Have you noticed that the “steadfast love” and “faithfulness” of God often go together in the Psalms? Psalm 117 is the shortest of the Psalter (Tehillim in Hebrew), comprising only 2 verses in 17 words (Masoretic text). Yet this call of the nations to praise God has the twin ideas of God’s steadfast love and His faithfulness at the core of it:

God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are evident everywhere in creation and in our daily lives. It is no wonder that these attributes of God are typically characterised as “great” and “enduring forever.”

The resounding theme of God’s faithfulness was evident as our Chairman Emeritus, Deacon Daniel Soh, gave the exhortation at my Inauguration as the 9^th President of the Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS) on 7 February 2026.

Deacon Daniel entitled his message “For Such a Time as This” (Esther 4:14). He began by acknowledging the contributions of the past eight Presidents and the Founding Director of BTS, Dr Roger Capps (1983-1993). The key idea he highlighted in the first 20 years of our history was the precarious position of BTS due to low student enrollment. He credited the Management Board and BTS’s early leaders for persevering and not giving up. In the face of the challenging circumstances of those early years, the sheer faithfulness of God saw us through. With rising enrollment, especially in the last five years, we can now trust God to turn BTS from a struggling institution into a viable seminary, even a seminary of choice.

We are indeed thankful that, over our 37-year history, God has enabled BTS to graduate nearly 400 students. They now serve as pastors, missionaries, and leaders across a range of Christian ministries in various countries, particularly throughout Asia. About 30 percent of our pastors in the Singapore Baptist Convention churches are BTS graduates.

Deacon Daniel highlighted two developments for optimism as we look towards the future:

1. God’s gift of a united Board

Deacon Daniel described the present BTS Board as “among the best we have had.” He observed that their gifts and expertise complement each other and, more importantly, he affirmed their genuine unity of heart and their commitment to walk alongside the President to support him fully. But he also cautioned that such unity must be jealously guarded, carefully nurtured and strengthened—for the good of the seminary and the glory of God. He exhorted the Board, President and faculty to stand together, reminding them that “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV).

2. God’s provision of a permanent home

Deacon Daniel recounted the early years of BTS, when the seminary did not yet have its own premises. He thanked the Baptist churches that hosted us, including Calvary Baptist Church, Singapore Baptist Church, Kay Poh Road Baptist Church, and Queenstown Baptist Church. He also fondly recalled how God miraculously provided the funds to purchase the Baptist Centre, which has been BTS’s permanent home since 2012.

I am grateful for his encouragement to discern wisely, lead faithfully, and remain obedient to God’s Word. He reminded me that God’s calling comes with the promise of His presence (Joshua 1:5); like Joshua, I too must “be strong and courageous” and hold firmly to His Word (Joshua 1:6–7, 9).

As we give thanks for the past and commit BTS’s future into God’s hands, we will remember Deacon Daniel’s reminder to us that “the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.” How true!

To God be the glory!

Ho Chiao Ek, PhD
President