The Sharing of Students in Certificate in Life and Death Education from a Christian Perspective Program 2023-24

　　There are many different programs on life and death education out there, but most are disconnected seminars, which are unable to explain the matters of life and death in a specific and comprehensive way. Thanks to the LTED of HKBTS for setting up this program so that I can associate Christian theology with life and death education and learn about the views of other religions on life and death. This program enables me to understand how to face death with ease, to appreciate “passing from death to life,” to face the time of death positively, and to understand the feelings of those who have lost their beloved ones and better act as their companion.

Pastor Wing-oi Yen

　　I am deeply impressed by the richness of this learning journey. It is an opportunity for me to learn about life and death based on Christian faith. It is like a rich feast for life and death study. The content is practical and detailed. In addition to lectures, we have the opportunity to share freely, through group discussions and presentations, our insights on how we as Christians can respond to various issues of life and death.

　　I took different programs in other seminaries before, but few of them focused on life and death issues systematically. This program benefits me a lot; it helps me and helps me to help others. Lastly, in this age of rapid changes, I would like to recommend this program to you, so that we may learn to talk freely about life and death with others together and help them know God the Creator who gives us hope for eternity.

Pastor Fung-han Lee

　　It was in May last year when the pastoral staff of our church encouraged us to attend the Christian Life and Death Education Symposium held by HKBTS. Right after the symposium, we decided to apply for this program because we seldom came across such topics in our church and our pastor was supportive. There are many elderly people in our church, and we attend several funerals every year. However, we do not know how to comfort those who are facing death and those who have lost their beloved ones. We have no idea how to guide them. Therefore, we treasure this learning opportunity very much!

　　We are so grateful for the opportunity to take part in this program. In HKBTS, we meet instructors with profound knowledge and classmates with common interests. What we gained is not merely intellectual. We appreciate the dedication of the instructors to the coursework design, preparation, and teaching, as well as the commitment of the classmates to learning. The experience of exchanging ideas and giving our best in small groups was very enjoyable.

Mr. Shun-chung Lam, Ms. Lam Yau

　　Death is an inevitable stage of life that every person must experience. The reason why I decided to participate in this program is the loss of my parents. While remembering them, I wish to understand more deeply the meaning of life from the perspective of death. I hope to learn how to see life through death, what is passing from life to death and then from death to life, how to say “I forgive you,” “I love you,” “Please forgive me,” and “Thank you,” and how to say “Goodbye” with love. In addition to lectures, the most memorable experience in the learning process is the role play in the group assignment. Thanks to the instructors and classmates for accompanying me in my journey through grief in an innovative and special way.

　　My wish is that “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:26).

Ms. Lai-wah Cheng

　　I have been working on promoting life and death education for youth. I came across this program one day, and I enrolled it. One unexpected thing that I gained from this program is getting to know a group of companions who can share our lives and talk about life and death together. Moreover, not only the content of the program but also the sharing of the classmates were eye-openers for me on life and death education. In addition, since the program requires students to take one core course from the Lay Theological Training programs, this enables a person like me who has no background in biblical studies to advance my knowledge of the New Testament. In general, this program provided me with new insights into life and death education, opportunities to reflect on various issues of life, and enhanced the foundation of my faith. It is killing three birds with one stone!

Ms. Joyce Yan