Alumni Message – Tung Ling? Are You Sure Lord?

“I want you to go to Bible College.” That was the inner witness within my sprit that God was calling and challenging me to a deeper life and purpose in Him.

The year was 1994. I had many challenges and testing but this prompting to go to Bible school really excited me.

“Me? Going to Bible school? Wow!”

With this excitement and enthusiasm, I started scouting Bible schools.

I began by going down to Perth because I knew a mature and leading Christian leader had graduated from Perth Bible College. I figured he could not be that wrong, and also Perth, Australia is not too far from Singapore.

It was a forgettable trip! Not only did I waste my time and money, I knew the Lord was not with me on the trip!
In fact, He was knocking hard on my head, as if He was saying, “Hullo-o! What are you doing here?”

“Huh! Checking out the Bible school,” was my immediate reply.

“But that’s not where I want you to go!” said the Lord.

So it was back to Singapore to look at the other options. I next considered Singapore Bible College, as it was one of the leading Bible schools in Singapore. I thought it was the best option for me.

Once again, I heard the Lord ask me, “What are you doing?”

“Huh! I thought it will be good to check out one of the leading Bible schools in Singapore,” was my reply.

”No, that’s not where I want you to go!” said the Lord.

The door was closed again and I was not making any headway or getting any wiser. I finally resigned myself to letting the Lord decide on when and where He would lead me.

Then in December 31, 1994, my church, Salem Chapel, invited Bro. Robert Francis to be our year-end speaker. I knew he was then the Dean of Tung Ling Bible School and I thought it will be a good opportunity to talk to him about the course at Tung Ling.

Although I made an appointment to meet up with Bro. Rob (as he is affectionately called) to find out more about the school, I was also wondering aloud   “Lord! 3 months… Are you sure?”
Before meeting up with him, I just sensed that the Lord was telling me, “I want you to go to a school that will touch, challenge and transform the heart and not just feed you with more head knowledge.”

So it was with this deep impression that I told the Lord that if Tung Ling Bible School was where He wanted me to go, then Bro. Rob must tell me that the focus of the school was about the heart change and not head knowledge.

I was thus stunned and thrilled-amazed to be more exact-when in my meeting with Bro. Rob he shared that Tung Ling is about dealing with the heart change and not about the head knowledge.  Was there a conspiracy or what?

So without further need to set out any “fleeces” for God to confirm His leading, I signed up for the School of Ministry Term I in 1995 and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

The 3 months spent at Tung Ling Bible School were one of the best times of my Christian life.  There was this insatiable appetite for God that I never knew could be so alive. I was hungry and I desired for more of God in my life. And each day at Tung Ling was a richer and deeper experience in God.

I was learning to be more discerning of the voice of God – the quickness with which I could turn to Him for all things and decisions was very pronounced and rewarding.

I also saw how God took me deeper into His word. I grew in my seeking after Him and waiting on Him and in learning how to be silent and quiet before Him.  I allowed Him to bring these very precious disciplines into my spiritual life which helped me personally, relationally, and also in the ministry.

Tung Ling Bible School was God’s instrument to prepare me eventually for full-time ministry for Him. The learning, the friendships established, the counsel received, and the experiences in God were pivotal and defining in my spiritual formation and subsequent ministry for the Lord.

My time at Tung Ling has indeed touched, changed, challenged, and transformed my heart.  I am indeed grateful for the staff and lecturers who keep the ethos of the school in focus.

So with my heart molded, fashioned, and shaped by the Lord at Tung Ling, I then asked the Lord, “Where and what’s next?”

I was quite certain that there must be visible signs of change, maturity and stature in my life.  Also, the fact that I was an elder of the church meant I needed to challenge members to have a deeper life in God.   Through my testimony, I began to see more and more of my brothers and sisters at Salem Chapel wanting to attend the same course at Tung Ling. I especially thank God for the joy of seeing my wife, my oldest son, my siblings, and my nephews all taking and going through the same course and discipline at Tung Ling that I went through years before.

I know each life trained at Tung Ling will add value to the life and ministry of the church.

Tung Ling was the spring board, the launching pad that God used to challenge me to go “deep” with Him. The Lord was telling me that the miracles and workings of God are best experienced when I take the step of faith to let Him lead me into His plan and purposes for my life.

Through my time at Tung Ling, God softened my heart toward the call to missions. I was willing to be sent out and willing to go to the nations. I wanted to be useful in the place He has designed for me and family.  Never had I envisioned myself capable of offering my life to God in such a manner and I know it was the time spent with Him at Tung Ling that had changed that paradigm.

Tung Ling Bible School, may the Lord continue to bless and establish you for His eternal purpose. Blessed 30th Anniversary!

Pastor Neo Ban Hui
Salem Chapel