A life held in the palm of God: A tribute to Bishop John Tan Teng Wai

On Good Friday, at the break of dawn, Bishop John Tan Teng Wai, founding Principal of St Andrew’s Junior College, took his final breath and returned to the arms of his loving Saviour.

It was a fitting day for a man who spent his life pointing others towards the sacrificial love of Jesus.

While many remember him as a “titan of a man” and a “force of nature”, his own preferences were humbler. He likely would have rather been seen as a man who loves God through his devotion to his family, students, coworkers, and friends.

Humble beginnings and God’s grace

John was born in 1935 into a life of wartime poverty. He rarely spoke of his early struggles until later years, and even then, as his eldest son David told Salt&Light: “That was only because I asked.”

As a boy, he earned money by selling cigarettes and drinks from a large tray at the Turf Club. When he graduated from university, he was the only student on stage without a jacket because he simply could not afford one. He even had to borrow money from friends to bury his mother.

His life changed forever at Victoria School through the witness of his classmate, Jim Chew. Through simple games of tennis at the Chew family home, John encountered Christ. This was the first life-transforming experience in John’s life.

Bishop John playing his favourite sport, golf, with his wife, Ruth (on his left), and their friends, Robert Chew and Chew Seet Ee.

A “tourist visa” to heaven

The second was during a harrowing medical crisis after a friendly swimming competition that John had with his eldest son, who was around 12-year-old then. A minor cut near his navel led to a severe infection and multiple organ failure. At one point, his blood pressure plummeted, and his heart stopped beating.

David recounted to Salt&Light that his mother continuously prayed the words of Psalm 16: 9-10: “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”

During this time, John had a profound out-of-body experience. He shared with his family: “I felt myself falling and falling. It was dark and I was very, very cold. And I was falling for a long, long time in the darkness. And then suddenly the falling stopped. I was standing behind a massive man, and saw my own body held in the palm of his hands.”

John never saw the man’s face, but believed it was God and that He had a purpose for his life that was yet to be fulfilled.

Passion for education and ministry 

Following his strong conviction from the Lord, John began his career as a Lecturer at Teachers’ Training College, and then as registrar of Regional English Language Centre. In his late 40s, he entered into full-time ministry as an ordained Anglican minister.

He served as Assistant Pastor of Chapel of the Resurrection in 1981, and Archdeacon from 1986 to 1995. He was also Dean of the Anglican Diocese from 1991 to 1996. In 1995, he was made Bishop.

As the founding principal of St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC), he saw his two passion of education and ministry merge into one.

Bishop John at work in his office at St Andrew’s Junior College.

Bishop John’s youngest son, Richard, shared at a memorial service held on April 8, 2026: “Dad wasn’t a pedestal principal that you hear only from the microphone. He brought his heart, his personality, even his personal life into the school.”

He was a hands-on leader who personally inspected the college’s infrastructure before it opened. Richard recalled him spending weekends “inspecting every room, every classroom, checking the chairs, and sitting on all the auditorium seats to make sure they won’t fall apart.”

Bishop John addressed the challenge of creating a distinctive school identity by championing a balanced education. Under his guidance, the college established a vibrant culture in sports, track and field, and rugby. He believed that education was not just about academic progress, but also about spiritual growth and second chances.

To emphasise the school’s spiritual focus, he looked to the school song: “Lives are in the making here, hearts are in the waking here”.

He frequently shared Psalm 1 with students to encourage them to be like trees “planted by streams of water”. He later solidified this vision by building the Chapel of the Resurrection at the college.

Bishop John had also set up a scholarship named the “Bishop John Tan Teng Wai Prize”, which was given out yearly to students who uphold academic excellence, sports achievement and servant leadership.

His eldest son, David, recounted to Salt&Light various times Bishop John graciously opened SAJC’s doors to students who did not achieve the academic requirement for enrolment – highlighting Bishop John’s strong advocacy for second chances.

Bishop John truly lived out these values by being a remarkably well-rounded person himself. A diligent student, he held a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, a Master’s in Education, and a Diploma in Psychology.

His talents extended far beyond the classroom; he was an avid sportsman, a painter and a poet.

Reverend William Mok shared a charming anecdote with Salt&Light about the Bishop’s early artistic pursuits: “The cinemas used to run painting competitions based on movie characters or specific themes. If you won, you’d get two free movie tickets. So, Bishop John and his friend would paint their hearts out just to win those tickets.”

