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The Purpose of the SOL Field Attachment
Throughout Scripture, the heart of God is to inscribe His two greatest commandments in the hearts of His people - to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39 ). The SOL field trip is a powerful instrument designed to refine and deepen the student's existing knowledge and experience of the practical love of Christ.
This SOL field attachment is an integral part of the school's curriculum. Having received instruction from the Word of God for eight weeks, the field attachment is a time for the outworking of faith-to witness how the Spirit of the Lord brings the instruction we have received into reality.
|  | The Lord says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26 )." Students yield their lives to God and work under an established leader in a foreign field. They are physically allocated to different parts of the world, but they unanimously experience heart transformations.
| | Students are thrust forth like arrows to various countries: China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Israel, Russia, and even to specific works in Singapore. Students learn vital lessons about leadership that could not have been realized without their time on the field. The School of Leadership field attachment is experiential learning, to see and know the heart of God in reality. God lives in the midst of His people. Individuals encounter one another that they may know God and His heart. The school is a two-pronged approach of study and action. Students put their hands to the plough in the fields and likewise have their hearts ploughed by God-tilled and softened that they may bring forth good fruits. At the end of the day, our Father in heaven has a plan for each one of us; that our hearts may be transformed into Christ-likeness. |  | | | |
Lessons Learned| Relying on God's Grace Leading a team to Santiago in the Philippines, Deborah Qiu Wenhui vividly remembers how God orchestrated situations to change her heart. Looking back, she recalls "It was indeed by grace and grace alone".
Prayer For many students, the importance of prayer in leadership was an especially valuable lesson. Their journeys throughout the field trip were backed by an abundance of prayer. Renae Sim Pei Pei, who was also a part of the Santiago team, shared "This trip was one of my deepest times of prayer where I experienced a travailing in my spirit and a deepening call for prayer". |  | | Love for the Lost The heart of God is the heart of love, and every leader in God's Kingdom must experience this love for souls. God loves His people and loves to be with His people. |  | Gemma who went to India, recalls, "How sweet is the Spirit of God that bound us together... Just being in the midst of the people brought me to a higher level of understanding of God's beauty expressed in a different race and language".
The love that flows from the throne of God is unbeatable, " declared Pearl. Khoo Wan Pow of the Myanmar team had tears well up in his eyes as he spoke, "My heart is stirred for the lost souls... they must be reached".
The field trip left an indelible image of God's heartbeatlove for the lost. |  | Love in Action
Isabella Sim and Cindy Yew who went to Puerto Princesa City, located on the sunny island of Palawan, Philippines, were immensely changed as they participated in the feeding of 5,000 poor people. Smiling, we remembered "Our hearts were broken as the Lord implanted to us a deeper sense of compassion and love as we put our hands to the plough".
| Looking back to her trip in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Dorcas Lek shared, "The cultural and language differences did not hinder us in our communication with the locals because I came to understand that the language of God is the language of love. " Dorcas was moved by the leader's practical demonstration of love to the poor by way of housing them, feeding them, and offering them work so that they would eventually learn to be independent.
| Boldness and Discernment Another important lesson was learned by Rachel Huang, who traveled to Jogjakarta, Indonesia. She said "I gleaned godly boldness and confidence from a leader... and it dawned on me not to succumb to any sense of inadequacies or self-consciousness but to focus wholly on the Lord and allow ministry to simply issue from a place of abiding". Also, Keng Ban Lee noted that the Lord deposited in her boldness and discernment to take spiritual authority while on her trip to Russia. Boldness comes through knowing our place in God and having faith in Christ; we need to realize that we can gain nothing through striving but all things through Christ. "Those who know their God shall do mighty exploits... I know who I am in Christ, "
Jonathan James, a member of the Myanmar team, commented, "Learning to rely on God as our Father and acting on that knowledge is invaluable."
Thankfulness
As leaders, the attitude we show will be transmitted to those under us; therefore, it is necessary to have a heart of trust and thanksgiving to God in all things.
Simon Teng, who also went to Myanmar, knew God in a greater way through the field trip by depending on Him for everything. Field trips are beneficial as the power of thankfulness and the need to give God glory for all things is seen more clearly. When the rubber hits the road, will individuals still obey and lean on the Spirit's urge to glorify Christ, or will complaining arise? Will there be thankful hearts? "I thank God for every opportunity to observe, reflect, and work, " reflected Jenny.
Excellence at Home Back in Singapore, some students who were unable to travel were attached to different duties in churches to accomplish their field trips locally. Li Jiefei, who spent her time working with a local Chinese congregation, recalls, "I knew God wanted to impart something in my heart through the leader I worked under - a servant's heart and a heart of excellence. "
Alice Yeo spoke passionately about her time working with Cornerstone Community Services Centre, "As for me, after serving with Cornerstone Community Services, my heart was drawn to the youths in this nation, our next generation. " Indeed, staying in Singapore is no less significant than being sent out. Be it in or out of your nation, the Father's heart is always for His people, and valuable lessons are learned as we serve. | | | | |
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Leadership Quote
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” Helen Keller
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