Examination of Emmanuel Singh

For the past couple of years, the Session (council) of CERC has been working with Emmanuel Singh in Kolkata, India, with the help of Revs. Kortering, VanOverloop, and Woudenberg.  After a few years of weekly instruction via Skype, a few visits to Kolkata by delegations from our Session, and a couple of trips to Singapore by Emmanuel and his wife Sonali, the goal was reached of CERC giving Emmanuel the equivalent of a classical examination so that he can be called as our missionary to Kolkata.  (He had previously been ordained by an independent Indian organization.)  The exam took place today, with the help of Revs. Bruinsma and D. Kleyn from the PRC.

First Emmanuel preached a sermon on Acts 13:48.  (Much thanks to Daniel Tang for the pictures!)

After a short break, Emmanuel was examined in the six loci of dogmatics, and, following lunch, in knowledge of the Scriptures, knowledge of the confessions, CERC distinctives, controversy, the church order, and practica.

Revs. Bruinsma and Kleyn

The audience

When the exam was over our Session and the visiting ministers from the PRC approved the exam and declared Emmanuel eligible to receive a call from CERC to be our missionary to Kolkata.

PRC ministers discussing the exam

Announcement of our Session's decisions regarding Emmanuel's exam and eligibility for a call

Rev. Kleyn announced the agreement of the delegates from the PRC.

The day concluded with Emmanuel signing the Formula of Subscription, the presentation of a ministerial diploma to him, closing prayer, and an opportunity for all to congratulate Emmanuel & Sonali.

Emmanuel signing the Formula of Subscription

Presentation of diploma

Session members congratulating Emmanuel & Sonali

Delegates from the PRC congratulating them

This verse from Matthew 24 was brought up during the exam today:  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."  We are thankful for another laborer in the harvest as God continues to gather His church from all nations until Christ returns!

Miscellaneous

A couple of weeks ago we had another Follow-Up Dinner at our place for recent visitors and several church members.

Joel (visitor) and Andrew (member of CERC)

Calvin, Ethan, and Jason (visitors) and Seow Thong and Jemima (members)

Kelly (visitor) and Wee Kheng, Beverly, and Jessica (members)

Devotions

Group photo

One evening we went to Kong Wee & Dorcas's new flat to celebrate their son Elijah's 8th birthday.

Some of the kids playing a game together

Group photo

Right now our children's art class, taken with Nichelle Wong from church, is being taught by Nichelle's older sister Noelene.  Noelene is teaching the kids about batik, a method of dying cloth that is popular in Asia.

Here are a few pictures of Singapore, taken from the top of Mount Faber when my husband and I drove up there a couple days ago:

Looking toward the island of Sentosa

One of the ports

And a few pictures from a recent Sunday:

Jason outside our flat with the craft he made in 

Sunday School after learning about King Saul

With regular visitors Calvin & Kelly and their sons

Some of the kids playing a game between church services

Elena reading a book to Jael and Jason

Visit from Family

A couple of weeks ago my husband's aunt from the Seattle area spent six days with us.  We were able to show her many of the sights of Singapore.

When Aunt Sue arrived we took her downstairs to the coffeeshops (local food stalls) and then headed to Clarke Quay on the Singapore River.

We used to have this happen all the time, but hadn't for quite a while--

foreigners wanting a picture taken with the blond family!

The next day we went to the zoo, and afterwards the adults had dinner at a hawker

center--an outdoor area with many stalls selling local foods.

At the zoo

A huge group of school kids watching the sea lion show

Megan and Jason got to participate in a show.

Beautiful view of a reservoir, seen from the kids' area at the zoo

The kids got to try this "Megabounce."

Dinner before it's cooked!

And butter crab after it's cooked

Desserts

Another day we went on the Singapore Flyer and spent the evening at Gardens by the Bay.

Our family on the Flyer

View from the Flyer

Another view from the Flyer

With Aunt Sue

Eric, Jessica, and Emily at Gardens by the Bay

I love this walkway!

Relaxing at the gardens

Aunt Sue has worked for dentists for over 30 years, and she came prepared to teach a class on dentistry to our kids and a few other homeschoolers from church.

We were also able to see my husband's cousin and his fiancee for a short time when they flew through Singapore to meet up with Aunt Sue and continue on to Hong Kong with her.

We had a wonderful time with our latest visitor.  We hear ticket prices to Singapore are very cheap right now, so if you come we will gladly show you all the things she saw and more! ;-)