Dear Brethren,
“Without the Bible College, the Church would die!” These words were said by the late missionary to China and friend of Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC), Rev. Dr. Paul Contento. On 28 April 1962, the Rev. Dr. Contento laid the foundation stone to build FEBC, and prayed God to raise up a Moody or a Wesley from the halls of FEBC.
Today our Church will join the FEBC to commemorate her Golden Jubilee 50th Thanksgiving worship service at Calvary Pandan 6pm. The Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) is one of the oldest Bible colleges in Singapore, founded in 1962 by the late Rev. Dr. Timothy Tow, who also founded the Bible-Presbyterian Church movement in Southeast Asia. FEBC endeavours to provide a comprehensive biblical-theological education (Acts 20:27) that is based solely on the forever infallible and inerrant Scriptures (Ps 12:6-7, Matt 5:18, 2 Tim 3:16-17) so as to equip both Christian men and women for effective spiritual leadership and service (2 Tim 2:2, 2:15) in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20), and in the defence of the Reformed Faith (Phil 2:16, Titus 1:9, Jude 3).
Brief History of Far Eastern Bible College
The founding principal of FEBC, Rev. Dr. Timothy Tow, was burdened to set up a Bible College as early as 1954. In those days, theology was taught by modernist professors. There was a crying need for a Bible-believing and Bible-defending college for the propagation of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and the defence of the faith especially in the Far East. The Bible College would be able to nurture future leaders of the B-P Churches too. FEBC is used by the Lord as a key instrument for the vital growth of the BP Churches in Singapore. By God’s grace and provision, FEBC was opened on 17 September 1962. The location of FEBC was providentially included in a new building project by Life BP Church at 9A Gilstead Road. The College was purposely constituted an autonomous institution, independent of ecclesiastical control.
FEBC started in 1962 with only 3 students and one teacher. Rev. Timothy Tow persevered on and never gave up what the Lord had called him to do in FEBC. Today, there are about 300 full-time and part-time students and over a dozen on the faculty. After five decades, the Lord has blessed FEBC with more than 700 graduates who are now serving in the harvest fields around the world.
Challenges facing FEBC
The ministry at FEBC has its challenges and we must pray for God to protect the College and enable her to remain faithful to God and His Word. Many Bible Colleges and seminaries have begun well, but after one or two generations, they have turned apostate even denying the fundamental doctrines of the Bible such as the deity of Jesus Christ. Thank God for preserving FEBC in the lawsuit that Life BP Church instituted to evict FEBC from its rightful premises in Gilstead Road. The Court of Appeal has dismissed the claims of Life BP Church and allowed FEBC to remain in her current premises. However there are still many issues to resolve and the attacks against FEBC have never ceased. May the Lord keep the witness of FEBC strong and faithful till Jesus comes again!
My Personal Testimony studying part-time at FEBC
I want to thank God for FEBC that God has raised in this age of apostasy. God is so good to give us a faithful Bible College to learn the truth of God’s Word. By God’s grace, I have attended the FEBC evening night classes for a number of years and also taken the FEBC on-line courses. Thank God that I graduated with a certificate of Biblical Studies in May 2012 after obtaining 40 credit units. My study in FEBC has truly grounded my understanding of the Word of God and the Lord has helped me to obey His Word in 2 Timothy 3:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
In my study in FEBC, I have learned to treasure God’s Word and hold it highly in my life. I like to encourage you to take the FEBC courses too and make the effort to study in-depth the Word of God. It is worth your time and energy. May we say like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:72 “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
Elder John Leong