Pacesetters 2014

Pacesetters

2014

Dear Reader, you hold in your hands yet another collection of photographs and writing in this edition of Pacesetters 2014. What do you see as you flip through these pages? Our hope as the editorial committee is that God will open your eyes to see Jesus Christ beyond the pictures and words.

On the TCA College Family Photo-taking Day, where the chapel bustled with people taking photos, I began to ponder how this hope could be realized. Photos have a way of capturing and triggering memories, stories, emotions, and even bringing to light new revelations or questions. But how could mere photographs reveal Jesus? Then, my heart was arrested by a revelation.

It all began when God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” Light is by far the most important element in photography and film production. In fact, the word “photography” originates from its Greek roots φῶς (phōs), which means “light”, and γραφή (graphé), which means “writing” that is represented by means of “lines” or “drawings”. Putting both together, photography literally means “drawing with light”.

Thus, it is our heart as the Pacesetters 2014 editorial committee to “draw with light” with the photographs and write-ups we produce, because only in His marvelous light can people truly see Him for who He is and what He has done! For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

As you leaf through the pages of this publication, let the pictures and words do more for you than just capture memories and stories of college life and events. Open your eyes to see His faithfulness and greatness. See and thank God for what He has done. All glory to God! May His light shine through.

Angel Teo Editor

photography

φῶς (phōs)

γραφή (graphé)

L-R: Angela Tan, Toni Er (Dean of Students), Caleb Seah, , Angel Teo

College Family

Message from the Chancellor

Firstly, I would like to congratulate all those who have completed their various levels of studies. This is surely a major sense of accomplishment and a huge step toward fulfilling your divine calling to ministry.

Secondly, I want to challenge you and remind you that you are TCA College’s Pacesetters. As the name implies, you should be ahead of the pack. As I minister in different churches and different nations, there is a cry from God’s people for more –more of God, more of His Spirit – but in a powerful new language that the man on the street can hear and relate to.

Taxi drivers, people hanging out in bars and on the streets have their defenses rehearsed against your ordinary presentation of the Gospel. They have heard all of those religious words before in one church or another. They have become bored with lifeless presentations and are no longer interested in anything related to church.

However, as recently demonstrated through a conversation in a taxi in London, when one talks about God in a way that the person can relate to, all of sudden the wall of defense is dropped and he or she will say, “Thank you!” The person feels thankful because he or she has received something to really think about and consider. The mind has opened up to the Gospel for the first time.

Thirdly, Graduates, I want to commission you into your new season. I believe that you must digest all you have learned in TCA College, go forth and allow God to use you to birth something new and powerful. Prayerfully, during your time in TCA College, you did not just focus on studies and exams, but you also allowed the Holy Spirit to impregnate you and cause you to conceive a

fresh vision for your ministry and for the Church. I join you to believe, that in the fullness of time, it shall come forth. Barrenness will be healed and fruitfulness will result in a fresh Pentecost.

As Pacesetters, hear the call of God. Jesus said, “I have called you; you have not called Me, and I have ordained you.” That means God has set you into place and He has sovereignly determined that you should bear fruit. We talk about the glory, we talk about the anointing; it is time for Pacesetters to produce fruits that will remain.

Go forth enabled and blessed.

Together in His Kingdom, Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy

Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Heartiest congratulations to the graduating cohort of TCA College 2014. Today marks the beginning of the next chapter in your walk with God. It is truly a day of celebration. All the hours of hard work and dedication that you’ve sowed into your course of study has culminated in this significant day. You have done both me and the faculty proud.

I am encouraged by the growth that has taken place in many of you. I trust that God has been doing a great work within each of you and I look forward to seeing where he will take you next. There is no doubt that you will face many challenges along the way. When I was a young minister, I was blessed to have many great mentors who prayed and walked alongside me, providing much needed guidance. I pray that God will also send such spiritual mentors to spur you on in your ministries.

Always keep close to God. Guard your time alone with Him each day as this is a sacred time that will keep you aligned to His will. Remember to anchor your faith in God and not in man. I pray that His presence will refresh you every day and cast a clear vision for your road ahead. As you heed His leading, allow Him to mold

you to become the man or woman of God that He has intended you to be.

In all things, persevere and praise Him. May your hearts always be filled with God’s compassion for His people and His joy everlasting. I look forward to serving alongside each of you in His Kingdom.

