SIBU (Sarawak) – The 13th Graduation Ceremony of the Methodist eological School (MTS) Sibu was marked by three “firsts”, or first-time events, in the history of the school.
Gao Shuang Ying was the first student from China to graduate from the MTS with a Bachelor of Theology. Another student, Ling Yih, was the first graduate to complete the Master of Divinity with a major in Missiology. Also for the first time, two Iban students in the MTS completed the full course of the four-year bachelor’s degree programme.
A total of 16 theological graduates and 11 Theological Education Extension (TEE) Programme graduates received their certificates from the MTS Principal, the Rev Dr Tie King Tai, on Oct 29, 2011.
Dr John Ong Bee Chung, Principal of the Baptist eological College, exhorted the students to serve with humility, and focus on their important task of serving the Lord Jesus without being distracted by trifling matters.
“There have been many controversies in theology. It even dates to the time of Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist. When the disciples of John saw Jesus baptising the people, the former started to debate over the issue. The problem was that they were making comparisons,” said Dr Ong.
“If you start comparing with each other, you will lose your joy and peace, and forget to serve with loyalty and put your trust in God,” he added. “If you are humble in your ministry, entrusting everything to God, He will surely send you into His service.”
Dr Ong related the example of the Jewish groom and his friends. The groom’s friends would wait patiently for the groom at the gate of his new mansion. Likewise, the pastors of today should also know their duty. “Preserve the Church – not letting heterodoxy infiltrate the church. It is the prime duty of the church leaders and pastors to protect ‘the bride’. Glorify God with all your being for the prosperity of the church.”
– Connection, an English station of e Chinese Methodist Message, Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference.
