CliffTodaywww.cliffcollege.ac.uk

SUMMER SCHooL

FESTivaL

NEW SHoRT CoURSES

Spring 2012

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Spring 2012 edition of Cliff Today. Once again I am pleased to be able to use the

pages of our magazine to share with you some of the many exciting aspects of the ministry of Cliff College. In this edition you will find words of testimony, information about our new courses and details about Festival 2012 and our very popular Summer School. Cliff College continues to be an amazing place at which to work or study.

The College currently has over 280 university validated students – our highest number ever – and we thank God for leading people to Cliff College in so many different ways. We are also seeing a significant expansion in our short course programme with a range of opportunities being available for courses which usually last from Monday to Friday. Details of these courses are found in this edition of Cliff Today. Why not consider which of these courses is the right one for you?

Another area of growth has been in the Summer School which takes place in June. Last year we reserved 30 places for a Bible themed week and every place was filled! This year we are offering three different streams during the Summer School week and we have expanded the places available to 60. At the time of writing half of these places have already been taken – so if you are interested in the Summer School then don’t delay in booking a place. Again, more details can be found in the following pages.

Festival is also a growing event, with the focussed youth venue introduced in 2010 being joined in 2012 with an expanded children’s venue which will be based in a marquee on the terrace lawn. These developments are a sign of the increasing impact of Festival. This year, to be able to make good use of the space, there will be different arrangements for parking at Festival – so look out for that on your arrival.

As we rejoice in these and other exciting developments, we have also needed to focus on our contribution to the Fruitful Field consultation which is reviewing the way in which Methodism should develop and use its training resources. The College’s response to the proposals which were offered for consultation can be downloaded from

the College website at http://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/ news/story/104. If you would like a copy, and are not able to read our response on-line, then do write to me at the College and I will post a printed copy to you. The final response of the Methodist Church Ministries Committee will be presented to the Methodist Conference in July. As we continue to be involved in the Fruitful Field process perhaps our most important responsibility is to pray for the Committee members and all involved in these important discussions and decisions.

The Fruitful Field consultation has inevitably involved significant staff time over recent months but we are trying not to be distracted from the main focus of our calling to be faithful disciples of Jesus and to prepare God’s people for mission in today’s complex world. The testimonies in this edition of Cliff Today are just some of the many stories that could be told of how God continues to work in people’s lives during their time at Cliff.

So thank you for your continuing prayerful and practical support for Cliff. It is much appreciated by myself – and

by all our staff and students.

Yours in His service

Chris

FRoM THE PrinCiPal

Editor:Chris Blake

Design:MiddlePaGEinfo@middlepage.co.uk

Print and Distribution:Moorleys Print & Publishing0115 932 0643

Published by:Cliff College,Calver, Hope valleyderbyshire S32 3XGTel: 01246 584 200www.cliffcollege.ac.uk

The content and designof this magazine are© Cliff College 2012

The Cliff MA in Mission programme continues to grow! Enrolment is at an all time high and the College now offers eleven different streams and new developments are always taking place.

Next year, for instance, we plan to offer an intensive week that focuses solely on Worship and Mission as part of our Leadership, Renewal and Mission stream.

All this good news is meaningless if it does not produce changed lives and ministries for the sake of God’s mission. The greatest joy of the ministry of Cliff is to hear stories of people like Jon Creber below. Each story is unique, but each in their own way tells of God’s challenging, transforming work in people’s lives. This is an important part of all of our MA courses. Here is Jon’s story:

Ma oN a Motorbike!

Despite being assured it was unnecessary, the summer of 2008 saw me leap onto my 125cc single-cylinder

Honda and travel the 750 mile round trip from my home in mid Cornwall to Cliff College for an hours meeting with Dr Stephen Skuce - then the senior MA tutor and now the college Academic Dean. Hopefully, such a display of reckless enthusiasm would convince him just how serious I was in my application to do an MA in Mission at Cliff.

Without a degree-level education or formal theological training, my keenness, together with a reference from Sue Peat - who had visited Cornwall earlier in the year with a Cliff mission to Truro - were the only things in my arsenal. Clearly impressed by the bravery of a fellow Celt rather than any brains, Stephen initially accepted me on the Certificate course for a year with a view to moving onto the diploma and then completing to MA should I achieve the necessary marks to do so.