Blessings,

Rev Dominic Yeo

Message from the President

Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I thank my God every time I remember you (Phil 1:3) because we have seen how you have grown as students of God’s Word from the time you came to the College until now. Your graduation marks an important milestone that speaks of your determination, diligence and discipline to complete this arduous academic journey. Your faculty and I are witnesses to the many hours that you have put in to complete your assignments and projects by the specified deadline. Through this entire process, we are thankful that your lives have been enriched and that you have enriched the lives of your fellow students, staff and faculty. It’s such a great privilege to witness God’s work in and through you!

I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel (Phil 1:4-5). This is especially true as you graduate and allow God to position you for His glory in churches, Christian organizations and counseling agencies. As you serve God in churches and in the marketplace, you have become partners in the gospel, serving the needs of people and touching lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many lives around you will be transformed because of your willingness and availability to heed God’s call in your life. It’s a great joy to see you joining many of God’s servants who are already serving in the Kingdom.

Confident of this, that he who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6). It is God who started the good work in you and I am confident that the Holy Spirit will equip you to carry to completion what He has placed in your hearts and spirits. In this journey, you will face challenges and adversities. During such times, always seek refuge in the One who has called you so as to find strength to carry on in the ministry. When you encounter trials, likewise, always allow the One who has chosen you to direct your footsteps so that you will walk in God’s divine timing and be kept in sync with His purpose and will. It’s a great honor to be used by God, to complete what He has for us and to fulfill it together with Him for His glory.

Rev Dr Wilson Teo

Message from the Dean School of Counseling

Congratulations to our eight students graduating with the Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) degree and three students graduating with the Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling degree, awarded by TCA College and recognized by the Singapore Association for Counseling (SAC). They have shown perseverance and performed well in their studies and counseling abilities.

Among the eleven graduates, four of them are already in fulltime positions as counselors in community and church-related counseling services. Several are serving as volunteer counselors in agencies, while others are looking to use their counseling skills advantageously within their professional and work environments.

Last year in my message in Pacesetters, I mentioned that we had submitted the application for course recognition of our MAC program to the SAC. On November 16, 2013, we received an official reply confirming that our MAC has received full recognition! Praise the Lord! This recognition is for a twoyear renewable period until January 2016. We pray for the Lord’s continued favor upon the School of Counseling (SOC), which aims to maintain its academic rigor and attain all the professional benchmarks as required by the Course Recognition Standards.

We thank the Lord for our graduates who are serving faithfully as full-time counselors and leaders within the social service

sector as well as in the churches as Christian professional counselors. With the growing interest by pastors and full-time staff to be equipped with counseling skills, SOC is proud to announce the launch of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MAPC) in January 2015. The MAPC is our third postgraduate degree to be offered. Do visit TCA College’s website (www. tca.edu.sg) for more information on the program.

For our eleven graduates, this is a good reminder that your journey as a professional practitioner has only just begun. You are the change-maker in the community where you will serve. Have a tender heart for the things of God; be empowered each day by the Holy Spirit; like Jesus, have a compassionate heart for people at all times! I will end with a verse of Scripture from Paul the Apostle:

“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen… practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:9 (NASB)

May the blessings of God be upon you and your counseling practice!

Rev Sam Kuna

Message from the Dean School of Creative Arts

Heartiest congratulations to all the graduates on this well-deserved achievement. We at TCA College are proud of you for pressing through and completing this important phase in your journey.

At my Doctoral Baccalaureate Service in May, Dr Jim M Singleton, Jr gave a powerful word which left an indelible mark on me. He quoted from Philippians 1:3-5: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. The title of his sharing was ‘Turtles on Fence Posts: Ministry is About Partnerships’, based on an imagery from a book he had come across.

Imagine that you found a turtle sitting on the top of a fence post. Now, let your imagination run for a moment and ask, “How can a turtle climb up and get on the fence post on its own?” The only possible way is when someone carries it and places it there. In other words, as Jim revealed, “It didn’t get there by itself.”

In the same way, as you graduate, I would like to remind you that you did not get to where you are today on your own. Think about the people who have helped you. They could be your parents, friends, family, sponsors, church, pastors, leaders, teachers, college staff and many others. These people supported you financially, taught, prayed and encouraged you. Do take time in the midst of all your celebrations to appreciate and remember what a blessing they have been to you.

