FES Perspective September 2017

fellowship of evangelical students September 2017 | MCI(P) 081/02/2017 1

CONTENTS EDITORIAL Feature What does it mean for students to engage the God’s Call and the University 3 campus? Is engaging the campus another way of Engaging the Mind: Getting Into doing outreach? Or is there more to it? Christian Social Ethics 9 In this issue of Perspective, we bring to you articles Viewpoints that, in one way or another, challenge us to What Does It Mean to Engage the think through this important aspect of student Campus ? 14 ministry. The first feature article, “God’s Call Real Engagement 16 and the University” by Dr Vinoth Ramachandra, challenges Christian students to think through Stories their calling as they begin their academic studies. Engineering For Good 18 In “Engaging the Mind: Getting into Christian Showers of Blessing 20 Social Ethics” by Rev. Dr Daniel Koh, he brings Discover Forgiveness 22 our attention to the importance of applying the mind to matters of faith if we want to make Events significant contributions in social and ethical NSC Weekend 23 engagement. EARC: Hostile Times, Prophetic Pilgrims 24 We also share with you some stories – past and present, successful and not-so-successful – on Staff Development engaging the campus by a few of our student Creation Care and the Gospel 28 groups. Prayer Points May the articles in this issue convict and challenge MDIS+PSB ISCF 30 us to be creative, bold, relevant and wise in our NTU CCF 31 efforts to bear witness for Christ on our campuses. SIM SCF 32 SP CF 33 Read and pray with us! Announcements Upcoming and Past Events 34 Staff News Moving On 35 GS Desk Engagement, Embrace, and Conversation 36 Books Resources for Ministry 38 $ &Sense Amount Raised (Jan–Aug 2017) 392 Perspective September 2017

GOD’S CALLAND THEUNIVERSITYVinoth RamachandraWhat would I say to Christian students be- “Do not be shaped by the ginning their university studies? pressures of the presentThe question is a daunting one, not least becauseso much depends on social and cultural context. age; but be transformed byIn a country such as South Korea, almost every the renewing of your minds,high school graduate ends up in university; andso there is little reflection on what distinctive so that you can work outrole, if any, universities may play vis-à-vis thenation, church, or the individual’s own flourish- God’s good, acceptable anding. In most parts of Asia, however, a tertiary complete will.”education is still a privilege enjoyed by few, anda degree is seen as a passport to secure employ- – Romans 12:2, paraphrasedment, upward social mobility, and financialprovision for parents and less fortunate siblings. 3Such expectations are met less frequently com-pared to the past. Given the rising costs of ed-ucation, even in state-funded institutions, moreand more students support themselves throughpart-time employment and spend little time inthe university outside of compulsory lectures orlab work.So, while appreciating the different academ-ic contexts, even within a single country, andthe financial pressures that students face todayin comparison with their parents’ generation, Iwould want to encourage Christian students toreflect on the following:

1REMEMBER YOU ARE, FIRST the one in whom all created reality “holds to- gether” (Col. 1:17) and through whom all cre- AND FOREMOST, A CHRISTIAN ated reality came into being and will finally be redeemed (Col. 1:18). He thus has primacy over This implies, negatively, being alert to the way every area of life and thought. Wherever truth, the university as an institution shapes us – in- goodness and beauty are found, he is their ulti- ducting us (usually unconsciously) into beliefs, mate source. Christians receive these academic values and practices that may be profoundly un- disciplines as gifts from God to humanity, ex- christian. For instance, in divorcing knowledge pressions of his common grace. “If we regard from personal responsibility; promoting intel- the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth,” lectual snobbery and one-upmanship; exalting wrote the 16th century Protestant Reformer utility and pragmatism over truth, justice and John Calvin, “we shall neither reject the truth beauty; being blind to the non-academic staff itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, (often from poor economic backgrounds) with- unless we wish to dishonour the Spirit of God. out whom the university would cease to func- For by holding the gifts of the Spirit in slight tion; being indifferent to the needs and concerns esteem, we condemn and reproach the Spirit of the vast majority of humanity, and so on. himself.”1 We need to remember that developing a “Chris- Being a Christian in tian mind” is not primarily an intellectual exer- the university also cise but, rather, the cultivation of a Christlike means being open to disposition or character. In Philippians 2:5–9, the way Christ is at the apostle Paul challenges the disunity and work in the university. rivalries prevalent in the church at Philippi (not that different from our own fragmented This implies that we cannot ultimately under- “Christian” fellowships) by summoning them to stand the nature and purpose of the world, and consider the “mind of Christ”. If the incarnate any of the creatures that make up the world, ex- Word of God is to be our model of humanness cept in relation to the Triune God, revealed su- – as well as of divinity – it would mean sitting premely in Jesus Christ. Believing this therefore loose to status and honour (so not being obsessed commits every Christian to a comprehensive with one’s academic reputation, a common trait view of the world. God can use our university even among Christian scholars), having a ser- studies, and experience of university life, to ma- vant mentality (so thinking of my education not ture in faith. as my private possession to better my position in society but rather as a divine gift entrusted For instance, the study of the natural sciences to me to serve those who are less privileged), can deepen our understanding and appreciation and willing to embrace shame and humiliation of the doctrine of creation and how the latter is in solidarity with those relegated to the bottom different from a naive creationism that is pop- of society (so being profoundly counter-cultural ular in many evangelical churches influenced and upsetting our families’ expectations). 1 John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Philadelphia, Positively, being a Christian in the university PA: Westminster Press, 1960), Book II, Ch.2.15. also means being open to the way Christ is at work in the university. The Bible witnesses to Jesus Christ as being no mere religious sage but4 Perspective September 2017

feature by some fundamentalist American groups. The be no different to a research institution or a gov- study of medicine and emerging technologies ernment “think-tank”. There are many senior such as robotics compels us to think more deeply academics who want to shun teaching, leaving about what it means to be a human person. The that to juniors or even graduate students, while study of the arts leads us to new perspectives on they give themselves entirely to research. But the world, often unsettling and disturbing in the some of the greatest intellectuals have seen the same way that a gospel of a “crucified God” un- importance of mentoring the next generation of settled and disturbed the religious foundations thinkers and exploring with them the funda- of the ancient world. And the social sciences can mental principles of their particular discipline. help us explore the many ways human beings You will be wonderfully blessed if you have the live out their humanness as well as the myriad opportunity to sit under such a teacher: one who forms that human sin assumes in different ep- infects you with his or her intellectual passions, ochs, cultures and institutions. who has the courage to admit mistakes, who listens to students and encourages them to dis- Sadly, many Christian students sacrifice these agree, who models for students how to wrestle opportunities. The moment they hear some- with a problem and how to identify the funda- thing in a lecture or textbook that challenges mental premises and current leading questions what they have been brought up to believe, they in their academic field. retreat mentally and live a double life: continu- ing to “believe” one thing in church and the op- The primary and posite in the classroom, rather than setting up an unique role a internal dialogue and striving to ascertain what university plays in may be the voice of God. This compartmental- society is to set aside ised life is unsustainable in the long-term, not to people to think and to say deeply damaging to the cause of the gospel. train others to think.2LEARN TO THINK WELL A good teacher is not necessarily an entertaining teacher or one who helps you get good grades. The primary and unique role a university plays Learning to think well means that your primary in society is to set aside people to think and to aim cannot be to simply pass exams. Nor does train others to think. There is, of course, increas- it mean only mastering analytical skills and the ing pressure in all our societies to abandon rules of logical inference. It often involves dis- this classical ideal and to turn universities into cerning between books and articles that we read mere tuition factories that serve the interests of mainly to garnish information, and books that commerce and government. It is why we need we live in (and perhaps return to time after time) Christian faculty and administrators who will in order to follow the way a thinker approach- counter these trends and recall the university to es a problem, marshals arguments, deals with its fundamental calling. A university may excel possible objections, and challenges convention- in a number of things unrelated to intellectual al perspectives. In the humanities, this requires pursuits (e.g. sports), but the latter remain the being comfortable with solitude and even feel- raison d’etre of any authentic university. 5 Note that I said think and to train others to think. If thinking was all that a university did, it would

ing temporarily dislocated. Like an unfamiliar The best way to learn neighbourhood, new ideas and concepts can be about another culture initially disorienting and confusing. Finding or religious faith is to something of great value in a text takes time and build deep friendships commitment. Remember that reading is what with those who practise enlarges our capacity for experience: it liberates a different way of life. us from being restricted to our immediate circle of friends and acquaintances. The professional departments (medicine, law, engineering, business) in a modern university In professional fields, thinking is rarely solitary perhaps play an Aristotelian role, attending to and involves habituating oneself into certain the concrete concerns of the earth and remind- practices that are embedded within our material ing us that the great human questions cannot and social world: an engineering student learn- remain merely “academic”. The academy is sit- ing to combine functionality with aesthetics, a uated within, and must serve the larger world. medical student learning that diagnostic ability At the same time, the professional disciplines involves empathy and social awareness as much need the poets, artists, social theorists and mor- as knowledge of the body’s workings, a law stu- al philosophers to prevent them from becoming dent engaging in the art of legal reasoning. And manipulative, exploitative and dehumanising what should distinguish learning in a good uni- tools within the dominant power-structures of versity from a vocational training school is that society. It is ironic that Plato banished the poets students are encouraged to reflect – historically from his ideal republic, while Aristotle advocat- and ethically – on the modes of learning that ed the arts. constitute these various disciplines. Hence the importance of situating your studies3LEARN TO THINK ACROSS within a larger horizon of thought. Very rarely DISCPLINES AND CULTURES are students taught the history of their area of study. Very rarely are they encouraged to iden- In a painting by the 16th-century Italian art- tify the limitations of their area of study, and ist Raphael, called The School of Athens, we see to learn from those in other departments. The the two best-known Greek philosophers Plato over-specialisation of subject matter has led to and Aristotle in conversation. Plato holds his a curtailment of imagination and the inability dialogue Timmaeus, which speculates on natu- to make judicious assessments of public truth- ral philosophy and a religious cosmology, while claims. The different academic disciplines need Aristotle holds his Ethics, which explores the each other, and the reduction of universities to role of moral virtue in bringing about the good “monoversities” leads to a society diminished in society. Plato’s hand points toward the heavens, many ways. the eternal realm of his ideal forms. By contrast, Aristotle points directly to the earth.2 One of the many benefits of belonging to a Christian fellowship on campus is the oppor- 2 See Frank M. Turner, “Newman’s University and Ours,” in tunity afforded to interact with students who John Henry Newman, The Idea of a University, ed. Frank M. have different academic interests and come from Turner (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1996), 282–301.6 Perspective September 2017

