By Sarah Gan
(Lay Ministry Staff)

In 2018, when I was serving as Lay Ministry Staff at Holland Village Methodist Church, Pastor Joel Yong (our Pastor-in-charge then) suggested that I consider studying for a Master in Divinity at Trinity Theological College (TTC). I immediately said, “No!”. I had struggled academically throughout my life, and the thought of going back to school was my worst nightmare. I dismissed the idea, but God did not give up. Over the next six months, five people asked me, separately, if I would consider going to TTC.

Then one day, a line in my devotion book caught my attention: “When God gives you a God-sized assignment, you will realise you cannot do what He is asking on your own.” God was asking me, “Do you trust me? On your own you will surely fail. But with me, this journey will be a testimony of my providence.” I sat there and cried, but I knew that if I acted in faith, God would provide. So, I surrendered and joined TTC in 2020 as a part-time student.

What I did not know was that the next six years at TTC would be the best and worst time of my life. During the course, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, Covid hit, and my children, Faith and Jonas, sat for their ‘O’ level and Primary School Leaving Exams respectively in the same year. Subsequently, Jonas had two bad accidents, Faith needed emergency surgery, I broke my collar bone and we had to move out of our home. I wondered if I would make it through each semester because I was writing research papers and doing my readings at the hospital and in waiting rooms, running on fumes.

But it was through these challenges that I experienced the depth of God’s love in new and amazing ways. When I was exhausted, He gave me just enough strength for the day. When I was struggling with the difficulty of the classes, assignments and exams, He granted me His wisdom and understanding. When I wanted to give up, He sent people to encourage and uphold us in prayer.

Our TCC lecturers guided us through vast and complicated materials, challenging us to see things in a different light, and impressed upon my heart, a deeper appreciation of this world that God so loves. I enjoyed learning and gained a new understanding of what it means to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength, so that even in my studies I encountered our living God.

One of the challenges I faced was overcoming my fear of the Greek language. I was so lost initially, that when I submitted my final paper, I marvelled at the miracle I had experienced and I have grown to love the language! Philippians 2:13 says “… it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

*My TTC course-mates at our graduation retreat*

I forged deep spiritual friendships with my classmates as we journeyed through the highs and lows of life together. Whenever one of us felt like a marathoner who was too weak to take another step, there would always be people who slowed down to support us till we were back on our feet.

I also had to guard my time with God, with my two kids, and balance time for school work and serving in church. I learnt to trust Him to order my day and determine my priorities because apart from Him I can do nothing (John 15:5).

In spite of the challenges, God had a big surprise for me. Before graduation, our Dean announced that the faculty had decided that I would be the first part-time student to be given the honour of being the Valedictorian. I was so humbled and continue to be in awe of this gift from God. He had sent me, a struggling, dyslexic, single mum, who never did well in school, on a journey that would be a testimony of His providence.

*With my HVMC family and Pastor Joel Yong (extreme right)*

I rejoice at how God has used this six-year journey to shape me and I give thanks for all the love, prayers and support of my family, everyone here at HVMC and the TTC community. All glory to God! I now return to HVMC as a full-time Lay Ministry Staff for Prayer, Worship Ministry and the Filipino Fellowship, and am excited to see how God will continue to grow, shape and mould me for His glory and my good.

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When God Gives You a God-Sized Assignment