Ministry is always about partnerships. So as you have had people help get you to where you are today, continue to do the same for others. Believe in the people that God places along your path and come alongside them to get them to where they need to be.

Congratulations once again and enjoy this season as the Lord propels you further than you have ever been before. Stay close to Him, keep Him in the center, and continue to remain faithful to whatever He has called you to do. Keep shining for Him!

Rev Dr Paul David

Message from the Dean School of Theology (English)

Not too long ago, I was attending a week-long training conference at a seminary in the Philippines. It was the final night of the conference and an informal session was organized for speakers and students to fellowship together. Part of the session was for all the conference speakers to be invited on stage and students were permitted to ask them all sorts of questions. All the speakers on stage were accomplished pastors and well-recognized ministry leaders. There were representatives from the United States, Europe, and Asia. I wondered to myself, “What questions would the students ask?”

A sister’s hand shot up from amongst the students. She ran to the microphone and said, “Pastors, we’ve greatly benefited from all your teaching this week. We all see your success in ministry and that you’ve accomplished so much for God’s Kingdom. Could you please let us know the secret behind your success?”

After a long silence, one of the speakers stood up and looked slowly across the hundreds of students in the hall. “Friends, I know you think all of us are great achievers. But I’m not sure if you’ve understood the essence of what we’ve been teaching. We are who we are but by the grace of God. There is no secret. There is nothing to boast about.”

Graduands, I congratulate you for completing your studies at TCA College. For some, you will be taking on a new role and a new responsibility in your church. For others, you will be returning to your country with a fresh passion and zeal to serve Christ. Still for others, you will continue to serve in your present ministry but with added theological insight and increased ministry competence. I exhort all of us to pause and remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:10 that we are who we are but by the grace of God. May thanksgiving and humility rise up from deep within.

May the Holy Spirit anoint you to build God’s Kingdom.

Rev Dennis Lum

Programs Offered

School of Counseling

Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling*

Master of Arts in Counseling*

Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling1

School of Creative Arts

Continuous Learning Program2

Creative Arts Workshops

Trainings and Consultations

School of Theology

English Department

Certificate in Ministry

Diploma in Theology

Bachelor of Theology

Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies

Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies

Master of Arts in Ministry

Master of Divinity

Chinese Department

Certificate in Ministry

Diploma in Theology

Bachelor of Theology

Master of Arts in Ministry

Master of Divinity

Master of Theology

College Leadership

*Recognized by Singapore Association for Counselling 1 Program commences in January 2015

2 Specific Creative Arts Courses can be taken as part of School of Theology Bachelor & Master programs.

Rev Dennis Lum Dean, School of Theology (English)

Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy Chancellor

Rev Dominic Yeo Vice-Chancellor

Rev Dr Wilson Teo President

Toni Er Dean of Students

Dr Joy Tsai Dean, School of Theology (Chinese)

Rev Sam Kuna Dean, School of Counseling

Rev Dr Paul David Dean, School of Creative Arts

Faculty and Staff

School of Theology (English)

School of Creative Arts

School of Theology (English)

L-R: Lily Lim, Dr Tan Hock Seng, Rev Dr Jerry Goh, Rev Bryan Tan, Rev Dennis Lum (Dean), Dr Richard Goetz, Rev Dr Babu Immanuel, Rev Joseph Tan

School of Theology (Chinese)

L-R: Rev Dr Andrew Teoh , Dr Leong Siang Nuan , Rev Thomas Low , Dr Joy Tsai , Rev Dr Bernard Koh , Maggie Kwek

School of Creative Arts Rev Dr Paul David (Dean)

School of Theology (Chinese)

School of Counseling

L-R: Esther Tzer-Wong, Dr Leslie Lim

Rev Sam Kuna (Dean), Rev Anita Chia

Center for Counseling

Standing L-R: Audrey Yeo, Sherrilyn Thanam, Susan Lincoln. Seated L-R: Rev Anita Chia, Rev Sam Kuna, Esther Tzer-Wong

Administrative Staff

L-R: Barry Chee, Patricia Loke, Alma Baselonia, Pauline Se, Rev Lam Ee Lin, Winnie Ngui, Jenny Su, Sharon Chua

School of Counseling

Center for Counseling

Administrative Staff

The Student Council

“God Centered, Life Transforming, Culturally Relevant.”