This is one of the great strengths of Cliff College’s modular post-graduate courses. It enables people from all backgrounds to discover their calling and gifting through access to a period of study from which they may otherwise have been filtered out. Such broad accessibility serves the church well in an age where lay gifting needs to be taken seriously.

Furthermore, the College’s internationally attended mission streams covering subjects such as Emerging Church, Children and Youth, Wesleyan Theology and Spirituality, Evangelism, Leadership and Renewal, Religious Pluralism, Celtic Spirituality and World of Work, have in 2011 been enhanced further with a cutting-edge masters stream in Christian Mentoring. By combining a couple of these streams into my MA, and by sitting in on a number of other modules, I was able to develop a deeper understanding of church, mission and contemporary culture as applied in a variety of interconnected contexts – and all this alongside an ever deepening understanding and appreciation of our amazing missional God.

My academic experience at Cliff was a roller coaster of triumph and anticipated disaster, of deadlines, sleeplessness, despondency and elation … but that is what everyone reports of study at this level. What I didn’t expect was the way in which Cliff is so much more than just a college, so much more than an academic institution.

To enter into post graduate study at Cliff was for me to become a part of a Christian community on a journey

together, in which worship and spiritual growth became inseparable from study. It was to become a part of the outreach of the college through its involvement with the local churches and community, its annual Festival, conferences and seminars. It was to become a part of the life of the undergraduates, getting to know them as they and I came and went, experiencing mutual support, and learning so much from their dedication and spiritual journeys. It was to study alongside people from all walks of life, from numerous Christian denominations - lay and ordained, and with people from all around the world. A truly ecumenical ‘thin place’ where Methodist heritage and spirituality informed everything and yet was held lightly as God continually showed us new things.

Two-and-a-half years and a good few thousand miles later - mostly on a 750cc bike instead of a 125cc, I obtained my degree in June 2011 with a dissertation on Christian Street Patrols such as the ‘Street Pastors’ – with whom I remain very involved. I still toy with the idea of a PhD in Missiology to extend this research, and am currently studying as a Local Preacher. Meanwhile, Cliff College, its mission, its people, its continued influence on countless lives all around the world, and the deeper, outward-looking faith and theology I take forward as a person – well, how do you put a price on that?

Jon Creber FORMER MA STuDENT

ExPloring EvangElism in the life of the local church and across the world.

2012

1ST TO 4TH JuNE 2012

CLiFF CoLLEGE fEstival givEs mission ExPEriEnCE To CaPERNWRay STUdENTS

Over the last two years at Festival, we’ve really invested in our youth programme, developing an event that packs together high energy activities, heart-felt worship, life-changing teaching and lots of opportunities to

make new friendships. 2012 sees an even bigger and better programme than before, with new leisure activities (including rock climbing, mountain biking and team development games) and new seminar streams (including leadership training in partnership with urban Saints).

Once again the young people will be led in worship by Pete Dawson and band, with Bible Studies from Dave Russell, the Pastor of one of our mission church partners in Berkhamsted. Cutting edge preachers will challenge and express God’s call to ‘go’, and entertainment will come from Bebe Vox, The Steels, Andy Hunter and The Identity. We are totally committed to running an event that attracts, inspires, equips and sends young people. We hope you’ll do everything you can to ensure that young people can come along and share. Camping prices are very affordable – so why not bring a group of young people from your church or area!

This year will see the programme for children developed in a similarly intentional way. We are excited to welcome Lianne Smith to our leadership team, who will be introducing an exciting programme called ‘Awesome’. Lianne says, ‘We’re going to explore the Bible together and find out about God’s big brilliant idea! We hope children will come and join us as we make new friends, worship and laugh, think, create and witness some serious gunge activity. AWESOME really is the place to be.’ A new marquee will fill the terrace lawn for the new Awesome programme, with a live band, lots of great leaders, and tons of excitement. Once again, I hope you’ll encourage families to come along to Festival so that children can take part in what looks like being a brilliant event. Lianne and I will be leading an event on Monday afternoon called ‘Funky Monday’ – all-age worship full of surprises, and real engagement with God.

Please support the developments in our youth and children’s programme – by praying, by enabling young people and children to be there - and possibly by giving too. We are investing several thousand pounds in the new Awesome venue, and it would be great to have some signs of blessing in advance! The Festival appeal this year will focus on enabling the programme for children to continue to grow and develop over the next few years – based on all the excellent work that has gone before.

