 term.

We rejoice with you!

DIPLOMA IN SCHOOL OF MINISTRY Left to right: Jerome Jude Arokiaraj Jacob Selvaraj, Suma Haridas, Richard Kwok, Eileen Foo

DIPLOMA IN SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP Left to right: Shahul Hameed, Elaiyarani Subramaniam, Joy S.A, Randy Wongso

s n o ti a l tu a r g n Co To our graduates!

School of Ministry (From left to Right)

Tan Ju Quan Gideon Tan Jeffery Chew

School of Leadership Raymond Tan

milestone.

We rejoice with you on this THE NEW CHARIS MISSION | 11 JALAN UBI BLOCK 1 #01-01 S409074 | WWW.THENEWCHARISMISSION.ORG.SG NEW CHARIS ENTERPRISE PTE LTD

(a subsidiary of The New Charis Mission) 11 Jalan Ubi, Block 1 #01-01 Kembangan-Chai Chee Community Hub Singapore 409074 Tel: (65) 6483 3707 Fax: (65) 6483 3658 Email: enquiries@newcharis.com.sg Website: www.newcharis.com.sg UEN : 201706582H

Moving Beyond Our Past To Moving Your Homes And Offices Our Services:

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NEW CHARIS MOVERS Professional . Purposeful . Precise

Call Us For A Free Quotation (65) 6483 3707

Email: enquiries@newcharis.com.sg

Congratulations CHONG LAI MAY

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

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Pastors, Staff & Members of Rock Of Ages Church

Congratulations YEN YEEN PENG

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP 2021

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Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Love, Lian Khion, Zhan Xiong and Jian Xiong

L-R: Wu ZhiMin, Lim Jin Quan, Ruth Kabera, Serene Chee, Timothy Liew

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We want to thank the Faculty and staff at Tung Ling Bible School, for all that we have learnt and the friendship we have made.

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Mount Carmel, SOL 2021

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Congratulations MOUNT OF OLIVES

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Mount Of Olives

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

THE CLASS OF SOM TERM 2, 2021 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Manasseh Cell Group Annie Tay, Doris Khoo, Mary Taye, Georgina Loo, Julie Chu, May Chong

AUTOGRAPH REDIGGING

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the wells

the wells

Heartiest Congratulations

Our Heartiest Congratulations

CHRISTIAN GABRIEL LUCAS & STEPHEN JOALER ESPIDILLON

SUMA HARIDAS

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

Pastors, Leaders & Members of Jesus Reigns Ministries (Singapore)

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Congratulations

THOMAS TAN YONG YEOW

On your graduation & successful completion of Diploma in SCHOOL OF MINISTRY • Term 2 • 2021

@jrmsingapore

God has something great in your future. Isaiah 43:19 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 Abraham Logan & Partners

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JANICE TAN SZE HUI

Your smile and warm nature endear you to many! We are proud of you for graduating from the TLBS, SOM! The joy of the Lord is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understaning.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Proverb 3:5-6

Lots of love from: Daddy, Mummy, Sam and Josh!

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