Graduate - Javison Chen

This is how I remember CCST Vancouver (classmates who once studied at the Beckwith campus, or brothers and sisters who visited, might share a similar sentiment).

The very moment you walked through the school doors, there was always a staff member on the right greeting you. Before, it was Krista; now, it’s Molly. There were also warm greetings coming from that tiny office to the front left, where Raymond and Janice were.

Walking straight to the end of the hallway led you to the library, which had about five rows of bookshelves. The row in the back left held the most frequently used textbooks and reference materials—a must-visit spot for students. Without reading those books, passing assignments and exams would probably have been a real struggle.

To the left of the entrance was a narrow staircase, the only way up to the second-floor classrooms, which made a clack-clack-clack sound when you stepped on it. The dining room on the second floor is also full of memories. During breaks or lunchtime, everyone would line up in front of the three microwaves and the water dispenser, heating up their lunchboxes while chatting about church, ministry, or sharing stories of our walks with God.

Slowly, I realized that what made CCST Vancouver so memorable to me was the people I met here.

I am someone who loves to listen to stories. It was also my first time in a school setting hearing so many living testimonies. From personal lives and family transformations to church ministry—every classmate came from a different place, with a different background, and a different calling. Sometimes, listening to everyone share their burdens for the church and various groups of people, I would think to myself: God’s harvest field will surely not lack successors. Some deeply worried about churches without pastors; some carried a burden for children with special needs; some held elderly in nursing homes close to their hearts; and others spoke of the lonely yet precious souls in hospice care. In these stories, I saw God’s work in different lives, and I saw that He is still calling people to go to the places that need to be seen.

The inspiration the professors gave me regarding theology is another thing that left a deep impression on me. Their wisdom lay not only in the breadth and depth of their knowledge of the Bible and God, but even more so in how they responded to our questions—that patient, unhurried posture of being willing to walk and think alongside us often inspired me more than the answers themselves. Through class after class, I gradually came to understand:

Theology is not just about how much I have learned; it is about how much God has transformed me during this journey. Theology is also not just about how many words I have written; it is about how many chapters of my life I am willing to hand over to Him to write.

During this journey at CCST Vancouver, I deeply realized that without the support of the people around me, I could not have completed my studies. Therefore, I want to thank my family. Thank you to my mother, who prayed for me through countless days and nights, and to my wife, who managed the household chores while I was rushing to finish assignments. Thank you to my spiritual elders, Henry and Rebecca, who guided me into theological training, as well as the spiritual partners who encouraged me to keep moving forward.

Looking back, CCST Vancouver seems to be the school with the smallest campus I have ever attended, yet it has given me the most memories. It wasn't just the professors and classmates, but it was God, time and time again through this place, slowly molding me from a self-righteous youth into someone who increasingly sees his own limitations. The journey of knowing God never ends.

Javison Chen - Diploma in Christian Studies Graduate