PUBLICATIONS
THE BURNING BUSH
Volume 16 Number 1, January
2010
College News
FEBC commenced its
new academic term with a day of prayer and registration on 20 July
2009 at the Shalom Chapel of Calvary Tengah Bible-Presbyterian Church in
Choa Chu Kang. Dr Paul Ferguson who was recently conferred the Doctor of
Religious Education (DRE) degree by the Graduate School of Foundations
Bible College (USA) was the Lord’s messenger. He spoke from 2 Timothy 3
on how as Christians we need to believe in the absolute certainty and
perfection of God’s inspired and preserved words in order to face a
world full of temptations and uncertainties. Dr Ferguson will teach
Biblical Apologetics this semester which is part of his pedagogical
requirements for his Doctor of Theology (ThD) degree at FEBC.
The Day of Prayer on
July 20th was exactly three months since
FEBC’s Founding Principal—the Rev Dr Timothy Tow—went home to be
with the Lord. Testimonies by the faculty were given in memory of him,
especially by his wife, the Matron—Mrs Ivy Tow—who shared about the
hardships the Rev Timothy Tow had to go through in the founding years of
the College; how the College had nothing when it started, only three
stools for three students with the Principal as the only teacher, and no
food and no beds. But the Rev Tow had faith in the Lord and encouraged
his students with these words from Psalm 34:10, "The young lions do
lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any
good thing." The Lord was faithful to provide in double quick time!
Food came from Dr Tow Siew Ai and beds from Chin Lien Seminary. Today,
FEBC is being tried and tested like never before. There are people who
are keen to see FEBC put down because of her belief in a 100% perfect
Bible without any mistake in keeping with the Dean Burgon Oath. Mrs Tow
encouraged the FEBC family with this verse from the Lord, "Ye shall
not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you" (Deut
3:22). Indeed, "He being dead yet speaketh" (Heb 11:4).
The new semester saw
the matriculation of 12 new full-time students from 10 countries:
Panuwat Chalongkuamdee (Thailand), Kenny Cheong (Australia), Douglas Ho
(Singapore), Ibrahim Njuguna Kiarie (Kenya), Eric Lufungi Kambale
(Congo), Anya Kera (Nagaland), Trinipilo Garsuta Lagapa (Philippines),
Lin Yang (China), Peter Mutua Maurice (Kenya), Marilyn Nanta (Sarawak),
Charles Kipyegon Sang (Kenya), and Song Sun Taek (Korea). We thank the
Lord for each one of them.
FEBC has a total
enrolment of 304 students in the July-November 2009 semester,
comprising 98 day-time students (53 full-time, 45 part-time), and 206
night-time students. The full-time students come from 16 countries:
Australia, Cambodia, China, Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya,
Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, United
Kingdom, and Vietnam.
For students who
cannot come to FEBC, FEBC goes to them. The distance learning
online programme replaces the off-campus correspondence programme
offered by FEBC since 1995. The correspondence programme had no strict
schedule; students could work on the faculty-directed courses at their
own time and pace. The online programme, on the other hand, follows the
academic timetable of the College, and begins and ends at the same time
as the residential courses of the College semester by semester. Such a
controlled and disciplined approach gives students the impetus to
complete their studies on time. The courses and syllabi are taught and
designed by the faculty, and Mr Murray Ong, our IT Specialist,
administers the whole programme via the internet. The College offered
three online courses last semester—"Knowing Man," "Knowing
Bible-Presbyterianism," and "The Perfect Preservation of the Holy
Scriptures." Besides our residential students, we have three from
Calvary Jaya BPC in KL taking the courses for credit and working towards
a Certificate.
We thank the Lord
that the Basic Theology for Everyone (BTFE) night classes on
Daniel and Isaiah are well attended. The over 200 BTFE students come
from 34 different local churches: Baptist Fellowship Church,
Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church, Berith Bible-Presbyterian
Church, Calvary Assembly of God, Calvary Baptist Church,
Calvary Bible-Presbyterian Church, Calvary Pandan
Bible-Presbyterian Church, Calvary Tengah Bible-Presbyterian
Church, Christ Methodist Church, Evangelize China
Fellowship, Faith Community Baptist Church, Fisherman of
Christ Fellowship, Galilee Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, Gospel Light
Bible-Presbyterian Church, Grace Bible Church, Hebron
Bible-Presbyterian Church, Hope Church, Hope of God Church,
Jesus Saves Mission, Jireh Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Leng Kwang Baptist Church, Life Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Maranatha Bible-Presbyterian Church, Moriah Bible-Presbyterian
Church, New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, Orchard Road
Presbyterian Church, Pasir Panjang Christ Church, Praise
Evangelical Church, Sharon Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Tabernacle Bible-Presbyterian Church, True Life
Bible-Presbyterian Church, Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church,
Zion Bible-Presbyterian Church.
The Rev Gordon
Ferguson preached to the FEBC students on 17 August 2009 at the
morning chapel hour. He spoke from Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 and encouraged
the faculty and students to be industrious in sowing the gospel seed and
teaching the whole counsel of God. Rev Ferguson is the pastor of the
Free Presbyterian Church in London, and an officer of the General
Committee of the Trinitarian Bible Society.
The Rev and Mrs An
Yo Han (John) visited FEBC on 2 November 2009. Rev An is the blind
Korean pastor well known through the award-winning and soul-stirring
film about his life—"Come Low Unto Us". He spoke at the FEBC’s Morning
Chapel from Ephesians 3:5-9 and exhorted all to humble themselves before
God if they want to be used by Him. Rev An also preached at True Life
Bible-Presbyterian Church on 1 November 2009. Rev Park Seung Kyu, the
pastor of the Korean service of True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, was
the interpreter.
Rev and Mrs An Yo Han standing beside Matron
Ivy Tow (front, 3rd from left)
As part of the
College curriculum, the Principal—Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo—led FEBC’s
14th
Holy Land Pilgrimage from the 15th to the 29th
of November 2009. There were a total of 48 pilgrims from 10 churches
this time. Pilgrims who submit a research paper or project after the
trip will earn two credits.
The 6th
Bachelor of Ministry Graduation Service of
FEBC/BCEA, 27 June 2009, saw the following receive their BMin degree:
Alice Githingi, Degu Genffe Guyola, Faith Ndunge, Henry Ngige Daniel,
James Muvea Mwangangi, Joseph Amos Mbise, Josphat Kyalo Musili, Josphat
Nzau Wambua, Joyce Chepkoech Kikwai, Kipruto Mutai Ali, Nathan Kiteme
Mwangangi, Paul Onderi Nyaronge, and Tabitha Maiyo.
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