Meet Three of Our Students

Hsiang-Ling Wee 
 

 A Call to Tyndale Theological Seminary

I had never thought that I would do theological studies as I always felt that such studies were meant for those with a specific pastoral or ministry calling in their lives. My career path in the legal arena was established, or so I thought. So in a series of events that I can only attribute to God’s Hand, He led me out from Singapore, away from my comfort (and very comfortable) zone, and landed me in the Netherlands where God clearly led me to study at Tyndale. And I have never enjoyed any studies as much as I have enjoyed these studies! I remember sitting in the library in my first semester at Tyndale doing one of the many readings we have to do as students. Every 15 minutes or so, I would look up and exclaim to whomever was at the same table “This is great!” or “This is cool! Do you know that…?” One year hence, I am still as excited that with every study, I am learning and understanding more about the Lord my God, His mind and more importantly His heart. At the same time I am being equipped to give an answer to everyone within my sphere of influence who asks me the reason for the hope that I have (1Pet 3:15). In the past year, I have made much use of the knowledge that I have gained to have deep meaningful conversations with people that God has brought across my path. The very fact that I am a seminary student has even given me opportunities to start a conversation with unbelievers about God. God does not wait till you feel ready. He presents the opportunities and you have to decide if you want to join in in His work He is doing right now.

I have not regretted my decision to study fulltime at Tyndale. Growing up in a country and a society geared towards practicality, it is sometimes difficult to justify these studies when I am asked “So what can you do with this degree?” The question that should be asked instead is “What has God been doing to you with this knowledge you have been gaining?” In learning more about the Lord and His Word, I am led into a deeper wonderment of Him, a richer appreciation of who He is and what He has done and is doing. That in and of itself is intrinsically of immense value to me.

 Danijela Kastavarec
 

 My journey with God

I grew up in a Christian family. I was familiar with almost all Biblical stories and how I was required to live my life according to God's standards. At the age of 13 I fulfilled the last bit that was required. I declared that Jesus is my Savior and got baptized. My frustration culminated when I realized that after all I had done, still it didn't make me feel fulfilled. I still felt lonely, not good enough to make people love me. At the very end, I found myself depressed. Without meaning and purpose for my life I was desperately looking for peace and rest. I was looking for somebody to show me love and care. And then, Jesus found me. And I found Him. Everything I've been dreaming of I found in Him. He became my "all inclusive." Everything that tormented my soul disappeared in that glorious moment we've meet. I'll never let Him go, and what is more mesmerizing is He will never leave.
I enjoy music, writing and reading. It inspires me in a significant and special way regarding all areas of my life. In my free time I love traveling, hiking, and snowboarding with my lovely husband.
 

 Pastor Christian from Ghana
My name is Christian and I am saved simply by the grace of God. I was born and raised in Ghana and am in my first year of studies for my Masters of Divinity here at Tyndale. My story actually begins when I was saved or converted in a DiscoTech of all places! Right then and there, I gave my heart to Jesus. You see, after High School, I went a bit wayward. I was wasting away my life, drinking, running around etc. There was a gentleman Christian Brother of mine who took a keen interest in praying for me. I thank God for his prayers for me. I can still remember the day I was saved like it was yesterday. At 1a.m. in the morning, in this disco, I was standing there and a cool breeze came over me, and I heard a voice say to me…”Do you love me?” I simply answered yes, not really comprehending whose voice it was I heard. I was so overcome because I realized then that this voice was Jesus talking to me. I began to cry. Tears just poured down my cheeks. I went straight to my friend’s house, and unknown to me, God had already told him I was going to be saved. When I knocked on the door at that late hour, he said, Chris, come on in. I thought, ‘How does he know it is me from just two knocks on the door?’ I felt feverish and asked him for some pain killers. He said, “Come on in; you’re not sick. Sit down and let me pray for you.” From that day on, I have not stopped talking about Jesus. Preaching about him! Thanks be to God; my life just keeps going up and up! In the beginning I was actively involved in Bus ministries. Then that led up into planting 2 churches where there are Pastors there who are now pastoring those churches even today. Now don’t get me wrong when I say going up and up. As Christians we do face persecution. There was of course persecution along the way, but with God, all things are possible! For example, at our first church, we got kicked out of our building and our members suffered enormous persecution (both physical as well as mental). It did not stop us. We just kept going; praising God and worshipping him. Praising and worshiping God even under a tree when we had no building. Then it started raining and we said….Oh Lord…let your rain come. We kept on praising Him. You see we had to break that ground there in order for others to come and worship there later. By God’s grace my life kept going up…..even up until last December, when I became the District Pastor for the area. I still can’t understand it all. God is so good. Now, He has led me to the Netherlands. I like it here, but I miss my family terribly. I made a vow to speak with my family - my dear wife Vivian and my precious children – Judith who is 10 and Joshua who is 8, twice a week while I am gone. I miss them so very, very much. But I know that God has a plan for me to be here, and I thank Him for my family that is supportive of me being here. My favorite quotation is from Ezra 7:10; “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Since that day in 1987 in the disco-tech, I have been sensing God’s presence and leading in my life more and more. I always had a dream to further my education, but I didn’t want to go to just any school. I wanted to find the right place. It happened that while I was doing my undergraduate education (at a Bible Study College) back home in Ghana, I met a professor who received his Master of Divinity here at Tyndale. This professor was such an inspiration to me. The man could just simply handle the Bible so well. I said – I want to follow in this man’s footsteps. So in 2000 I went to the Netherlands for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Conference in Amsterdam. Tyndale had a stand there and I picked up one of their brochures. I went back home and applied in 2000 to come here, but did not gain admission at that time. However, I was not deterred. My professor was such an inspiration, that I really, really wanted to come here. So I took time out and prayed and prayed and asked for God’s grace; and then in 2005, something wonderful happened. I waited on the Lord and when I came out of that place, I had a very strong conviction that I would travel in 2007. But, I still didn’t know why. So when I came home and told my wife that this was the conviction that I had had, and when I told her about how strongly I felt it, I even said to her that I didn’t know if maybe it meant we were going to go to Heaven in 2007. That is how strongly I felt about it. She said- oh, come on- don’t bring that on now. It was unclear exactly what it meant. But then, in 2006, the conviction came back to me that I should apply again at Tyndale. This time around the door was open! It is also important to note that in 2005 when God had impressed upon me that I was going to travel; at that very same time my almamater asked me to teach there. So God had this plan that I should have some teaching years of experience under my belt before I came here for the master’s program which is why the doors to the school were not opened in the earlier years. The reason I am saying all these things is because I see that this is God’s timing. Now I understand why I had to be here at this time and not earlier. He has given me a vision of helping pastors who are finding problems with sound biblical preaching and teaching. How am I going to dot that? The Lord is helping by leading me to build a center especially for preaching and teaching in Ghana. I waited patiently and now the vision is so clear as to what I am going to do after I graduate from here. I see being here at Tyndale as a waking from God and I am so grateful to the Lord. For the next three years the Lord is preparing the way and that is why I am always excited while I am here! Peace and Grace be multiplied unto you.