Subject: Mission and Evangelism (M&E)
Comments: The most creative approach.
-The class is the most fun! It really helps to put it on Monday :)
-We watched movie "Through the Gates of Splendour" which is about the five martyr-missionaries and their family members who continued their works. And we are assigned a movie review.
-Me & a couple of friends went to a mission organization "Youth with a Mission (YWAM) to have an interview, and we prepared a presentation. An inspiring talk with the staff and testimony from a classmate who was with YWAM for a couple of months. She said (roughly), "If you are very serious about mission, don't go to a place where people (missionaries) have been there. Find a place where no missionaries have ever been there."
-Me with the same group went to Cambodia to observe the mission work there! I've been blogging about it.
-The lecturer also invited some guest lecturers who provided us a different perspectives on several topics.
How this class has changed me: This subject has taught me many things, correct my conception on mission and evangelism, and give a good biblical and theological basis on the 'mission trips' that I have (and will) be involved with.
This class also has taught me to be a global Christian, we prayed for countries. I remembered in one class we prayed for Christianity around the world (America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia). It widens my narrow perspective on God's works.
Subject: Old Testament (OT)
Summary: The most complicated class :)
First, the lecturer. I'm a the subject rep and therefore sometimes talk about how to make the class better, how to help those who are having difficulties, how to follow up with feedback from the class.
Second, the class. It's mentally tiring. Very short break and sometimes the class finished long after the bell rings...
Third, the weekly Bible quiz. Yup, how can I forget about it. I remembered at first I was struggling with the quiz until I realize that it is indeed very useful for me.
Fourth, the assignment. The faith-shaking assignment! I won't discuss it here as I do not want to be made responsible of shaking others' faith :p
Fifth, my group had a very cool and creative presentation on our paper! (We made a debate into a drama!)
How this class has changed me:
-This has been a difficult class especially for some of my international friends. I was made aware of it (esp. as a subject rep) and I was encouraged to help.
-This subject helps me to get the deeper truth of New Testament. It is amazing when I re-read the New Testament with the knowledge of the Old Testament in the back of my mind!
Subject: Church History (CH)
Summary: Love the assignment. A creative and useful approach to Church History.
I have talked about CH in my previous blog post. Right now I want to just talk a little bit on the assignment.
Here I quote from the syllabus:
"Choose a person or a group of people (e.g. a Church Council, a particular Christian community) covered in our course. Write him (or her or them) a letter, whose content should include:
a. an explanation of the relevant aspects of your present-day context; and
b. how the things you have learnt about this person speaks to your context."
The tricky part is the assessment criteria where I have to describe my present-day context in a way comprehensible to my recipient. Anyway, I wrote to Saint Benedict of Nursia regarding his Rule.
Subject: New Testament (NT)
Summary: more than just a survey
This class was supposed to be a survey class, but because the lecturer is a person who really likes to read so I think there are so many things that he wants to talk about and the class becomes more than just a survey. I don't mind with a deeper content, of course, as I have taken course on New Testament Survey in other bible school before. I just think about some of my friends who were never really survey the NT before.
I love the exam. It makes me look further and deeper in digging New Testament.
Never knew that Mark was so genius with his way of writing the Gospel (Intercalation? parataxis? wow... I've only heard of chiastic before). Each literary method exposed greater truth or message. Also enjoying my research on how the Feasts contribute to expand God's message in the book of John.
What I learn: Studying NT requires me to study both OT and NT. It just make me never have enough. And that is actually how we should approach the Bible. We will never have enough. No matter how many times you dig it, you can still find 'new truth' when you dig it again. It humbles me. Oh Lord, this child of your still have a long way to go. A way that I will never finish in this life...
Subject: Theology
Summary: Feel guilty for not reading the book :( Hopefully can catch up during holiday.
Comments: I talked about it before in my previous blog post, just a little bit of addition: You will never have enough time for Theology! Sir, the 30-minutes break is too long and the 2-hours lectures is not enough! Hahaha...
What I learned: How to graciously approach and answer people who have the different (to the extent: opposite) view of me. How to be critical and always question what the lecturer has explained :D
Subject: Church Visitation
Summary: Favourite subject
Comments: I love it! It is the subject that is unique to TTC, and it is something that I would bring to a theological school if I were a principal or dean of studies :)
I love how I can go around Singapore, visiting lots of churches from different denomination (something that I didn't and won't be able to do again in Singapore as I am attached to IEC). Enjoying the talk with the pastor about the church ministry. To get different ideas on how people worship (liturgy) and the various ways of ministry.
I love the assignment given to us to reflect. Through the reflection, I got a lot of things that I can bring back to my church or to me personally to be a better servant of God.
And I love the lecturer. Very calm and never show emotion. Very humble woman and she speaks as well as writes wisely (from the comments to all the weekly assigments that I submitted). She would give me question to ponder. She reads My Utmost for His Highest... *How did I know? She sometimes quoted it in her presentation*
Subject: Music Leadership Proficiency
Basically this class teaches me a little bit of music theory and technical things in leading worship.
Some of my classmates don't like this subject bccause it is either:
1. They have already been very good in music, or
2. They don't like the type of music taught, or
3. They do not need it in their ministry, or
4. They don't like the lecturer.
Fortunately for me, I'm none of the four above, so I love this class.
1. I didn't know much about music so I'm willing to learn
2. I love hymns and 'certain extent of' contemporary song
3. I will need it in my future ministry. In my home church, the worship leader must be pastor/full time ministers.
4. She is a person with a strong passion of church music and always emphasize how we have to integrate our Theology to music.
Well... it sounds selfish but... I feel that this particular subject was meant just for me! Hahaha :p
Look forward for 2nd semester!
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