Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd… Singapore!

Greetings from Lubbock, Texas!!!
Now there’s a different location for a greeting from Singapore missionaries, isn’t it? That’s right though. We have begun our furlough time in the States having arrived on October 28th late into the night. But let me back up a bit and report on the events of this ministry for all of October.
October’s report is very short and yet very exciting! It was a month of planning and preparing for traveling. The focus on my travels included two major trips. The first was to China for recruiting purposes and the second for our furlough trip to the States for reporting the progresses of this ministry as well as support raising efforts for our third year needs.
I was blessed to travel for two weeks in China to a few cities for recruiting purposes. [Note the Two adorable Chinese girls pictured to the right]  I am pleased with the interest that was communicated by at least a dozen Chinese Christians who would like to study with us as short term and long term students! The Word is indeed bearing its fruit in China with hundreds having believed and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ! I met with many Chinese Christians eager for the opportunity to study the Word of God with us at SIBI Singapore! As we finalize the requirements of the Singapore government for qualifying our teaching staff for SIBI Singapore, we draw ever so near to being able to issue our first student visas. Please continue to keep these things in your prayers. Also, please understand my not sharing Chinese Christians pictures with you. I am committed to the safety of these young Christians so as not to expose them to unnecessary persecution.
As for our furlough trip to the States, we have hit the ground running so to speak. We departed from Singapore at 8:30 am on October 28th and arrived the same day in Lubbock, TX at 10:30 pm totaling well over 20 hours of flying and at least a few hours of layovers at airports.
If any of you have leads to potential supporters toward this ministry, please have them contact us at the following temporary phone number… (806) 544-6685 or send us an email with their contact information. After updating the latest information about financial support for our third year needs for this ministry, we know we are short a considerable amount. Thank you!

Family Highlights, Notes & Quotes
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!—1 John 3:1a. This passage popped into my mind as we started the month off by celebrating our second Children’s Day holiday since arriving in Singapore. Jaydon and Shayla basked in the “Happy Children’s Day” greetings and relished being children—the reason for this annual holiday’s celebrations. Since October 1st was Children’s Day, we took the day off from our normal school routine and spent part of the morning just playing at the park. Later in the afternoon we went to Jeremy Tan’s house so the kids could experience chocolate mustaches. Jeremy taught them how to make a fun chocolate drink he had whipped up as he was experimenting and inventing in the kitchen one day. Instead of milk mustaches, chocolate mustaches were the fringe benefits the “young at heart” could enjoy after just one scrumptious slurp of Jeremy’s creamy chocolate concoction. Overall, it was a good day for our little chickadees. Not only did they get to slurp their drinks. They got to wear them too! Another perk of the day—they were treated to French fries twice in one day, a rare event that would make even an ordinary day an official holiday in their books.
Besides celebrating Children’s Day, another family event that deeply impacted Jaydon’s and Shayla’s world this month was Daddy’s recruiting trip that took him many miles and many moons away. Dad had never been away from them for more than a week so even a smidge over two weeks seemed like forever. The first week Dad was away we were blessed by being kept busy with many activities–like having lunch and a movie with some sisters and a brother from the House helper Bible class, being invited by Aunty Belinda and Miss Debbie to go swimming and shopping, hooking up with Ava and Zac for a play date, and having a reading date with Grandma T. The second week our schedule book wasn’t as busy with people or appointments at different places, but we concentrated on staying busy packing for our furlough which we’d be beginning just three days after Dad returned from China—which brings us to the other major family event for the month.
Dark and early on the 28th we woke Jaydon and Shayla up so we could head to the airport. We took the last item out of our “countdown jar” and with an empty jar before us—smiles on our faces and suitcases in our hands, our thoughts automatically flew to distant shores. We caught up with them three airplane rides later, several airline meals and snacks heavier, approximately nine hours transition time in airports and between 19 to 20 flight hours later. Yet we still arrived in Lubbock, TX, our final flight destination, late on the evening of the 28th! Talk about experiencing a time warp! Keith and Dana Lambert, part of our Seagraves’ family, were waiting to receive us at the airport. We were whisked away to enjoy their Texas-sized hospitality, to experience the simple joys of country living which included the sights, smells and tastes of juicy, sun-ripened-fall-harvested garden tomatoes and to leisurely recover from our “time warping and jet lagging.”
There you have it—the highlights of our family’s major events for October. We started the month with celebrations and we ended the month with them too—from the Children’s Day holiday to some furlough reunion festivities. October began and ended well. Rejoice with us! God continues to shower us with uncountable blessings. May we all find many times throughout the year to celebrate, share and give thanks for the blessing of being called His children. He lavishes His love and peace in our lives. Every day can be a children’s day celebration when we are His. Know of our love for you and that our Father loves you even more. He loves you the most!
Kiddo quote:
I left the notebook I had been using to jot down some interesting statements the kids made from time to time in Singapore, and I am writing this newsletter from Texas. Sorry … my memory being as it is, I can’t share too many kiddo quotes for this month, but tune in next month as I’ll start another notebook. I will leave you with a quote from Shayla as we ate lunch with Miss Darlene and Mr. Larry today.
If guys have Adam’s apples, do girls have Eve’s apples?—Shayla

