The Worship Hall was filled to a capacity not seen since the COVID pandemic began. But there was no lamenting over the loss of personal space. Instead, new and returning students excitedly greeted each other. Although we live in an ever-changing world marked by “VUCA” (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), Opening Chapel reminded us that “the Church’s One Foundation” is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). Following chapel, the fellowship continued with group games and activities. Although the competition was fierce, the sense of community was firm and continued through lunch. The SBC community has stood strong, knowing that “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa 40:8).

Matthew Lyle

SBC spent this month celebrating cultures and diversity, as well as broadening our vision for missions. We began with the International Fair, where students set up booths to introduce their cultures and signature food. The International Night that followed featured worship and performances led by different national fellowships. Throughout the month, the Thursday SBC Chapel had in-house preaching on the theme. Finally, each student participated in one mission exposure locally, from serving the elderly and prayer walks to visiting a special-needs school or culturally rich area. The activities allowed us to see how missions can be done in many forms and encouraged us to take part more readily in missional activities.

Zipporah Lau

This year, SOC’s English (SOC.E) and Chinese (SOC.C) sections ran 18 online sessions (13 and 5 sessions, respectively). We covered a vast range of topics from sexuality, addictions, and ministering to different life stages, to self-care and spiritual friendship. We thank God for participants from more than ten countries. Many of them shared that other than getting practical handles for life, they were able to translate what was taught back into their ministry. We pray that God will continue to use this platform as a channel of blessing to our potential students and our brothers and sisters in Asia and beyond.

Sylvia Chng

About 120 participants came online and onsite to hear Rev. Dr. Ng Liang Wei of Indigo & Co. speak on the topic of sexuality. He gave a clear grasp of the issues faced by sexual minorities and the need for churches to know how to relate with them. He then highlighted the four key areas of philosophy, practice, process, and public communications, and ended with a plea for churches to have a biblical perspective and embrace sexual minorities, understand their journey without judging them, learn the process of care, and help them integrate into the church family. Participants felt more educated and enlightened to handle this area in their respective churches.

Dr. Richard Ong (Ps)

SBC hosted this first post-pandemic gathering of seminaries to “Connect through Sports, Build Friendship in Him; ALL and ONE for Christ.” The rain could not dampen the spirit of teams and supporters from SBC, Trinity Theological College, East Asia School of Theology, Baptist Theological Seminary, and Discipleship Training Centre. We all had fun competing and cheering in games such as five-a-side football, table tennis, electronic gaming, and more, as well as enjoying ice cream, candy floss, pastries, and Milo.

Toh Hooi Min

God is at work in and through SCM, transforming lives and ministries! In Sep 2022, the SBC Chorale and Canticorum presented the hymn festival “All Things New” under the baton of Dr. Joel Navarro. Stories, songs, Scriptures, silence, and sign language reminded us that God is still renewing all things and all people. In Mar 2023, they presented “Magnified: Tracing God’s Presence in All Circumstances”, a lecture concert of Baroque, Classical and contemporary music.

From Sep to Oct 2022, SCM alumni jointly organized with us the SBC Selah Webinar Series (Indonesia) “Wineskins: Old and New”. Thirteen speakers addressed post-pandemic worship, choirs, emotional health, and spiritual leadership. In Jun 2023, the Selah Retreat (Bangkok) “Skillful Hands and Upright Heart” will be organized with the Church Music Association (Thailand). The aim is to renew leaders and members by recovering, recommitting to, and representing God’s kingdom agenda for churches in Bangkok.

Finally, SCM has concluded its five-year partnership with Bandung Theological Seminary on a joint Master of Ministry (MMin) in Worship and Music Leadership. We testify to God’s transformative work for both seminaries and graduates. A new MMin in Music and Worship Leadership programme was launched in Jul 2022. God’s Word and work are so powerful that, during and after the first modules, the students already spoke of life and ministry transformation.

Dr. Myrleene Yap

上午九点，新神大家庭的师生与职员齐聚崇拜厅，迎接新学年的到来。

开学礼以同心的敬拜开始。尔后，谢木水院长以“新时代，新视域”为题，用希伯来书十三章8节勉励我们。他指出现今社会充满危险和挑战，事主的人如同身处悬崖峭壁。但我们所仰望的耶稣基督，昨日今日一直到永远都不改变；因此，我们可以加入历代忠心门徒的行列，凭信心超越眼前，定睛于主而拥有更广阔的视域。之后，新神人同领圣餐，见证联于基督同为一体的生命。

退修会随即在十一点开始。学生会带领游戏，让不同院系年级的学生享有轻松互动的时间，同时操练彼此扶持与配搭。随后的午餐团契，师生一起分享与祷告，新旧生则就学习方面切磋心得。感谢神赐下这美好的一天，为我们添加心力，在新学期继续昂首向前奔跑。

