ABOUT US
WHY DO WE EXIST?
SPTC exists to offer our students a season of learning in community, for a lifetime of discipleship and ministry. We work towards a common goal of producing deep and engaged Christian disciples and thinkers, sa well as ministers for the revitalisation of the local churches, passionate church planters to evangelize the nations, and Christian leaders equipped through formation and theological training for the transformation of society.
SPTC Staff Team (Photo taken in January 2022).
Graduating Class of 2023 for both the BA and MA programme (Photo taken in January 2023).
WHO ARE WE?
SPTC is a young, vibrant Christian community of learning and formation. Based in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we serve students and churches across Malaysia, the Asia Pacific region, and beyond.
Alpha Asia Pacific Hub where the SPTC campus is located.
SPTC offers in-person (onsite) and online BA and MA programmes, running alongside a formation programme for ministry and mission tailored for lay and ordained Christians, along with special events and resources.
SPTC is dedicated to helping Christians explore their faith deeply, combining academic excellence, a focus on missional leadership and the flexibility to fit around busy lifestyles. We work within a spirit of generous orthodoxy, welcoming all kinds of Christians and denominations, working together to be effective in engaging in mission and evangelism.
The first induction and launch of SPTC on August 2016 at HTBB Church.
The college was established in 2016 by HTBB Church in partnership with St Mellitus College – widely thought to be one of the most innovative and exciting places to study theology and train for ministry and leadership.
Our college is named after St Paul the Apostle, who taught and “reasoned daily in the hall of Tyrannus… so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:9-10).
As one of the several educational arms of the Anglican Church in Malaysia, SPTC prepares those called to serve in the Anglican church as well as welcoming students of all backgrounds and church affiliations. To date, we have welcomed students from more than 50 churches!
As part of the Alpha Asia Pacific Hub, we also seek to share with students the resources and riches of this model of mission and ministry, and to work with the many churches that form part of the extended Alpha family.
Hybrid classroom at SPTC with students in the classroom and students streaming in online.
At SPTC, we are also inspired by the story of the very first Christian college in the Malay peninsula, established by St Francis Xavier and the Jesuits, which provided training in theology for many who went on to become priests, monks, missionaries and church planters as well as interpreters and translators assisting at the forefront of the church’s growth and the sharing of the gospel. The name of this institution? St Paul’s College which used to sit on St Paul’s Hill, Malacca! We pray that we too can train and send many to serve across South East Asia.
We seek to be a community of learning and formation that welcomes people from a wide range of churches, holding in common our commitment to a dynamic and generous orthodoxy. Each cohort has played a key role in the development of this vision and culture, and we celebrate the growth God has given and look to the new things God is bringing into being in this season for theology and formation in Malaysia and beyond.
Leadership Development Course at SPTC (February 2024).
Panel Discussion on Worship & Theology with Nick and Becky Drake (Worship for Everyone, UK) back in November 2023.
WHAT ARE OUR values? / DISTINCTIVES
At SPTC, we are passionate about:
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AT THE HEART OF THE CHURCH
In the context of worship, we engage together in deep theological learning that is both transformative for our own lives and which seeks to build up the whole church in mission and discipleship.
We emphasize a reflective and critical approach to theology, rooted in biblical studies and the traditions of the church, while also engaging with contemporary issues and challenges in society.
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IN COLLEGE AND IN CONTEXT
In the context of a vibrant college community, we seek to be shaped together by God both within and for those places where we live out our faith: our homes, workplaces and local churches.
The college also places a strong emphasis on the way of practicing formation, recognizing that the development of spiritual and personal maturity is essential for effective ministry.
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OF WORSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP
In the context of diversity, we bring Christians together from many different churches, ages and stages, learning from one another as we pursue the whole mission of God for the whole people of God.
We value unity in diversity, promoting intercultural and ecumenical dialogue and collaboration, while also affirming the unique contributions of different Christian traditions and cultural expressions.
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WITH MISSION AND CULTURE
In the context of culture, we do theology together in a way that is attentive to local concerns, actualities and histories, seeking to shape engaged, critical thinkers and practitioners for Malaysia, South East Asia and beyond.
The college is also committed to a way of practicing contextualisation that seeks to engage with the cultural and social realities of Malaysia and the wider region, so that the message of the Gospel can be effectively communicated in a way that resonates with the people and their context.
Annual Advent Worship service led by students in December 2022.
SPTC students and staff at the Annual Spiritual Retreat in March 2024.
WHO IS SPTC FOR?
The course is flexible for both part-time and full-time students, with full-time students working in their ministry placement full-time, and part-time students engaged in other employment.
Example week structure:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Placement | ||||||
| Afternoon | Formation | Placement | |||||
| Evening | Private Study* | Theology |
This leaves the student with 4 days (+1 day's rest) in either paid employment or further placement experience.
(*Private Study can be at anytime, all students are encouraged to dedicate a couple of hours every week to prepare for class)
If you are interested to find out more about SPTC, book a chat with the SPTC team by clicking on the button below. Chats will take place online over Zoom.