Something Just Doesn’t Change

I was attending a SBC alumni retreat in New Jersey in May this year. There were 32 of them, coming from the US, Canada, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore. They were connected because they have either spent time together studying in SBC or because they were graduates of SBC. They graduated from different decades--from the 1960s to the 2000s--a time spanning over 50 years. As you can imagine, it was an exciting bunch.

When people who have spent a significant amount of time together finally get re-connected, they tell stories. They told stories of mischievous tricks played on lecturers and fellow students. They imitated the unique mannerism and peculiar styles of lecturers of their times. They shared freely their stories of trials and struggles in tough times
and joy and satisfaction in better times.

They are as varied as it can be! One of them is gifted in church planting, and has planted many churches for his denomination in several countries. Another is a resourceful person who is able to put things together to create something bigger for God's Kingdom. One has the ability to develop creative metropolitan outreach. Most of them are pastors, pastors’ wives, marketplace ministers, Christian workers and lecturers in seminaries. They have different personalities and giftedness. Each of them is unique!

But, in the midst of laughter and tears, they inevitably come to reflect on the impact that SBC has on their individual lives and ministries. They all affirmed that the training they received in SBC has left an indelible mark in their lives and ministries. They spelled out some common values which they hold on firmly to, which are also values we want all SBC graduates to exemplify: be faithful; diligence in God's work; perseverance in the midst of hardships; preach God's Word; share the Gospel; love God and His people; dream big dreams for God; and, serve
sacrificially.

As a product of SBC myself who believe and carry on these values, I have never felt so proud of SBC! These are the values modeled by the lecturers and saints of the past. We caught them when they were shared passionately in classes and chapels. We were challenged by those who lived out these values to nurture and preserve them. We were touched by the many stories in the SBC community, out of which many of these values
were demonstrated.

Yes, these values make SBC special!

Change is all around us. It is inevitable and essential. But there are things that do not change in SBC, things like:

• be faithful;

• diligence in God's work;

• perseverance in the midst of hardships;

• preach God's Word;

• share the Gospel;

• love God and His people;

• dream big dreams for God; and,

• serve sacrificially.

Over 56 years, these values haven't changed. And we intend to keep it that way!

Dr Albert Ting, Principal
Singapore Bible College