These values must be embedded in every believer’s life, as he or she lives out His calling in the church, family and the market place. TCA College has indeed lived up to its motto for being an academy that is God Centered, Life Transforming and Culturally Relevant through its curriculum.

The college is committed to achieving a high level of excellence in education by providing a spiritually-charged and conducive environment for students to grow intellectually and spiritually. This goal is achieved through a God-centered curriculum taught by competent lecturers from different nationalities and denominations; hence providing diversity in teaching and commonality in Christ. The students are also encouraged to participate in activities that empower them to translate what they have learnt theoretically into action. The Student Council plays a crucial role in facilitating those activities – the two main ones being Cultural Night and Cohesion Day.

Cultural Night celebrates the different cultures within the college and is also a time when we uphold the different nations in intercessory

prayer. Cohesion Day celebrates the unity of the school among faculty, administrative staff and students from different departments, through outdoor games and adrenalinepumping activities. The Student Council also leads the weekly prayer meetings, plans informal outings and cares for the welfare of the student body. The goal of all the studentcentered activities is to build a culturally relevant and life transforming environment for the students in this community.

TCA College is truly like no other; with its exceptional education supported by passionate, qualified and experienced lecturers, dynamic and life-changing small group activities that are facilitated professionally, and last but not least the authentic and transparent interactions between students that are focused on empowering and building each other up. Having experienced all these personally, TCA College has indeed embedded in me the values of being:

“God Centered, Life Transforming and Culturally Relevant.”

Luke Zachary Ng President, Student

Council

Back L-R: Tom Cannon, Alex Coelho, , Luke Ng, Cheryl Tan, 珅, , Toni Er (Dean of Students), Wong Wun Chee,

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International Students

Cultural Night

It was an evening of fun, food and festivities at Cultural Night 2014. Held annually in the first term of each school year, Cultural Night aims to showcase the various cultures represented by the TCA College family. Open to all staff, students and their loved ones, this year saw a total of 98 participants from 15 different countries gathering at the Summit.

Staff and students were each assigned a group and the evening started off with a feast of different types of food prepared by the groups. These included ethnic foods from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. From satay to spring rolls, everyone had a great feasting time getting to know one another culturally through the food affair. A Thai-styled buffet was also served up.

The worship service for the evening was led by David Wong and Hana Yosanta of the School of Theology. Together with all the musicians, the worshippers, regardless of culture and language, were making ‘joyful noise’ unto the Lord with all their hearts.

Next on the program was the Parade of Nations. This is an almost sacred ritual when

each of the representative countries’ flags is marched in and paraded in the Summit. A time of prayer and intercession for these various countries followed. Prayer items, drawn up by representative members of each nation, included current-day issues and needs of the nation. Participants also got to take home a door gift in the form of an eraser with a country flag imprinted on it – an ‘oldschool’ but meaningful item to remember the event by.

The much-awaited item of Cultural Night were the cultural performances put up by the individual groups. The theme for this year was ‘Love’ comprising Indian, Indonesian, Chinese and Chinese-Indian cultures. There was much originality, creativity and cultural elements portrayed in each of the drama, song and dance performances by all four groups.

This year’s Cultural Night wound down to a close after all the fun, laughter, and excitement. It was a truly memorable event!

Cohesion Day

Cohesion Day 2014 took place in the beautiful Chinese Gardens. An early morning shower made the ground soft and perfected the weather for us as we, the students, faculty and administrative staff of TCA College, arrived at the meeting point at 10am. By then the sun was up high, basking everything in its God-given glory. As the Student Council President spoke into the megaphone, the day began.

The theme for the day was ‘Unity in Strength’ and the activities revolved around it. We started with an ice-breaker game called ‘Blind, Cripple and Mute’, where we formed groups of 3 and led each other with a specific set of instructions. There was also a series of games that were played in bigger groups. In one of such games, each group was required to fill a bottle with water using nothing except newspapers. There was also a game where we created a tank track out

of newspapers! The College members were given the opportunity to launch newspaper balls at each other, all in good fun. These bizarre yet entertaining games helped to foster a greater sense of cohesion among the students, faculty and administrative staff who do not usually have the chance to interact in this manner during regular college days.

Lunch ensued at about half past 12 where we bonded further with our groups. After lunch, each group put up a performance in relation to the theme of the day. This proved to be the most entertaining part of the day as we witnessed the creativity of each group under time pressure. The unique cultural diversity of the college was apparent in all the skits which also brought about much laughter and fun. Prizes were given out at the end of the day, followed by tea and prayer before the day ended. The day was especially beneficial to the new students too as they got to interact with their seniors, lecturers and administrative staff. It was indeed a fun-filled and exciting day for everyone!

