2025 is here! As we step into the New Year, let us be encouraged that every ending marks a new beginning. The old year fades like a sunset in the west, but a new year rises like a sunrise blessed. While we thank our Lord for so much—His enduring faithfulness, unfailing love and timely provisions over the past year—we now embrace the new year with new experiences and expectations. God’s mercies are new every morning. At BTS, we liken the New Year to a fresh piece of canvas, eagerly awaiting the brushstrokes of our Creator God to paint the beautiful picture of His gracious works in and through us. “For it is God who works in [us] to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose”. (Phil 2:13, NIV)

BTS begins another semester with a new batch of 17 students from China, Hong Kong, Myanmar and Singapore, totalling the student enrolment to 65. Our lecturers are all geared to teach, train and mentor them in these subjects: Christian Theology, Pastoral Theology, Biblical Greek, New Testament Foundations, Homiletics, Spiritual Formation, Pentateuch, Christian Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Marriage and Family, Missiology, Christology, and the Baptist Faith.

Standing in the gap for the next BTS president to come on board, I often stood in amazement at the passion and enthusiasm of our lecturers in preparing and delivering the lessons to ensure that the transformational truths from God’s Word would not be convoluted nor compromised. We can do more, we must do more, and we want to do more. Steps are in place to recruit experienced and qualified lecturers to complement our team.

Theological training at BTS makes a compelling difference. At a recent gathering of 34 Baptist pastors for fellowship and mutual encouragement, 15 were BTS alumni!

On another occasion, I attended a gathering of BTS alumni to welcome the visit of a couple trained at BTS. I thought it was simply a meet-the-couple interaction, but I ended up greatly inspired and thankful for BTS. This couple served as pastors in Singapore for about six years and could have stayed on to enjoy the results of their labour and the benefits of a comfortable life. Instead, they chose to leave and return to their war-torn country in response to a Macedonian call to live and serve their people in a dangerous environment. This is not an isolated testimony of godly men and women of spiritual substance trained at BTS. All praise be to our God!

Come grow with us and Step Out with BTS. Plans are ongoing to stage a special walkathon to raise $350,000 to support two new faculty members and to provide seed money to help BTS alumni start or expand their ministries. Board member Clarence chairs the organising team with Choon Sam, Joanna and Irene. The walkers are board members, faculty, staff, students and alumni, and they are committed to walking 35 km singly or in a small group. All others are donors! Please give generously. Giving is more than just about donating; it is about making a difference. The details are in the attached poster. Receiving donations will begin in mid-February, and we will complete all walks by 1 May.

In addition, BTS has launched our official WhatsApp and Telegram channels. Scan the QR code below to stay updated and connected with what is happening in and around BTS. Please share these channels with your friends so they can know and support us. Pray for us without ceasing as we serve Singapore and bless Asia!

From all of us at BTS to an incredible family and supporters, we wish you a New Year that will bring us closer together and fill our hearts with joy and our lives with purpose for the glory of God.

Happy New Year!

Peter Tang
Interim Managing Director