Months and Years at HKBTS

　　1 Chronicles 29:15 records the words of David, “We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.” Similar sayings can also be found in Genesis, Psalms and Hebrews. These words made me feel especially touched because I have been “a lonely alien in a foreign land.” I came alone to Hong Kong to further study and have experienced all the hardships of an alien. From time to time, gazing at the Lau Yuet Sing Memorial Building in the seminary campus, I would say to myself, “In those early years when the Seminary’s founding fathers moved to Hong Kong, they must have experienced similar hardships.” This is the way God acts. He puts us in the midst of a mighty torrent so that we can experience all kinds of trials and yet we receive supplies at the various courier stations where we can take a rest and find healing for our wounds and strength to continue forward. This allows us to know that our Christian faith is true and authentic since our Lord Jesus has come that we may have life, a life that is rich and full.

　　Thank God that He had prepared for me HKBTS, an irreplaceable courier station!

　　I still remember that it was seven years ago when I came to the Seminary with a church pastor to meet President Cho who was then the Dean of Academic Affairs. At that time I only wanted to sit in class lectures at HKBTS. But then, Dr. Cho said to me with a smile, “As an auditing student, you would not learn much. You’d better take credit hours!” I took this remark and became a part-time seminary student setting out on an entirely different journey. Looking over these past few years, I needed both to work and study and often found it hard to find the time to do the reading and to work on my school assignments. Time and again I wanted to quit but when I thought about God’s calling to me and the support and encouragement from the Seminary’s teachers and fellow-students, I clenched my teeth and said to myself, “I will not set a bad example by becoming a deserter.” Seven years have passed since I made up my mind.

　　What on earth has made HKBTS so attractive to me that I was willing to spend seven years studying here? Without hesitation, I think of grace as my first answer.

　　HKBTS is a school of “grace.” All the students in the Seminary know that our teachers are all gracious. Whenever we had difficulty in our assignments or when we had to defer submitting our assignments due to unforeseen problems, our teachers have been generous with grace. They would often work “overtime” for students or find times to give us extra lessons. Their office, canteen or the classroom were venues for them to counsel students. I still remember one year when we had to study Greek, many students were worried about their ability to learn, our teacher, Dr. Poling Sun, offered to give us several extra lessons in the summer vacation.

　　Our teachers are deeply aware of our difficulties; they know that a seminary is not only a place to seek knowledge, but more importantly it is a place to mold God’s servant. That is why they are always generous with grace and considerate understanding. I deeply grasp this point so that whenever new students become worried about their studies and the assignments, I always encouraged them, “Don’t worry, our teachers are full of grace!”

　　HKBTS is also a school filled with “brotherly love.” Seven years ago when I first came to an interview, I came to know Cyril, who has become the friend of my life. When I entered the classroom, I came to know Flora and Panda. Now that Flora has gone to be with the Lord, all of us miss her. Every year Cyril, Panda and I continue to set aside the time to come together and we all cherish the thought that the four of us celebrating our birthdays in July. With a twinkle in my eye I tell them, “Let us not give up ‘meeting’ together, for this is a commandment from God.”

　　This is a strong circle of friends HKBTS has given me. But the friendship that the Seminary has given me goes beyond this group. I will never forget Dr. Cho’s encouragement and it is through his encouragement that I have come to understand the importance of friendship in practicing Christian ethics. I have also seen the value of friendship as I have studied narrative theology. It was also due to the recommendation of Dr. Vincent Lau that I took seriously the completion of my very first Chinese translation work, Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas. There were many teachers and fellow-students who did not mind my clumsy Cantonese and they talked with me patiently. After these seven years, because of their positive suggestions regarding my pronunciation and grammar use, I can now preach a sermon in Cantonese. My friends here are my precious friends as they are generous with their love and friendship. Since HKBTS has given me many good friends, how can I forget HKBTS?

　　HKBTS is a school with vision. The happiest hour on campus was when a group of fellow-students engaged themselves in homework discussions, when we received the study material shared by fellow students, when we talked with good friends about what had been troubling us from the bottom of our hearts, and when we mutually shared the burden of our struggles in our studies and church ministry. Although teachers in HKBTS are full of grace, when it comes to marking they remain strict and stern. At the same time, there is genuine friendship between teachers and students in HKBTS. Not only are they generous with words of praise for our strengths, they are also direct and straight-forward in pointing out our weaknesses. In these months and years at HKBTS, I was always admonished to speak what the truth is in an honest way, taught to take seriously that we all are parts of the body of Christ and must therefore keep watch over one another. We must hand down the vision of the kingdom of heaven which is to worship God and serve Him and to serve the “others.” Seven years can be said to be a short time but HKBTS’s interpretation of the vision of the kingdom of heaven has been deeply engraved in my heart. Seven years can be a long time but the dribs and drabs of my months and years at HKBTS have been so warm and solid.

　　What happened that year is relived right before me. At the admission interview, when Dr. Grace Lo asked why I chose to study at HKBTS, my reply was, “It is because I was baptized at a Baptist church and in here there are teachers I like.” Today if I am asked the same question, I would say, “It is because in here there are teachers I like and respect. There are co-walkers I treasure and there are tangible faith, hope, and love with which God continues to bless the Seminary.” The words Jacob spoke at Bethel fit the Seminary, “Surely the Lord is in this place.”

　　Because I studied at HKBTS, I am no longer a lonely alien.