Vietnam Missions Trip

Vietnam

The missions trip was a memorable experience that left a deep impression in the hearts of each team member. It was a good reminder of what God is doing and has been doing in the lives of His people.

In April 2014, TCA College sent out a team to a Bible School in Ho Chi Minh City for a seven-day teachingmissions trip. This is in line with TCA College’s purpose statement to provide ministerial training to equip students to be responsible Christian leaders in promoting the mission of the church. Led by Dr Babu

Immanuel, the team comprised students from the School of Theology, Linda Yong and Toni Er.

Classes at the Bible School commenced at 8.30am daily. Each day, the students from the Bible School picked the team up on their motorcycles. Upon arriving in school, a delicious breakfast graciously prepared by the school cook and the students who were on duty awaited them.

Classes ran throughout the day until 4.30pm with short breaks in-between. The team

taught the Synoptic Gospels and each of them presented their assigned topics covering the Life of Christ in detail. They also prepared several ice-breaker activities to allow more interaction and fellowship among the students and the team. Short quizzes and discussion time for the students were also weaved into the presentations to monitor their progress and help them in their understanding.

In addition, each team member was given the opportunity to speak at the school’s chapel in the morning. Every chapel session began with a time of heartfelt worship and prayer which has tremendously blessed the team members. In turn, many of the students shared that they had been encouraged and strengthened by the Word that was shared.

The missions trip was a memorable experience that left a deep impression in the hearts of each team member. It was a good reminder of what God is doing and has been doing in the lives of His people. Throughout

this trip, the team felt very blessed by God’s grace, favor and protection, as well as the warm hospitality received from the coordinators and all the students at the Bible School. The team would like to thank all who have prayed for them and supported them in one way or another.

All glory and praise be to God!

Worship Reflection

The 3 P’s of Worship

Worship encompasses our entire life and whatever we do can be an act of worship unto our God Almighty. One needs to know that the more God speaks and reveals Himself to us, the more we need to change and live out what is expected of us. Here are the 3 P’s for us to remember every time we worship Him.

1 Person

When we worship Him, we need to ask ourselves – who are we really exalting? Revelation 4 & 5 gives us a perfected picture of worship where the Lamb of God is the central focus. When He is not at the center, our worship can result in idolatry.

A question to ponder: Is your life one where He is the center of everything?

2 Posture

Throughout Scripture, it can be seen that worship involves both an attitude and an act. In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus is addressing this

issue. It is very easy to look “worshipful” on the outside, but we can be devoid internally. LaMar Boschman, in his book, A Heart of Worship, reminds us that actions do not turn a “non-worshiping heart into a worshiping one”, but can only assist in expressing our love and adoration towards Him.

A question to ponder: Does your external posture match the attitude in your heart?

3 Presence

We need to remember that the presence of God is not limited to just an event or during times of singing. Andrew E Hill summarizes it well when he commented that

“The sacred (holy in relationship to God)” should not be separated “from the secular (a way of life and thought without reference to God).” Psalm 139 highlights that His presence is everywhere. God is looking for people who carry His presence wherever they go.

A question to ponder: Are you a carrier of His presence?

Let us always remember these 3 P’s and continue to grow in our worship of Him till we see Him face to face.

Rev Dr Paul David

School of Creative Arts Trainings

Given the vision and focus of the School of Creative Arts, there are different tracks and empowerments that are taking place. There have been various trainings and empowerments planned this year, one of which took place at a local church, Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (BPMC).

Since August 2013, TCA College’s School of Creative Arts had the privilege of having a number of dialogue sessions with the worship ministry leaders at BPMC. Various elements were discussed in hopes of enhancing the musicality in this church.

One of the first things that was established was forming the worship ministry core team comprising a mix of key leaders from the adult and the youth

worship teams. There was a session to set expectations of this core team as well as get to know them. Every member was then assigned a role according to their strengths, to bring collective wisdom to move the ministry forward.

A worship team manual was simultaneously developed in order to put the entire worship ministry on the same page with regard to the vision, mission, expectations and requirements of being part of the worship team.

