Vanguard University

This is John Sim. He is an instructional designer with the Institute for Faculty Development at Vanguard and an adjunct professor with the Division of Theology for the past 18 years. John is an ordained minister with the SoCal District of the Assemblies of God and enjoys preaching at different churches during the weekends. He was born and raised in Singapore and is the first and only one in his family to immigrate to the United States.

John recalls growing up in a very typical South East Asian family. At that time, most of his immediate family members were not believers and practiced ancestor worship, which is still prevalent among the non-believing Chinese in Singapore. At the age of 14, he came to know the Lord when his older brother shared the Gospel with him and started attending the youth fellowship at a local church in Singapore. That was where he met his wife, Ammelia, and they have been happily married for 42 years. They have only one son, Sam, who is 40 years old. Shortly after their marriage, John felt called into the ministry and to pursue theological education in the U.S. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree in Bible and Theology, he returned to Singapore and became a pastor in the Anglican Church. A few years later, he felt called back to the U.S. to further his theological education and eventually received two master’s degrees (the latter, an advanced degree from Princeton Seminary) and a doctorate from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. John lived in the Midwest, East Coast and currently resides in Orange, California.

John heard about Vanguard from an online job posting in which he applied. He was accepted and became the Graduate Religion Coordinator, a position he held for six years. After that, he joined the Registrar’s Office and for the next seven years served as the Associate Registrar. Five years ago, the Division of Theology was given a grant by the SoCal District to begin two online degree programs: a bachelor of arts in Religion and a masters of arts in Leadership. John was chosen to assist in this new undertaking and supported the faculty in course design and digital pedagogy. 

He enjoys spending time with his family and is a creature of habit. On his birthday for the past 20 years, he has gone to the same restaurant, King’s Fish House, and orders the same lobster dish. He shared some of his thoughts on the outspread of the Coronavirus and was willing to offer a lens of perspective during this time.

“I think of the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel when I hear the news about the Covid-19 crisis and everything that's going on. A lot of times, as people, we tend to magnify difficult situations and circumstances and it's really tough. But if we look at the crisis from God’s perspective, those difficult situations become insignificant. When the people of Israel saw Goliath, they thought, ‘He’s so big, we cannot kill him.’ But when David saw Goliath, through God’s perspective, he thought, ‘He’s so big, I cannot miss him.’ As God was with David, He will be with us. I like to encourage those who are anxious to magnify God and look at this present crisis from God’s perspective."

 

Vanguard is so thankful for John’s heart, ministry and love for the Lord that he continues to share with our students and faculty.

 

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