So – lots of young people and children, but also plenty going on for people of every age! The theme of ‘therefore go’ will be unpacked throughout the Festival weekend through the themes of evangelism as incarnation: ‘being the good news’, evangelism as proclamation: ‘telling the good news’, and evangelism as demonstration: ‘showing the good news’. With Bible Studies in 1 John from Wendy Strachan of Scripture union and great evening preaching and worship, there’ll be real opportunities for us all to grow closer to God together. Throw in entertainment from Paul Field, Dave Bilbrough, Sounds of Salvation and the invitation to end the weekend by dancing the night away at the ‘Big Whistlestop Festival Ball’, and we have an event that I know you’ll want to come to.

So book now – call Veronica on 01246 584200 to reserve your place. See our website www.cliffcollege.ac.uk for more information.

piers lane FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

PS Don’t forget that due to the Jubilee Bank Holidays, Festival is a week later this year!

FESTivaL voLUNTEER TEaM We neeD YoU!!

We are once again seeking a team of volunteers who can help with preparation and clear up for

the Festival as well as over the Festival weekend itself. For a taste of what Festival is like please go to www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/festival – where you will find a video presentation of Festival 2011. You can offer to serve for either the whole of Festival or for parts of it as follows.

tUesDaY 29th MaY 9aM to FriDaY 1st JUne 4pM (prep)

n Housekeeping duties (including bed making, cleaning etc)

n Gardening and general maintenance

n General team (estates) setting out chairs etc in tents, moving equipment around site

FriDaY 1st JUne 4pM to late MonDaY 4th JUne (FestiVal)

n Housekeeping duties (including cleaning, servicing washrooms etc)

n Site duties such as keeping site tidy, moving equipment around, selling programmes etc

n Food sales and café duties

n Stewarding

n AVA/IT team (some experience in this area preferred)

n Children’s Team (enhanced CRB check required – dated no more than 2 years previous to the time of application which we need to see a certified (signed) copy of (preferably authorised by your referee)

n Crèche (CRB requirements as above)

n Youth Team (CRB requirements as above)

n Prayer Team (previous experience in this area preferred)

tUesDaY 5th JUne to WeDnesDaY 6th JUne aFternoon (Clear Up)

n Housekeeping

n General clear up duties - emptying tents, putting equipment into storage etc

All volunteers, whilst they are working, will be provided with meals. Those in the Stewarding and Prayer teams are expected to book their own accommodation whilst at Festival. Other volunteers and those helping during Prep and Clear up times will be offered accommodation either in a multi-bedded room or a camping/caravan space (free of charge whilst working). Indoor accommodation at Festival must be paid for. If volunteers are able to do so they can make a contribution towards the cost of their accommodation and/or meals by giving a donation directly to the College, earmarking it for the Festival. This can be gift aided in the usual way.

If you are interested in volunteering at Festival 2012 please will you contact Alison Wells (Festival Administrator) on 01246 584222 email a.wells@cliffcollege.ac.uk or write to her at Cliff College, Calver, Hope valley, Derbys s32 3xg as soon as possible for more information and an application form.

DeaDline For appliCations is FriDaY 13th april 2012.

The drivers of the coaches in the picture and also many of the people outside Cliff Hall at the opening of the

hall over seventy years ago had to rely on a map to help them find their way to Cliff. Not for them the joy of using a sat nav system giving clear instructions! They had to rely on a passenger to read the map and help them navigate the route to the College. I have had, since my days at school, a keen interest in maps and plans of buildings and I remember drawing a plan of my primary school classroom showing the position of all the desks.

It was fascinating to receive into the archives recently, a plan of the main buildings as they were in 1902. At that time the toilets for students were outside in a small detached block a short distance from the main building. That would not have been strange for many of the students as most houses at that time had outside toilets, in many cases shared by several different families. The building of the Champness Memorial wing in 1907 with indoor toilet provision must have seemed a tremendous improvement to the students. Just over two decades later,

the building of the Library wing, as it was known, brought with it further improvements and we also have now some of the constructional plans for that part of the building.

What plans did the present students and staff have before they came to the college? If you are able to visit the Cliff College website http://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk you will be able to read how God led some of the present students to the college. I was amazed one Friday in September a number of years ago to be asked if I would consider taking the position of Catering Manger at Cliff for a period of a month, and could I possibly start work the following Monday? I had never, ever, given a thought to working full time at the college but God just opened the door. I continued as Catering Manager for three months before a replacement was appointed. So began a far closer connection with the college than had been the case over a long time previously. God works in so many marvellous and wonderful ways and I rejoice in all that he has done, and is still doing in my life today. Share your testimony with a friend, or perhaps with someone with whom you work and rejoice in being able to give all of the thanks and praise to God.

