Newsletter

Announcement – Properties Corp scholarships at CCTC

Thanks to the sponsorship of the Properties Corporation of Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania, CCTC Alumni and legacies from individuals, the College will award four scholarships in 2009 - two scholarships of $5000.00 and two scholarships of $2500.00 - to students beginning studies at CCTC.

The aim of these scholarships is to provide incentive for people considering ministry within Churches of Christ in Australia.

1. Applicants must enrol as a full-time student (minimum 3 subjects per semester).
2. Preference will be given to applicants who are embedded in a Church of Christ in Australia.
3. Successful applicants will begin theological study in 2009.
4. Applicants should be willing to explore ministry with Churches of Christ as a vocation
    during the course of their studies.
5. Properties Corp Scholarships are competitive.

The scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the College's Grants and Scholarships Committee. See www.cctc.edu.au/scholarships for an application form.

Globalisation for the Common Good

In early July over 150 people from around the world gathered together in Melbourne for the seventh annual conference of Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative. This initiative is based on the conviction that 'all human life is grounded in God who is Ultimate Reality, the source of the sacredness of all life and of the spiritual power, hope, and trust.' Based on this conviction, the initiative calls on significant leaders in religion and society to work towards an environment whereby genuine interfaith dialogue and cooperation can draw humanity together with the purpose of developing an harmonious global culture that can build an environment of peace, justice, sustainability and prosperity for all.

Participants came from all states in Australia, as well as New Zealand, Great Britain, South-East Asia, Israel, Iran and the United States. They included politicians, lawyers, academics, religious leaders, business leaders, local community leaders, health professionals, educators, the communications media, military and police representatives. While most were Christians there was representation and input from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities also.

Churches of Christ was significantly represented at the conference. The CCTC Principal, Merrill Kitchen, was part of the organising committee and presented a paper entitled 'Holding hands and bearing arms: Global challenges for Christian communities of faith in the 21st century.' In addition, amongst others, was Helen Heath from the Mulgrave Church representing the World Parliament of Religions, Ian Smith from Thornbury Church of Christ participating as a representative of Darebin Council and Lynda Young from Southern Community Church of Christ as a postgraduate student of the Melbourne College of Divinity.

Growing Mustard Seeds

Devonport is a beautiful city of 25,000 situated in the centre of Tasmania's North Coast. There is a Church of Christ in Devonport that has produced two remarkable students, Renee Benjamin and Hamish Graham.

Renee is a bubbly 24 year old who brightens up your day just be being around. Before coming to College she worked in a shop and lived in Leith, which is 10 minutes out of the Devonport city centre. She came to CCTC to study youth ministry and build some biblical and theological foundations for faith. After two years, she feels that her calling in ministry might be to run a café in Devonport. She imagines a comfortable, friendly place where people can come and enjoy good service and conversations around faith.

Studying at CCTC has exposed Renee to ideas that she had not been aware of back in Devonport. “My faith has been challenged, often by discussions with other students, which have forced me to think about and clarify my beliefs. The lecturers have also challenged me but at the same time they have affirmed the faith that brought me here.”

This year, Renee's spirituality classes have presented a new challenge. “I'm not an introspective person. I feel I am connected to God, but mostly through other people. Now, I'm learning other ways to listen to God's voice and to discern God's calling.”

She enjoys the support and friendship of the small community of students that live on campus and the proximity of bedroom to classroom allowed her to attend New Testament Greek classes in her colourful pyjamas! It didn't affect her grades though, “My marks have surprised me,” she says. “I never thought I could do well at College but I have impressed myself, it's a bit of a thrill!”

Renee talks about her friend Hamish as a “catalyst for faith.” It was Hamish who encouraged Renee to come to College. He had enrolled at CCTC five years earlier and studied part time while also studying full-time for a Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University, which he gained in 2005. This was the same year he published his first book called 'Beyond Borders.' 

Hamish has twice travelled to India to volunteer at a medical clinic in the remote Orissa province. Last summer he left his job in Dandenong Hospital to work in a health clinic with disadvantaged people in Alice Springs. Now, 28-year-old Hamish is on a 6-month mission with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), working in a town called Niertiti, at the foot of the Jebel Marra mountain ranges in western Darfur, Sudan. With 30,000, it is just a little bigger than Devonport but that is where the similarities end. Most of the inhabitants are refugees (or more correctly IDPs - internally displaced persons).

