City Harvest Church’s School of Theology (SOT) graduated their 24th batch of students last weekend. City News caught up with the winners of the SOT awards.
AWARD: Best Academic Performance
WINNER: Danny Teo, 41, from CHC, Singapore
In SOT, we really need to rely on the grace of God. Sometimes there are so many assignments to complete, and as a team leader, I have so many administrative things to do as well. I relied on God’s grace and wisdom to help me plan my time those seven months. He gave me the strength so I could continue to serve Him. I feel His presence very strongly every morning during praise and worship—His presence motivated me to go on during difficult times, to do my best.
What made you so passionate about learning?
I want to share two things. Firstly, I have always believed in excellence. The Bible teaches us that in whatever we do, we do unto God. So when we do good works, we glorify the Father in heaven. So I try to do my best in whatever I do, whether it’s an assignment, a book review, a test, I try to do as well as I can.
Secondly, it was such a privilege to come to SOT so I took every opportunity to learn the different things taught in school. I wanted to have an inquisitive mind, to ask questions when I wasn’t sure about things, to probe deeper into everything that was being taught, so that I would understand better and apply all I learned in the marketplace. I wanted them not to just be theories learned at SOT but things that I can practically use.
AWARD: Best Team
WINNER: Team 12 (represented by Lee Chuen Hng and Cheryl Seow from CHC, Singapore)
How did you feel about receiving the award?
Lee Chuen Heng (CH): I felt surprised as the other teams nominated were also very united. Being nominated and recognized by the School was already a privilege for our team.
Cheryl Seow (CS): I was very touched and happy, all the more so because I know the award means a lot to the international students. Now each time I look at the award, I am reminded of how we pursued and encountered God, and koinonia-ed (Greek for “fellowship”) together.
What was it like leading your team?
CH: I feel that the team members made leading easy because everyone shared a burden for one other. Also, since we are Team 12 and Jesus had 12 disciples, I felt we lived our lives like the early Christians did in Acts 2:44-45. The team is like a family unit, where we are supportive of one another, and each team member plays a part to make this family comfortable.
CS: The team reminds me a lot of the church in Acts 2:44-45: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” We may not have been the most talented or the richest, but with the little we had, we used it to serve one another and the School. As a leader, I’m really grateful to God for the privilege to serve this group of people who are most willing to serve; to carry their burdens and to share their joy. I’ve learned so much from them in this journey. I’m also thankful to them for their constant encouragement and care. Throughout this journey, I feel like I’ve received much more from the team than what I have given.
Tell us about your experience at SOT.
CH: SOT is a place where I really learned that a life of Christian is “by grace alone, in Christ alone and through faith alone”. Everything that we do is to bring Heaven’s culture down to earth and to glorify God. I also learned to obey and to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, to be a yielded vessel that can be used so that others can be blessed and inspired to pursue God as well!
CS: SOT is really a School of Transformation. Your passion for God will be fuelled as you attend classes with like-minded people who are actively pursuing God, and your spiritual hunger will be stirred as you encounter God. For me, I came to a place where I decided to wholly follow Jesus and there is nothing the world can offer me which can come close to the presence, the power and the glory of Christ. As Pastor Bobby has taught us, we want to come to a place where all our bridges are burnt and there is no turning back. You’ll be amazed at what God can do in your life when you consecrate seven months of your life to pursue Him wholeheartedly!
AWARD: Minister of the Year
WINNER: Joy Putra Ervian, 21, from GBI Rehobot Surabaya, Indonesia
I feel so grateful to God! it is really only by His grace that I got this award. Praise the Lord, indeed He is a good God! All the time while I was serving in SOT, I always tried to give my best, not to man but to God. I focused on keeping my heart and motivation purely to praise Him. I will always remember this award—it is motivation for me to keep serving God tirelessly until the time comes for me to meet Him face to face.
Tell us about your SOT experience.
Well, those seven months in SOT was the best time ever! I had a great time filled with many awesome experiences. I am so happy to get to know a lot of people from different countries with different backgrounds, personalities and needs. They are really the best people: they are always there whenever I need them. They are people who serve and love others tirelessly, and love God so much!
I am grateful to be part of SOT Worship Team—such wonderful singers and musicians! Their attitudes inspire me to keep giving my best to Jesus, and remain on fire for God. I feel that I found my family here in Singapore, in City Harvest Church. I’ve gained many experiences but above all, my personal encounter with Jesus was the best experience I’ve ever had! The more I encounter Him, the more desperate I am for Him. The more I seek Him, the more I find Him. Every morning, when we sought His face, He always showed up and did something miraculous! Our spirits were strengthened because every day, we looked for Him first before lessons. I have no regrets spending seven months in SOT! Though some of us will go our separate ways back to our own cities and nations, we still praise one same God and His name is Jesus!
AWARD: Best Overall Performance
WINNER: Liao Chia Hsien, 33, full-time staffer in Taipei Revival Church, Taiwan.
All the glory belongs to God! I’m just a broken vessel that God uses. This is not the end, but just the beginning of my journey. I will continue to be a broken vessel, who will go where God sends me and say what God wants me to say.
Tell us about your experience in SOT.
Being in SOT is like turning our face to the Lord for seven months. The more we look at Jesus, we become more like Jesus, and are transformed into His image, so we can become His testimony wherever we go. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, ‘And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’”
AWARD: Courage Award: Peh Ah Peeh, 77, member of CHC, Singapore
Read about Uncle Peh’s SOT journey here.