A six-session training of three hours each was organized for the core team in order to raise their levels of musicianship and excellence. Various topics like Fundamentals of Music and Musical Journey in a Song were covered. “It was a great time of having fun, being stretched musically and vocally plus a whole lot of learning and un-learning.”

The final goal of the training sessions was for the team to learn a new song and try to deliver it as close as possible to how the original artist performed it. The team really practiced hard and carried the message of the song by declaring that “My Savior Lives.” This song was also included into their song list for their Easter Service. One of them mentioned, “Undergoing so much training has paid off with one of the best worships I’ve seen in quite a while. Praise God!”

In the second half of the year, we have the privilege once again of conducting another six sessions of similar training for the entire worship team. This training aims to hone the skillsets of the entire worship team and put them on par with the core team.

Here is what Worship and Music

Ministry Coordinator Ruth Leong had to say about this journey that TCA College took alongside them:

“Through dialogue sessions with Paul before and during the training sessions, we were able to better understand where our ministry was and the necessary steps to take to move the ministry forward. One of the key changes implemented was the formation of a core team to work alongside the ministry head to lead the ministry.

The workshops gave us a clear framework for understanding the building blocks of a musical piece and they could be used to affect the dynamics of a worship set. This in turn would help us lead the congregation more effectively to worship in song.”

TCA College’s School of Creative

Arts is honored and privileged to be able to encourage, establish, build and train music teams alongside churches from various denominations to give excellence to God and live a life of worship beyond the spotlit stage.

School of Counseling Seminar

The School of Counseling organized a seminar on Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth: A Christian Perspective and Approach, which took place on 3 June 2014, at Trinity Christian Centre. Representatives from various organizations, churches, interested individuals as well as professional counselors attended this full-day seminar.

Dr Tan’s latest research and writing on this topic brought about a fresh understanding on how people can manage trauma and adversities in their lives. There are various paths to resilience and several factors that can influence how effective coping and growth can take place after a traumatic experience. The focus here is helping people grow from being a victim to becoming a survivor and finally, a thriver. This fresh perspective promotes growth in place of trauma.

Participants learnt that posttraumatic growth refers to positive changes that people experience following periods of adversity and trauma, leading to better well-being. It has also been called “benefit-finding, growth following adversity, personal transformation, stress-related growth and thriving”. The seminar reviewed literature on resilience and posttraumatic growth as well as research into practice. This included a Biblical perspective on human suffering that provided much meaning and help for resilience and posttraumatic growth that is Christ- and crosscentered.

Feedback from the participants showed that the seminar content helped them understand that growth is possible after a traumatic experience. The clinical strategies or applications as well as growth signposts presented in a self-help format were useful for practitioners. Essentially, a Biblical perspective on suffering that goes beyond simply affirming

and emphasizing benefit-finding or the end of human suffering presented a paradigm shift for them on trauma that focuses on knowing God and sharing in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering.

“Posttraumatic growth refers to positive changes that people report following experiences of adversity and trauma, leading to better well-being.” –

Dr Tan Siang Yang

“Posttraumatic growth is about growth, and not about finding happiness. Suffering and pain are not about finding benefit, but spiritual growth.” – Feedback from a participant

School of Theology (English) Seminar

On 19 October 2013, Rev Joseph Tan delivered a stimulating seminar entitled Finding Your Way through the Prophets. Rev Joseph teaches the Old Testament at TCA College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Bible and Theology at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

The seminar helped to give an understanding of the prophets in the Old Testament and provided some simple tools for the participants to navigate their way through the vast Prophetic literature. These include a good grasp of the Torah (Pentateuch) as the foundation; an appreciation

of the historical background and context in which the prophets spoke; and comprehending the literary style and form of poetic writing. The seminar also helped participants relate the prophetic messages to this present day.

Many participants gave positive feedback after the session. One participant expressed a deep

“A new perspective. Definitely great keys to digging into the Bible!”

appreciation for understanding what prophets are and what they are not. The participants also found the tools provided to be helpful in deepening their understanding of the prophets’ message. Some participants enjoyed the seminar to such a great extent that they decided to enroll into a program of study to delve further into Scripture.

“It gave me a great appreciation of reading the Bible and uncovering the truths and gems of Scripture.”

“Pastor Joseph creates a greater interest in how to explore the prophets in greater depth.”

