principal`s message - Biblical Graduate School of Theology

JUL 2015
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Inside This
Issue 2015-7
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Principal’s Message
by Dr Philip
Satterthwaite
2
ART NEWS by Mr John
Chong Ser Choon
4
C.S Lewis & The
Christian Life: Personal
Reflections by
Mr Nathaniel Ng
6
Public Lecture Photos
8
Alumni News by
Mr Brian Chew
10
Lecturers Engagements
11
Upcoming Public
Lectures
13
BGST Academic
Programmes
14
TS101 First Lesson
Invitation - Free
Admission
15
Upcoming Courses
for AY 2015-16,
Sem 1
18
Church History Tour
19
Library: New Books
20
2015 Calendar
Highlights
Dr. Philip Satterthwaite
Philip is the Principal of BGST and Lecturer in Old Testament,
Biblical Hebrew & Hermeneutics.
Dear Friends,
Judges 2:10 reads: ‘Moreover, that whole generation was gathered to
their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them, who did not
know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.’
You will remember the context: Joshua’s generation, the generation
which had won remarkable victories in Canaan, passed away, and the
generation which followed did not show the same faith or resolution. The
period of the judges which followed was an unhappy time in Israel’s
history.
Is the church in Singapore in a situation similar to that of Israel at the
beginning of Judges? The last fifty years have seen remarkable growth in
the church in Singapore. You could say that now is a good time to be a
Christian in Singapore, particularly when you compare our situation with
the state of the church in other parts of the world (Europe, for example).
But is there a danger of complacency among us, a tendency to take
things for granted? Have we forgotten what it is to contend for the faith?
Could those words from Judges 2 become the epitaph of the rising
generation in Singapore?
At BGST we are determined to do all we can to prevent that from
happening. We offer Christians from all walks of life (most definitely
including the rising generation) a theological training which will
strengthen their grasp of biblical truth, and equip them to live it out
where God has called them to serve. We are in conversation with church
leaders and other Christians, to ensure that we remain in touch with the
situation ‘on the ground’ here. We want all that we do to strengthen the
ministry of the church in Singapore and to prepare it to meet whatever
challenges lie in the future.
I commend our work to your prayers.
ART NEWS
BGST CUM REGENT ALUMNI DINNER
WITH DR BRUCE HINDMARSH
(26 JUNE 2015, FRIDAY EVENING)
by Mr. John Chong Ser Choon
ART capped off the year’s activities with a BGST
cum Regent Alumni dinner with our guest
lecturer, Dr Bruce Hindmarsh. Dr Hindmarsh is
the James Houston Professor of Spiritual
Theology at Regent College and was here in
June to teach two courses at BGST (C S Lewis
and the Christian Life, and Five Traditions and
Practices of Prayer).
In this last ART event, we had our biggest
turnout with over 40 people! ART planned this
gathering with both groups of alumni in mind,
a s B G ST a n d Re g e n t Co l l e g e h a v e a
relationship going back several years. Many
BGST alumni have in fact gone on to Regent
College to continue their studies, including our
own lecturers, Pak Wah and Tze-Ming.
The evening turned out to be quite lively
indeed! The food was plentiful and sumptuous.
Old friends called out with delight to each
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other. Some with dual alumnus “membership”
could revel in both. It was a very pleasing scene
in the brightly lit function room, courtesy of our
Council chairperson, Fang Soong.
But largely it was an evening for all of us to
hear from Dr Hindmarsh about the latest
happenings at Regent College. At the start of
the dialogue, facilitated by Tze-Ming and Pak
Wah, he first shared of his impressions of
Singapore, of places visited and local delights
tasted (including curry fish head and durians).
Regent alumni present were also invited to
share some personal updates, and a few did. It
was obvious from the sharing that many fondly
remembered their times at Regent, and
counted those years as formative and decisive
in the way they now live out the Christian faith.
Dr Hindmarsh remarked that there must be
something that Regent is doing right.
urge Regent alumni to go on living out what
they have learnt in Regent, each in the
vocation and ministry that they are now in.
Heartening indeed to hear this exhortation!
We closed with a time of prayer and then the
usual rouses and rounds of a group
photograph.
Regent College recently announced a major
re-structuring. Dr Hindmarsh shared with all
some of the thinking, practical outworking as
well as the difficulties of this “right-sizing” of
the College. As the conversation continued,
we also touched on an issue of concern to
Christians and asked him to share some
perspectives. All of us who were present
appreciated the balanced and person
centred insights given.