CliVe taYlor VOLuNTEER ARCHIVIST

I give all the glory to God for all He has done, for all

He is doing and for all He will continue to do. I came to know about Cliff College around 1999/2000 through the Methodist Evangelical Together magazine which I subscribed to when I was in Nigeria. In 2007, after about 14 years in full time ministry in Methodist Church Nigeria, I was praying and reflecting on the need for my personal renewal and

with my Masters in Art from the Nigerian premier university (university of Ibadan), I was looking for a new theological/leadership dimension to develop myself for the ministry. The advertisement about Cliff College as an evangelical, spiritually orientated academic college touched my heart, especially with courses like Leadership, Renewal, and Mission and Wesleyan Theology and Spirituality. I gained admission as a self sponsored full time student because my home church could not afford the cost, and with my son, David, going through a medical follow-up in Ireland after a brain tumour operation, it was indeed ‘a journey of faith.’ God used my former principal, now the current Conference Secretary of the British Methodist Conference, Rev Dr Martyn Atkins to encourage me. During my first teaching block, while chatting with other students during the coffee break, Rev Dr Stephen Skuce prophesied that among all my course colleagues ‘l know Deji can finish and graduate by June.’ To the glory of God, for the first time in the history of the College, under the supervision of Rev Dr Phil Meadows I graduated with merit in June 2008.

I continued the journey of faith in September 2008 with my admission to a programme of research for a total duration of three years full time leading to the degree

of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The finance required for this major course of study was made possible by God’s use of some selfless individuals from Nigeria and with the support of the College. My family concern especially with David who is going through different stages of follow-up operations/treatment is very overwhelming. I thank God for my wife, Abimbola, who is a virtuous and praying wife indeed, empowered by God in caring and looking after David and our other three children in Ireland. Without her courage and support, the story would have been different.

At a point in time, I went through ‘research fever.’ Thank God for the student friendly tutors in the College and my supervisor who prayed and stood by me in those trying moments. To the glory of God, on July 14, 2011, I successfully defended my thesis titled ‘Missional unity in the Nigerian Context,’ and was awarded my PhD (Missiology, Ecumenical and Wesleyan Studies).

My experience during the MA research programme at Cliff, and especially my worship at Baslow Methodist Church where I was the youngest member was a positive turning point for me. The College’s serene atmosphere coupled involving ecumenical engagement with other students from different traditions and nations, and learning under well-seasoned scholars and missional practitioners gave unique opportunities of which no secular university can boast. For me, Cliff College is a unique manifestation of Wesleyan Spirituality with a renewing engagement and research in mission and ecumenism.

On what the future may hold for me - I am now available for further posting and instruction as may be divinely ordained by God through the esteemed leadership of the Methodist Church Nigeria.

VerY reV Dr DeJi okegbile PhD STuDENT

GREaT iS goD’s faitHfulnEss!

maPs & Plans

They could be described as 3 Methodists, an AoG, a New Frontiers worker and a Nazarene; or perhaps

2 pastors, a missionary, a lay worker, a church planter and a chaplain; or even 4 English, 1 Irish and 1 Haitian; but whatever way it is done, these are the 6 brave individuals who form the first year group of our new PhD in Missiology.

They gathered at Cliff in late September for a week of study and research where they shared initial papers on their research areas, got to grips with PhD level research skills and had a day with Steve Taylor, an emerging church exponent from New Zealand who is currently an academic in Australia. This year’s task is for them to produce a 12,000 word paper on the literature in their particular areas, which range across church planting,

Pentecostal missiology, the missiology of Rob Frost, mission dependency in the Caribbean, Amy Carmichael and evangelism in the emerging church.

Clearly this is a diverse group of people studying a broad variety of areas, but all within the discipline of missiology and so they will learn with and from each other, which is different from the more individualistic traditional PhD.

Take a look at http://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/page/ dmiss_programme for more info on the PhD in Missiology programme.

stephen skUCe ACADEMIC DEAN

reVision oF ba th

It’s not just students at Cliff College who have to revise, but year on year each academic programme gets

tweaked and occasionally a major revision. Perhaps a BA Th makeover is the contemporary description of our revised programme which begins in September 2012.