Graduates’ Reflections

It all started with a desire to know more about the Bible and God directed me to TCA College. From the start, it just “felt right” to be here. My lecturers taught with such passion, and the understanding and revelations that I received blew me away! Truly, no matter what you do or who you are, God will reveal Himself to you as long as you are willing. He will direct your paths and provide what you need to accomplish His work.

I thank God for my time at TCA College. I came to get an education, but beyond that I also gained a wider perspective of the world and made new friends from many different places. I have a lot of good memories about pondering tough questions in the classroom, chatting with the lecturers, and exploring the different corners of the diverse city of Singapore. May God continue to use TCA College to prepare many more people for life and ministry!

My learning journey here has been very significant in helping me clarify and pursue my God given goals and dreams. TCA College has something more valuable to offer: Passionate, Committed and Godly faculty members who go the extra mile to ensure we have the right knowledge and skills striking a right balance between spiritual and secular counseling. It is fair to say that the faculty’s aspiration is to produce the best professional counselors. I am glad I did it in TCA College!

Roberts Sam Bobby India

School of Counseling Master of Arts in Counseling

Topf Stefan Georg Daniel Germany

School of Theology Master of Divinity

Sham Yan Long Monica Singapore School of Theology Master of Arts in Ministry

Rose Apphia Rujiab Faquir Singapore

School of Counseling Master of Arts in Counseling

My learning journey with TCA College has been significant to my growth as a professional counselor. I benefitted especially from the course’s emphasis on intensive clinical training and the person of a counselor. I am encouraged by the way lecturers generously shared their wealth of experience and showed genuine concern towards every student’s growth in their professional calling. Their encouragement helped me to persevere through the course and share generously with others what I have learnt. Thank you Rev Sam, Esther, Ps Anita and all the lecturers.

THE GRADUATES

Certificate in Ministry

Singapore

Chang Lay Eng

Yosanta Hana

Indonesia

Lok Chee Hoe

Singapore

Si Poh Hua

Singapore

Yeong Yee Shyong

Lim Peng Keng

Singapore

Singapore

THE GRADUATES

Diploma in Theology

Gao YaEr

Tan Siew Geok

Tan Kheng Tong

China SingaporeSingapore

THE GRADUATES

Bachelor of Theology

Singapore

Chan YiZhong RaymundChia Kian Soon Mervin

Singapore

Chu Yeok Kam Esther

Singapore

Ho Sow Fong Jacqueline Singapore

Singapore

Leong Yoke Sin Priscilla

Tan Cheng Leong John Singapore

Wong Min Rou Michelle

Zeng Xiu Xia

China Malaysia

Liu Chao China

Liu SuHui China

Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies

Samson Elisa David Pratap India

Au Yeong Yuen Mun Singapore

Leong Wen Pin Lester Singapore

Leong Siew Wing Daniel Singapore

THE GRADUATES

Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies

Boo Kim Hong PatriciaNallathambi Mercy Flora Singapore India

THE GRADUATES

Master of Arts in Ministry

Singapore

Malaysia

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Not pictured

Low Loy Nghee Christopher

Singapore

Chng Li Chen JaniceLau Ek Sing Daniel

Yap Wan Ping

Lim Yong Chin Melvin

Sham Yan Long Monica

THE GRADUATES

Master of Divinity

Er Puay Hoon Toni Singapore

Grey Jose Flores Philippines

Gunawan Selina Indonesia

Li Yan China

Odyuo Avoni India

THE GRADUATES

Master of Divinity

Sui XiaoMei Teo Kian Teck Kelvin Singapore China

Yang Chi Hsiang Taiwan

Wu Xia China

Topf Stefan Georg Daniel Germany

THE GRADUATES

Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling

Hsu Yuk Chor PeterLim Kim Meng Francis Singapore Singapore

Lye Yin Fong Jean Singapore

Master of Arts in Counseling

Chong Ming Li

Gozal Yenly Francesca

Indonesia

Tan Soo Meng Robert

Singapore

Rose Apphia Rujiab Faquir Singapore

Singapore

Lim Siew Chwee Walter

Singapore

Yeo Audrey Tay Siok Choo Margaret Singapore Singapore

Roberts Sam Bobby India

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

to my dearest Jacqueline

May God guide and direct you in abundant grace as you embark on a journey in helping others grow spiritually.

Love and Hugs from your husband Raymond

Pua

Jacqueline Ho on being conferred Bachelor of Theology

From Mr. & Mrs. Tan Hong Kiem