As to what the alumni can do for Regent
College, he laid the emphasis not on mere
financial support. Rather, saying that he is
speaking from his own heart, that he would
What about the BGST alumni? They were the
majority. But we all know we came to hear
from Dr Hindmarsh and about Regent
College. As Ser Choon, the ART chairperson
joked at the welcoming time, that perhaps
with this intermingling, many would be
enticed to want to go on to study in Regent
College. From the ART standpoint, the kind
of warmth and ease amongst Regent alumni
that evening is certainly what we aspire to
have amongst BGST alumni.
A new academic year is starting. ART is now
in its second year. We look forward to build
and strengthen this relational buzz between
BGST and alumni. Do join and support us in
this new year.
Mr. John Chong Ser Choon
Director of Trinity Life Community, (a spiritual formation resource ministry that he
started in July 2004) and BGST Adjunct lecturer. His vision is to serve the Christian
community through conducting spiritual retreats, teaching seminars on spiritual
formation and holistic Christian living.
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C.S
LEWIS & THE CHRISTIAN LIFE:
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE COURSE
by Nathaniel Ng, CBS Student
If I mentioned C.S. Lewis, what comes to
mind? Perhaps, not very surprisingly,
‘Narnia’. But are a big furry lion and a
couple of talking beavers all there is to
Lewis?
Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast,
Ireland, on 29 November 1898. His father
was a solicitor and his mother was the
daughter of a Church of Ireland Priest. He
had an elder brother, Warren, whom he
would call ‘Warnie’ as well as his ‘first’
friend (Owen Barfield being the ‘second’).
Warren would later become C.S. Lewis’
secretary.
Besides writing books, Lewis, described as
someone “large, ruddy and laughing”, was
a don of Cambridge and Oxford (where as
a student he received 3 Firsts in English,
Mods – Greek and Latin Literature, and
Greats – Philosophy and Ancient History, in
a span of 4 years. He was the sort of
person who loved taking long walks (as far
as 80 km!) with close friends such as
Barfield, Tolkien and Warren anywhere, so
long as it ended “in a pub with a blazing
fire” and “sitting up till the small hours in
s o m e o n e ’s c o l l e g e r o o m s t a l k i n g
nonsense, poetry, theology, metaphysics
over beer, tea, and pipes.”
Intellectually sharp and gifted, Lewis was
renowned for a memory capable of Total
Recall. It was said that if given a verse from
Milton’s Paradise Lost he could quote the
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next one. He was just as well known for
contesting just about every single
contestable sentence with a loud “I
contest/challenge that!” But before I am
accused of verging on a hagiography, it
must be said that Lewis certainly had his
flaws, such as a very notable strained
relationship with his father, where they
both sometimes even refused to
communicate with each other.
Much has been said about Lewis and his
coming to Christianity off the back of –
actually, General Theism, not Atheism –
disbelief. That he was “the most deject and
reluctant convert of all England”, was a
conversion from Atheism to Theism, not
Christianity. But of all things, few have
been as curious as this – his pre-conversion
concept of Joy, almost counter-intuitively
negative.
Since a boy, Lewis has been enthralled, no,
enraptured (if there were ever such a
hierarchy of emotions) by what he called
northernness. The term most likely came
from a line from The Twilight of the Gods –
“Joy was an arrow shot from the north”. His
first experience of this intense emotion
of “sickening intensity something never to
be described (except that it is cold,
spacious, severe, pale and remote)” came
when he read the phrase ‘Balder the
Beautiful is dead’. It filled him with a
spiritual longing of he knew not what.
Ty p i c a l l y , t h e u n k n o w i n g a n d
transcendental does not bother us. For
how can one be bothered by what one
doesn’t or cannot know exists? The
sparrow who has had its feathers trimmed
from birth would just be content with
hopping about – nobody told it that it was
meant to soar. Yet for Lewis, and like all
men since the dawn of time, God deigned
to reveal of himself to him. And each time
he tasted, he was left wanting, thirsting for
more, for what he would call “Joy”, that
elusive gnawing thing.
Lewis himself records this final step into
Joy, in a now famous passage of Surprised
by Joy – “I know very well when, but hardly
how, the final step was taken. I was driven
to Whipsnade one sunny morning. When
we set out I did not believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God, and when we
reached the zoo I did.”
For Lewis, Joy wasn’t happiness or
pleasure. No, he would sharply distinguish
Well, so back to the question: Are talking
animals all that there is to Lewis? Thank
that. Happiness is attainable by the joke,
the flippant. Pleasure was something that
could be found in sexual experience, but
as John in the Pilgrim’s Regress found out,
fornication does not bring joy. Joy has
been described as nostalgia, yet it isn’t, for
it is more than just a longing for the past –
Lewis’ ache was for something more than
the past, for the past sadly implies that it is
no longer attainable. It is talked about as a
deep yearning, a poignant desire, a “stab,
pang, inconsolable longing”.