The main changes are to allow students wider choice, and in particular in the more applied and vocational areas of youth and children’s ministry, Christian leadership, mentoring, evangelism and discipleship. That said, old ‘favourites’ such as Greek and Hebrew can still be studied, and a new Biblical unit will look at reading Scripture in context, and will be delivered in Jerusalem.

A further change is to teach more subjects in a modular way through intensive study weeks, our normal mode of delivery on the BA MM and MA programmes. This means

it is easier to do the BA Th part-time, and it allows much greater flexibility, particularly, at present, in the final year. A number of final year BA Th students have part-time jobs that more easily fit around their studies (so greatly helping to finance their course and improve their eventual employability), and one BA Th final year student recently spent a month in India without disrupting their study, an opportunity that would have been impossible in an old fashioned degree.

Just as the reformed church is always reforming, so the revised programmes will continue to be revised. Further development will make part-time study at BA Th level as straightforward as it is on BA MM/MA/PhD programmes, and importantly help to keep such study affordable.

stephen skUCe ACADEMIC DEAN

laUnCh oF phD in MissiologY

SHoRT CoursEssoMething FOR eVerYone

neW short CoUrses For 2012-2013

As well as the courses above we are also running 2 exciting new courses in 2012-

2013 - a Certificate in Pastoral Care and an Introduction to Conflict Resolution.

CertiFiCate in Christian liFe anD Mission

Ten very excited Interns joined the Certificate in Christian Life and Mission course

at Cliff College for the first residential week in October taught by the lecturers at

Cliff College. The course is divided into two residential weeks; one in October and

one in March each year, and the students then spend the rest of their time working

for their church or a Christian organisation. In October the students studied the

gospel of Luke and saw how Jesus has so much to say to us as we seek to serve

him. We also looked at the life of Joshua in the devotional times, which were ably

led by Steve Emery-Wright.

Some of the feedback from students after the October week was:

‘The atmosphere was great! The lectures were inspiring and challenging.

I had so much fun’.

‘Great community feel, good atmosphere, awesome lectures’.

‘The course focused my mind on the importance of the Bible and reminded me

that it needs to be the centre of my ministry’.

In March we will be studying the book of James and looking at what we can learn

from women in the New Testament. During the week there are lectures, seminars,

devotional times, times of prayer and times of fun.

DatEs for nExt yEar arE 15tH – 19tH oCtobEr 2012

anD 11tH – 15tH marCH 2013.

CertiFiCate in Christian Mentoring

November 2011 saw the second Certificate in Christian Mentoring course taught at

Cliff College. In 2010 there were 20 students on the course and it went really well.

In 2011 the course was over subscribed and, as there was a waiting list of 10 students as

early as September, another trainer was brought in which allowed another ten students

on the course. Even this was not enough for the numbers who were applying! In the end

we had thirty-two students attending the week and a second week in the spring has

been arranged. Looking ahead, we have planned two weeks in September and

November 2012. Paul Wilcox and Sharon Prior (the trainers of the course) were greatly

encouraged by the people who came on the course and the atmosphere that was

achieved during the week. Everyone was supportive of each other and had fun whilst

learning the ethos and skills of mentoring.

Some of the comments from students who attended in November are:

‘The mentoring training week has helped me to be more focused and

prompted me to set realistic goals to move forward in my life’.

‘This is a fundamental course for mentoring with excellent training

and skill development’.

‘The trainers complemented each other very well, bringing different

perspectives and experience, but in total unity’.

“Having sat under the guidance of Paul and Sharon, I have had a desire

ignited to see mentoring as a form of intentional discipling being the

bedrock on which my ministry amongst students and young adults is built.”

IF YOu ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OuT MORE ABOuT ANY OF THESE COuRSES, VISIT THE CLIFF COLLEGE WEBSITE AT www.CliffCollEgE.aC.uk OR CONTACT SHARON PRIOR AT s.Prior@CliffCollEgE.aC.uk.

sharon prior CLIFF COLLEGE SHORT COuRSES

training the trainerThis short course is delivered over 5 days (3 days in March and 2 days in June)

and leads to a nationally recognized PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong

Learning Sector) Certificate. This year we had 16 people on the course from

very different backgrounds including from Youth for Christ, Scripture union,

the Salvation Army, the Anglican Church, the Methodist Church and those

involved in training in their own church.DatEs for tHis yEar arE 19tH- 21st marCH 2012

anD 19tH – 20tH JunE 2012.

