Blessings in the year of the Ox. 

Oxen are known for 3 things: being strong, being calm, and being “yoked”.   In comparison to horses, oxen are slower but stronger and it makes them suitable for work that requires perseverance rather than speed.  They are also of a calmer temperament than horses which makes them more suitable to navigate uncertain circumstances and hostile terrain.   They have been “yoked” since their “steer” days and so have been well trained as team-players as well as sensitive to the master’s heart.  A good ox is known to be able to discern the master’s body language well. 

Here at BTS, we are yoked to the Lord’s vision for us.  Our vision from the Lord is encapsulated in two statements – a shorter slogan, and a longer vision declaration. 

The slogan defines our calling in just 4 words – “serving Singapore, blessing Asia”.  In the immediate term, BTS is called to serve the churches of Singapore.  Yet, in the medium term, God has put into our heart the vision of being a focused blessing to 4 countries in Asia.  One country is clearly East Asia.  The other three we are still praying about.  They should have two characteristics – high in sending potential, low in educational and fiscal resources.  

The lengthier vision declaration defines our strategy – “Equipping lay ministers, cultivating missional pastors to strategically engage Asia’s harvest.” 

For Singapore, our studies show that there are many churches in Singapore with too low a pastors-to-members ratio.  Many smaller churches have only a solo pastor.  Our strategy to serve Singapore churches, is to raise the level of lay leadership training so that laity can effectively become “functional ministers” to fill in the gap left behind by the inadequate pastoral resources.  To that end, we are starting “AIM” – Advanced Institute of Ministry in April.  More details in another letter.

For Asia, we want to be an Antioch school.  Since the day of the Billy Graham outreach, there has been much talk of Singapore being the Antioch in Asia.  We buy into that dream.  Accordingly, we will be focusing on the development of pastors who wants to be a catalyst to God’s harvest beyond our little Red dot.  This will practically affect the curriculum we offer, the students we recruit, and the countries we target (see above).  We hope to output pastors who will either be a catalyst for missions in the local context or will go into countries beyond our shore.  Again, more in a later letter.

To do the above, we need to share our faculty resources in a cost-effective manner.  Thus, our new adventure into e-learning for those who cannot afford to come to our shores. 

In being yoked to Lord’s vision, we do not pray to be swift like the horses nor powerful like chariots, but like the Ox, we pray for perseverance in difficulties, calm in adversity, and always staying close and flexible to the father’s heart in this changing world. 

And at the beginning of this Oxen New Year, we pray the same for you, our dear friends and supporters, that you like the ox: will persevere in His strength, will be saturated with His peace, and will always be renewing your first love for the Lord.  And may we share joyfully the same yoke from the Lord.

May you truly enjoy a Blessed Oxen Chinese New Year in the Lord,

Rev Peter Lin

President