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	A letter from Tom and Judy Harvey in Singapore

	December 12, 2002 Dear Friends and Colleagues, Walking past armed soldiers to attend the Christmas program at our children's school peels away the normal distractions of Christmas. These sentinels that bear witness to the violence that has changed life in Southeast Asia make poignant our need to celebrate and honor the Prince of Peace. Perhaps that is why this year more than most we were warmly stirred at the Christmas program; for even at our children's "secular" school one could hardly hide under a bushel the wonderful light of Christ that shone through the music and poetry.

	How deeply that peace is longed for in Southeast Asia. Here, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs live side by side. All sides have lost in the brutal violence that has rocked this region. Yet, even in these difficult times, there are glimmers of hope. In Indonesia, as a result of public reaction to the carnage in Bali, the Islamic Jihad forces that sought to prevent peace in Ambon and Sulawesi have themselves been disbanded.		Tom Harvey on the bridge he crossed to teach at Eastern Theological College in Assam, India.

	Voices within the Muslim and Christian communities are crying out for an end to violence and an establishment of peace. Some Christians have come out of their walled fortress churches to begin to provide needed services to their Muslim neighbors in desperate need of primary medical care and social services.

	The cover to Tom's book on Wang Mingdao and the persecuted church in China.		Though it has been a difficult year for the region, Trinity Theological College has continued to grow and diversify. This year's student body of 263 students representing some 23 countries represents a record enrollment. Tom continues to teach systematic theology, Christian ethics, philosophy & theology, and Presbyterian studies. He also just returned from two weeks at Eastern Theological College in Assam, India, where he taught a course on the theology of the Reformation for their masters of theology program. Tom was also appointed to serve as chairman of the Theological Response Committee of the Singapore Presbyterian Church beginning in 2003. Tom's full year was capped by the publication of his book Acquainted with Grief: Wang Mingdao's Stand for the Persecuted Church in China by Baker/Brazos Press.

	Judy's busy schedule got busier through her teaching at the Community Bible Study International in Singapore. She continues to teach English here at Trinity both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Paul is a freshman at the International Community School and is active with the school newspaper and soccer. Joseph is a sophomore and Emma is in fourth grade at the Singapore American School. Joe is active in the orchestra while Emma is enjoying a range of activities there. Saturdays have become a soccer marathon as Joseph, Paul, and Emma all play. Judy is team coordinator for Emma's team and Tom has become coach for Joe and Paul's team. It makes for a busy day, but we are thankful to have the time together and to be involved with so many international families. May all of you enjoy a blessed Christmas and a happy new year. Peace Tom, Judy, Joseph, Paul and Emma The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 188

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