My Dear Fellow Alumni,
I just returned from an unofficial Alumni Retreat that was sponsored by an alumnus and his wife to bless his friends during his time in SBC, 1983 to 1986, in SOTE. He also studied in Malaysia Bible Seminary (MBS) and invited his schoolmates from MBS to join this retreat. About 50 of us spent 3 days and 2 nights at MBS Suites, KL and returned with hearts overflowing with joy and thanksgiving to our God for the sweet time of encouragement and refreshment. We were so appreciative of Kok Chong Hor (SOTE 2005), another alumnus, who graciously did all the logistics in hiring the best coach, getting the best price and charting out the best route for our lunch/dinner and restroom stops. So blessed!.
Our theme was Pressing on & Finishing Well. Dr Koh Siang Kiang (SOTE 1987) and I were invited to share devotional messages on the theme. Another Alumnus Rev Dr Joshua Yee (SOTE 1983), and his wife Carrie (SOTC 1984) also shared innovations during the challenging times of COVID and how God blessed their ministry even more. Rev Clarence Goh (SOTE 1985), sang a beautiful song that encouraged each of us. The final message was given by the Dean and Vice Principal, Dr Tony Lim (a graduate from the DMin programme in SOTE) of MBS on reflections from Psalm 23. We were spiritually nourished and strengthened. It was not all work, but we did play some! A hired coach took the Singaporeans for some sight-seeing and ended the evening in a Chinese restaurant for a sumptuous seafood dinner. After that, when it was pitch dark, we took a boat ride to see the fireflies. As we sang in the boat the fireflies came out to give us a grand display of sparkling lights from the bushes!
We thank God for the love and generosity of Rev Dr Bernard Teh (SOTE 1984) and Mrs Dorothy Teh, together with Rev Dr Joshua Yee and Mrs Carrie Yee, and other sponsors who gave generously to make this retreat such a blessing to all of us who attended.
Some of the alumni had not seen each other for over 30 years and what a reunion that was! This brought to mind what heaven would be like, from a song I learnt many decades ago:
When we all get together
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
My personal take home from the retreat was that as I serve the Lord in this last leg of my journey on earth, I want to press on even more intentionally, love the Lord more dearly, continue to serve Him from a deep overflow of gratitude for all He has done for me, fix my eyes on Jesus, sit at His feet, stay humble and finish well and strong!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1 & 2)
Pressing on with God’s grace!
