CHBTC School of Theology (SOT) 2008
Friday, March 7th was the day the Singapore A-Level results were released. I came down to Singapore to collect the results, and stayed overnight at my aunt’s place. Saturday, I went to City Harvest Church Singapore @ Jurong West for the 3.30 pm service to meet up with my previous cell group friends (and also to visit CHC Singapore).
As usual, the presence of God was strong there and the worship was electrifying. But this is not why I blogged today.
Somehow, during that very service, by coincidence or by God’s divine plan for me, CHC was publicizing the City Harvest Bible Training Center School of Theology (CHBTC SOT) Advanced Certificate of Theology course, and they even made a video explaining the significance of going to Bible School and the importance of being equipped for God’s ministry. At first, I did not think much of it. (My earlier desire to go to Bible School was met with fierce opposition from my mum, thus I gave in) But as the service proceeded, I felt a very strong (and unmistakable) conviction in my heart that God wanted me to attend SOT. The video shown seemed to speak to me and it increased my desire to attend SOT this year.
I saw the dates on the flyer: 4th April until 24th August 2008 (5 months). The timing was so good. No clashes with any studies (if I were to go to the US to pursue further studies), and going to SOT was anytime better than my 6-7 day a week job manning a booth at Giant Kelana Jaya working 9 hours a day selling some stupid wireless broadband. I also have enough savings from my previous paychecks to pay for the fees needed to attend the course (SGD 1250) on my own.
Most of all, I wanted to be equipped for God’s marketplace ministry before I leave for university. Not that I would become a Pastor (although if God calls who am I to say no), but I am more geared to be a businessman or entrepreneur who is also preaching the gospel and spreading God’s word around in the realm of business.
Pastor Kong called to the stage two former Bible School graduates and asked them how they were doing. They were actually not in full-time ministry but they were impacting the realm of business in their own way having been equipped by SOT in their earlier years. I believe that I can also serve God in the realm of business or to serve God better in church, but now I do not have any idea of how I can do such a thing without the proper training. Hence I have no doubt that going to SOT will give me a set of tools that I can work with to build God’s kingdom here on earth, while also pursuing my dreams of setting up a business in the future.
At the end of the service, Pastor Kong asked all who felt the calling of God to go to Bible School someday (he didn’t say this year) and to serve Him in ministry, be it full-time or marketplace, to stand up. I don’t know. I just had the urge to stand up. And so I stood with many others. Pastor Kong then asked those who were sitting to stretch out their hands to us and pray for us.
When I reached home from Singapore, I told my parents about it. But the first word that came out from my mum’s mouth was a resounding NO. She cited accommodation problems, and also said that there were many things to be done in Malaysia. What things, mum? What is so good about working until 11 pm daily at Giant KJ? What is left to learn by staying here for the next few more months while waiting for university? You just don’t want me to leave home again right? (I am her only child)
“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18: 29-30)
Come on, mum. Please allow your son to discover his destiny and to be prepared for God’s work. I want to embark on an unforgettable adventure of serving God better. And I would love you no less too. I was called. This is not my own personal desire. It is God’s. Please say YES. The deadline is this Friday.
Update: Perhaps the timing is not right. The NO is as strong as ever. I give up trying to convince my parents. Yes, the call was unmistakable, but the timing might not be right now. I will have to wait until after university I suppose. I have to learn to trust God’s timing. May God open up a path for me.
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Hey - Just wanna encourage u. I am a member of CHC and after my uni, I WANTED to go to work but I too heard the call of God to go SOT. I struggled and my dad STRONGLY opposed but as I persevered the obstacles slowly faded and I’m glad to say I never regretted giving up one year of work to study in SOT and be trained and equipped to be a more effective Christian!
hey thanks for the encouragement! yeah as for me have to trust His timing and also pray for an opening or pathway so that I can go to SOT.
Hi there! Just by chance, I decided to do a google on people that might be blogging about their SOT experience, well, I came across your page.
Hey, do not be discouraged by parental objections. God will make all things work out for the good of those who love Him. Honestly, this is also the year I felt God calling me to SOT. Maybe the only difference is, God has given me time to prepare…sounds interesting doesn’t it. The revelation later come in the word, Matthew 10. I remember Pastor Tan giving a word of wisdom after the preaching of the word on Thinking with excellence.
When God calls us to do something, He’ll always, without fail, provide the money, time, favour and open doors for us to complete that task.
Just to briefly give u a picture, I’ve planned a new year resolution to complete my bible study up till Foundations Truth 1 by end of the year. When I first set the goal, had no clue why I wanted to set it, just put it onto paper and took action. Now in the midst of private bible study.
I needed money to go to SOT, and this year, in September 2007, I finally settled for a stable job after switching 8 jobs. This was the 9th one in 2 years.
As I calculated my savings in preparation for SOT next year, I’ve come to realized, after budgeting my allowances for 5 months, plus investing in the whole set of textbooks, worth around $500.00, plus the SOT fees, I still have surplus in my savings. God truly provides more than enough.
For most people, they may have to work part-time while they study, but I consider it a blessing to be able to focus full-time on SOT and do the very best to be the very best!
What God can do for me, He can do for you as well. God may provide by different means, but His character is predictable. He will provide whatever you need!
Hi Philip,
Sometimes I wonder whether God was really calling me or I was just calling myself to go. As it turns out now, it would be very unlikely for me to go to SOT in the next few years since I am leaving for further studies abroad, and I really don’t know whether I would still have that “calling” when I return home.
But I am sure that everything is in His plan and thus I’ll just take things as it comes. Praise the Lord that you have more than enough to fund your SOT course!! I really hope that you will gain a lot there, lessons that you will continue to carry for the rest of your life!
And certainly, you are testimony that if you can envision something, you can get it within your grasp. Hopefully I would be able to follow your footsteps in the years to come when I am also financially independent myself =)
Hi Ern Sheong, very inspired & encouraged by your testimony. Same situation here… never convenient, seems like it is never the right time.. haha!
As Pst David Storer has shared today, we live in tension in parallel. Let’s believe God’s glory & blessings to flow into our lives in the midst of challenges & tribulations. Let’s give our attention to the positives & proclaim His Promises yeah! Be blessed
@Paul: Thanks Paul for sharing about the tension in parallel concept. God bless you too! All the best in your endeavors!