BSOP was started nearly half a century ago through the vision of Chinese Christian leaders in this country with the help of missionaries evacuated from Mainland China. This event took place at a time when great political change spread all over China, and the source of Christian workers supplying the need of Chinese churches in this country was cut off. A school like this would not only meet the need of Chinese churches in the Philippines, but also provide workers for Chinese churches in Southeast Asia. This school is located in good soil, for the Philippines is the country in Asia that has the most Christian influence, with religious freedom, and where Chinese Christians are faithful in stewardship.

The founders must have visualized the kind of church leaders the school would produce to meet the challenges and the crying needs in the years to come. They set the philosophy and the goal by carving out the school motto taken from Philippians 1:29, “not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.”

When I first came to serve in BSOP some 35 years ago, I thought the school motto was rather negative. But I have grown older since then, and after serving the Lord these past 39 years, I have begun to appreciate the foresight of our founders in giving us this rich legacy. To become a Christian is easy, simply by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But to be a committed Christian in any age is no easy matter, and to be a servant of the Lord is even more challenging. It is a serious business. We have to pay a price and be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. When Christ called his disciples to follow him he told them the plain truth: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword . . . a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household . . . and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)

When Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from which our school motto was derived, he was in prison. In his first letter to the Corinthians he told them the price he had to pay in serving the Lord:

In the second letter to the Corinthians he not only detailed the external sufferings he received, he also revealed his heartfelt burden for the church: “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

From the words of our Lord and of the Apostle we are told that to be a disciple and to be a servant of the Lord is no easy task. Some sufferings of a Christian may be due to a number of personal reasons such as failure to observe God’s natural or moral laws, or due to violation of God’s commands and spiritual principles. What Paul meant in Philippians, however, was suffering as a result of our faith in Christ. Many Christians have the experience of being criticized and ridiculed by their loved ones after they accept the Lord. This is suffering for the sake of the Lord. We must expect and be willing to bear the sufferings falling on us from friends and foes.

When Lenin formed the Communist Party, he demanded that the members must have the determination of a dead man on furlough. He meant that members must be willing to give up their lives so that the only reason they would return home would be as dead men. History tells us that communism was able to shake and shape the world in the last three quarters of the 20^th Century because of the dedication of its members.

We thank God for our founders who pointed to us this clear direction in serving the Lord. It should be a constant reminder to us Chinese Christians and servants of the Lord to be willing to bear any cost, and pay any price to ignite the world for Christ and his kingdom. What then is our task?

On the BSOP in Focus publication these words are printed: “Equipping God’s Workers With God’s Word For God’s Work”. BSOP is not a Sunday school to teach its students once a week, though it offers short-term courses to lay leaders in churches. Our main purpose is that the students who have clear calling from the Lord would spend three or four years of intensive training in the Word of God, to become men and women of the Word. Though the world has made incredible advances in science and technology, it still desperately needs the Word of God. We are privileged to live in this 21^st century wherein we can travel on the information superhighways instantaneously. We enjoy such a high standard of living that our forebears never dreamed of. Yet man has not advanced in personal character and morality. Whether in politics or in business, in public or private life, moral principles and values are missing. The world is going downhill in morality and ethics. Only the Word of God can change life and character and lift up people to a higher plain.

In the last century, the world suffered two world wars and hundreds of civil wars. Millions of people were killed as the result of these human conflicts. People are yearning for peace, and yet peace is so elusive that mankind is constantly living in fear. The League of Nations could not bring about a long lasting peace, and neither can the United Nations. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that when individuals have peace with God, they will have peace with one another. Moreover, permanent peace can only be realized by Christ’s second return, for he is truly the prince of peace. Meanwhile it is the responsibility of God’s servants to proclaim the Word of God so people can be reconciled with God and with one another.

What can graduates from BSOP do to bring about such changed lives? By proclaiming the Word of God first to our own race, and then to another nations. May I add a phrase to the BSOP in Focus? Equipping God’s Workers With God’s Word For God’s Work to God’s World. This world still belongs to God, and it desperately needs God’s Word to change its condition, so we must broaden our field of service. I like the slogan of Grace Gospel Church: “The Whole World is Our Mission Field”. We have alumni serving in China, Taiwan, the U. S. and Canada. I pray that our graduates will go to other parts of the world to carry this good news. Mainland China is a great field of service. One practical step we can take is to learn Mandarin, not de-emphasize it. I believe that in our lifetime, the door will be opened wide to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you prepared to go?

I have been talking about suffering for Christ, and the challenge that faces us at present. You may feel it is all difficult work facing us. But let me conclude this message with my final point.

Even though our ministry may be difficult and at times discouraging, I assure you that we have a glorious future, and our reward is certain. For the Lord once said to those who served him: “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:26). I’d like to say something about the last part of this verse. It is a promise given to those who serve Christ.

There are many ways God honors his servants. One of them is for church members to treat their spiritual leaders with respect. Paul exhorts the Thessalonian believers with these words: “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you . . . Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.” (1 Thess. 5:12-13). Again in 1 Timothy 5:17 he writes, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” In the early church some of the elders served the church full time just like today’s pastors. Therefore a local church is God’s instrument to honor his servants.

When I was in seminary one of the professors told us several reasons that contributed to the phenomenal growth of the Korean Church. Of course prayer is the number one factor. But he mentioned another factor which few of us students in America realized. He said that Korean Christians highly respected their pastors. One time while I was still serving in Manila I was privileged to attend a conference there. In one session we sat in one classroom in a church. When a Korean pastor entered the room to greet us, all the Korean delegates stood up and bowed to him with respect. Then I understood the words that my professor said years ago. So if you want your church to grow, respect your pastor.

Another way God honors his servants is by providing for their material needs. If God takes care of the birds of the air, he will certainly meet the needs of his servants. I don’t mean that ministers will be rich by serving the Lord. But God will not let his servants go hungry. When I was young I had the desire to go into the ministry. But the fear of financial responsibility almost stopped me from serving the Lord. My godly mother encouraged me many times that I should not be worried. Finally I totally committed my life to him. In my 39 years of ministry, I can testify that the Lord is indeed faithful in meeting our needs. We have four children, and raising them up in America is no easy task. Because of family obligation and a desire to follow biblical teaching we also took care of my parents and my parents-in-law for a period during their sunset years. On top of this we took care of half a dozen nephews and nieces. One time we had 13 to 14 persons under one roof.

My advice to you parents who may have a son or daughter wanting to serve the Lord is this: Don’t stop your children from spending their lives for this high calling. God will richly reward your children and you in ways you can never imagine. Young people, if you feel called to go into the ministry but are afraid of the meager income of a minister, don’t be afraid, God will take care of you. He is mightier then the peso or the U.S. dollar.

Moreover, God not only honors his servants in this life, but also in eternity. Peter wrote these words to church leaders:

A crown of Glory! What an honor!

One time the Lord used a parable of faithful and watchful servants to teach his disciples. The master of the house returned and found his servants watchful, so the master changed to a servant’s clothing, and served and waited on the table for his servants. The Lord is the master, and you and I are his servants. If we serve him faithfully, we will receive such honor—the Lord Himself will serve us and care for our needs. What a glorious scene it will be on that day when the Lord comes back again.

By God’s grace and with the help of the Christian community BSOP will continue to produce servant-leaders for the Lord in the next 45 years until he comes. May he find us faithful.