Dr. Calvin Chong

This workshop explores the role of community music in eldercare ministries. It introduces participants to the Bio-Psychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) wellness framework which is helpful for planning community music and movement engagement sessions. Included too is a presentation of carefully curated community music and movement interventions designed to engage seniors across biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual dimensions.

Dr Calvin Chong is a community music practitioner and advocate. He has been a ukulele instructor and open mike/jam host for over 15 years. He is also a trained drum circle facilitator and enjoys exploring community music engagement involving singing and strumming, percussion instruments, rhythm and clapping games, and movement to music.

Dr Calvin is Professor of Practical Theology at Singapore Bible College and also serves on the Board of the Methodist School of Music.

Christobelle Joseph Gnanakan

This presentation is a personal documentation of one of many classroom explorations. ACTS Academy lays emphasis on the knowledge and practice of Life Skills to develop students as holistic scholars who can serve society in the capacity of their choice – pastor, teacher, nurse, accountant, driver, entrepreneur, whatever.

Most students are from disenfranchised backgrounds and eager to learn in a format that serves their abilities. Life skills have no language and so I present learning in forms that include rather than divide. Language proficiency divides. This particular one was done on a batch of MTh students in 2023 and brought a lot of deep learning by my primal use of the arts.

Christobelle is a mother, wife, daughter, writer and an intuitive teacher who introspects a lot. She is a journalist by qualification, and a teacher by choice, enjoying the lessons she learns from her students daily and passing on the knowledge she has accumulated over the years in different areas of her interest.

Christobelle is grateful for the vision of ACTS Academy where she serves that allows her to experiment with different communication and learning styles, bringing freshness and practicality to her classroom daily.

Tony Chuang 莊智超

A church can use drama, music, dance, and multiple other creative arts to make a worship service stand out. When it comes time for the sermon, the preacher comes on stage to deliver a speech with mainly oratory elements.

This dramatic presentation aims to teach and inspire preachers to utilize the creative arts more in the sermon itself through a musically-rich reenactment of the biblical figure Mephibosheth. The presentation includes piano, song, acting, and preaching.

Rev. Dr. Tony Chuang is a Taiwanese/Canadian who earned a PhD in the United States and lives in Malaysia. He has ministered at hundreds of locations in multiple countries across four continents. Each year, he speaks at conferences and teaches at three seminaries throughout Asia. Additionally, he leads an electroplating business and serves at Georgetown Baptist Church as a pastor. His research interests include missiology, folk religion, and homiletics. His favorite food is salmon sashimi.

Dr. Esther Shin Chuang

Dr. Esther Shin Chuang is an award-winning concert pianist, singer, and educator who has ministered globally. She holds a doctorate in worship studies (Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies), a Master of Arts (Moody Theological Seminary), Master of Music (Manhattan School of Music), and Bachelor of Music (Peabody Conservatory), all from the U.S. Currently, she lectures on worship at six seminaries in Asia, is a writer for Christianity Today, and serves as a pastor at Georgetown Baptist Church in Penang, Malaysia. 

Dr.Sooi Ling Tan

Michael Veerapen

Tan Sooi Ling is the dean of Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) Alliance. She obtained her PHD from Fuller Seminary in Intercultural Studies with a focus on transformative worship, with an interest in the role of local performing art forms. She is the co-editor of “Songs of Peace and Reconciliation” and has written articles on contextualization and identity-making through the performing arts.

Michael Veerapen is a renowned jazz pianist, composer and musical director for many of Malaysia’s top performers, national events, musical theatre and music festivals.. He graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music, Boston in 1982. He also serves in the worship team at Trinity Methodist Church, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Ben Wargis: An ethnomusicologist and creative director with over 20 years of experience working closely with indigenous and marginalised communities across Asia, and Africa to document, analyse and revitalise folk traditions through decolonial, participatory approaches. A mentor, facilitator & trainer researching the role of traditional sonic arts in trauma healing, peace-building and cultural resilience and a guest lecturer in seminaries on arts and religious expression.

Carolien Eunice Tantra: Carolien Tantra is from Jakarta, Indonesia. Currently, she is studying Doctor of Pastoral Music at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA. She is also actively involved in the worship and music ministry at the local church in Waco, Texas, and also in Indonesia. Together with her son Dillan, and her husband, David Dwi Chrisna, PhD (Cand.) who is also studying World Christianity at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, they are now living in Waco, Texas since 2021.

Ps. Jenni Ho-Huan

We all operate from certain frameworks or deep structures. Interestingly these often go unexamined in our missional efforts. After 30 years as a pastor, Jenni found that God was showing her a fresh vision of life and mission, where God acts as The Gracious Host. In this workshop, we want to explore what this means for our personal life and our missional efforts. We want to consider is this understanding can serve as a paradigm for our lives and work.

Jenni Ho-Huan is a city pastor in Singapore leading a movement to reclaim the abundant life. She also partners her husband Rev Dr Philip Huan in their consultancy for churches, focusing on sustainable mission and organisational development.  She produced and hosted the first Christian podcast in Sg, The Cathedral Podcast, and has authored six books. But her favourite role is being mom to her two YAs and one cat.

Mr. Jeannart Jay C. Ticong

This workshop is designed with three primary goals. First is to introduce the basic principles and foundational techniques for the art of flower arrangement. Second is to create an artistic space for theological discussions that will be focusing on the significance of flowers in Christian worship and the Christian faith. And third is to inspire more people to creatively use flowers in sanctuaries with the ultimate goal of glorifying God alone.

Born and raised in Mindanao, Jeannard currently serves as full time Church Music Instructor at PBTS, while pursuing doctorate in Theology at Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary. He holds a master’s degree in Church Music, with emphasis in Voice and  Conducting. As a published composer, Jeannard composes art songs and choral music. When not in the classroom, you will probably see him running in forest trails, or climbing mountains. He is happily married to Melodie.