Training Workers In and For Asia

By Bob and Esther Howder

Bob and Esther Howder live in Singapore, an island 26 miles long by 14 miles wide on the end of the Malayan Peninsula. Three million people live and work in this modern city one-third the size of Rhode Island. Singapore is multi-cultural-the gas bill is written in Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English. This mosaic carries over into religious beliefs with its mix of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.

After nearly 30 years in church planting in Japan, the Howders faced up to a new insight: North Americans don't have to do all the missionary work themselves. Local people serve God effectively in many Asian countries. But local leadership may be slow to emerge because of lack of training. Asian businessmen state, "If a person does not upgrade his skills three or four times, that person will be out of a job long before retirement."

What does this say about national pastors and Christian workers? They, too, must hone their skills. This realization led Bob and Esther Howder to change their location and focus. They live in Singapore, but their ministry spans all of Southeast Asia through the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary Extension Program (GRBSEP) where Bob serves as an adjunct faculty member and Associate Director of Development.

In the mid 1980's Dr. John Lillis, a graduate of Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, initiated GRBSEP in Asia offering an accredited Master of Religious Education (MRE) degree. Every spring and fall professors travel to seminar sites in Hong Kong, The Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore for two weeks, with two courses offered at each session. This allows students to earn their degrees while remaining in their own countries and continuing their ministries.

The 62 graduates represent 12 countries. Tuition is adjusted according to the economy of each country, with the goal of helping students value their education, but making it available to countries with low incomes. God has kept the program alive through special gifts from missionaries, churches and individuals in North America and Asia.

And what of the Howders' love for the Japanese? God, in His sovereign plan, moves people around to where they can hear the gospel. Bob and Esther continue to spread the Word of God among the 30,000 Japanese businessmen and their families who live in SINGAPORE.

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