featuredifferent cultural and economic backgrounds. how much Christians have contributed to theSome of these students may be from other coun- founding or development of that discipline.tries. Make use of these opportunities: interro-gate each other about what people are learning Most of the early Protestant missionaries in Asiaand how it shapes their Christian practice; or lacked a university training, but their desire towhat “blind spots” people from other back- communicate Christ across cultures developedgrounds see in the way we read Scripture or the in them scholarly instincts and habits. Some ofway we plan to use our education. them were responsible for developing new dis- ciplines and fields of study in Western univer-Of course, your interaction on campus should sities, such as linguistics and social anthropol-not be limited to fellow Christians. The best ogy. Andrew Walls has pointed out that whenway to learn about another culture or religious Robert Morrison was appointed a missionary tofaith is to build deep friendships with those who China in 1807, the entire Chinese resources ofpractise a different way of life. It is through at- British academic libraries consisted of one man-tentive dialogue, born of mutual respect, that uscript in the British Museum and one in thewe bear faithful and courageous witness to the Royal Society, and not a person in Britain readgospel even as we are ourselves open to being or spoke Chinese. From the London Missionarychallenged to a deeper understanding of that Society alone came four professors in Chinesegospel and all that it entails. A good paradigm for British universities, only one of whom hadfor such open witness is given in the encounter received a university education himself.3between the apostle Peter and the Roman cen-turion Cornelius (see Acts 10 and 11). More recently, Franklin Littell, a Methodist minister who served in Europe for ten years asThis kind of dialogue runs counter to what is a religious adviser in the US military commandincreasingly the case in our physical and vir- after the Second World War was the first Amer-tual worlds. We rarely engage with difference. ican scholar to offer courses on Holocaust andWe associate with those who share our cul- Genocide Studies, and at Temple University hetural practices or economic circumstances. We established the nation’s first doctoral program“friend” those who are like us, who share our on Holocaust studies in 1976.4views, and we block, unsubscribe or non-plat-form those who contradict us. 4LEARN TO THINK THEOLOGICALLYChristian students can also propose to theuniversity authorities more multi-disciplinary As you cultivate the habit of regular, systemat-courses, and even organise public events on ic and prayerful study of Scripture, individuallycampus where scholars from a range of disci- and together with other Christian students, youplines approach a particular topic of general in- will gradually learn to see the world (includingterest. In this way, the Christian fellowship willpublicly bear witness to their interest in all of 3 Andrew F. Walls, “The Nineteenth-Century Missionary aslife and thought because Jesus Christ is the Lord Scholar,” in The Missionary Movement in Christian History:of all life and thought. Studies in the Transmission of Faith (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis and Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996), 187-198.The more you explore the history of your chosen 4 Joelle Farrell, “In Memory of Rev. Dr Frank Littell,” News,academic discipline, the more you will discover Council of Centers of Jewish-Christian Relations, 27 May 2009, http://www.ccjr.us/news/in-memoriam/553-franklin-littell, accessed 22 June 2017. 7

your studies) through the lens of Scripture – builds on the rich intellectual heritage that wethe grand narrative themes of creation, sin, and receive with gratitude. In this way we becomeGod’s redemptive purposes beginning with the inducted into an alternative way of seeing andcalling of Abraham and climaxing in the incar- living.nation, death and resurrection of Christ with itseschatological promise of a world-transfiguring There are things weshalom. can do at university to orient ourselves onBut thinking theologically involves more than this lifelong journeyBible study. Join a local church whose liturgy of learning to thinkand preaching nourish your mind and heart. In theologically.the medieval European universities theologywas an integrating and overarching discipline; Finally, thinking theologically is the opposite ofand a theological training presupposed famil- flinging Bible verses at people or artificially try-iarity with general history, mathematics, log- ing to mention God or Jesus in every classroomic, philosophy and natural science. One had to conversation. The American writer Madeleinelearn to read widely as well as deeply in order to L’Engle once told a student who wished to be-think theologically. come a “Christian writer” that “if she is truly and deeply a Christian, what she writes is go-While modern pressures, social and academic, ing to be Christian, whether she mentions Jesusmay make such integrative learning all but im- or not. And if she is not, in the most profoundpossible, there are things we can do at universi- sense, Christian, then what she writes is not go-ty to orient ourselves on this lifelong journey of ing to be Christian, no matter how many timeslearning to think theologically. So often student she invokes the name of the Lord.”5fellowships seem to be imitating local churchyouth groups in their programmes – hours spent To be, “in the most profound sense, Christian”singing and discussing “church issues”. They is God’s call to us through the university. •should, instead, be inviting scholars from thewider church to teach them what the Christian 5 Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith andtradition down the centuries has had to say on Art (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1980), 121–122.issues such as science, literature, law, politicalphilosophy, economics, and so on. Christianthinking today does not begin in a vacuum. ItThis article was first published in Why Study? Exploring the Face of God in the Academy (Singpoore: FES Singapore,2017). More information about this book can be found on page 38 of this newsletter. DR VINOTH RAMACHANDRA was born in Sri Lanka. He holds both bachelors and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of London. Dr Ramachandra currently serves on the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students Senior Leader- ship Team as Secretary for Dialogue & Social Engagement. He is married to Karin and they reside in Colombo, Sri Lanka.8 Perspective September 2017

ENGAGING THE MIND:GETTING INTO CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ETHICSDaniel Koh Kah SoonA PASTOR-THEOLOGIAN Yet, although we have members who areOBSERVATION well-educated, there seems to be a lack of inter- est in applying the mind with sufficient rigour toI have been a pastor since 1981. I remained a matters regarding our faith. This apathy is wide-pastor of the Trinity Annual Conference of the spread, whether it is in understanding our faithMethodist Church in Singapore even while I at a deeper level or in taking on a more contex-was teaching at Trinity Theological College. tual-critical view of our faith. There seems to beOver the years I have been bemused by the un- reluctance in, if not fear of, engaging our mindfathomable and virtually skeptical attitude of as part of our Christian discipline and spiritualChristians towards using our mind as an essen- formation. To be fair, there are lay-leaders whotial spiritual discipline. This is an oddity that have sought to delve into the study of the Bi-I have observed and often wondered why this ble and theology, and apply their faith to whatis so. they do in the public arena. I know of one such well-read lay person who continues to attractIt is public knowledge that Christians in Sin- large group of adults to his Sunday Bible studygapore are generally well-educated, with most classes in church. But such Christians are rare,of us belonging to the middle class. Moreover, and not because we do not have thinking Chris-a number of us rank among the successful up- tians. Rather, most of the Christians who sit inper middle class of our society. In the past forty our pews every Sunday seem satisfied to attendyears, the once-a-decade population censuses church or attend fellowship gatherings with-conducted by the Singapore Department of out having to engage their mind. They do notStatistics have consistently shown that while seem keen to apply their faith to the issues weChristians made up less than 20% of the to- encounter in life.tal population, we have a larger percentage ofSingaporeans who have obtained tertiary edu- SUSPICION OF THE MINDcation. Many of these Christians have gone onto become highly regarded professionals and There are plausible reasons which might explainleaders in their field of specialties. this phenomenon of otherwise well-educated 9

“One of the most important questions facing Christians inevery age and every place is this: what values and standardsare going to dominate our national culture?” – John StottChristians who do not put their mind on mat- nary people living in a complex and complicatedters of Christian faith. Let me offer three of world. It’s a detached and sometimes speculativethem. Firstly, former theologians and expatriate approach, written in incomprehensible sentencepastors of many mainline churches – many of structures, designed to confuse the readers thanwhom came from the United States and Brit- to explain the faith in plain language. It certain-ain and who pastored our churches and taught ly does not endear itself to those who wonder atat our seminaries – received their theologi- the relevance of the Christian faith to our dailycal training in seminaries that were bulwarks challenges.of liberal theology. Those trained in the earlytwentieth century were children of liberal gi- PROMISING DEVELOPMENTants like Friedrich Schleiermacher and after theSecond World War, Rudolf Bultmann and his Thankfully, there are indications that the situ-demythologising project. However, while liberal ation is changing. More Christians are askingscholarship might have dominated the theolog- hard questions. It is no longer enough for Chris-ical scene only up to the third quarter of the last tians who are exposed to a pluralistic world ofcentury, many Christians continue to carry the competing claims to accept teachings withoutmistaken idea that liberalism equals the use of pushing for clarity and testing it for justifiablethe mind. To their understanding, a more evan- sense. There are pockets of lay-driven, infor-gelical faith should distant itself from the use of mal Christian study groups that have sprung upthe mind, lest we turn out to be like those lib- that seek to relate faith to the pressing issues oferal missionaries with their post-enlightenment our time. Furthermore, in the past ten years weassumptions. have also seen more highly-educated Christians enrolling for theological studies at a place likeThe second reason has to do with the attraction Trinity Theological College. What has pleasedof a type of spirituality that thrives on what is me is that many of these have benefitted fromperceived as a supernatural and an experiential the ministries of para-church organisationsexpression of the Christian faith. It is a type (like the Fellowship of Evangelical Students),of spirituality that sees no need to engage the and through the time they spent with and theirmind. They have no place for serious theologi- exposures to sound teachings offered throughcal discipline. A colleague of mine told me once such organisations, they have been encouragedthat he was advised by a well-meaning ecclesial to explore their faith further.leader to throw away all his theological books.For that leader, theological study was a waste of Another happy development is that in the past,time. I am glad my colleague did not take his local seminaries have depended on expatriateadvice! theological teachers who came with their own cultural baggage. Now an ecumenical seminaryThe third reason might be the association of an like Trinity Theological College is staffed main-approach to theology that is dry, too cerebral ly by local academics, most of them with PhDsand removed from the real-life struggles of ordi- from leading British or American universities and seminaries. Not a few of them, including10 Perspective September 2017

