Blessed 2021.  This is the beginning of a new year and I want to start this year by sharing on a more personal note. 

As a spiritual discipline, we (my wife and I) take a Quiet Retreat every 3 months to keep our perspective as we follow the Lord’s calling.  Towards the end of 2020, we did that in Changi Cove. The Lord gave us Ps 90:12 “Lord, teach us to number our days so as to gain a heart of wisdom”.  The Lord also led us down a boardwalk at Changi as part of our retreat.  

The first sight that greeted us was Changi Beach Club.   I remembered how God met us there personally some 10 years ago.  The vision of my 2^nd church “Queenstown Baptist Church (QBC)” was born there and that vision has continually guided the church’s development over the last ten years.  We washed each other’s feet there.  Changi beach club marked the beginning of our wonderful ministry journey at QBC.  But surprisingly after we stroll down 15 minutes, God led us to Changi Sailing Club.  We have forgotten this place.  Here we spent our last days as the pastoral couple of Grace Baptist Church after serving there for 6 plus years.  Changi Sailing Club marked the end of our first remarkable journey in Full Time Ministry in Singapore.

The Changi Boardwalk links the beginning and the end of two wonderful ministry journeys. And as we walked on it, the Lord taught us to look back and number our days and learn from them.  By God’s grace, we have made some minor contributions to both churches.  But as we look back, we saw clearly that rather than benefiting these churches, the Lord has chosen to use these institutions to shape us.  This has been his method since ancient times – using circumstances to form His servants. One major lesson that we have learned – ‘great things attempted without God’s strength will never last, and the little things done faithfully depending on Him will always blossom’.  And to that growth in trust we give thanks.

As we look back and see a beginning and an ending, the board walk reminds us that we are in the beginning of another ‘new ministry journey’ (3 words).

‘New’ because it is a seminary and not a church.  ‘New’ because God is unfolding a new work in this seminary.

‘Ministry’ because a seminary is always called to serve God first.  ‘Ministry’ also means that God has called us to serve 2 earthly targets – the nations on one hand, the Singapore churches on the other.  

‘Journey’ means that there is an ending to this season. We are not Singaporeans.  We are not young.  We will only be here for a season to fulfill His call. And here again, God is bringing to attention Ps 90:12 again.  Number our days (not just those days past but those days left) and be wise.  God remind us to use the lesson from the past to shape our present and future service at BTS – ‘great projects attempted without God’s strength will never last, little things faithfully done in the Spirit’s dependence will always blossom.’  And with that God impressed a North Star to guide us for the remaining of our new journey ahead.  

A lot of good things have happened in the last 4 months – the unanimous adoption of the new vision by the board, the enthusiastic embracing of the curriculum transformation by the faculty, the unexpected monetary gifts that has come from some of you (it is a great source of encouragement because we are small and critically depends on your support), the consistent regular prayer support from 40 warriors.  These are gifts from the Lord constantly reminding us of our Christmas North Star – Immanuel has come to walk with us.   As I look at our past years in ministry, I remember the poem “Footprints”.  It is because of Immanuel’s walk that we will finish 2021 well.

May the Christ of Christmas teach all of us to number our days and empower us to spend 2021 wisely through Him and for Him.  

Serving Him with you,

Rev Peter Lin

President

P.S. In the next letters, I would begin sharing on the new vision and direction that God has laid on our hearts.  Stay tuned.