Darfur is the site of the world's biggest current humanitarian crisis. Genocidal violence over the past five years has killed thousands and displaced over 6 million. This accounts for one quarter of the total number of refugees and displaced persons around the globe. Hamish is one of about 120 Australian volunteers with MSF. He says, “The main threat to me is to my heart, not my body, witnessing thousands of destitute Darfur residents making a life for themselves in the shadow of gross human rights abuses. It is a challenge and a privilege to work in such a setting, and I am both excited and a little nervous.”

What is it about the Devonport Church of Christ that has inspired these two students? For Renee, it is the genuine relationships offered by the small groups and by the minister and his wife, Bruce and Lisa Edwards: “You can't help but be influenced by their obvious love of God and other people – they're amazing.”

Obviously, this faith and love is rubbing off: from Devonport to the College to Darfur. Please pray for Renee and Hamish as they continue to be disciples of Jesus.

Faith and Frogs 

Paul 'Digger' Randle began a youth internship at Churches of Christ Theological College in 2003. On completing the internship, Paul became a ministry candidate for Churches of Christ and last year he was provisionally endorsed as a Churches of Christ minister.

Paul discovered his passion was ignited by ministry in schools and the emerging church scene. He has worked in school chaplaincy at Somerville and church planting at Tyabb ('The Huddle') and he maintains his links with his home church in Frankston. His studies have taken him to Tabor College and Whitley College as well as CCTC.

This year Paul became involved in the innovative 'Building Bridges' programme run by Tim McCowan, CCTC's lecturer in spirituality and reconciliation. Paul's job has been to facilitate group sessions for year 8 and 9 boys from Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools. I help them to get to know each other and share their life stories. It has been great! All the boys were a bit rowdy and undisciplined in the first couple of sessions, which proves that boys are boys whatever their faith background. Since then they have settled down and they are starting to talk seriously about their faith. All sorts of subjects have come up such as fasting, festivals and Abraham - they all know the stories about Abraham. At the last session one of the boys from a Muslim school said, "This is fantastic, why don't we get to do it more often?"

Paul is also involved in a school programme run by JCMA (Jewish, Christian, Muslim Association). Through this programme Paul is able to go to high schools and talk about his faith - what he believes and why he believes. Some of the questions that come up after the talks are interesting. The Muslim and Jewish speakers are invariably asked about headscarves while Paul is asked questions on a variety of topics, from sex before marriage and creation, to heaven, hell and the rapture. All the easy topics! In primary schools the talks are simpler and centre on mutual respect and Christian ethics.

Paul found his first two years of study a little confusing but he stuck with it. As time went on he became more comfortable with mystery. Different lecturers have provided different ways of thinking about God and knowing God. Paul says, I'm now able to discern what I need to hold on to and what I can leave behind. My study has given me some tools that sustain me when life is hard or when my spirit is down.

One of the interesting things that Paul does is Red Frogs (www.redfrogs.com.au). This is a chaplaincy service that runs during 'schoolies week' in Victoria. Last year it was held at Torquay. Paul and others set up a 'chill out zone' where schoolies can talk about life and problems and get a red frog (the kind you eat). Paul watches out for the schoolies' safety and cooks pancake breakfasts for those who want it. Invariably, the Red Frogs Crew is asked, "Why are you doing this?" This often leads to discussions about faith and what it is that motivates Christians to serve in this manner. It is a great support for the schoolies and it's no surprise that the Mornington Shire Council has invited Red Frogs to set up at Rye this year.

Interestingly, two other CCTC students have been influential in Paul's Christian journey. Some years ago, Peter Rivett connected with Paul at a Youth Vision camp and helped him come to faith. Peter is now a youth worker at McKinnon Secondary College sponsored by the Ormond Community Church of Christ.

Cindy Waters is a member at Frankston Church of Christ, a school chaplain and a CCTC supervisor. Paul says that Cindy has been a good mentor and she has been very supportive in the development of Paul's discipleship.

Please pray for Paul as he continues to study and witness to a diverse group of people.

pastry chef or ministry?

There is a lot to like about 19-year-old, Melissa Claxton. She is friendly, happy, mature and open. Yet, one of her most attractive qualities is her faith. It inspires others, as faith often does.