featurethree former principals, have an FES back- ity Theological College, it was not difficult forground. In terms of quality of scholarship, we me to decide I should concentrate on Christianhave been blessed by the presence of God-fear- Ethics.ing and highly motivated Christians who pur-sued doctoral studies to serve the cause of God’s In the discipline of Christian Social Ethicskingdom and contribute to the equipping of the there are certain topics we cannot avoid. TheseChurch. are related subjects like politics and power, jus- tice and the common good; structural evil andENGAGING THE MIND IN PURSUIT human flourishing. The time spent at Dallas andOF SOCIAL JUSTICE Durham gave me the opportunity to be exposed to prominent Christian ethicists as well as lead-My own doctoral research was in the area of ing philosophers whose works continue to beChristian Social Ethics. I took this route not be- influential for those thinking about ethics andcause I had a life plan clearly spelled out. There social justice. I had priceless opportunities to at-are friends who are good at that. They planned tend lectures and to present papers at post-grad-ahead and they are very focussed in following uate seminars where we had the chance to probewhat they had planned to achieve in their ac- and be interrogated. Among other things, Iademic pursuit. I am too disorganised to have learned from the British – those I met – the artsuch plan, not to mention the fact that I was not of disagreeing without being obnoxious.an academically-inclined person, at least in theearly years of my life. WHY CHRISTIAN ETHICS?To be sure, I have always had a certain inter- I have written about the importance of study-est in societal issues and human well-beings as ing Christian Ethics and I have taught Chris-much as an interest in what difference Chris- tian ethics both in seminaries and churches. Buttians can make to the life and ministry of the the best advocate for studying Christian ethics,church and the wider society. But that was very I thought, can be found in a small book writ-vague, at best, until an opportunity opened for ten by John Stott in the last years of his life.me to pack up my bag and proceed to Durham FES friends should be familiar with John Stottto have my mind stretched and challenged in whose multi-faceted ministries of teaching,the context of a secular university, albeit with a preaching and writing have impacted a couple ofreputable theology department. generation of students associated with evangel- ical student movements. Through his LanghamMy studies allowed me to develop further what Partnership Programme, he had enabled manyI had picked up initially at Southern Methodist Christians from the Majority World to obtainUniversity (SMU), Dallas, where I had the op- doctoral degrees for teaching in their own homeportunity to read more on Christian ethics. Al- countries. He wrote in his book, The Livingthough it was two interesting teachers at SMU Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor (2011):who helped me get started in a subject not manyChristians in our part of the world are keen on, “One of the most important questionsI did not expect to proceed further than the facing Christians in every age and everyMaster’s programme I completed in Dallas. place is this: what values and standards areWhen the opportunity arose and I was sent by going to dominate our national culture?”1the Methodist Church to return to university inpreparation for a teaching assignment at Trin- 1John Stott, The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor (Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2007), 137. 11

He goes on to pose this question for Christians of our time to shape our values and set policies who should be concerned about our Christian which will impact societal well-being. Let me engagement in our complex world: suggest a few for consideration. “Will Christians be able to influence their What is the relationship between law and mo- country so that the values and standards of rality? Can law be moral-free or moral-neutral? the kingdom of God permeate the whole If not, should law reflect the moral of the peo- national culture – its consensus on moral ple? In a pluralistic society, whose moral stan- and bioethical issues, its recognition of hu- dard of justice, for example, do we reflect? Or man rights, its respect for the sanctity of to use the title of Alasdair MacIntyre’s excellent human life (including that of the unborn, book, Whose Justice? Which Rationality? (1989)4 the handicapped and the senile), its con- cern for the homeless, the unemployed and What is our understanding of common moral- people trapped in the cycle of poverty, its ity or natural law? How do we make sense of attitude to dissidents, its stewardship of the this common morality that will allow for people environment, its treatment of criminals, of different religious and philosophical back- and the whole way of life of its citizens?”2 grounds to affirm such a morality and apply such a morality to our understanding of law and As a Christian, I am thankful to God that over justice? There are ideas offered by social philos- the years the Church has invested in and gained ophers such as John Rawls and law professors from the guidance of systematic theologians and like John Finnis, which are worth exploring and pastors, Bible scholars and evangelists. However, developing further. we have given less emphasis to the training of Moral Theologians, that is, theologians who spe- Then there is the dominant ideology of political cialised in ethics. John Stott gets it right when liberalism that has asserted much influence in he says, “We need to pray that God will raise up contemporary debate about human rights and more ethical thinkers, (emphasis is mine) who will entitlement. Should our default presumption not just climb Mount Sinai and declaim the Ten of justice privilege the claim of an individu- Commandments, but will argue that God’s stan- al against the claim of the community? In the dards are best.”3 Western world, the rights of the individual are increasingly gaining greater favour over the es- Our Church and society should have more tablished values of the wider community. Put Christians trained in clear and cohesive ethical this another way: Does community input have thinking if we want to make significant contri- any decisive say in the face of a claim by an in- butions to Christian social ethical engagement in dividual, if an individual were to ask for active our complex world. voluntary euthanasia? This will lead to deeper and more rigorous study of communitarian eth- PERENNIAL ISSUES WHICH ics and a more liberal individualistic ethics. The DEMAND OUR ATTENTION weightage we give to the individual claim or a more communitarian claim will affect societal There are many vexatious issues in life which re- norm and practice from medical ethics to our quire thoughtful Christian input if we are not to understanding of marriage and family. let a secular world and the dominant ideologies 4Alaisdair MacIntyre, Whose Justice? Which Rationality? (Notre 2 Stott, The Living Church, 137–138. Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1989) 3 Ibid., 147.12 Perspective September 2017

feature We need clear and Lord for the people of Israel in exile. Instead of confident Christian pining for a return to the Holy City, they were influence in the academia, advised to make the full use of their time in ex- the public square, the ile, not just to look after their own interest, but market place and the to contribute to the welfare of the city in which church. Such leadership they had residence. While we are still in this will have to come from world, like the people in the time of Jeremiah, those who love the Lord our responsibility should include being active and are not afraid to participants in fostering societal well-being. embrace scholarship and Our task is to work with others to seek after the spirituality for whole welfare of the community for the sake of peace Christian growth. and the benefit of all. We can do this best if more Christians are involved in developing theIn a society that openly supports a free mar- mind as part of our spiritual discipline. In thisket-orientated economic system, where public way we will be better equipped to not only toservants’ salaries are pegged to and guided by be involved in Christian witness and social out-higher tier market movements and rewards, is reach but crucially in the public arena and aca-there a place for public service without undue demia where we can provide thought leadership.regard for pays and perks? The old welfare sys-tem influenced by a centralised controlled econ- CONFESSION OF AN ACCIDENTALomy of the past might have lost its attraction be- SCHOLARcause it is not a viable system. But is there meritin introducing a revised welfare system with a As revealed at the beginning of this article, byclear focus backed by adequate funds to help the inclination I have never seen myself as a scholar/people who are at the lowest rung of the social theologian, not to mention as someone who end-ladder break out of their poverty trap, and to al- ed up being an ethicist. God’s way is to nudgeleviate the struggles of a growing number of the me and to enable me to pass through differentworking poor? stages of my personal development. But there are so many God-fearing younger and definitelyWELFARE OF THE CITY more intelligent Christians who can and should place their minds under the lordship of God for“But seek the welfare of the city where I have the service of his kingdom and the benefit ofsent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its both the Church and society. We need clear andbehalf, for in its welfare you will find your wel- confident Christian influence in the academia,fare” (Jer. 29:7, ESV). This is the word of the the public square, the market place and the church. Such leadership will have to come from those who love the Lord and are not afraid to embrace scholarship and spirituality for whole Christian growth. •REV. DR DANIEL KOH KAH SOON, PhD, Durham University, is a retired (he prefersusing ‘retyred’) Methodist minister who is re-engaged as a part-time pastor at ChristaliteMethodist Chapel and a part-time lecturer at Trinity Theological College. He is also theChairperson of the Methodist Welfare Services. 13