God, no. We have just seen a selection of
the rich repertoire of Lewis’ life. And I’m
sure as well Lewis himself would politely
disagree, anyway. For if Lewisan animals
were simply animals and not pointers and
signposts to the greater immanent reality
of (as Plato would put it) higher Ideas, we
would have to very seriously reconsider the
current fabric of realities as represented in
literature from Balder the Beautiful to Jesus
Christ the Son of God to see if it were true
after all that we were always deluded
about the transcendental.
The word that has perhaps come closest to
describing what Lewis was trying to get at
is outside the rather limited English
l a n g u a g e . H e re , t h e G e r m a n s g o t
something more than beer and sausages
right. Sehnsucht, a joyward longing, could
probably best describe what Lewis felt. But
really, as Lewis was to find out later, this
elusive joy, this Northernness was really
about his search for Jesus, the True Joy.
Lewis had searched and searched all his
life for Joy, but found it that one day when
God found him, and called him into the
Light.
Lewis had a mission, and he knew clearly
what it was. And the beauty of it all is that
indeed Lewisan animals are not simply
animals but that they revealed a one,
greater, deep truth – that Christ, who is Joy,
is the point, is all, and is in all.
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C.S LEWIS:
HIS LIFE, TEACHINGS & LEGACY
by PROF BRUCE HINDMARSH
15 JUNE 2015
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ZION BISHAN BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SHORT, FREQUENT PRAYERS:
WISDOM FROM THE DESERT FATHERS
by PROF BRUCE HINDMARSH
22 JUNE 2015
ST. JOHN’S - ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH
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ALUMNI NEWS
Mr.Chew Yu Hoong Brian
magna cum laude
Grad DipCS, 2015
I first started thinking about getting a theological
education while working overseas in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. By then, I had already been
reading the Bible systematically for a few years
and had often found the Bible speaking to me
afresh despite having been a Christian for 20
years. Yet, I was also keenly aware that without a
proper theological education, I would soon ‘hit
the wall’ regardless of how much time I spent
reading the Bible. Slowly but surely, the dream of
one day doing a MBA in The University of
Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School became
displaced by the growing desire to pursue a
theological education. Such an unexplained
change in aspiration during the peak of my
career as a CRO of a European bank could have
only come from God.
Over the past 6 years, my journey with BGST has
been nothing less than one of immense spiritual
gain. Like many fellow students, I have been
greatly enriched by the many classroom and
virtual discussions with other believers coming
from a diverse mix of background,
denominations and vocations. Through such
interactions, our Christian worldviews have been
broadened as the basis of our faith and
traditions are explored, challenged and critically
evaluated in a safe environment. But more
importantly, such sessions give us the
opportunity to learn from each other what it
means to live theologically in the market place,
as topics like theology, ethics and evangelism
come to life beyond mere academic knowledge.
Very often, the Christian journey is described as
a race in which all believers are running together
Being a typical Singaporean, I started
researching on the seminaries in Malaysia and
Singapore and was pleasantly surprised by the
many options available here. However, it was
BGST’s mission statement of equipping the
whole people of God and its systematically laid
out curriculum that attracted me. After returning
from my posting in Malaysia and settling down, I
started my first module with BGST in the
beginning of 2010.
in. There is always someone ahead who we can
learn from, as well as someone behind who we
can encourage. I personally find no better place
than the BGST classroom, whereby this
metaphor can be more aptly applied (for in the
church, there is often an undue reliance on the
pastor/leaders to feed the flock without a
corresponding framework for the pastor/leaders
to be nourished).
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Besides the dynamics of exchanges
between the lecturer and students as well
as students with students, modules such as
Vocation, Work and Ministry also did much
to restore me to a balanced worldview (at
a time when I was disheartened by the
corruption in banking and contemplating
a career change), while The Educational
Ministry of The Church taught me the
importance of starting with the right
philosophy of education instead of the
curriculum. Such is the holistic approach of
BGST towards Christian Education, which
transcends mere Biblical hermeneutics
and surveys (though these were not
neglected).
the entire program. Not only did the framework
afford me the much needed flexibility in
juggling between work, church and BGST
commitments, it also provided me with the
necessary space to thoroughly think through
and consolidated what I have learned before
forming my owned position - the ultimate
purpose of an education.