Overseeing church:
12th Street church of Christ
P.O. Box 1476
Seagraves, TX 79359
Contact person:
Kenny Smith
Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735
Home Phone: (806) 546-2336

Our Singapore Information
Tom & Nancy Goracke
BLK 60 Teban Garden Road
#17 – 462
Singapore, 600060                                  Love to all, Tom, Nancy, Jaydon, Shayla
Tom’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683213
Nancy’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683214
Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: HUUtwoservants2002@yahoo.com

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Rd.

Singapore 118688

         ccook00@gmail.com                  http://focusonasia.wordpress.com

November, 2009

GORACKES ON FURLOUGH The Goracke family left Oct 28^th for a furlough in the States. They arrived safely in West Texas. They will be visiting Sunset, family, supporters and beefing up their support base for another two years with SIBI Singapore. This family is dearly loved and appreciated by everyone at the Pasir Panjang Church and the students that come to the school. Before they left for the States, Tom made a two week tour of places where they have labored in the past and made many contacts with those who would be especially interested in attending SIBI Singapore. (More later)

                                  OUR FIRST FULLTIME FOREIGN STUDENT 

We introduced you to our first student visa applicant and fulltime student in our previous newsletter…here’s more. By the way, there is one more mound of “red tape” to climb before we actually have our government registration in hand, but we are assured we are registered and will be notified soon following “a few more signatures.” Immanuel Maddala from India (right), will continue to stay in Singapore on an extended work permit until December. We have three other students from India set to join us in January.

As you can see in the photo (right), in the meantime Immanuel is taking Ed Wharton’s course on Scheme of Redemption with me as the co-teacher. He studies via DVD with Ed for three hours each morning and then he meets with me for further discussions about what he learned. We are most happy with this arrangement since we can also begin teaching him now instead of waiting for January. All the other foreign students have returned to their native places, and we hope some of them can return on student visas. Additionally, since Immanuel is still living at the shipyard where he works, each evening he is teaching a group of about 15 fellow workers from Andra Pradesh, India. Really, they’ve asked him to preach and that’s what he does each evening. They all speak Telegu. Immanuel’s command of English is excellent and I assume his Telegu is too. He has some experience in preaching the Word and with SIBI training I know he will make a difference when he goes back to Andra Pradesh, India.

(Left: elders Beng Chuan & William Wong, myself & foreign students)

       KEEPING OUR PERSPECTIVE

The Church is growing rapidly in many parts of the world. That’s the good news! The bad news is: A great number of these new brethren have little or no formal Bible training. We have met and hear of others who are crying out for our Bible resources, for training, for any kind of help. Most will never have a chance to go to Bible school, certainly not to SIBI Lubbock. And, for some very practical reasons, they shouldn’t. That’s why we are here.