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TOENGAGE THE CAMPUS?The term ‘engaging the campus’ has been used in the context of student ministry in more recent years.But what does it really mean? In this section on Viewpoints, we look at some perspectives of engaging thecampus. May these challenge and equip us to be more creative in our Christian witness on campus.A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN ENGAGEMENTA Christian engagement with A faithful Christian engagement 2. Seeking to influence univer-the university must begin, as with the university would in- sities so that they become moredoes all cross-cultural mission- volve: human-friendly, just and ecologi-ary engagement, with a pa- 1. Forming learning and wit- cally-sensitive spaces in which totient and discerning study of nessing Christian commu- study and work. This implies thatthe changing culture and ethos nities, comprising students, we care about the moral, intellec-of the modern university. We researchers, faculty and admin- tual and spiritual flourishing ofshould study its dominant worl- istrators, who engage coura- individuals and also of groups anddviews and ideologies, and how geously and dialogically with systems.these shape the characters, val- the diverse academic disciplinesues, priorities and lifestyles of and conversations that consti- – Vinoth Ramachandra, “Christ and thestudents and teachers (Chris- tute university life (this entails University,” in Engaging the Campus: Faithtians included). We are always the crossing of status hierarchies and Service in the Academy, 2nd ed. (Singa-sensitive to its changing con- and not replicating in universi- pore: FES, 2016), 40, 63–64.texts, fully relational in all that ties what can be done in localwe say and do. churches).SOME CONCRETE WAYS TO ENGAGE THE UNIVERSITY READTHE STORY OR HISTORY THE CLASSICS IN YOUR THE BEST BOOKS ONOF YOUR DISCIPLINE FIELD OF STUDY YOUR DISCIPLINE WHICHThis allows you to see the roots Having access to the essen- HAVE A CHRISTIANof your discipline and discover tials and main ideas about your PERSPECTIVEthe relationships between your discipline allows you to think These books provide a criticalfield and the Christian faith. about the fundamentals byYou will become aware of the yourself, without being limited approach, often based on otherrelativity of the methodologies to the often limited frameworkgenerally used and often taken of the university teaching. foundations than those taughtfor granted by the professors. in class. They help us to see the– Pascal Hämmerli, former staffworker with GBEU Switzerland and Timothée Joset,staffworker with GBEU Switzerland (Extracted from a presentation given by Timothée profound connections betweenJoset, http://bit.ly/Engaging-presentation_517, accessed 20 July 2017.) theology and prevent your stud- ies from being separated from your spiritual life.14 Perspective September 2017

viewpointsTHE JOURNEY OF ENGAGEMENTThe journey of engagement first starts with one’s Not all of us can engage with academic scholar-calling to be a Christian student, to be salt and ship effectively. Not all of us are in universities thatlight wherever one is placed. It requires us to share are at the forefront of research and development.God’s vision of the shalom he seeks to bring to Not all of us are able to openly declare that we areearth where salvation plays a part. Having right Christians on campus. Those of us who are ableand harmonious relationships with God, with to, have a responsibility to engage our campuses.others, with nature, and with oneself has impli- But every one of us can and should bring Christ’scations on values, justice and ethics with differ- shalom into our campuses. The challenge then isent communities on campus or even the campus’s to be bold, creative and relevant in our imagina-physical environment. This is what it means to tion and in our action. May God’s kingdom comedeclare the “Good News of the in-breaking reign on our campuses.of God”1. It also requires us to listen and read thetimes; to understand our campus and the people in – Yvonne Choo, “Engaging the Campus – A Singapore Jour-it. It means opening our eyes to look and see the ney” in Engaging the Campus: Faith and Service in the Academy,needs around us. We need to be sensitive enough 2nd ed. (Singapore: FES, 2016), 73–74, 79.to hear the conversations around us and see theinvisible communities on our campuses. We canthen seek the shalom of the campus and serve thecampus in creative ways.1 Vinoth Ramachandra, “Christ and the University,” inEngaging the Campus: Faith and Service in the Academy, 2nded. (Singapore: FES, 2016), 39THINK IT THROUGHTHINK ALONE OR REFLECT THINK AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITHIt is a way of allowing your intelligence to be NON-CHRISTIANScreative and to explore new paths. Doing so will help you think out of the box and be con- fronted with good arguments from other faiths or back-THINKING WITH OTHER grounds.CHRISTIANSThis allows you to see that you’re not alone Our voice needs to be geared to the university conver-with your questions around your studies sation rather than merely the needs of Christian com-and your faith. You will benefit from the munities; it needs to translate into something that othersacademic experience of other Christian stu- can comprehend, receive and interact with. The aim ofdents, especially about resources and the way having this voice is not to prevail, or even to persuade,to approach your field from a Christian per- but to contribute.spective. This will enrich your papers too! The goal is to get the person to say, “Hmm. You’ve got a point. I’m going to have to think about that.” 15

Joyce Sune has been serving as a staffworker with the Chinese Christian Fellowships (CCF) at two of the local polytechnics for the past five years. What is campus engagement like in the polytechnics?Real Preparing the ‘encouragement board’ENGAGEMENT Is the idea of campus engagement part of the CF? At Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), all registered religious clubs and so- cieties have to conduct campus or community engagement activities at least once a year. Hence, campus engagement becomes one of the CF’s compulsory projects each year. What type of campus engagement projects did the CF have? NPCF always conducts their campus engagement projects before the examination period to encourage students preparing for their exams. One of the projects commended by the school and students involved teams of four or five CFers randomly approaching students on campus to give them encouragement notes, sweets and files. Students who re- ceived these items were also encouraged to write a note in return, to be given to another student. Those who received the handwritten notes, shared how timely the encouragement was as they had just finished their revision in school. This positive feedback gave the CFers courage to approach subsequent students. There was one year when the campus engagement project involved giving gifts to specific students under categories like ‘while you were sleeping’ or ‘while you were away’. The CFers left the cards and sweets at the benches or desks and then, silently moved to the next one. The notes behind the cards may not have been helpful or encouraging to the students who received them as the CFers had no ‘real’ engagement with the students.16 Perspective September 2017

viewpoints CFers walking aroundthe campus to pass the encouragement notesWhat are some things that you What are some ways you think we canthink could have been done better challenge Christian students in the poly-for a more effective engagement? technics to begin thinking Christianly about their studies – besides just study-In the past few years, engagement proj- ing well for the glory of God?ects were planned at the very last minute. Theconstraints of time put immense pressure on the I noticed few polytechnic students understandplanning committee. Another problem is the how their studies relate to their faith. They puttendency to re-use the previous year’s project, in a lot of time to get good academic results,which may not necessarily meet the needs of with hopes of securing a place in one of thethe current students on campus. Also, the vision universities which should eventually help themof having campus engagement was not clearly get a better job in the future. They pray to Godpassed from the Exco to the CF members. As a often only during their “difficult periods” likeresult, participation rates and attitudes of CFers when they are faced with multiple deadlines.in the projects can sometimes be discouraging. Sometimes, they can feel very lost because they are not interested in their course or their resultsCampus engagement should not be merely an are bad. After graduation, they continue to forceobligatory or one-off annual event. In fact, themselves to pursue the same course in univer-campus engagement should be the lifestyle of sity, believing that the course will lead them to aa Christian student. Engagement is not about bright future. Beneath their blind pursuits, theyjust giving an encouragement card and a gift, struggle in their spiritual life and with the pur-but also being open to listen to the stories our pose of living. With these realities, it is difficultfriends may share, and have meaningful dia- to help them see the value of thinking Chris-logue with them. I always encounter students tianly about their course of study especially ifwho tell me they feel ill-equipped to share the they do not really like the course they are in.gospel with their friends. This is not becausethey do not know the message of the gospel, Studying well for the glory of God has to go be-but because they are afraid their friends will ask yond getting good grades. A Christian student’squestions regarding Christianity they are not values and priorities should always be chal-able to answer. I myself have experienced such lenged. We need to help students recognise thatembarrassing moments, but this should not be all knowledge belongs to God and that therean excuse to allow ourselves to stop at that. In- is a purpose in God guiding us to a course westead, we should admit to our friends that our may or may not like. Christian students shouldknowledge is limited, but we will find out and always learn to ask and listen while they arelearn together, and show we are keen to under- trying to explore and make sense of this world.stand their culture and values. The CF should have that kind of environment where Christian students can ask questions toUltimately, we need to cultivate courage to en- challenge each other’s faith. •gage others. The CF members could also equipthemselves to engage more effectively, for ex- 17ample, in conversational skills including how toaddress the possible questions our friends mayask regarding Christianity.

ENGINEERING for GOODIn March 2017, NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) implemented a project calledEngineering For Good (E4G). On behalf of the organising committee, Elijah Chin(Psychology, Final Year), then chairperson of VCF, shares with us the objectives of thisproject and reflects on the outcomes.How did this project E4G come about? time challenge them to come up with a possi- ble solution. It was intended to be merely oneAt the start of the academic year (2016/2017), of many events pushed by the Exco to get eachthe VCF Exco reviewed where VCF stood in re- faculty talking about the purpose of their aca-lation to our vision, and the context of the uni- demic field. A meaningless life has long beenversity. The longstanding critic of VCF being in- associated with inappropriate behaviour. Byward-looking and doing too little to engage the giving students a platform to explore what goodsphere outside its holy huddle remained. Ideas their studies can do for society, we hoped thaton wholistic witnessing, faith and academics a glimpse of hope, based on God’s own inten-and prophetic imagination had quietly faded tion for this world can be shown to the students.into the background of the VCF consciousness. At the same time, we wanted to let oppressedAt the same time, the university experienced groups in Singapore know that we do care forgreat turmoil in the year that just passed in- them. In other words, E4G was our humblecluding the death of a student by suicide and attempt to express our love to our fellow stu-the freshmen orientation camp scandal. These dents and the society beyond the walls of thestruck the hearts of the Exco. We wanted to re- church and NUS. We had discussions about themind VCFers of their purpose in the university. students’ hope for engineering. We managed toAt the same time, we wanted to have a dialogue expose students to a rather ethical way to workwith the university about its purpose, fearing with foreign workers. Lastly, we managed tothat the suicide and the scandal are symptoms come up with ideas that may be helpful for theof a larger problem. lives of the foreign workers in Singapore.What did the committee hope to achieve What did the competition involve?through E4G? Each participating team is required to assessE4G was a project (in the form of a competi- the strengths and weaknesses of current safe-tion) that aimed to open the eyes of students to ty measures regarding the transportation ofthe brokenness of the world, and at the same18 Perspective September 2017

