INCOMING STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
ONCAMPUS
Koos + Bhless Hagg
Rebecca Williams
H O M E T O W N : Hanoi, Vietnam / P R O G R A M : M.Div., M.A.B.S.
H O M E T O W N : Philadelphia, PA / P R O G R A M : M.A.B.S.
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hless and I are so thankful to be at WSC! Bhless is from the northern highlands of the Philippines; I was born in the Netherlands but grew up in a few different places in U.S. and Canada. In God’s good plan, He brought us both to Hanoi, Vietnam. We met in 2016 and got married in 2017. I had been in Vietnam since 2010, and Bhless since 2012. I had come as a missionary and English teacher, and Bhless had come as an English teacher, looking for ways to be involved in missions. The ministry in Vietnam was a church plant. We found out that church planting is a wonderful way to spread the gospel and to disciple believers. We also found out that church planting is hard work, and we were under-prepared. We both had experience from our families and churches, but this is not the same as formal training. We needed dedicated time away from the field to be trained, equipped, and (when ready) to be sent out again. We came to WSC drawn by its unique character and setting. We had several trustworthy friends recommend the seminary to us. The tight-knit community and genuine interaction between students and faculty were evident when I visited the campus. The seminary’s focus on preparing expert servants for service in the worldwide church is what we believe we need to be well-prepared for future mission. We are also excited by the international communities in Southern California and Westminster itself. I am studying in the Master of Divinity program (four year), and Bhless is studying the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Toward the end of our studies, we hope to join Mission to the World (MTW), seek ordination in the PCA (Koos), and return to Vietnam for church planting or church development work. We are excited for all that is to come in these next few years. We are blessed to meet so many wonderful people who are involved with the seminary! Most of all, we give thanks to God and glorify Him for bringing us here to Westminster.
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n one of Jim Elliot’s journals from the years prior to his move to Ecuador, he described how he discerned God’s will not by signs or voices, but by God’s provision for his needs. In my own life, I’ve experienced this same truth, particularly in my decision to attend WSC. The path to seminary was neither a simple one nor one anticipated long in advance – yet I can clearly see the Lord’s hand guiding me here. In 2018, I completed my undergraduate degree in Spanish with a minor in TESOL and moved to Peru to teach English. Aside from teaching, my time in Peru shaped my direction by way of other experiences, especially a weekly children’s ministry. Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, I also went on a short-term mission trip with the Presbyterian Missionary Union to Iquitos and surrounding communities on the Ucayali riverbed, which further weighed on my heart the desire to do missions work. If it had not been for COVID-19, I don’t believe I would be at WSC presently. I returned to the States in April 2020, continuing to teach online for the same school, with a stubborn expectation that I would be back in Peru within the year. During this time at home, however, between frustrated hopes and new hopes, I began to consider attending seminary. Rereading books by Elizabeth Elliot first reminded me of my previous interest in Bible translation, and I also felt a strong yearning to know God more deeply through His Word. As I researched different seminaries and graduate schools, I was particularly drawn to WSC’s emphasis on studying the Scriptures in their original languages. Yet for many months, it did not seem possible for me to attend this year. It was my continuous prayer that God would remove each obstacle if it were His will, and one-by-one He did so. Late this May, I finally decided to pursue an MA in Biblical Studies. Today, I am unsure of the exact route ahead after my studies at WSC. I may have the opportunity to work in the Iquitos area again, and Bible translation still frequents my thoughts. However, I am certain God has provided for me to be exactly where I am, and that He will supply each future need according to His will. UPDATE | FALL2021