新神在九月迎来了差传月与国际之夜。今年的特色是安排了一次崭新的宣教体验周，让新神人可以不用出国就可到不同的国家或族群中，了解他们的文化特色与美食。新神的老师分别带着学生到小印度、芽笼、马来村、犹太会堂及戒毒所等地方，进行亲身体验。同学们边观摩边谈论，视听并进，犹如一次亲临其境的宣教之旅。行程结束后，大家仍意犹未尽地讲述自己内心的感受与体会。

差传月的最后一个周五是“国际之夜”，来自世界不同国家和地区的同学，穿戴着最具本地民族特色的服装及头饰，以诗歌、小品、舞蹈等节目，向大家展示自己国家的人文与社会现象，借此促进大家的认识并代祷。的确，每一个国家，每一个民族，都显示神的作为，因为神就是宣教的主。

新神的仆人领袖中心华文事工，为配合神学院创院70周年记念，从2022年10月开始每月主办一次、共七堂的“教会事工系列”讲座。我们邀请了华福总干事董家骅牧师、谢木水院长、讲师朱美娟博士、校友刘忠民牧师、新神同工罗志文长老及黄清豪博士，分享不同的教会事工课题。主办这一系列讲座，旨在邀请教牧同工、长执领袖及关心教会发展的信徒，一同思考现今教会事工所面对的挑战，重思事工的理念以及探讨一些对应的策略。过去六次的讲座一共吸引555位实体与线上的与会者，最后一次讲座将在5月12日举行，客座讲师许南盛博士将分享乐龄事工动脉。

下午六时，新神的教职员、学生和家属共聚学院的食堂，一起欢庆华人农历新年。当晚，大家都穿上了新年的衣服，脸上洋溢着过年的喜悦，孩子们更是打扮得喜气洋洋。食堂也被装饰了一番，让整个会场看起来热闹非凡。据统计，参加这次团圆饭的人数高达220，乃学院团圆饭的历年之冠！

这次团圆饭共有八道菜，每一道菜都有一个别致的名字，巧妙地表达出对兔年的美好祝愿。桌上的食物既彰显出上帝丰厚的恩典，也饱含肢体们慷慨的爱心。在团圆饭的当儿，中国团契的代表为大家献上了新年歌曲，恭贺大家新年好；师母团契的孩子们也表演了舞蹈来庆祝新年，孩子们可可爱爱的动作，让人格外喜爱。饭桌上大家彼此攀谈，互贺新年，院长和老师更逐桌去问候与关心学生和家属，画面倍感温馨。纵然大部分的老师和同学都没有办法在这个喜庆的节日回国与家人团聚，但在异国他乡能够与主内的家人一起欢庆新年，我们的心已充满喜悦和感恩。

今年的辅导周，从开始的“认知行为治疗”讲座，就让与会者“饱餐一顿”。萧志杰老师仅以短短两小时，就清楚阐述了此治疗法的理论架构，并带入治疗忧郁症的例子，让第一次参与讲座的朋友对此课题得到基本了解。

神经科学家郑瑞光博士的课题是“大脑与记忆”及 “大脑与睡眠”。除了帮助与会者认识睡眠与记忆和情绪的关系外，也教导了六种帮助睡眠的实用方法。此外，罗明荣心理师详细地讲解透过视讯辅导的实务与伦理考量，让与会者了解视讯辅导的优势和限制，这确是一个与时并进的课题。

最后有关“临终关怀”的讲座，吸引了不少与会者。其中一位与会者回应说：“有幸听到陈秉华博士及蒋宗芬传道的讲授，对这门生命课程第一次得到专业的学习。”借此讲座，与会者认识到不仅病危者需要关怀，他的亲近者同样需要关怀。家人的哀伤不会因逝者的离开而淡却；在往后的日子，家人如何面对并走出伤痛、如何与逝者建立一种全新的关系，这些都是每一个人需要学习和经历的。

总而言之，这是一次让与会者收获满满的辅导周讲座。

下午两点三十分，因疫情而停办了四年的院际运动会重新登场。是次运动会的地点是在新神，参与的包括三一神学院、浸信会神学院、东亚神学院、门徒训练中心；新神秉承着基督的爱热烈欢迎各学院的莅临。

运动项目包括乒乓、五人足球、电竞游戏、圣经知识和五公里赛跑。由于天不作美，五公里赛跑被迫取消。虽然阴雨绵绵，大家的热情却依旧高昂。各赛场的比赛如火如荼地进行，不管是参赛选手还是助威同学，大家都积极参与，随处可听见呐喊声和口号声。随着最后一声的哨响，本次运动会也拉下帷幕。谢木水院长将院际之杯转交给三一的郑益民院长，意味着三一神学院将是下届院际运动会的主办方。

各神学院的同学因本次运动会而认识并相交，诚如是次运动会的主题“以运动相连、在主里相交、一切为基督”！