Hello everyone! My name is Angela and I am here to share about how SOT has really changed my life.

I was already involved in cell group ministry and helping out in other church ministries like JAMS when I was just a Christian for 1½ years. I certainly did not expect to enrol into School of Theology (SOT) as I thought it was a school meant for older Christians. However the 5 ½ months of training and moulding really transformed my life totally.

On the first day of SOT, I called a friend to complain about the numerous assignments, bible readings and overnight prayer meetings. As I am a part-time tutor, I was also feeling physically tired because I had to rush off for work after SOT. I had 7 tuition jobs and my life seemed like a whirl of events. But deep in my heart, I knew it was God moulding my character.

In SOT, we learnt about home cell group leadership, the art of preaching, cultural mandate and many other lessons. All these teachings deepened my love for God. I started to have a vision of wanting to impact the people around me and to eventually become a cell group leader.

It was during my education in SOT that I began to serve more than ever before. I would avail myself to serve in the Nursery ministry during the weekend services and to serve in the Choir during the weekdays in school.

I also had the opportunity to be part of the Choir during a mission trip in Batam. I really believe that it is important to bring down the presence of God. Every ministry is important and significant in the church. My mindset regarding serving was changed.

Today, I am still serving in the Nursery ministry because of the revelation I had received during SOT.

Most importantly, I became much closer to God in my walk with Him. During the toughest period of my life, I realised that I could only turn to God. I began to commune with God not just during my quiet time but wherever I went. I also went to school, expectant for yet another mind blowing lesson! God spoke to me clearly through these lessons and I began to apply the knowledge I had learnt in the cell group meetings that I attended. I was able to feel God so tangibly and to see how He works in our lives.

When we firstbuild God’s house, He will build ours as well. God multiplied my finances and I also experienced God’s grace tremendously when I had to apply for leave from my job to attend church prayer meetings. My 5 ½ months of sacrifice in SOT were not in vain. I have received so much - in terms of knowledge, the lasting friendships and the vision that I received. It is truly an experience that money cannot buy.

I believe we are moving from a ”School of Trials and Tribulations” to a “School of Triumph”.  Truly, eye has not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for His people who love him. Greater things are yet to come! 

It was in SOT that I saw God’s mighty hand moving in me. Now I feel ready for the challenges and destiny ahead because of what I have experienced in SOT. Hallelujah! To God be the glory!

Hi LYL, I’m Jasmine Tai from E491. During our SOT graduation dinner, Pastor Bobby shared with this batch that we make 20,000 decisions a day, but all of us, 634 students all made one same decision to enroll into this year’s SOT. And I agree that this decision was right. Why out of many millions of decisions choose to come to SOT? In SOT, I learnt how to move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (during lessons on Gifts of Holy Spirit & Deliverance) to prophecy on one another lives, to learn how to exercise the gifts that were given to us. I remember once when Pastor Mike Connell came to our school to teach on deliverance and we were given exercises to do on; giving the joy of the Lord to our partners, there was such an overflow of the joy that we (my teammates and I) were continue laughing in the car back to the east. Another was when I prayed for a Taiwanese during lesson where we prophesied over each other’s lives. We knelt down, prayed and cried together as the Spirit of God touched us. These are little little personal experiences that I’ll never fail to remember and keep them close to my heart.

SOT has brought me to a higher level in my spiritual walk with God.  Now, entering into the presence of God is easier am loving it more and more each day. Going through SOT has been an experiential time of my life. There were times when we had fun fellowshipping, times when we had to mug for exams, times when we need to rush our bible reading… But one thing for sure, though the path was tough, God was the strength that brought me through. One of the major takeaways from the whole course was the friends that I had made during these 5 months. This picture below shows my team (19) photo.

Team 19 is made up of people from 4 nations: Korea, Japan, India & Singapore. Though we may come from different nations, different backgrounds, we all had a common desire; to love God and know more about Him. Throughout the whole course, I was truly blessed by all their testimonies. During the mock cell group week, our team became closer to each other because we shared with our testimonies about how we came to SOT. One of which was the testimony of 2 team mates from Japan, Hiro and Miki Kato, about how they quit their jobs to come to Singapore to study in bible school and their desire to go back to Japan to impact the lives of the youths. They shared with us how they started a cell group for the youths and how they grow the group. I was really blessed by their enthusiasm to bring revival into Japan. With the knowledge that we’ve learnt in SOT, I believe that we will hear of their great testimony in time to come. (: Also, there is another vibrant teammate, Jin-Hee from Korea who aspires to become a missionary for God. She lives a life of transformation. From the first time I saw her to the time she graduates, she has changed a lot. In the midst of the 5 months, she did a 40-day fast which all of us were really impressed by. She desired so much for a breakthrough that she sacrificed her meals; something which I would really find hard to. But indeed, she grew from glory to glory! She was transformed! Her dressing improved, and even her singing got better! In school, she was a back up vocalist and during our graduation weekend, she was also singing on stage for the congregation! (: Indeed, seeing the transformation of these people in SOT has been a great blessing, also a great takeaway from SOT

During the last week of school, Pastor Kong met up with the Singapore students for a Q&A session where we were able to ask any question under the sun. And pastor shared that one of the key to success is the association we have. The people that we associate with determine how far we can go in life. In SOT, I really made friends with people of great faith & perseverance. Proverbs 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” The people I’ve met in SOT really do inspire me to go forth to do greater things!

I am also blessed by the teachings by all the different bible teachers and the practical lessons that we had. I began to experience God greatly in wonders. I began to step out of my comfort zone and want to serve God more. In the past, I would have fear in many things that I do. I fear whether I will do it well, I fear whether people will like what I do, I fear about all things that any other would fear. But as I continued to move on in the Lord, I began to focus on the promises of God (it works!) and kept meditating on it when I feel weak and fearful. Now, I can say that I take more courage in everything that I do. And I have found my hope in the Lord. (:

Having said all, I really encourage all of you who are reading this sharing to sign up for next year’s SOT! Your life will never be the same! (:

Being in SOT 2009 batch has been an amazing time where I have expanded my capacities of juggling between family, work and church commitments. Ironically, what I treasure most after going through these 5 months of bible theology is really the simplicity of loving Christ!

The whole concept of “Loving God wholeheartedly and loving people fervently” illuminated before me. My walk with God went up many levels as I began to understand how wrong my initial perception of God was. Right now, I can proudly say that I know-by-experience the fatherhood of God and also how our El Shaddai is omniscient.

My relationships with my parents have improved, my attitudes towards people have bettered, and my character has been moulded in the most unimaginable ways. I have not regretted the decision to join SOT and instead strongly encourage all to join this life changing journey.