So we bring the Bible school to them–not buildings and chairs–but Bible instruction and resources. Our equipping is not just academically oriented, but practical and thoroughly biblical. We are trying to stimulate growth in each student and ultimately in the kingdom in the following significant ways: 1) biblical knowledge; 2) ministry skills; 3) character growth; 4) relationships; 5) church planting.

All of our teaching is grounded in the Scriptures. Core subjects include Bible study methods, teaching and preaching–in other words, hermeneutics and homiletics. We focus on all areas of great importance, i.e. every book of the Bible, leadership, counseling and a contagious church planting movement in every country. Let us work on keeping our perspective!

COMING UP – All of December is a holiday month here, the city will be brightly decorated by all the major religions, and things tend to take on a slower pace. We use this season to reach out beyond Singapore. Tamara and I will be joining the Wangsa Maju congregation of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for their annual Bible camp followed by a Seminar on Ephesians. I will be their camp speaker (Fort Dickson) and afterward teach the seminar at their church facility in K.L. Meanwhile we are preparing courses for 2010 and recruiting students from India, Philippines, Malaysia, and that other “heavily populated” country.

To Those Who Support Us: We daily thank God for brethren who give of themselves and their means to keep works like ours going. Your support is deeply appreciated.

God bless you all,

Charles and Tamara Cook

www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

ABOUT THE WANGSA MAJU CHURCH OF CHRIST

The Wangsa Maju Church of Christ has a very active outreach to students at at Tunku Abdul Rahman College (KTAR) and University Tunku Abdul Rahman College (UTAR). Both campuses are near their church facility located at 18B, Jalan 2A/27A, Section 1, Bandar Baru Wangsa Maju Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 53300.  They are very closely associated with the Pasir Panjang Church of Christ in Singapore, home of Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore, and we all mutually share in the desire to do what we can to evangelize Singapore, Malaysia and all of Asia.

We look forward to the following fellowships with the Wangsa Maju brethren in early December:

BIBLE CAMP AT PORT DICKSON, MALAYSIA

Date: December 3-5, 2009

Camp Theme: Equip To Serve

The Church Must Be Healthy — HOW? (Mark 4:28)

The Church Must Be Growing — WHY? (Acts 2:42-47)

The Members Must Be Active — WHEN? (Acts 8:4)

Camp Speaker: Charles Cook

For Further Information: email wmczone@gmail.com

FOLLOWED BY A WEEK LONG SEMINAR ON THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS   AT THE

Wangsa Maju Church Facilities

18B, Jalan 2A/27A, Section 1, Bandar Baru

Wangsa Maju Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 53300

Dec 06 (Sunday BS) @ 10.00 am – 11.00 am – THE CHURCH PURCHASED (ch1)

Dec 06 (Sunday Worship) @ 11.15 am – GOD’S GRACE TO ALL MANKIND (ch2)

Dec 07 (Monday ) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – THE MYSTERY (ch3)

Dec 08 ( Tuesday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – OUR WORTHY CALLING (ch4)

Dec 09 ( Wednesday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – LIFE IN THE BODY (ch5)

Dec 10 ( Thursday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – SUBMISSION AND CONFLICT (ch6)

All are cordially invited to these classes on the wonderful Book of Ephesians.  We admonish you to come early, bring your Bible and a note tablet, and be ready to study God’s Word deeply.  

