Traces of God’s Grace

Yeung Ka-chun and Dr. Vincent Lau

　　Three years of student life went by in a twinkling of an eye. There were a few hard times but also many unforgettable moments of joy. The competing demands of lectures, various seminary activities, internships, study and family affairs all weighed heavily on us at times. That is part of our seminary experience. But I am surprised to find that we have muddled through these difficulties coupled with all kinds of challenges in our lives such as marriage, pregnancy, sickness and loss of loved ones, etc. Looking back, I see traces of God’s grace everywhere.

The “Hidden Curriculum” of HKBTS

　　Apart from the acquirement and renewal of theological knowledge and the growth of spiritual life, I reckon that the greatest fruit harvested from my seminary life is a deeper understanding of myself. This helped to prepare me as a servant of our Lord. Besides the term “the community of disciples” which was repeatedly emphasized by our teachers, we also heard regularly of the term “hidden curriculum.” It seems that it has become another unique feature of HKBTS. The “coursework requirements” of this “hidden curriculum” were not in any way lighter than those of the formal ones we have in the classrooms. The scope and content of this curriculum varies from student to student. It was a kind of tangible and “hands-on” existence. Through this, we are given the precious opportunity of being broken apart and yet restored; in the process, we experience the presence and grace of God.

　　One of the challenges of my seminary life was the heavy load of coursework. I felt a lot of pressure in my freshman year since I had to take on average six to seven subjects each semester. Apart from eating and sleeping, every hour of the day seemed to have been spent on nothing but attending classes, doing homework and studying. Moreover, due to the large number of courses I had to take, just to complete the assigned readings and coursework was hard enough, let alone to have an in-depth understanding of any subject. I often felt that I was only memorizing information without really comprehending it. This made me feel bad and even led me to complain as this feeling persisted. However, a teacher helped me realize that this experience was a part of the“hidden curriculum” through which I would gain a deeper understanding of myself: I lacked discernment on setting priorities and overestimated my learning ability, which in-turn led to an imbalanced apportionment of my time and a misinterpretation of the true meaning of education.

　　Thanks to God, through the seminary’s “hidden curriculum,” I saw that I need to adjust my expectations, accept my limitations and be humble. I came to understand that the seminary is not a place simply for acquiring knowledge and information, but also for learning other things such as interpersonal skills and organization. When I face the hectic schedule of ministerial life in the future, this training will help me to better organize my life. All these experiences have helped to cultivate me as a well-rounded, mature pastor. Accepting our true self is often difficult. If not for this kind of “hidden” life training at HKBTS, I would have missed the opportunity to grow and know more about myself.

Solidarity with Fellow Travelers

　　Another great benefit from these three years of student life was in getting to know a group of fellow travelers. We have stood by each other through thick and thin. Our class was exceptional. It had the largest number of enrollees in recent years. Since the first day I set foot in HKBTS, I have often been anxious about whether I can get along with so many people with diverse personalities? How long will it take for us to adapt? Will there be conflicts frequently? Is there any “drama queen” among us? And so on.

　　Thanks to God. Although we all come from different backgrounds with our distinct temperaments and viewpoints, the atmosphere among us remained harmonious. We even talked about our own struggles and difficulties frankly and offered support to each other. Over the past three years, we have gone through the ups and downs of life together with laughter and tears. I am especially grateful to my classmates who sang in the choir at my wedding. This experience of abiding with classmates from many different backgrounds has taught me how to be a companion to all the future brothers and sisters in Christ that I will meet when I become a pastor someday.

　　Every bit of the past three years has not only become our precious memories but has also served as a projection of the abundant grace of our Lord in the future. I am sure that all these will become the driving force for our ministry and our heavenly journey in the days to come.

　　May all the glory be to God!