storiesforeign workers. Students were expected to do ing, he provided. Where we were negligent, hetheir own research of the issue to get a better forgave. At the end of the event, I found my-understanding. On top of that, trips to an actual self surprised by how well the competition wasdormitory was conducted. This allowed students received by participants and judges alike. Oneto get a sense of what happens in reality, beyond of the participants’ reflections encouraged us:what they may read about in research papers and “Through E4G, it really allowed me to take a closenews articles. It also provided an opportunity look at what the less fortunate go through. In goingfor them to interact with the foreign workers, up close and personal, I got to work as a team toallowing them to place faces to the entire con- use the things I learned in engineering to properlyversation about foreign worker safety. Follow- change the world around me for the better.”ing that, participants worked in their groupsto identify a key area they will like to improve Having gone through organising E4G,on. The competition climaxes at a presentation what advice might you suggest to futureto relevant professionals to assess the quality of attempts in engaging the university?each group’s proposal. We managed to inviteprofessionals from the Faculty of Engineering, Plunging into an area we knew nothing aboutthe Ministry of Manpower and Healthserve as seemed foolish. However, it takes a little bit ofjudges to assess the product of each E4G team. naive impulsiveness to truly engage. Compared to the crazy ideas that the rest of the societies andWhat was the response to the project? hall co-curricular activities often come up with, I’d say we still appear rather timid. Over time,It is a pity that participation by VCFers was low. may experience make up for our foolishness, andWe had hoped that this will open opportunities may a better planned competition emerge fromfor dialogue between believers and non-believ- our maiden attempt at an engineering competi-ers. This aim of the project may not have been tion. My hope however, is that when we are fi-met adequately. On top of that, we faced other nally well-versed in this method of engagement,problems. Finance was a problem, but a bigger another generation of students will take a braveproblem was our ignorance about engineering step and venture into bolder and more creativeand the methods of hosting a competition. Yet ways to engage the university. •God proved faithful and where we were lack- Contestants having a dialogue session with Prof. Adekunle O. Adeyeye from NUS Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering on ‘Technical Competencies for a Better Society’. 19

BLESSING Share with us one campus engagement project your Christian Fellowship (CF) NTU Indonesian Students’ took on this year. Christian Fellowship (NTU-ISCF) conducted a campus engagement On 7 April 2017, NTU-ISCF had an event project in April this year. Former called Showers of Blessing. As our exams were drawing near, we felt it was a good time to show chairperson of NTU ISCF, our care and concern to fellow students during Jerry Hermanto (Mathematical this stressful period by distributing snacks to Science, Year 4), shares with us his students studying at the benches on campus. After our usual fellowship meeting that eve- experience during the event. ning, we were divided into small groups and went off to distribute the snacks together. What were some of the responses you re- ceived from the students you presented snacks to? After introducing ourselves and explaining the reason for giving them the snacks, we had a short conversation with them and asked if we could pray for them as well. Some were open for us to pray with them while others were not. The students we approached were mostly people not familiar to us and from diverse backgrounds. Can you share with us one encounter you had during this event? My group met an international student who is doing his masters at NTU and happened to be studying at one of the benches. We chatted with him for a while and then asked if we could pray for him. He looked confused and did not know how to pray. I asked him to close his eyes and I led him in prayer. After the prayer, he seemed interested in Christianity and asked us what we usually do. He asked for my contact details and we exchanged phone numbers.20 Perspective September 2017

stories Sharing God’s love through a simple giftDid you have further contact with the whether we can use politics to suppress reli-student after that? gion, and vice versa. As he could not express his questions fluently in English, he used hisThat night, he contacted me again and asked me mother tongue. One of my friends translatedto invite him to Christian events. I discovered it to English for the rest of us so that we couldthat he had attended a church service before as follow the discussion as well. Through this Ihis sister is a Christian. When I asked about his learnt too, of the power of Christian witnessperception of Christianity, he said that Christi- as a community.anity is good because it can calm our soul andgive us peace inside our heart. However, he had While we were waiting for a bus to returnonly heard a bit about Jesus and knows Chris- home, he suddenly asked me whether I wouldtians believe that Jesus is resurrected from the go to church again the following week. He ex-dead. He didn’t know what Christianity can pressed the desire to come along as he felt thatoffer him but he has the impression that by em- religion would lead him to have the right viewbracing religion, he can have peace inside his of life. Praise the Lord!heart. However, most of the time since then, he wasAs Easter was drawing near, I invited him to not able to come again to church because ofmy church for the Good Friday and Easter Sun- various reasons. We still need to follow up andday services. He came to the Sunday service pray that he may come to know Christ one day.and looked interested in the community there.I invited some of my friends from my church What does this whole experience speakto meet him and we had dinner together before of the value of having an event likethe service. ‘Showers of Blessing’? Are there things the CF could have done better?During the message, the speaker referred tomany passages in the Bible which I think were Actually, the main purpose of this event isnot familiar to him. However, when the speak- just to share God’s love to strangers througher mentioned the Jews using political power to the snacks that we gave them. However, thiskill Jesus, it triggered him to think about the event also gave my group the opportunity torelationship between politics and religion. Af- talk about our Christian faith and throughter the service, he discussed with us issues like that, I learnt what it means to share the gospel with the support of our community. Carrying out this event trained us to share the gospel in word and deed. In future, I think the CF can also offer training on how to approach strang- ers, and how to identify as well as seize the opportunities given to us to share the gospel to more people during such events. • 21

storiesDiscoverFORGIVENESSDiscover Forgiveness was a campus engagement project car-ried out by SIM SCF in 2011. This was reported in Perspective,July/August 2011. We reproduce this article here for our learn-ing and perhaps, to spark off more creative ways of bringingshalom to our campuses.To engage the school with a loving culture of forgiveness. Being aware of this paves the way around campus, the Discover Series was for them to accept and forgive someone else.started two years ago. Our flagship event was Apart from the tests, Breakthrough Missions,“Discover Love”, based on the book The Five Yellow Ribbon Project and Prison FellowshipLove Languages by Gary Chapman. It aimed to Singapore set up exhibitions to raise aware-encourage students to share the five different ness of the Prison Ministry, where forgivenesslove languages and to pledge to commit an act has a great impact on rehabilitating and recon-of love to a loved one. Many were touched by the structing new lives. There was also the sharingevent and the school favoured it as well. Thus of testimonies by two ex-prisoners, each fromthis year, in continuation with the series, we had the Yellow Ribbon Project and Breakthrough“Discover Forgiveness” to consider forgiveness Missions, and God’s hand was mentioned in theas part of love. rehabilitation process!Using the sequel, The Five Languages of Apology, We want to thank God for the successful run-tests were prepared for participants to identify ning of this three-day event which has been usedtheir main language of apology and about 500 by God to touch the lives of others. To God bepeople were reached. Knowing the five languag- all the Glory! •es of apology (Expressing Regret, AcceptingResponsibility, Making Restitution, Genuinely – Gabriel Ting Wee TeongRepenting and Requesting Forgiveness), partic- Gabriel, former chairperson of SIM SCF, graduatedipants were able to find out their main language from SIM, Banking and Finance (UOL) in 2011 God used the “Discover Forgiveness” event to touch the lives of many at SIM!22 Perspective September 2017

eventsNSC Past and present NSC members WEEKEND at the NSC weekend, challenging and encouraging each other to raise ‘a generation of Daniels, students impacting our region’FES National Student Council (NSC) Weekend NSC EXCO 2017–2018 2017, which was held from 28–29 August, saw21 chairpersons (or their representatives) of the var- • Elijah Chin (Chairperson)ious FES Singapore ministries gather for a time of • Benjamin Tan (SP CF)sharing and discussion. • Marvin Lim (NP CF) • Ong Si Ying (TP CCF)NSC has been working hard on shaping its iden- • Chang Wei Xing (NUStity and creating a structure that can help it betterachieve its vision of Raising a Generation of Dan- CVCF)iels: Students Impacting our Region. Student ministry • Tan Wei Siang (NUS VCF)in Singapore is unique in that we may be the only • Grace Jasmine Kurniawanministry in the IFES movement where we remainas one family despite ministering to people of three (NTU-ISCF)language groups. We are also particularly interna-tional, with a significant portion of our members ELIJAH CHINhailing from our neighbouring countries. Coupledwith the rise of more specialised universities, we are NUS, Psychology,entering a unique season in our ministry. Final YearTogether, we discussed the various problems that 23commonly plague our ministries across the board.We encouraged each other, and caught a glimpse ofthe bigger movement God is working in as the sto-ries from each ministry came together. Time wasshort, and more can be discovered. Yet, we thankGod still, that the Weekend is only a prelude to anastonishing year ahead. •