In February, Melissa moved from Geelong to live on campus and study for a Bachelor of Theology. The joy of decorating cakes had made her think about becoming a pastry chef and she was actually offered an apprenticeship in a bakery at Geelong which she declined, deciding to train for ministry instead.

Melissa says that her interest in ministry started at the age of 12 when she offered to run a kids church on Sunday mornings at the Belmont Church of Christ. She remembers building Noah’s Ark and explaining the story to the children. Since then she has seen the impact that the Gospel has had on people through the preaching of ministers like Neil Galbraith and Tim Edwards. She has also been a youth leader at Bayside Christian Church and a chaplain at a school breakfast program. She even preached once, an experience Melissa describes as ‘very interesting.’

In all these activities people have recognised and affirmed her leadership qualities and Melissa’s parents, Valmai and Charles, have always encouraged the development of her faith. Yet, coming to College was big step. Melissa says, ‘I wondered if I was too young, and moving away from home has felt a bit isolating at times, but in the end I just listened to God’s voice which came to me in church and in my devotions … ‘rely on me … for everything’.’ As Melissa tells her story, the Old Testament story of Samuel comes quickly to mind.

It has only been a few weeks, but so far the experience of College has ‘blown me away … there are so many things to learn and it makes me realise that God is not just in my little world and has much to say to every person in every situation.’ The library is fast becoming one of Melissa’s favourite places as she discovers different worlds and ideas through pages of the books.

Some of Melissa’s friends have grown closer, ‘they have admired my step of faith and my focus and passion for God.’ She has lost a few friends too. She explains, ‘for some, what I’m doing is a little freaky. Still, the people here are really nice and I’ve made new friends, particularly with the other students who live on campus.’

Please pray for Melissa as her journey through College continues.

women's ministry

About 18 months ago, Janet Woodlock, the coordinator of women’s ministry at the VIC/TAS Churches of Christ Conference Centre, initiated a conversation with Principal Merrill Kitchen about training women in ministry. Janet is very aware that in every church there are women in all kinds of ministries, some recognised and supported with training while others are not. It wasn’t long before the conversation was joined by Joanne Jarlett, the coordinator of women's ministry for the Baptist Union of Victoria. Joanne and Janet found that they had the same concerns and goals for women in ministry.

A brochure was produced and circulated. It invited women to come to College on Friday mornings and study one learning unit or a sequence of units to enhance their knowledge and skills for ministry. The programme was pitched at diploma level with the option to upgrade to higher awards if that was wanted later.

The first class, called Introduction to Ministry Studies, was attended by 11 students from all over Melbourne. It was followed in second semester by Introduction to Pastoral Care, which was attended by 16 students. Put that number of enthusiastic and passionate women in a classroom every Friday morning and, not surprisingly, you soon have a dynamic group operating at very deep levels of engagement. The friendships struck and the discussions over morning tea were very satisfying. It was one of the most significant classes the College has run.

Afterwards, Trish Sonsie, from the Ringwood Church of Christ, said, “Whatever future ministry I may have, it will be enhanced by this study and I will be better equipped.”

Joanne Jarlett commented, “I have enjoyed the practical reflection on ministry and I am improving my ministry skills.”

At the end of 2007 the group asked for more units to be scheduled on Friday mornings in 2008 and the College obliged. This year two biblical units are being taught on Friday mornings and last year’s units are running again with more new students. Please pray for these women. They are involved in diverse and interesting ministries in their churches and they have a real desire to live their faith. It is good to be able to support them at the College.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Invest in people! Churches of Christ Theological College has some very exciting students who will become long term servants, leaders and ministers in our Churches. We need your support to teach and form them for ministry. Donors receive regular updates.

All donations are tax deductible.
www.cctc.edu.au

GIVE GOD A PIECE OF YOUR MIND!

People study (part-time or full-time) at Churches of Christ Theological College for all sorts of reasons. Some are discerning God’s call on their lives, some are training for ministry and all enjoy the thrill of discovering more about God, faith and themselves.
You can join them on the journey…
Take the next step!
Phone CCTC today (03) 9790 1000

If you’ve been asking yourself this question then it’s time you took the next step and came to CCTC. People study at Churches of Christ Theological College for different reasons. Some are discerning God’s call on their lives. Some are training for ministry. All enjoy the thrill of discovering more about God, faith and themselves. Why don’t you join them on the journey?