The vision of BGST and faithful execution
of it by the faculty aside, kudos also goes
to the school for its emphasis on critical
thinking as well as understanding towards
part-time students. Given the long hours in
banking, I am particular grateful for the 3
months given to hand in our course
assignments as well as the
accommodation allowed in completing
To me, and I believe also for all my fellow
graduands, our recent convocation represents
not so much the culmination of our theological
education, but the inflexion point for the next
phase of our spiritual journey. May the good
work that BGST has done in strengthening our
spiritual foundation provide us with the firm
platform to spring board unto ever greater
heights in the Lord’s service.
Last but not least, I would also like to express my
appreciation to the faculty and staff of BGST for
time and again going beyond the call of duty.
Though strictly speaking a seminary, both
faculty and adjunct lecturers have often gone
the extra mile to also minister to the needs of
the students with their sharing and advice.
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BGST LECTURER’S ENGAGEMENTS
JULY
Dr. Philip
Satterthwaite
12 Jul 2015
Jeremiah 6
Bethesda Frankel Estate Church
Dr. Lai
Pak Wah
19 Jul 2015
“Dialogue on Conservation vs Consumerism”
Mt Carmel B-P Church,
Young Adults Ministry
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Mr Quek
Tze-Ming
19 Jul 2015
“Ministers of Reconciliation”
Neighbourhood Church,
9:00 am service
Dr. Tan
Seng Kong
12, 19, 26 Jul 2015
“Christian Ethics”
Bethel AG
ACADEMIC
PROGRA MMES
CBS
Certificate in Biblical Studies
CTS
Certificate in Theological Studies
What is it? A 12-credit program that provides foundational knowledge for
biblical studies and interpretation.
What is it? A 12-credit program that familiarises students with theological,
historical and spiritual perspectives on the Christian faith.
Who is it for? Christians interested in developing their understanding of the
Bible or leading study groups
Who is it for? Christians interested in developing a holistic understanding of
their faith or leading study groups
What’s in it? Old and New Testament foundations, and Biblical interpretation
What’s in it? Introductions to Christian history, theology and spirituality
How long is it? 1 year full time / 2 years part time
How long is it? 1 year full time / 2 years part time
What’s next? To the Grad Dip CS
What’s next? To the Grad Dip CS
Grad DipCS Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies
What is it? A 30-credit postgraduate program that emphasises an inter-disciplinary approach to theological studies. In
addition to foundational training in Bible interpretation, theology, Christian history and spirituality, students will also learn how
to contextualise their faith in their local culture and society.
Who is it for? Christians interested in developing an integrated biblical worldview for effective service in the Church and the
marketplace
How long is it? 1 year full time / 4 years part time
What’s next? To the MCS
MCS Master in Christian Studies
What is it? A 60-credit program that develops the foundational knowledge laid by the Grad Dip CS by deepening the
students’ understanding of the biblical, theological, historical and spiritual aspects of the Christian faith. Students will also
strengthen their ability to contextualise their faith through courses such as Christian Ethics, Asian Religions, and Vocation, Work
and Ministry.
Who is it for? Laity, Christian leaders and those serving in Christian ministries
How long is it? 2 years full time / 6 years part time
What’s next? To the MDiv
MDiv Master of Divinity
What is it? A 90 credit program that equips students for ministry in a pastoral or parachurch context.
Who is it for? Those preparing for full-time Christian ministry
How long is it? 3 years full time / 8 years part time
13
Jul
UPCOMING COURSES
AY 2015-16 SEM 1
2015
MDiv Core
MDiv Core
CTS, Grad DipCS, MCS & MDiv Core
CBS, Grad DipCS, MCS & MDiv Core
MCS & MDiv Core
CTS, Grad DipCS, MCS & MDiv Core
REGISTER FOR THE COURSES AT
WWW.JOTFORM.ME/BGSTREG/REGISTRATION_FORM
Please take note that Visa Card Payment via Moodle will no longer be available.
Please refer here for our payment options: http://bgst.edu.sg/courses/fee-payment
UPCOMING COURSES
AY 2015-16 SEM 1
Missions/Interdisciplinary Elective
Spiritual Theology Elective
Jul-­Sep
2015
Marketplace Concentration Elective
Intensive
Intensive
Course
Course
CBS, Grad DipCS, MCS & MDiv Core
CBS, Grad DipCS, MCS & MDiv Core
Bible Studies Elective
REGISTER FOR THE COURSES AT
WWW.JOTFORM.ME/BGSTREG/REGISTRATION_FORM
Please take note that Visa Card Payment via Moodle will no longer be available.