HOSTILE TIMES,EARCPROPHETIC PILGRIMS The triennial International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) East Asia Regional Conference (EARC) 2017, with the theme, Hostile Times, Prophetic Pilgrims, was held in South Korea from 3-9 August. Korea Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (KIVF) hosted 16 IFES East Asia national movement at Yonsei International University’s campus in Songdo, Incheon. Through all the various sessions and workshops, the conference sought to help us hear the voice of our living God amid the conflicts and challenges we face in this hostile and broken world. 56 students from various CFs and 10 staffworkers were the Singapore representatives at EARC 2017. Be- low, four of them share their learning points and reflections with us.Gaining new perspectives through the Bible Learning how to lament from the plenaryexpositions on Jeremiah by Dr Munther Isaac session, ‘Cries’ , by Dr Peter Cha The Bible expositions were the most crucial, and ask, “Where is God?”. With all these, we were en- refreshing segments of EARC. The speaker, Rev. couraged to take a step back to recognise our own Dr Munther Isaac started with the foundation individual calling. Jeremiah was called by God that the Bible is not silent but deals with political in Jeremiah 1:5 to be a prophet to all the nations. issues. He not only explained the passages clearly, What is ours? My friends had new perspectives in but also showed how it was timely and relevant approaching issues in their countries, were stirred through comparisons between Israel’s turmoil and to embrace their individual callings and deeply Jeremiah as a prophet, versus the current hostile encouraged by how God is comfortingly sover- times and our role as prophetic pilgrims. eign, all in all. There are three points of reflection I had. Many Next, I really benefitted from learning how to of the delegates came from countries where they lament. There are times when I feel so burdened are persecuted in their schools or homes for their by the seemingly Christian responsibilities, to be faith, with attempts to reduce their religious free- salt and light in our marketplace, yet sad at the re- dom. They feel so despaired that sometimes they ality of many not turning to the Lord, when he is24 Perspective September 2017

eventsCRISIS CRIES Writing ourWe started off the plenary For this session, we learnt that laments andsessions with a sharing on the lamenting (or complaining to bringing themcrisis seen in churches, of a God with what he puts in our before Godmisunderstood younger gen- hearts) is a way of living in faitheration and a desiring-to-be and leads us to the way of hu- CHRISTrespected older generation that mility. We were given pieces of Look at the world as it is. Thereminded me of how we, who paper and told to reflect looking brokenness, the evil that is in thelive in Singapore tend to take at the lamentations and prob- world. What can we possibly doit for granted that we are more lems we have, nationally, in our before this bitterness and inabil-privileged than other nations. community and within our- ity? But it is in this exact state ofBut in this safe environment, selves. The session ended with our helplessness, in that place ofhave we dulled our sensitivity people sharing the lamentations humility, that we see the hope ofto the pains of other countries? they had, and truly, there was this world. We can put our hope so much beauty in the memory in Jesus Christ, as we see ourThis was a callback to me, to itself, as people knelt and wept Lord who heals and hears ourour Christian roots. The safe over their nations, societies, prayers for the world as we knowstate of Singapore doesn’t families. it today. He is the light, the hopemean that we are merely called of our salvation and our humani-to stay within the “monastery” I can still remember the atmo- ty that is in Christ Jesus. •of Singapore to seek and med- sphere of broken people comingitate on what heaven is like or to God, making our requests SHANICEthe coming of Jesus. It should known to God, the tears that ABIGAILmean to pray more fervently streamed from our eyes, the criesfor others, to do our part to and prayers. Each had their own NUS, Computerunderstand the crisis in oth- plea with God, no judgment, no Engineering,Year 2er countries and to reconsider sense of shame, all in honest hu-how we can serve the people in mility as we approached boldlyour community in love. the throne of grace.the true hope. Are we to remain joyful, stay upset, 33:14). Now, not only do scriptures point to usdo as the Lord commands and accept it silently? I having a better covenant in Jesus (Luke 24:27;learnt how it is alright to be unhappy, when we are Heb. 8:6), this covenant still stands today!not being discontent with God or disobedient, butaccepting that these situations break God’s heart, With such new perspectives, I will seek God andespecially having experienced the truth, life, yet obey his plans. Also, while doing so, always be re-seeing “death”. Instead, it is glorious and import- minded to have hope in his everlasting promises,ant to lament to God who hears our cries as we no matter the situation, not being afraid to be un-worship him, acknowledging his sovereignty in it happy. Instead, lament and rely on him constantly,all. for he is Jesus, my personal, almighty Lord and Saviour. •Lastly, I was liberated through the refreshing per-spective of Christ, our hope. Despite the happen- WINFRED TANings in Israel, Jeremiah was reminded constantlyof the grace and faithfulness of God (Jer. 31:2; NUS, Social Work, Year 3 25

Sharing the needs and challenges in Singapore, and praying that we may live out Christ’s love EARC provided me with the opportunity to un- stand the issue, pray, discuss with friends or even derstand the various issues faced in East Asia like during dialogue sessions with ministers in office. the legalisation of LGBT marriage in Taiwan, brain drain in Macau, corruption in South Korea, He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does human trafficking and vice addiction in Mongo- the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love lia, and cults like Jesus Morning Star (JMS) which kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? mislead many. I was reminded that God’s ministry – Micah 6:8, ESV is not localised and love for God should translate to caring for his people and kingdom beyond my Learning to understand the issues faced in East Asia, national boundaries and comfort zone. The first and seeing how God works in every nation step to do so would simply be to read international Front row, from left: Nao, Yoonha, Gabriel, Hazel news and present these issues to God in prayer. Back row, from left: Hanbin, Paul, Geumgill Another highlight at EARC were the workshops “The opposite of good is not evil, the opposite of good is as it allowed us to venture deeper into topics like indifference.” “helping friends cope with emotional and mental issues”. We grow up learning to fix things, be it I used to think, “I am too small to do anything; a broken bicycle or poor grades. However, when I will leave everything in God’s hands since he is caring for our friends, ‘fixing my friend’ should ultimately in control.” However, through EARC, not be the mentality and agenda. Instead, we can I realised that labelling everything that happens support our friends by being there to listen pa- as ‘God’s will’ and being indifferent should not be tiently, celebrate growth and walk the extra mile the way Christians respond. Compared to other in their shoes. • countries, the issues in Singapore may seem small but they still silently permeate our society, for ex- HAZEL CHAN ample, the stigmatisation of people with special HWEE YAN needs and lack of laws to protect foreign work- ers to mention a few. Sometimes, the frustration NTU, Environmental we face in the world makes us question “Where Engineering, Year 4 is God?” As the Spirit of God dwells in us, how are we, as God’s chosen people, living out Christ’s love? Be- ing a Christian is not just gaining head knowledge about the Bible, being comfortable in the Chris- tian community and celebrating our redemption, yet turning a blind eye to those outside the church walls who mourn and yearn redemption because of social injustice. The very least we can do while we are still students is to empathise and under-26 Perspective September 2017

event Singapore participants at EARCI thank God for opening the way for me to attend will be going to Kazakhstan for a year on a short-EARC, and the polytechnic Christian Fellow- term mission trip.ships for supporting me financially and in prayer. One of the activities at EARC was called Stand-After landing at Seoul’s Incheon International ing in the Gap. Representatives from each countryAirport, the first people I met were from Perkan- share something about their country and the chal-tas, the student movement in Indonesia. I imme- lenges faced there. After the sharing we would alldiately felt the language barrier but somehow, we then pray aloud together for this particular coun-managed to hold a conversation. try. To me, it was akin to the biblical account of the day of Pentecost where everyone prayed andThroughout the conference, KIVF and the Kore- praised God in their own tongue.ans in my group taught me what it means to behospitable. In addition, the diverse language and I miss Korea, I miss the fellowship, I miss thecultures at EARC was exemplified in my small people. To Dajeong, Sujeong, Junoh, Haruka,group, which had three Koreans, one Japanese, Andrew, and Mahdi, till we meet again! I have soone Hong Konger, one Palestinian, and one Sin- much more to say but to sum it up, God showedgaporean. By our first night as a small group, we me that truly he is the God of all peoples.had warmed up to each other and we compared Hallelujah! •notes on the situations in our home country. Whatstood out was the experiences of our Palestinian BENJAMIN TANfriend, who shared the conflicts, injustices and YI-XIANsufferings happening in his country. I was alsoparticularly challenged by my group leader, who Singapore Polytechnic, Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Year 2Fellowshipping with my group mates showed me that God is the Standing in the gap for the countriesGod of all peoples represented at EARCFrom left: Haruka, Benjamin, Andrew, Junoh, Sujeong, Dajeong 27

CREATION CARE and the Gospel From 24-28 July 2017, I attended the Lausanne/ We could not ignore the reality of the world World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) East Asia we live in today. Because of the brokenness Regional Conference on Creation Care and the of mankind, Creation is in a dire state. We Gospel in Hsinchu, Taiwan. It was a conference as spoke about drastic changes in climate, ty- part of the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Net- phoons and earthquakes, loss of biodiversity, work’s (LWCCN) global campaign for Creation issues like pollution and food shortage. I felt Care, which gathered individuals interested and the fear and gravity of it for the first time, involved in creation care movements from East hearing that two typhoons were headed for Asia. The theme of this conference was Creation Taiwan as we had our conference. It would Care and the Gospel, through which we discussed only get worse. Creation care is not simply how the needs of the world, in terms of environ- an issue concerning the environment, cre- mental crises, were connected to the mission of the ation care is about justice, it is about loving Church and the Gospel. Over five days, and over our neighbour, it is part of the mission of the good times of discussion and dialogue, we looked church. Creation groans as it awaits libera- at God’s Word (theology), God’s World (science) tion (Rom. 8:20–22). Creation is the Gospel and God’s Work (our response in mission). concern, for God so loved the cosmos. These are some of the people I met. Besides the Biologists and fond memories I have of time spent with them, conservationists sharing discussions, food and journeys, perhaps what encouraged me the most was why they do In their research and work what they do. They care for creation not because to conserve biodiversity they have to, nor because they are ‘tree-huggers’, and the environment, they animal lovers or crazy environmentalists, but be- want to reflect God’s love cause through their own journey of faith and call- and concern for creation. ing they came to realise all of creation belongs to and is important to God. The way we treat the Engineers communities and creation around us is important to God, the way we study, do business, work and who, through their live is important to God. And this was so real for work, were passionate many of them. The way they did their work, with about improving their integrity and concern for creation and community cities and making their around them, the way they shared hope for resto- cities more efficient ration and reconciliation, was a testimony in itself, and environmentally a telling of a kingdom that is to come. friendly.28 Perspective September 2017