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE SINGAPORE

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Road

Singapore 118688

CLASS SCHEDULE

JANUARY 2010 – MARCH 2010

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:

[CHAPEL 9:30 to 10:00 am --- Monday through Friday] (Lunch will be served at 12 noon following all morning classes) [Applicable to all day classes]

**SIBI Internship Training Class from Jan – mid-Feb, 2010

THIS SCHEDULE WILL BE FINALIZED BY NOV 15TH

JAN 8 – 24 Nat Cooper teaching “Sermon On The Mount” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45 pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sundays]. [Full-time Students, Auditors]

JAN 11 – 22 Nat Cooper teaching “Christian Evidences” (1^st week) and Charles Cook teaching “Comparative Religions” (2^nd week) from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

Charles Cook teaching “The Identity of The N.T. Church” (1^st week) and Nat Cooper teaching “Introduction To Missions” (2^nd week) from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

FEB 5 – 21 Charles Cook teaching “Evangelism Methods” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45 pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sundays]. [Full-time Students, Auditors]

FEB 1 – 12 Ben Walker teaching “Mental Health on The Mission Field” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

Ben Walker teaching “Epistles of John” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

MARCH [No classes in March, seminars and recruiting abroad]

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook
Pasir Panjang Church of Christ
347 Pasir Panjang Rd.
Singapore 118688

ccook00@gmail.com                                            http://focusonasia.wordpress.com
October, 2009

A WORD OF APPRECIATION: I feel that real progress has been made towards establishing SIBI Singapore as a viable training institute for Singapore and all Asia. Both missionary families, the Cooks and Gorackes, are well into our second year. Our partnership with the mission-minded brethren of the Pasir Panjang Church and the blessing of having faithful supporters back home could not be more appreciated by us. The photo to the left shows us with several members of the SIBI Singapore board of directors, without whom we would be spinning our wheels. We are deeply grateful to all the visiting instructors who have sacrificed their time and resources to help keep our standard of teaching high. We give all praise and glory to God who makes all good things happen.

RECRUITMENT SEASON: Following the two and a half months of having both local and foreign students with us, with classes being held at times for seven days a week, we will now turn our attention to recruiting students (both fulltime and part-time) from India,  China, Malaysia, The Philippines and other places. To the right is a photo of Immanuel Maddala from Andre Pradesh state in India who represents our first full-time student from his country. He will join us in January, 2010. Our goal for this recruiting season will be to enroll as many full-time foreign students as possible along with any who can only join us for a month, two months, or whatever. And, of course, we have a hundred names of Singaporeans who have taken one or more of our courses offered so far. Some of these are working towards fulfilling the requirements for the SIBI certificate of completion and perhaps the Bachelor of Arts degree that Sunset has just started offering. Tom will be away most of October recruiting students, then he and his family will be on furlough in the U.S. for the latter part of the year. Tamara and I will be visiting family and supporters in June of next year.

OPEN BIBLE STUDIES: These classes (locally referred to as OBS) are ongoing every
Wednesday morning at 10 A.M. at the PP Church, they are offered to both the church members and the Singapore community. We have just finished a 15 week study of Romans and will now take up the book of Ephesians for the next 15 weeks. We are encouraging Singapore brethren to attend (if possible) and bring a friend. These classes are calisthenics for the soul… to stay strong and in shape.

OTHER THINGS GOING ON:  In addition to OBS, I have been conducting several Bible studies for what the PP Church calls “Care Groups.” These are small groups formed for closer fellowship and disciple making and we require our SIBI students to participate in them as well.  We consider this activity a kind of practicum, a way to apply what they learn in class.  Early in 2010 SIBI will host another group of mission internship students from the PP youth group.  Last year we helped train 10 young people in Mission Principles who afterwards spent a month in the Philippines with chaperones to put their learning into practice (sort of a mini-AIM endeavor).  Later in the year Tamara and I will be doing some seminars, one in Malaysia and tentatively one in Perth, Australia (more about this later).

