When I first stepped into EAST about 6½ years ago, I started a new chapter of my life that was rather different from my previous ministry place in at least three aspects.
* EAST is not a denominational Bible school. The staff and students represent a wide spectrum of theological persuasions.
* EAST has a multi-cultural environment. The staff and students come from more than ten different countries.
* EAST is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ—a non-profit, faith-based missions organization. Faculty members are fully responsible for raising their own support to cover their salaries and ministry expenses.
Upon reflection, I realized that God ordained this move to EAST as an opportunity for me to grow. Firstly, learning to work with and among people from different theological persuasions is an enriching experience. Secondly, the rich cultural diversity of the school provides a fertile ground for intercultural communication as well as miscommunication. The latter can be both amusing and frustrating. But this makes life at EAST fun! Lastly, I learn more about faith and the faithfulness of God. Raising support is a real challenge for me—a quiet introvert. In all these years at EAST, both Casey (when he was still serving at EAST) and I could not raise 100% of our monthly support. However, the Lord has graciously seen us through even though there were many months when we did not receive our full support. I can now understand better the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:11-13.
Since the end of last year, I sensed God was redirecting my path. Casey and I had prayerfully deliberated over this matter. Though a little apprehensive initially, I finally accepted God’s new challenge. My ministry at EAST will officially cease at the end of May. A new chapter will begin for me in June: I will focus full-time on my doctoral studies so that I can complete my thesis as soon as possible. My prayer is that this temporary hiatus from full-time teaching will both enrich me personally and impact my teaching ministry in the future.
Thank you, friend, for believing in me and God’s calling upon my life. Thank you, friend, for your partnership in equipping seven batches of graduates for the harvest fields of our Lord!
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