staff developmentThen why does it seem that we, Chris- “In Paul’s wonderful poem on the trio of Christian “tians especially, continue to live life virtues: faith hope and love, he says: ‘Love hopes allchoosing to ignore this groaning of cre- things’ (1 Cor. 13:7). It is the case that love empow-ation? In Dr Richard Bauckham’s last ers hope. Actually when we love, we simply cannotplenary session1, he suggests it is hope help hoping. No one who loves their children can failthat has been lost, that we have gone to have hopes for them. No one who loves the lovelywith the world and accepted how this products of human art and culture can fail to hope thatglobal civilisation we live in will one they survive to inspire others for all time. No one whoday destroy it all. But if we hold on to loves red squirrels or snow leopards or rare orchids orthe ultimate hope that God will one day coral reefs of tigers or Formosan black bears can fail toreconcile all things, then perhaps it is hope that they will survive in the habitats they belongthe duty of Christians to have hope, not to. Love inspires hope and energises hope.simply for themselves, but hope for allof creation. And that this hope is rooted God loves his created world and we share in his lovein love. I quote his last session: for the creatures. Our fundamental task is to re-awak- en love for creation. Hope follows. •1 If you want to know more about what he shared orwhat else transpired during the conference, talk to RACHEL LENGme! Also, I recommend his book, Bible and Ecology:Rediscovering the Community of Creation by Richard FES StaffworkerBauckham (Texas: Baylor University Press, 2010).Professors and CEO Pastorsschool teachers As a Christian CEO of a large who were eager to havewho, through the teaching of business, she was intent on their congregations care fortheir students, wanted to help running her business ethically and creation as part of missions.shape the way people learned sustainably, which would makeand loved creation. quite a difference in her country. 29

MANAGEMENT Though our CF is small, we are grateful for theDEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE support of our staffworker Victor (back row, thirdOF SINGAPORE AND PSB from right) and the encouraging presence of friendsACADEMY INDONESIAN from NTU ISCF at our fellowship meetings.STUDENTS’ CHRISTIANFELLOWSHIP(MDIS+PSB ISCF)MDIS+PSB ISCF is a combined CF of the two PRAYER POINTSinstitutes. About four to five members regularlyattend the fellowship meeting every Tuesday at • We thank God for everything that he hasChurch of the Good Shepherd, who has kindly given to us as a CF.allowed us to use one of their rooms. • Pray for God to renew and strengthen theSince the start of this year we have been facing Exco to be convicted and passionate againdifficulties in terms of membership – all our se- toward this ministry.nior members graduated and very few freshmenjoined the CF. Furthermore, a few members • Pray for those who are still struggling withwere facing personal struggles, resulting in in- their faith, that they will put their trust inconsistency in their faith. God. For the new members, pray that they will see the CF as a place where they canIsaiah 41:10 (“Fear not, for I am with you; be not share and grow in their faith.dismayed, for I am your God”) has strengthenedme a lot. Jesus told us to take up our cross daily • Pray for all the students in MDIS and PSBand follow Him, reminding us that following that they can have the joy and desire to studyHim is not an easy task. If we want to be se- well, putting Jesus in the center of their life.rious about our faith, then suffering will come.However, as we go through these difficulties, • For the upcoming events we have planned,we will realise that we can’t do anything apart pray that many students will come andfrom God. Our faith is strengthened as we rely know more about Jesus through our com-on God. Though we are discouraged, the fact munity that shows God’s love towards oneis God is still in control and walks with us. We another.hope that our CF members can be stronger, aswell as encourage and care for each other. • Pray for our staffworker Victor Wibowo, his family, and his ministry. Pray that he will keep near to God and be able to lead us. • REGAN ANDREW ANGKASA PSB Academy, Electrical Engineering, Final Year30 Perspective September 2017

prayer points NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY CHINESE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (NTU-CCF)Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with internationalstudents last yearWe are starting a new academic year and of PRAYER POINTScourse, resuming fellowship on campus! Welook forward to an exciting year of experienc- • Thank God for guiding and blessing us ev-ing God’s grace and love as we strive to share ery year in our ministry.God’s love with our friends on campus. Thisyear, NTU-CCF hopes to challenge each other • We thank God for his protection and prov-to tune in to God’s heart and convey his love. idence in our annual mission trip to North-We have been blessed to be in NTU to be “salt ern Thailand, where we worked with anand light” on campus. We want to cherish our alumnus in the ministry there.time at NTU not just to pursue a degree, but toshare God’s love to a campus often caught up in • Pray with us for another year of grace andacademic competition, even among friends. Join abundance. This year we hope to forgeus in our student ministry by praying with us! strong friendships with international stu- dents in the bridging programme as theyMay we all experience God by partaking in his adjust to Singapore and NTU’s culture. Mayministry through our prayers. we embody God’s love for them through our regular dinners and special programmes inThe outgoing and incoming Exco, with their collaboration with the English section.staffworker, Sze Khiong (back row, third fromleft) during the handing over session in March • Pray that we may learn to see our campus,2017 Singapore and the world, through God’s eyes as we study the books of Jonah, Joel and Amos. • It is difficult to juggle academics, fellowship meetings and church commitments, but we want to trust in God’s plan for each of us. • Please pray for our staff worker Sze Khiong, for strength and wisdom to minister to the two fellowships under his care. Pray for his health too, as we students must be quite a bunch for him to handle! • CHAN YEE SHUIN NTU, Biomedical Science and Chinese Medicine, Year 3 31

SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF Welcoming new students at ourMANAGEMENT STUDENTS’ recent Freshmen Orientation CampCHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP(SIM SCF)SIM SCF meets weekly on Wednesday eve- PRAYER POINTSnings. We have around 30 active members withmost of us being short-term, as a majority of us • We thank God for bringing in a good num-complete our courses within one and a half to ber of interested freshmen who have ex-two years. pressed interest in joining us.Our theme for this academic year is to “Walk • Pray for our Exco as we adjust to the newAcross the Room”; it is a follow-up to our theme responsibilities and challenges.of “The Lordship of Christ” from last year. Wewant to actively challenge our members this year • Pray that God will bless us with willing andto step out of their comfort zones, and really ask capable leaders, as we continue to wrestlethemselves what it means to be a Christian on with the issue of members leaving us after acampus, as well as what it truly encompasses to short time being with us, due to the naturehave Christ as our Lord and Saviour. of our various courses.This year, the Exco also wants to encourage our • Pray that our Exco will continue to keepCF to be a part of the larger CF community their focus on God, and his ministry for us,through attending inter-varsity events, or just as we pursue the big plans he has laid beforeby encouraging a closer bond between the En- us this year.glish, Chinese and Indonesian CFs within ourown campus. • We are thankful for our new staffworker, Zephy, and we keep him in prayer so that he is able to manage his work, church, and studies wisely. • JONATHAN LEE SIM, Business (Management) (RMIT), Final Year SIM SCF Exco members From left , Chloe, Zephy (staffworker), Zi Teng, Jonathan and Yu Ning32 Perspective September 2017

prayer pointsSINGAPOREPOLYTECHNICCHRISTIANFELLOWSHIP(SP CF) SPCF (English and Chinese CF) taking part in the Poly50 campus relay event on 26 July 2017SP (English) CF’s theme for this year is from PRAYER POINTSRomans 12, about loving God and loving peo-ple. Based on this theme, the committee came • Pray that the CF will be united to serveup with goals: to build close relationships God and his people wholeheartedly and toamong the members and to equip members to show care and concern to one another.have a lifestyle of worship unto God. • Pray that God will grant us strength andThis year, we encountered several issues among peace that surpass all understanding to bethe committee members due to our busy in our hearts, that we may shine for Godschedules and lack of communication. Most of in our studies and campuses.us had many commitments and we struggledto juggle all the responsibilities we had, which • Pray for the CF Exco and sub-commit-caused us to misunderstand each other. tee to have tenacity in serving God and to maintain good relationships with oneHowever, we still manage to plan weekly another.CF sessions and actively participate in manyevents with the members. Despite facing trou- • Pray for God to guide the planning com-bles and having many other commitments, we mittee of the upcoming bonding camp inthank God for granting us strength and wis- October, and that everything will go asdom to be able to serve him and his people. planned. • Pray for our staff worker, Gabriel, to have a blessed and an enjoyable marriage. May God grant him strength and wisdom to cope with daily demands in his life, as well as serve God faithfully. •Exco and Subcomm members, from left: (back row) SARAH GOHMacus, Benjamin, John, Jason; (middle row) Janice,Aixin, Sarah Goh; (front row) Sarah Chua, Janine, SP, Diploma in Visual Communication and MediaGabriel (staffworker) Design, Year 2 33

announcements FES celebrates IFES WorldUPCOMING Student DayEVENTS 28 October 2017,Note: More information will be 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m.given on the respective fellowship James Cook Universitywebsites when it is available. Singapore Theme: A Generous Youth Theological Life Camp JCUS CF Camp (jointly organised by FES Chinese Work and the Four 24-­26 October 2016 Denominations Chinese Theme: Logos - the Word Churches Council) of God 14–16 December 2017 Trinity Theological College, Singapore Theme: A Time to Tear, A Time to Sew FES Chinese Work Big Family Gathering 20 October 2017, 7:30 p.m. Church of the Good Sheperd, Singapore Theme: From Heart to ActionSWAT (Studying the Word All Together) PAST EVENTSCamp 2017 Check out our past events from(Combined NUS VCF and NTU ECF camp) our e-newsletter, Impetus at http://26–31 December 2016 www.fessingapore.org/resources/Majodi Centre, Johor, Malaysia publications/impetusProgramme highlights:- Expositions on the book of Jeremiah by Dr Jerry Hwang- Inductive Bible Study Training34 Perspective September 2017

