Simon Chan spent two weeks (23 May to 3 June) teaching an intensive course “An Introduction to the Theology and Practice of Worship” to a group of thirty eager M.Min. students at the Institute of Bible and Theology. These are pastors specially selected by the leadership of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) to undergo enhanced training for future leadership.

It was an eye-opening experience both for the students and teacher that the ECVN had a well- developed order of worship in its early days, but over the years different adaptations have prevailed in local assemblies and the rationales for some of the vital components of its early order are largely forgotten. So, the course was as much a work of recovery as a work of learning from the best in other Christian traditions.

Needless to say, each lesson ended with lots of interesting questions. For example, the ECVN emblem of the fourfold gospel (Jesus as savior, sanctifier, healer and coming king) generated a host of differing interpretations and fanciful speculations. It was simply exhilarating!