Please refer here for our payment options: http://bgst.edu.sg/courses/fee-payment
UPCOMING COURSES
AY 2015-16 SEM 1
Sep-­Nov
2015
Bible Studies Elective
Spiritual Theology/Interdisciplinary
Elective
Interdisciplinary/Applied Theology
Elective
Bible Studies Elective
MCS & MDiv Core
Intensive
Course
MDiv Core
Intensive
Course
REGISTER FOR THE COURSES AT
WWW.JOTFORM.ME/BGSTREG/REGISTRATION_FORM
Please take note that Visa Card Payment via Moodle will no longer be available.
Please refer here for our payment options: http://bgst.edu.sg/courses/fee-payment
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Will you join us?
2015 BGST CHURCH HISTORY TOUR TO ITALY
6-17 NOVEMBER 2015
Contact Dr Lai Pak Wah at [email protected]
Due to the positive response, BGST has decided to
launch another Church History Tour to Italy, from 6 17 Nov 2015.
BGST's Church History in Italy (In the Footsteps of
the Fathers) aims to familiarise Christians in
Singapore with the historical and spiritual legacy of
our Christian Forefathers from the 1st to the 16th
century. Travelling from Rome to Assisi, Siena,
Florence, Ravenna, Venice and, finally, Milan, we will
consider the legacy of the early church fathers, the
developments and key figures of medieval
spirituality (such as Francis of Assisi and Catherine
of Siena) and changes in Christian Art (from early
Christian to Baroque). We will also reflect on some
of the key historical developments in this period
(such as the Crusades and the Renaissance).
The Lecturers: The tour will be led by Dr Lai Pak
Wah, Lecturer in Church History (BGST), who will
conduct most of the lectures. Dr Tan Seng Kong
(Lecturer in Systematic Theology), will also share
from his experience as an architect and spiritual
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theologian, on the development of church
architecture and early Christian spirituality.
What's included in the tour: Return airfares and
airport taxes (SIA), hotel accommodation, local
transportation, Tour and Bus Tips, city taxes,
entrance fees and most meals.
Pricing Details:
We hope to form a group of 15 participants so that
we can confirm the tour and air ticketing details. To
that end, we are adopting a multi-tier pricing
approach. We encourage those who can commit to
join at the 'launch' price of S$5,400. Once the
number of participants grows beyond 20 people,
the final price will be reduced to $5,100 or lower
(depending on the final group size).
Tour Brochure: http://bgst.edu.sg/media/files/
2015/2015-Tour-Brochure.pdf
For those interested, please contact Dr Lai Pak Wah
at e-mail [email protected] or mobile number
98351809.
LIBRARY NEW BOOKS!
CREATIONISM
The Bible, rocks, and time:
geological evidence for the age of
the earth
Davis A Young, Ralph F Stearley
GOD
The Trinitarian vision of Jonathan
Edwards and David Coffey
Steven M Studebaker
MISSIONS
Introducing world missions:
a biblical, historical, and
practical survey
Scott Moreau, Gary Corwin,
Gary McGee
EVANGELISTIC WORK
American evangelism: its theology
and practice
Darius Salter
THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
The lost world of Adam and Eve :
Genesis 2-3 and the human
origins debate
John H. Walton; with a contribution
by N.T.Wright
Evangelism in the early Church
Michael Green
TRINITY
Traces of the Trinity : signs of God
in creation and human experience
Peter J Leithart
Evangelism: A concise history
John Mark Terry
PRAYERS
Pray for the world : abridged from
Operation World
Jason Mandryk
MORE NEW BOOKS CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://BGST.VLIBONLINE.COM/IMAGES/201506BULL1.HTM
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2015
Calendar
2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Events
[PUBLIC LECTURE] EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE, LANGUAGE: WHAT THE
BIBLE SAYS ABOUT INTERCULTURAL MISSION by DR. EIKO TAKAMIZAWA
When:
27 Jul 2015
Time:
7:45 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church
[PUBLIC LECTURE] THE SERPENT & THE DOVE: PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN ETHICS
FOR MARKETPLACE CHALLENGES by DR. RICK GOOSSEN
When:
29 Aug 2015
Time:
7:45 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Bethesda Chapel
Chapel
All are welcome to attend as we gather for a time of devotion and prayers in the BGST
Chapel from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
When:
15 Jul & 5 Aug 2015
Office Timings
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Closed on Wed, 12 noon – 2 pm for chapel and staff
lunch)
Extended Hours for Library & Book Corner
Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
BGST Office will be closing early on 27 Jul at 5:00 pm and closed the whole day on 29
Aug in preparation for the Public Lectures.
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Golden Wheel Industrial Building
50 Kallang Pudding Road #07-01 Singapore 349326
Tel number: 65-6227-6815
Fax number: 65-6743-6847
Website: www.bgst.edu.sg Email: [email protected]
www.facebook.com/BGST1989
www.pinterest.com/BGSTSingapore