FES National Conference (NC) 2018Friday, 28 September to Sunday, 30 September 2018Every three years, FES holds a national conference that brings together students and studentleaders from all the FES affiliated CFs for a time of fellowship and learning. In the process, wehope to discern how God is leading the student movement to strive as salt and light in the timeswe are in now and in the days ahead.More details will be available in the coming months! Mark the dates!MOVING ON staff newsKevin Chia left FES in April 2017 after Lin Wei, who joined FES in October 2013having served nearly seven years as a staff- as Communications and Resource staff, leftworker. During his time in FES, Kevin at the end of July 2017. She was primarilyhad worked with students from the poly- responsible for the design work of FES pub-technics, NTU-CF, and SIM SCF. We lications and publicity materials. Lin Weithank Kevin for his years of service with had also produced a video on one of the dis-FES and pray for God to continue to bless tinctives of the FES ministry. We thank herhim in his new endeavours. for her work in FES, especially in helping us produce a number of publications the past few years. May she continue to be used by God in the work he directs her to. 35

ENGAGEMENT, In general, we prefer to relate with thoseEMBRACE, and who share similarities with us. How-CONVERSATION ever, this general tendency to give ul- timate allegiance to the cultures and social36 Perspective September 2017 values of those similar to us could lead to segregation and segmentation. The univer- sity is one succinct example of that predis- position. We often see groups of students and staff on campus hanging out based on their ethnicities or language groups. We can also feel the silent treatment between the major stakeholders (students, lecturers, and office staff) and the minorities (like cleaners, construction workers). Christians in the university are not immune to the lat- ter; on the contrary we are even prone to it. Miroslav Volf, in his book Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Iden- tity, Otherness, and Reconciliation1 calls out the above acts of exclusion. In a wider context, he describes at least three forms of such exclusion: the pursuit of false puri- ty (like how Germans’ blood must be free from non-Aryan contamination), domina- tion over others (like apartheid in South Africa or Dalit in India), and abandonment (like the way the rich relate to the poor, or like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan).2 To subvert the above exclusion that pro- motes the stark polarity of “either us or them”, Volf uses Romans 15:7 (Welcome one another, therefore just as Christ has welcomed you) as his basic reference, to propose a way: willingness to embrace the Other, which in essence is: The will to give ourselves to others and “welcome” them, to readjust our 1 Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) 2 Volf, Exclusion, 74-75.

gs desk identities to make space for them, is er felt more alone than the current digital genera- prior to any judgment about others, tions. I think we must reclaim the art and practice except that of identifying them in of conversation – a face-to-face talk in which we their humanity. The will to embrace also listen and learn to develop empathy. For the precedes any “truth” about others and polarised society with its failing connections and any construction of their “justice”.3 confused reality of the digital world, conversation and mutual learning, could be one simple cure.In one crucial aspect of the will to embracethe Other, Volf proposes the practice of Conversation and mutual learning not only pro-“double vision”, in which we must learn to duce empathy, but also help us find a greater visionsee “from here” (from our perspectives) and for the good of the society (or campus). At the same“from there” (from the perspective of oth- time, through conversation we earn the time anders). In doing so, we step outside ourselves, space to naturally communicate the Good Newsmove into the world of the Other, and then of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In fact, in the Gospel,eventually take the Other into our own many of Jesus’ great teachings were done in theworld.4 Practising the above process will context of conversation, such as conversations witheventually steer a genuine interest towards Nicodemus (John 3), with the woman at the wella truer and deeper engagement. (John 4), and question-and-answer sessions with the Pharisees and Jesus’ disciples.Therefore, in our effort to engage the cam-pus as a whole for Christ, let us not take the Hence, I would like to encourage you to thinkeasy route of mere ‘peaceful coexistence’ in creatively and carry out boldly, ingenuities to havewhich there appears to be peace and harmo- conversations with many parties on campus. Iny, but no genuine relationship is actually know there was such a conversation held – “Con-built. Let us also not choose the ‘domina- versations of Hope” in which students from differ-tion’ or ‘abandonment’ paths in which we ent beliefs gathered and conversed on the issue ofsolely dictate the rules of engagement as religious tensions. We could have many more suchwell as determine one-sidedly who is wor- initiatives. Conversations with free-thinking stu-thy and who is not. We must learn to em- dents, with lecturers, with janitors, with laborato-brace and see from others’ perspectives. In ry assistants, with canteen stall owners, and manydoing so, it should not be something done in others. Conversations can be done not only in a bigan ivory tower, but must be down to earth, formal occasion, but also in one-to-one daily en-done in the everydayness of campus life. counters.I suggest that one everyday expression of As Paul exhorts us, “let [our] conversation be al-the above will to embrace and practise dou- ways full of grace, seasoned with salt”, so we couldble vision is through conversation. Deep truly engage the whole campus for Christ. •communal interaction is now pretty muchat stake, especially in the current digitised LISMAN KOMALADIgeneration. We are seemingly together, con-nected through Facebook groups or other General Secretarysocial media, but actually people have nev- 373 Volf, Exclusion, 29.4 Ibid., 251.

booksRESOURCES FOR MINISTRY WHY STUDY? the different paths they took, we also discover their conscious Exploring the Face of God and consistent worship of the in the Academy Triune God through their re- spective fields of study and vo- FES Singapore (2017) cation that form the heart of this book. The academic disci- As a Christian student, what plines covered in this book are: is your answer to the question Biology, Business, Education, “Why Study?” Engineering, History, Law, Literature, Medicine, Physics In this book, you will find and Social Work. writings and stories of people who have begun their journey May this book inspire us to of encountering the different begin our own journey of ex- facets of the “Face of God” ploring the face of God in the in their studies, research, and academy. practices. When we look at ENGAGING THE In this second edition of En- CAMPUS gaging the Campus: Faith and Service in the Academy there are Faith and Service in the slight updates in the articles Academy (2nd Edition: by Terry Halliday and Vinoth Revised and Expanded) Ramachandra. The article on the Singapore context has been FES Singapore (2016) revised and expanded. The tes- timony of one student’s jour-Note: Both the above titles are What does it mean to en- ney in engaging the campusavailable at the FES office. gage the whole campus for remains unchanged. We have Christ? Do we have the bibli- also added a new response cal foundation to this vision? from Hong Kong FES. Is engaging the campus an elitist ministry? What are the May we continue to ingenious- challenges faced and possible ly discover and authentically blindspots discovered as we live out many ways of engaging practise our faith and serve in our campus for Christ! the academy?38 Perspective September 2017

$ & SenseAMOUNT RAISED (JAN - AUG 2017) Target Income Amount to be With the gloomy economy and job (as per 2017 raised (from Sept market situation these past few months, giving has slowed down considerably. Budget): to Dec 2017): We hear of some graduates struggling $1.863 in their businesses or having their million $914K jobs terminated altogether. With the current shortfall in income, and despite Raised as of % met: having tightened our expenses, we have31st August 2017: an accumulated deficit of $34K as of 51% 31 August 2017. In light of this, it will $949K be quite an uphill task to raise another $914K (49% of the budget) within the next four months. We appreciate your prayers and support as well. For more information on how you can support FES, go to: http://fessingapore. org/participate/support-usPerspective is published twice a year Views expressed in this publication Editorial Team:to update readers on the FES student may not necessarily represent the Chong Yun Meiministry, as well as to encourage a position of FES Singapore. Lok Jian Wen (volunteer)broader and deeper perspective on Esther Yap Yixuan (volunteer)issues affecting our Christian life No part of this publication may beand witness. reproduced in any form without the Design: Yanti Agustin prior permission of the publisher. MCI(P) 081/02/2017 For enquiries, contact us at: If you prefer to receive an email Copyright © September [email protected] notification when Perspective is 2017 Fellowship of available on our website, please let Evangelical Students Printer: Chung Printing us know at [email protected]. All rights reserved. 39

FES is an interdenominational Christian organisation serving among tertiary level students in Singapore. Our vision is to see a community of Christlike leaders who are salt and light on campus, in church, and in society for the glory of God. FES Affiliates • Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) at National University of Singapore (NUS) • Nanyang Technological University Christian Fellowship (NTU-CF) including National Institute of Education Christian Fellowship (NIE-CF) • Polytechnic Christian Fellowship (PCF) at Singapore Polytechnic (SP) • Ngee Ann Polytechnic Christian Fellowship (NPCF) • Singapore Institute of Management Students’ Christian Fellowship (SIM-SCF) • Temasek Polytechnic Students’ Christian Fellowship (TP-SCF) • James Cook University Singapore Christian Fellowship ( JCUS CF) • Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) • Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF) • Nanyang University Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (NUGCF) Pioneering work • Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) • Singapore Management University (SMU) • Curtin University Singapore • East Asia School of Business (EASB) • Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) • LASALLE College of the Arts • Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) • Republic Polytechnic (RP) • Institute of Technical Education (ITE) • PSB Academy FES President • Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung Vice-Presidents • Dr Ernest Chew • Dr Lawrence Chia • Rev. Dr Choong Chee Pang • Dr Tan Lai Yong • Rev. Canon Terry Wong Fellowship of Evangelical Students 420 North Bridge Road #05-05 North Bridge Centre Singapore 188727 Tel: +65 63383665 Fax: +65 63382054 [email protected] www.fessingapore.org40 Perspective September 2017