INTRODUCING THE COLLEGE
A SHORT HISTORY OF FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE
Like the sowing of the grain of mustard seed (Matt
13:31-32), Far Eastern Bible College had sprung from an idea first
implanted in the mind of its principal as early as 1954. This idea arose
partly from a pressing need to train a new generation of “evangelists,
pastors, and teachers” (Eph 4:11) for the Church of Jesus Christ in the
Far East, and partly from a theological confrontation with certain
institutions in Singapore that had apostatised from the Faith. Setting up
a biblically fundamental, and positionally conservative School is one way
of earnestly contending for the Faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude
3).
Thus when the Rev Timothy Tow was delegated in 1958 by
the Bible-Presbyterian Church of Singapore and Malaysia to the Congress of
the International Council of Christian Churches in Brazil, this was deemed
a golden opportunity to pursue further studies at Faith Theological
Seminary, USA, in order to equip him better for the teaching ministry.
The burden of founding a theological school increased
steadily after the principal’s return to Singapore. This was reflected in
a leading article in the Malaysia Christian, captioned, “The Trend
is Toward the Trained.” In the meantime, interest in the proposed Bible
College grew so strong that an evening school was launched in July 1961.
This evening school, offering courses in Old Testament History and
Christian Doctrine, was housed at the old Life Church, Prinsep Street
until the College formally opened on September 17, 1962 at Gilstead Road.
The evening “Basic Theology for Everyone” classes which were opened to the
public continue to this day on Monday and Thursday nights without a break.
The decision to establish a Far Eastern Bible College
was made by leaders of the Bible-Presbyterian Church on September 19,
1960. This decision was precipitated by the visit of Dr Philip Clark,
General Secretary of the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign
Missions, USA. The General Secretary’s promise to send qualified teachers
to help in this ambitious national undertaking was crucial to the founding
of the College.
The location of the Bible College was providentially
included in a new building project by Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. The
spacious, sylvan site of the new church about to be built at Gilstead Road
was chosen as the College campus. This choice was made possible by Life
Church’s willingness to relinquish her original plan for a kindergarten in
favour of a Bible College annex. (Incidentally, such a Church-and-College
complex is in the good tradition of no less a stalwart than Pastor C H
Spurgeon.) In view of the College’s central position in the metropolis of
Southeast Asia, being easily accessible to prospective students from all
parts of the Far East, the name “Far Eastern” was chosen.
The College was purposely constituted an autonomous
institution, independent of ecclesiastical control. A Board of Directors
was to be elected from men of faith and wisdom within the
Bible-Presbyterian Church and from our cooperating missionaries. An
interim, three-man committee was appointed to draft a constitution and
prospectus for the College, and to serve as liaison between the
Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Mission Board. The three men were Rev
Timothy Tow, Rev Quek Kiok Chiang, and Dr Tow Siang Hwa.
When the Board of Directors was formed, the Rev
Timothy Tow was given the onerous task to head the College, both as its
principal and president of the Board. Rev Tow has held the reins of
principalship unto this day, but relinquished the presidency after five
years to Rev Quek Kiok Chiang, which office the latter held till September
1977. Dr Tow Siang Hwa was elected to the presidency in September 1977
which he served with distinction till 1989 when Dr Tow Siang Yeow took
over as fourth president.
Missionaries who had played a vital role in the
planting and nurture of the FEBC vine from 1964 to 1980 were Rev and Mrs
John E Grauley, Dr Synesio Lyra (loaned from Shelton College), Rev and Mrs
Burton Toms, and Rev and Mrs Edward Paauwe. In the last couple of decades,
we had several distinguished visiting professors, namely, Dr John J Davis
and Dr John C Whitcomb from Grace Theological Seminary; Dr Peter Masters,
Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle (Spurgeon’s); Rev Dan Ebert III,
Founder and Director of Christian Training and Missionary Fellowship, and
President Emeritus of The Center for Biblical Studies, Philippines; Dr
Arthur E Steele, Founder and Chancellor, Clearwater Christian College,
Florida; Dr D A Waite, President of the Dean Burgon Society, and The Bible
For Today; Dr Howard J Carlson, Pastor of Suncoast Bible-Presbyterian
Church, Florida; Dr Gary G Cohen, President of Cohen Theological Seminary;
Dr Paul Lee Tan from Bible Communications; Dr Morris McDonald from the
Presbyterian Missionary Union; and Dr Raymond Saxe, pastor of Fellowship
Bible Church (Ann Arbor, Michigan).
From its inception, the College has provided a
standard four-year training leading to the Bachelor of Theology. A
three-year course granting a Diploma in Theology, and a one-and-a-half
year course awarding a Certificate in Religious Knowledge were
simultaneously given. From 1991, the Master of Divinity, and Master of
Religious Education—graduate programmes requiring three years, and two
years of studies respectively—were offered. In 1995, the off-campus
certificate and Bachelor of Religious Education programmes were added. In
1996, the certificate programme was revised to include the Certificate of
Biblical Studies. In 2001, in cooperation with the Bible College of East
Africa, the BMin degree was introduced. The Master of Theology and Doctor
of Theology degrees were introduced in 1997 and 2002 respectively to equip
those specifically called to the teaching ministry.
In 2005, FEBC was awarded accreditation by CaseTrust
for Education. This recognition by an external, secular agency proves
FEBC’s commitment to basic educational standards comparable to other
accredited institutions without compromising its Biblical-fundamentalist
faith and ethos.
Life Book Centre opened in January 1976. In May 1996,
the Book Centre became FEBC Bookroom. Apart from catering to the Christian
public, the Bookroom is also the purchasing agent for the College Library,
publisher of literature produced by the faculty, and supplier of textbooks
to our students.
In conjunction with Life Bible-Presbyterian Church,
the College has maintained a ministry of hospitality all these years to
passing-through missionaries, pastors, and church workers. With the Lord’s
help, the Church and College acquired 10 Gilstead Road in 1989. Beulah
House, as it is named, serves as hostel not only to strangers passing
through Singapore, but also to increasing numbers of married students
coming to the College.
Beginning with three students and two teachers, the
College has, by the grace of God, steadily grown to a hundred in the
student body and a dozen on the faculty. After four decades, we have
graduated more than 500 men and women who are now serving in the harvest
fields around the world. If God has called you to be His servant, FEBC is
a tested training ground for you.
RELATIONSHIP WITH LIFE B-P CHURCH
While Life Bible-Presbyterian Church is the legal
owner of the College property, inasmuch as she is also the prime mover in
the founding and building of the College under the leadership of the Rev
Dr Timothy Tow—the founder of both the Church and the College—the use by
the College of the premises and campus at Gilstead Road is governed by an
Agreement made between Church and College dated March 4, 1970.
The sharing of the buildings and maintenance of the
properties have hitherto been regulated by a spirit of brotherly love,
cooperation and equity.
GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION AND ACCREDITATION
Far Eastern Bible College is granted exempt status by
the Ministry of Education (Singapore Government Gazette Volume VI, Number
87, dated Friday, September 25, 1964, Notification Number 2094). Singapore
citizens admitted to the College are granted deferment from National
Service until completion of their course of study.
Far Eastern Bible College is registered as a charity
under the Charities Act (Charity Registration Number 01760).
Far Eastern Bible College is accredited by
CaseTrust
for Education, and has the right to enrol international students.
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