I was at Regent College from 1981 to 1985. It was one of the most significant experiences of my life. What I learnt there would see me through some of the toughest moments of my life and ministry.
I was to learn, years after I had left Regent, that my application had initially been rejected. Regent was a graduate school and I applied on the basis of my grades from dental school, University of Singapore. The University of Singapore is based on the British system of university studies. If you were pursuing professional studies like dentistry, law or medicine, a passing grade meant you were deemed qualified to practice. Cs and Ds were not uncommon.
The North American liberal arts education system was graded differently. There, if you were academically proficient, you were expected to get As and Bs. Admittedly my grades in dental school were not great, but they could not be equated to the same grades in a North American liberal arts education system.
The admissions committee were worried that I wouldn’t be able to function at the academic level required at Regent. Unknown to me, they had already decided to reject my application. But I had very good references. One day, it just so happened that Thomas John, a Singaporean student at Regent, was walking by while the admissions committee were meeting. They enlisted his help to interpret my grades. Thomas explained the Singapore professional school system to them and, as a result, they gave me a tentative admission. I was just delighted to be given a place at Regent. The studies were tough but I scored straight As in my first term, and I guess that was that.
I met Thomas John and his dear wife Agnes at a wedding dinner a few nights ago. We were seated at the same table. I took the opportunity to thank him again. I realised afresh that if it is God’s will for something to happen, He will make sure that it happens. What were the chances that Thomas John would happen to walk by when the admissions committee were meeting? But I didn’t know of this divine encounter till years later. God is always working but He does not always show His hand. He’s always got our backs, though, whether we know it or not. We can live our lives in faith.
