A Tribute to Dr Lilian Lim Hui Kiau: Enigma Wrapped in Mystery

The famous Ethics Professor Henlee Barnett from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (USA) used the phrase Enigma Wrapped in Mystery to describe Lilian. Indeed, this enigmatic phrase is a fitting tribute to Lilian‘s illustrious career as a teacher at the Singapore Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS) and also as the first woman President of the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminaries (ABGTS). The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BTS) Daniel Soh calls her the “Daughter of BTS”. Her life story is featured in Stars Lighting Up the Sky: Stories of Contemporary Christian Heroes (Virginia: BWA, 2003), 109-120 written by Tony Cupit [please read attachment]. So, who is this lady in red? What is so special about her?

Lilian is a vivacious, creative and chirpy woman with a sharp intellect who enjoys simple things in life. Her oft repeated refrain, “I am a simple person who can live simply” has become a motto for us to emulate to “live simply, so that others can simply live.”

As a person, she is always gracious and considerate of other people’s feelings. One of her admirable traits is that she has the “knack of saying things in such a way that she can even turn an enemy into a friend,” remarked Professor Terry York from Truett Theological Seminary. Intellectually, she is never timid when it comes to facing highly rated scholars. She dares to ask penetrating questions and engage them in scholarly disputation with unyielding integrity.

She has great interests in the New Testament, Aesthetics and Theology (her PhD is in the NT; see her curriculum vitae below). Because of her healthy self esteem, she does not feel the need to be addressed “Dr Lilian” by the students as some teachers would insist. She likes to be simply called “Lilian”. No wonder the students repect and love her!

As a teacher of distinction and influence, her infectious love for the students and concern for their family welfare is well known. This quality stands out clearly and is umatched by any other local teachers I have ever known.

In a quiet and unassuming way, she is ever ready to give time and even money to those in need (even though she herself is in need)! At one time, when she found out that the seminary was in red, she gave one month of her salary to that institution at the expense of not having enough money to pay her bills. Recently, when told that one lecturer was going through some financial difficulties, she contributed a third of her salary for a few months to see that person through. Several students can testify to the fact that she helped them obtain scholarships to study locally and abroad or subsidies so that third world country students can complete their seminary courses, graduate and return home to serve God.

Without any doubt, she has a heart of gold - always giving others a listening ear and making time to help different people from all walks of life to cope with stress and distress without any hidden agenda.

More significantly, she is a woman of impeccable integrity and unyielding courage. You will find her fighting for the underdogs, speaking and standing up for anyone whom she believes has been unfairly or wrongly treated.

When she was appointed the President of ABGTS in 2005, she took it seriously as a calling from God to make a difference and bring the institution to a higher level through creative innovation. Three examples (which are her legacies and more to come I hope) can be cited.

* One, she led in the planning and implementing of the 50th Golden Jubilee of ABGTS - PBTS Lide-Walker Conference at Baguio City (January 12-15, 2009) with a dream team. It turned out to be a roaring success judging from the responses of the participants. What a joyous occasion to see over three hundred and fifty people from diverse cultures and languages fellowshipping, praying, learning and celebrating God’s goodness and faithfulness.

* Two, the successful publication of a Festschrift entitled “Take Root Downward, Bear Fruit Upward” (Isa 37:31) to honour Dr Chow Lien Hwa on his eighty-eighth birthday during the 50th Golden Jubilee with 26 contributions from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nagaland, Philippine, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and USA. Significantly, four of the authors are women! At the same time, eleven doctoral abstracts from ABGTS were showcased. This is the first of its kind in Asia.

* Three, the start up of Chow Lien Hwa Writers’ Foundation and the launch of ABGTS Monograph Series (ABGTSMS) to showcase some of the best dissertations from each of the partner schools. The purpose is to share the collective wisdom, knowledge, and ministry experience of the ABGTS family, not only with fellow Asian Christians, but with global Christians as well. Another aim is to raise the standards of research and writing by setting new benchmarks at ABGTS.

Because of her influence and contribution to the Baptist community, she has been appointed to serve in a number of important international committees/boards dealing with theological and societal issues (be it ecclesiastical or academic).

One of her skills is the art of social networking – connecting with people and connecting people to people. Teaching and wisdom are part of her spiritual gifting repertoire. Standing out prominently is her writing and communication skills. Early this year, she was chosen out of the hundreds of Baptists to write a Bible Study on “Hear the Spirit – Addressing Issues of Freedom and Justice” (Luke 4:18-19) for the thousands of participants in the forthcoming Baptist World Alliance Congress (July 9 – Aug 1 2010) in Hawaii. Ross West the editor paid her a glowing compliment when he wrote:

“Thank you so much for your excellent Bible study! It is so well-written, and it is just what is needed. I believe it will be of great benefit to the participants.”

This is something all of us can learn from her – to write clearly, communicate simply and argue cogently – sadly but truly, this seems be a lost art in today’s convoluted academic and ecclesiastical world!

Loving God and serving others always takes precedence in her life over some other important things (e.g. marriage, even though she has no lack of suitors)! Her life exudes an ebullient confidence in God’s power to answer prayers. Hence, she is an intercessor.

Thanks Lilian for being an affirming friend to many and exemplifying the love of God in the way you treat others. Significantly, your quiet influence on the laity and leaders is far greater than can be accounted for. For many of us in the academia and Baptist community, you have touched and continue to affect and make a difference in our lives. Many have found you to be a trustworthy friend, a sympathetic confidant and a caring mentor (lay people, pastors, missionaries, students, colleagues, and others). Consequently, you are leaving different marks in our lives that can never be erased.

When we think of your ministry, this text comes clearly to mind.

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3; NIV).

“Those who are teachers shall then shine as the brightness of the firmament and those who turned many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3; MLB).

As a woman of faith and learning, you have a special place in the God’s galaxy where like a star, you shine brilliantly, shed your light luminously and beam radiantly to this earth. From you we have learned much and will continue to do so.

All your friends around the globe have already started praying for you. We commit you to God’s loving hand as you undergo a major and complicated surgery soon - after June 21.

The Baptist community (within and outside), ABGTS and other institutions are looking forward to your continual contribution and leadership.

It is with gratitude and friendship that this well deserving tribute is written in your honour.

Fraternally, Johnson lim

_________________________ Curiculum Vitae

LILIAN Lim from Singapore worked as a journalist for the national Singapore English daily newspaper and as a public relations officer for an international computer systems organization before she answered the call to follow the Lord Jesus into fulltime ministry.

She studied at Southern Seminary, Kentucky (USA) on a national scholarship. She was awarded with grants for external studies in Aberdeen University, Scotland, Baptist Theological Seminary, Ruschlikon, Switzerland, and an archaeological dig at Bethshan with the Authority of Antiquities of Israel.

Her dissertation Christ and Community in the Fourth Gospel: Pastoral Symbols as Symbolic Relationship in 1996 under the supervision Dr Gerald Borchet earned her a PhD in the New Testament.

Currently, she is the President of the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary comprising nine seminaries in eight countries in Asia. Prior to that, she served for ten years as dean of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Singapore.

Lilian is a missionary sent out by her home church, Calvary Baptist Church. She teaches part-time at the Baptist Seminary, leads as education chair for the Asian Baptist fellowship, serves on the Global Women board, and the BWA Interfaith Committee. Her community service in Singapore includes serving on a medical institution ethics review board and promoting recycling for environmental health. She lives with her sisters in Singapore.