Multiplying Impact
A Testimony from a New Ph.D holder, Dr. Ning Ngaih Lian
God is a faithful God. This truth is seen profoundly in my Ph.D study journey.
Under God’s plan, I was part of the MEGST family and started my PhD studies under the sponsorship of Lea-Dev Langham (New Zealand). At the end of 2015, I joined Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) Philippines, a member of the Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) consortium of colleges, as a Ph.D student majoring in Transformational Learning.
By God’s grace and guidance, I finished my three years of course work despite the challenges and difficulties and passed my comprehensive exam with distinction in March 2019. In June 2019, I passed my dissertation proposal defence and came back to Myanmar for my field research. The title of my dissertation is “Toward Developing Biblically Sound, Spiritually Formative, and Contextually Appropriate Curriculum Guidelines for Theological Schools in Myanmar.” The main focus of my dissertation is to understand the spirituality of theological students and propose a curriculum guideline for theological schools in Myanmar in terms of spiritual formation. I used a mixed-method research approach involving survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis.
Under the Global Scholar program of Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS) in Kentucky, I got a chance to join the fall semester of 2019 as a visiting scholar. During my time at ATS, I join the community and finished the data analysis of my research. In April 2020, God helped me to successfully defend my dissertation and finish my revisions in the midst of the pandemic. Moreover, God brought me home safely on a relief flight in May, and I joined MEGST as a full-time lecturer in the Pastoral Department in June of 2020.
Throughout the four and a half years of my Ph.D studies, I have tasted the faithfulness of God and learned the importance of community. Thank you MEGST family, LeaDev-Langham (New Zealand), and Asbury Theological Seminary (Kentucky) for your love and support. Thank you all who are a part of this journey through your prayers. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Aung Mang (our former Principal and Board Chairman of MEGST) for his care and encouragement during my ups and downs. Please continue to pray for me that I could become a faithful servant-leader for the nations through my teaching ministry at MEGST.
The impact from your Shoulder to Shoulder donations continues
Your donations to the Shoulder to Shoulder appeal have enabled Colleges to make an impact, delivering teaching in difficult circumstances.
Impact through Zaraphath Bible Seminary, Pakistan
Shahabaz Boota reports that an online M.Div. Module on Suffering and Persecution was held and was successfully completed from 21st to 26th September. There were 37 students present in the physical class and 13 students attended module via Zoom.
It was a heart touching, and life transformational experience for many students where they not only learned the Biblical Teaching of Suffering and Persecution especially how to Biblically Respond to Suffering and our Persecutors but they share their experiences of suffering and during the last day of course when we had special Prayer meeting, The Holy Spirit did amazing work of healing and restoration with tears and many of them were able to literally forgive their Persecutors who made them suffered internally and externally.
We praise God for wonderful learning experience and work of transformation in the lives of many students/leaders through this initiative. We are so thankful for the support of other wonderful friends’ colleagues for their sharing in the chapel for Spiritual Formation of our students.
Impact through MEGST
Aung Htoo, a recent PhD graduate who studied in NZ, whom many of you supported is making a real impact. Since returning to Myanmar he along with the MEGST faculty have started a DMin programme.
CK, the college principal reports that “recently we had the orientation for 32 DMin students. We praise God for such a love student group who are mostly top leaders”.
It was a heart touching, and life transformational experience for many students where they not only learned the Biblical Teaching of Suffering and Persecution especially how to Biblically Respond to Suffering and our Persecutors but they share their experiences of suffering and during the last day of course when we had special Prayer meeting, The Holy Spirit did amazing work of healing and restoration with tears and many of them were able to literally forgive their Persecutors who made them suffered internally and externally.
We praise God for wonderful learning experience and work of transformation in the lives of many students/leaders through this initiative. We are so thankful for the support of other wonderful friends’ colleagues for their sharing in the chapel for Spiritual Formation of our students.