The courses offered from January through September this year have been:
Life of Christ (Nat Cooper)
Open Bible Studies (OBS) (Charles Cook)    
Sermon on The Mount Studies (Nat Cooper)
Mission Principles (Charles Cook)
Character Counts (Nat Cooper)
Effective Bible Study (Charles Cook)
Scheme of Redemption (Ed Wharton)
Homiletics (Charles Cook)
Premillennialism Examined (Ed Wharton)
1st Corinthians (Charles Cook)
Distinctive Nature of The NT Church (Ed Wharton)
Identifying The New Testament Church (Charles Cook)
Historical Christian Evidences (John Massie)
Christianity and World Religions (Charles Cook)
Christian History (c100 to c1517) (Stuart Jones)
Introduction to Missions (Charles Cook)
Science Supports Scripture (Stuart Jones)
Historical Christian Evidences (Tom Goracke)
Minor Prophets (Edwin Myers)
Evangelism Message (Tom Goracke)
Epistles of John (Tom Goracke)
Christian Home (Edwin Myers)

PP Members who enrolled in the First Corinthians Class:

Request:   Please be praying for SIBI Singapore during this planning and recruiting month. Pray that doors will continue to be opened in those places were Christ cannot be openly proclaimed. Pray for house churches where freedom of public assembly is not permitted or where poverty makes it impossible. Pray for Myanmar, China, India, Viet Nam… Pray for the earthquake victims in Indonesia.

In Christian Love,
Charles and Tamara Cook
www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd… Singapore!

Greetings from Singapore!
September was a highly “work from home” month for me. With our summer teaching  session (July & August) being complete, September became a “catch up month” for taking care of administrative responsibilities as well as a month full of making future preparations. With last month‟s report of acquiring registration with the Singaporean government, doors are now wide open for full-time student recruiting purposes. As the dean of students for this school, recruiting is primarily my  responsibility. I have been preparing for a couple weeks of travel to start next week. Please keep this in your prayers! I am no longer a “doubting Thomas” as I personally acquired an official raised stamped logo of our SIBI Singapore seal for authenticating documents!  (The 3 photos to the right show: The long awaited official SIBI Singapore seal!  And Immaniel! SIBI Singapore‟s 1st full-time international student.  And, Our new sister in Christ!… Barbara)

Speaking of recruiting, we officially have our first approved full-time international student! Immaniel is a native Indian who has been a foreign worker here in Singapore for the past two years. Immaniel has been a faithful Christian attending the PP church for the time we have been in Singapore. With a gentle, loving spirit, he has a passion to preach the gospel of Jesus starting with Indian co-workers he associates with each day. As with many foreign working Asians, Immaniel has sacrificed by being away from his family in order to work in Singapore to provide a living for them.

We did teach one three weekend course (approximately 27 hours) for SIBI Singapore during September. My co-worker, Charles Cook, taught the course of 1Corinthians which was attended by 23 different students. I also taught a Sunday morning course for the past two months for as many as six Chinese university students who have desired a more personal study. I am delighted to report that one of these students obeyed the gospel and was baptized into Christ just recently! We continue to plant and water… and God gives the growth and increase!

Another area of importance to note is the translation work that I continue to report about. The author of the book I am working toward getting translated recently gave me an additional chapter to add to the book. I spent some time editing, organizing and proof reading the new chapter. It is almost ready to be given to our translator—and just in time as he is presently working on the otherwise final chapter of this book!

Charles teaching 1Corinthians

Nancy’s Family News, Notes and Quotes
By the time you receive and read this newsletter, there will be less than 25 items to take out of our countdown jar—our countdown jar for our trip back to the States to see many of you! Can you tell we are excited? We decorated, labeled and started our countdown container by placing 50 items in a large, clear plastic jar. Every morning Jaydon and Shayla take turns removing one object from our jar while the other one marks off the appropriate number. This morning we scribbled over number 25. Our excitement continues to grow as we watch the contents of the countdown jar dwindling away with each passing day!

We are very eager to swap smiles, stories and hugs with so many of you. Shayla told me this morning that I‟d have to tell people that she is Shayla, because it has been sooooooo long since many of you have seen her. She asked, “Do you think they‟ll recognize me?” She was particularly concerned that Cally, Mr. Keith‟s and Miss Dana‟s cat might not recognize her since she has changed so much from what she calls “the old days.”