His love for artistry and nature revealed a consistent admiration and respect for God’s creation.

An unwavering obedience 

Bishop Tan’s devotion to God was defined by two things: A disciplined immersion in Scripture and a willingness to obey God, even when it seemed unreasonable.

For over 50 years, he was part of a Bible study group named SPIREN (Spiritual Renewal) with members such as Dr Bobby Sng, former President of Bible Society.

A wonderful gathering of colleagues and friends. Pictured from left to right: Bishop Kuan Kim Seng, Mr. Charles Leong, Bishop John Tan and Bishop John Chew.

His unwavering obedience is perhaps best captured by the “miracle of the key”.

Reverend Christopher Chan recalled Bishop John sharing that just 15 minutes before a Sunday service, he had accidentally locked his car keys, Bible, and sermon notes inside his car boot. After praying for intervention, he felt God telling him to ask a specific man for his car key which was of a different make and model.

He initially resisted, thinking: “You are the principal of a junior college. You can’t do this stupid thing.” But he eventually approached his friend. Against all logical reason, the key worked and opened the boot.

When his friend tried it again later, the key would not even fit the lock, confirming it as a singular, divine intervention.

It was this combination of spiritual sensitivity and practical excellence that made his ministry so influential. Reverend William Mok, who saw Bishop John as a role model, shared with Salt&Light these key principles from the Bishop’s approach to ministry:

• The measuring mindset: Bishop John had a unique ability to measure people rather than judge them. While judging leads to condemnation, measuring meant placing a person in their proper best behaviour and challenging them to grow without being written off.

• Affirmation over control: He maintained high standards but was notably generous with praise. He did not withhold acknowledgment to control others; he was quick to say, “You’ve done well,” when they met their responsibilities.

• Methodical training: He brought an educator’s mindset to training and teaching the ropes of ministry with precision – from liturgical posture to rigorous sermon preparation. He even consulted joke books to ensure his sermons were as engaging as they were faithful.

A legacy of love at home 

Bishop John’s love for his wife, Ruth, served as the primary model for his family. Their devotion to each other was one that defied distance.

While he was studying in the United Kingdom in the 1950s, the couple used to end each telegram message with the code “ILYOAF” which stood for “I Love You Only Always and Forever”. This was a meaningful gesture during an era when telegrams were charged by the individual letter.

Bishop John, pictured at home with his children and grandchildren. The Bishop, known for his leadership at St Andrew’s Junior College, was seen here in the centre of his multi-generational family.

This enduring commitment continued throughout their marriage, as his son David told Salt&Light: “Every night before he goes to bed, the last thing he will say to Mum is, ‘I love you.’ Every night without fail.”

Even after Ruth passed away, the Bishop maintained his wicked sense of humour to comfort friends, once quipping to his physician that he was now “Ruthless” without her.

Despite the weight of his public duties, Bishop John was a dedicated family man whose children never felt neglected. He made it a priority to ensure his family never felt secondary to the church, as he always made time for them. Richard recalled fondly that his dad was someone who “never broke a promise, no matter how big or small”.

At home, the Bishop served as the spiritual head of the family through what was affectionately dubbed “Namly Theological College”. These were structured nightly devotions held right in their living room in their home at Namly Crescent. Despite the occasional sigh from his children, he used that time to plant seeds of faith that would eventually flourish across generations.

By God’s grace, all 20 of his children, grandchildren and their spouses now walk in the same faith.

Bishop John celebrated Christmas 2019 with three generations of his family. The holiday gathering brought together his wife, their children, and grandchildren for a rare full-family portrait before the 2020 pandemic restrictions.

A song of praise 

The legacy of Bishop John is not found merely in the physical structures of the college he helped build, but in the melody of a life lived in submission to God.

Known for his powerful singing voice and skill on the saxophone, Bishop John also played the harmonica. His love for music had been a constant thread throughout his life and ministry.

A journey that began in wartime poverty that led to the arms of his Saviour is fittingly captured by the lyrics of Bishop John’s favourite hymn, one he used to sing in his resonant baritone.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Saviour all the day long.

Fittingly, his family sang this as the send-off song at his funeral. This is Bishop John’s story — a song of praise to His Saviour that he is likely singing in heaven right now, finally reunited with his beloved Ruth and dear friends.

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