The importance of theological education
We thank God for Shiloh Bible College China where a few hundred students have attended courses since its inception in 2003. In Shiloh Bible College's second convocation held this year, 28 students graduated with a Bachelor in Theology degree. May Jesus lead them on in a journey of study after leaving SBC. May the training become their tools for pioneering ministries and their power for bearing fruit!
We are extremely grateful to the Body of Christ worldwide for supporting our college in finances and prayer. We value the teachers who have personally come to teach courses at Shiloh Bible College. Your intercessory prayers have edified SBC and your offerings have produced many church warriors. Because of you, the SBC graduates are now involved in molding the lives of the next generation. Most importantly, of course, SBC will not be what it is today without the grace of God.
In the days ahead, we appeal to you to continue upholding Shiloh Bible College in prayer and by financial support. We also want to make a clarion call to the Body of Christ, that they know the importance of theological training in nurturing the next generation of preachers for the Chinese churches.
Let us share with you some thoughts delivered by Sister Yang,a graduate representative at our recent convocation:
“It’s a great honor to stand here today. It took me a few seconds walking to here from my seat. However, it took me seven years to arrive at graduation. There is so much to reflect on the past: laughter, tears, homesickness and a heart divided between the classroom and church. There were moments of friction and mutual encouragement among students, times of frustration over assignments, exhilaration over breakthroughs in understanding, joy in expecting a meal of pig's feet or a certain teacher coming to take classes…
All these snippets add up to become our cherished memory. They testify to the journey we have taken together. We’ve arrived at this juncture because of perseverance. Shiloh Bible College's principals, teachers and staff members have persevered and SBC students too have persevered. Because of our joint commitment, we are seated here today.
This year alone leaves us with precious memories over places we visited and activities we did together : Fuqing, Jiangzhou, riding camels, praying for the blind beggar and the crippled, seeing people healed, badminton games between classes, tossing sandbags together and nightly exercise together....etc.
In the past six years, Shiloh Bible College has been the place where we have equipped ourselves. We learned to lead Bible studies, to minister to others, to do public preaching and to do quiet time. All of these things are very useful in building up our personal life and serving in the church. The Bible school has been the place for us to recharge our energy, to repair our lives by following the instruction of our teachers, to understand ourselves better and to upgrade ourselves. SBC proves to be a watchtower where we can broaden our perspectives on things around us - including theology. That way, we are more determined to hold fast to the truth and at the same time be more tolerant towards others and their viewpoints. For all the education we’ve gained during our Bible school years, we want to say a big thank you to our God, to the college, to the teachers, to the staff members and to all of my schoolmates.
The convocation today does not mark a conclusion but the start of yet another journey. It’s a journey aiming at a higher objective – to be more and more like Jesus. May God bless all of us as we launch into this new journey. May God bless Shiloh Bible College in its continuing effort to produce servants and maids for Jesus bearing the hallmark “Made in SBC China”.”