Besides the countdown jar, another family activity for this month included keeping a promise for an afternoon of fun in the sand, sun and waves. It was a joy to watch Jaydon and Shayla experience the simple, nitty-gritty joys of being at the beach again. We‟re still experiencing the nitty-gritty part of it when we walk around the apartment and continue to get sand under our toes. I think the kids loved our time at the beach so much they decided to bring some of it back.

Celebrating Dad‟s birthday was another important family event this month. Sadly, the kiddos were sick prior to and during Dad‟s birthday so we had to postpone our planned birthday swimming excursion. Thankfully they weren‟t sick enough to forgo cake and ice cream, so there was still a festive atmosphere despite the change in plans. We did finally make it to the Jurong Sports complex for Dad‟s swimming party near the end of the month.

Another special activity for Jaydon and Shayla this month included Grandma T (Tamara) coming over to spice up reading time. Our little munchkins enjoy listening to Grandma T share stories with them because her animation definitely adds a sparkle to their library book selections. She peaks their interest in the books by asking them questions or making comments as she reads along. (Thanks Grandma T for helping to foster and nurture a love for reading in the kiddos!)

That‟s a quick glimpse of our family highlights for this month. I‟ll leave you with a few kiddo quotes. Know that we love you and that God loves you even more. He loves you the most!

Kiddo quotes:

“How you stop getting bigger is you just stop having birthdays.”—Shayla  She stated this after I told her I wanted to keep her small and she needed to stop growing up so fast.

“The waves bit me!”—Shayla (after she ended up with salt water in her eyes at the beach)

“Can I tell you a question?!”—Jaydon ( At times Jaydon‟s questions are more like statements…since he doesn‟t pause to hear an answer but continues talking full speed ahead!)

“I’m not tall enough to understand.”–Shayla (She came up short using this excuse. We know she understands much more than she admits! Besides if understanding increases with height, I need to invest in a pair of stilts. That sounds dangerous, and understanding challenged on my part!)

A few months back Jaydon asked me for some paper to make a „keep out‟ sign to use on his sister. When I asked him where he was trying to keep his sister out of, especially since they share a room. He replied, “I’m making a KEEP OUT…OF TROUBLE sign for my sister.” I had to chuckle. I guess sometimes all of us can use a “gentle reminder” to keep all our ducks in a row.

Above Jaydon & Shayla playing in the ocean at East Coast Park, and Celebrating daddy‟s birthday!  Also, Reading time with Grandma T and the “countdown jar” empties!

The photos above (left to right) show a so-called Chinese “good gods” of departed spirits… Chinese dragon and dancers… Man offering incense to the Chinese gods … and a few of many Chinese gods.

Overseeing church:
12th Street church of Christ
P.O. Box 1476
Seagraves, TX 79359
Contact person:
Kenny Smith
Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735
Home Phone: (806) 546-2336
Our Singapore Information
Tom & Nancy Goracke
BLK 60 Teban Garden Road #17 – 462
Singapore, 600060

Tom’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683213
Nancy’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683214
Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: twoservants2002@yahoo.com

Closing thoughts…
Our furlough airline tickets are purchased and Lord willing, we will depart Singapore on October 28th for the States! I have already scheduled times to give presentations with some of our supporters (primarily churches) but we are sorry we will not have the time to travel to meet with everyone we would like to during this furlough.
We do need to mention that although our first two years of financial support has been adequately supplied, we know that we will need to secure a considerable amount to meet our third year budget needs. Please keep this in prayerful consideration, and if you or the church you serve with can partner with us financially for our third year budget needs please contact us or our overseeing church.
We always thank God for your partnership in this ministry! Please check out our ministry blog for the latest updates to this ministry at… www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

Our love to you…
Tom, Nancy, Jaydon & Shayla

Study of 1Corinthians (Sept, 2009)                 Homiletics Class (August, 2009)

Study of 1Corinthians (Sept, 2009)                Homiletics Class (August, 2009)

Study of The Minor Prophets (August, 2009)    Christian Evidences (Foreign Students)

The Christian Home (August, 2009)                Evangelism Methods (Foreign Students)

The Minor Prophets (August 2009)                  Christian Evidences (Foreign Students)

13 Foreign Students joined us in July – Sept, 2009

History of Christianity & Science Supports Scripture (July, 2009)

Bible Camp in Malaysia (June, 2009)

Historical Christian Evidences (April, 2009)     Church of Christ (April, 2009)

Scheme of Redemption (April, 2009)

Life of Christ (February, 2009)                       Character Counts (February, 2009)

Sermon on The Mount (February, 2009)

Youth Mission Internship Classes (February, 2009)

       General Epistles (April, 2008)

Leadership Classes (May, 2008)

Old Testament History (August, 2008)

Book of Acts (January, 2008)

Book of Ephesians (February, 2008)

Book of Revelation (December, 2007)

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last week, Isaya Jackson was the guest speaker at our morning chapel. He shared a  story of God’s work among the Sudanese people of Africa that is too exciting to keep to ourselves.

Isaya and his family escaped the bloody civil war in Southern Sudan and lived in the squalor of a refugee camp in Uganda until they were granted political asylum by the U.S. Government and resettled in Houston, Texas.  They met and studied with Bill Yasko of the Westbury congregation and were baptized into Christ. Later the Jacksons were sent to Lubbock where Isaya enrolled as a student in Sunset International Bible Institute.  After graduation he announced that he would return to the Sudanese refugee camps to preach the gospel rather than continue to enjoy the relative luxury of life in America. With the support of the Woodward Park congregation in Fresno, California and others, Isaya returned to Uganda. He lived in a mud hut and faced a continual shortage of food, clean water and other basic necessities. He did, however, find a very receptive population.

In less than 8 years our brother baptized over 3,500 Sudanese refugees, planted some twenty new congregations (one of which had 400 members) and trained 50 leaders to preach, teach and evangelize.

In 2006 a peace treaty became effective and the refugees began to return home to Sudan. With the support of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ near Nashville, Tennessee, Isaya moved his ministry back to his homeland. Sudan is one of the most under- developed nations in the world, with little or no infrastructure for communication, food distribution, transportation, water and electricity. Isaya continued his work of evangelism, church planting and leadership training in a land where no congregations had existed in the past. He has now established a Bible Institute for the training of church leaders to serve the growing Christian population and expanding church growth. Truly this African brother, by God’s grace and power, is one of the modern day missionary heroes in our brotherhood.

Please help us to continue training faithful gospel preachers and missionaries like Isaya Jackson. On September 27th, or a more convenient Sunday, congregations all over America are collecting a special contribution for preacher and missionary training and world evangelism. We hope you will challenge your congregation to participate or that you will make an individual contribution. You may find out more and download a printable flyer from our website.

You may also donate directly or contact us for additional information.
On behalf of millions of lost souls around the world,

Truitt Adair
President – SIBI

PP’s 45th

Anniversary

Grand Dinner

on Friday, 23rd

Oct. at Dragon

Gate Restaurant

Many of us remember what a great time we had when we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at the IMM Building. Many members reserved an entire table for their family and friends as a means to introduce the church to them.

This time, we will get together at the spacious Dragon Gate Restaurant at the nearby
Habourfront Centre. The restaurant is well known for its dian xin and Chinese specialities.

The cost is affordable, just $33 per head.  We look forward to a great time of fellowship and thanksgiving.

Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Henry Kong

Venue and Accommodation

Recently, because of a technicality, the Singapore government asked us to go by the name Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore instead of Singapore International Bible Institute.  We gladly complied since that was the only way they could grant us non-profit status as a private education institution.

Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore is hosted by the Pasir Panjang Church of Christ at 347 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore.  Our appreciation for our partnership with the PP brethren has been expressed on these pages many times, and we will continue to do so.  We are especially thankful to be overseen by the PP elders and the special appointed board of directors made up of local church leaders.  The board of directors will be introduced later in this article.

The newly furnished SIBI Bible classroom at PPCOC is being used for both week day classes as well as weekend special classes.  It is certainly encouraging to all to have the PP facility used in so many ways to the glory of our Lord.  The recent government approval makes it now possible for foreign students to come to Singapore and study with us the entire two year curriculum and return to their respective places to share their knowledge of the Word of God.

The SIBI Board of Directors

The board comprises:

Winston Chong, Board Chairman –Winston’s background in business and accounting enables due consideration to be given to the School’s viability in Singapore. Serving as an elder also provides him a vantage view of the congregation’s needs that may otherwise be unnoticed. His responsibility and involvement ensures that the elders of PPCOC are kept fully appraised of key developments pertaining to the School’s establishment.

Kuek Lee Hock, Member – Lee Hock’s tertiary education at Harding University, USA places him well to appreciate the demands of the courses. This would enable him to present a clear picture of the rigors SIBI’s courses have on its students.

Dorothy Tay, Member – An educationist by profession, Dorothy has brought invaluable perspective to the programmer’s perception by students. She has also been key to overseeing the logistics and material requirements for the School.

Paul Quek, Member – Paul’s background in IT project management and his continual approach of getting “back to basics” and first principles has helped keep many discussions pragmatic and true to the original intent.

Lau Kin Fatt, Member – Kin Fatt is the minister of the recently planted Puchong Church of Christ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Together with Kok Bin, their input will shape the involvement of Malaysian students who have an interest for in-depth study of the Bible at SIBI.

Ong Kok Bin, Member – Kok Bin is the minister of the Seremban (Malaysia) Church of Christ. His involvement ensures that Bible study needs of churches in the outlying areas of Malaysia can be adequately considered.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE, LUBBOCK, TEXAS U.S.A.

SIBI was established in 1962, and for many years was also known as the Sunset School of Preaching at Lubbock, Texas.

Since 1962, several thousand Certificates of Graduation have been issued for several ministry disciplines. Among the graduates are gospel preachers and missionaries who live and minister in all fifty states of the USA and 110 foreign nations. Graduate studies in missions have been offered since 1970 to those who have completed their basic ministerial studies. Very recently the school has begun offering a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree and it soon can be offered by SIBI Singapore as well.  (See http://focusonasia.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/sunset-now-offers-a-bachelors-degree/  More than 600 missionaries and 50 mission teams have been trained and sent out through the SIBI Mission Department. A 1987 survey revealed that graduates of SIBI have been used by God to produce over 200,000 conversions, plant 1,500 new churches, train 3,500 preachers and appoint 1,650 elders, all to the glory of God.  More recent statistics are not known.

In 1974, the Lubbock School literally became a “school without walls” when the Sunset Extension School was started. The courses of the School were recorded on tape and arranged for correspondence study. Through the years, thousands have enhanced their ministries by taking these courses. Many students have received graduation certificates through this program.

The ministry training curriculum of SIBI is also available in a distance-learning program through audio, DVD and VHS video. There are Satellite Schools in most of the states states and in many foreign countries as well, again with thousands of students enrolled and studying each week. Those studying via correspondence can take the courses for SIBI credit.

The International Studies Division of SIBI presently maintains relationships with over 50 Ministry Training Schools in 31 countries over 6 continents, and is assisting additional schools that are in various stages of starting up. In South Asia, in addition to SIBI Singapore, schools are present in South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.  Classes are conducted in English, and/or translated into the local language. The school in Singapore will be primarily taught in English, with translation provided on an as needed basis.

Charles Cook, D.Min., Dean of Administration

Tom Goracke, Dean of Students

If you are interested in additional information about SIBI Singapore and how you might enroll please contact Tom Goracke sibi@ppcoc.org