CertiFiCate in Christian leaDership In November we ran the first residential week for the Certificate in Christian Leadership Course. It included a mixture of people; two missionaries from Japan, a children’s worker, a church deacon, a church event organizer and a student.We looked at leaders in the Bible, leaders in history and then contemporary leadership in the film ‘Invictus’ based on the life of Nelson Mandela. The week was interactive and there was a lot of time for students to reflect on their own leadership.

Lectures covered topics such as the spirituality of the leader, models of leadership and conflict resolution. Plenty of time is made available for individual reflection on leadership styles.

The Certificate week is followed by another week in March, which leads to a Diploma in Christian Leadership. Students can choose to do one week or two.

‘enCoUnters With the WorlD’; Mission sUMMer sChool

This will offer an overview of issues relating to mission and evangelism, and will offer a practical field trip experience in the locality within the programme. ideal for anyone wanting to explore mission and with a heart for reaching out to others with the gospel.

‘greek in a Week’; bibliCal langUage sUMMer sChool

This will offer a framework to begin exploring the language of the New Testament. ideal for those wanting a starter course in this key area and for fellowship group leaders and preachers too.

explorations in the WorD’; bible sUMMer sChool

This will offer a deeper look into two books of the Bible: Psalms and John. ideal for those wanting to go deeper into the text, including fellowship group leaders and preachers.

THE WEEk iS oFFEREd iN THREE STRaNdS oF TEaCHiNG:

Our 2012 Summer School is filling up fast, but there are still some spaces for you! Following

the success of 2011 we are looking to welcoming 60 participants on this special week of fellowship, worship and study.

All Summer School participants will share together in social times, meals, devotions, evening worship, and a reading of ‘The Gospel of John’ event we are planning for the Wednesday evening which will be open to the local community. Don’t worry, there’s even time in the programme to go off site to Chatsworth or to a local coffee shop!

ian White SuMMER SCHOOL CO-ORDINATOR

CLiFF CoLLEGE summEr sCHool 2012

Contact veronica Evans, Summer School administrator for more details and booking form: admin@cliffcollege.ac.uk / 01246 584200

Filling UP FaST!

MoN 18TH - FRi 22Nd JUNE

LaST yEaR’S PaRTiCiPaNTS Said:

‘An amazing week’

‘Very welcoming’

‘A special atmosphere’

‘Lectures were spot on’,

‘A truly amazing experience – God’s timing is great’

‘I feel I have truly begun the journey I should have started years ago

as a Christian’

‘Meeting with other Christians from all walks of life has been inspiring’

‘I have been really blessed’

‘Inspired me to carry on preaching’

‘It makes me realise how much I still need to learn!’

i WoNdER WHaT yoU CoULd BE SayiNG aT THE ENd oF JUNE? WHy NoT JoiN US aNd FiNd oUT?

If your idea of an intern has been limited to a school leaver or a recent graduate, perhaps it’s time to think

again? I know I’ve had to. I’m a silver top, and finding myself far, far away from home in Finland and working as an intern here at Cliff College at 50+, is most definitely not what I would have seen myself being called to do a few years back.

My work as postgraduate intern has been varied, but mostly it is about offering academic support to the faculty at both postgraduate and undergraduate level in terms of giving tutorial support, marking and lecturing and overseeing dissertation work. I’ve also carried the responsibility for developing the online support course for MA students.

Not everything I do is academic of course. It’s been a joy to be actively involved in the worship life of the college, and join the residential community in saying ‘We proclaim “Christ for All”, we live “All for Christ”’ on a daily basis. Every second Tuesday you’ll find me leading a house group made up of a bunch of great full time undergraduates and two part time MA students, and I’ve also been responsible for conducting the ministry times for the MA students each module. There have been amazing testimonies and seeing the Spirit of God at work is, in part, what makes being part of the team here at Cliff College so special.

Full time undergraduates have to do a time of ‘manual’ each week at the college, with activities such as gardening, housekeeping, library duties or serving on the AV ‘techie’ team. As an intern I’m exempt from manual but volunteered to help co-ordinate Inspire4students this year as a way of serving the college over and above the internship. Inspire is all about shaping mission-shaped disciples and one of the exciting things I’m currently

working on is planning a joint “away-day” for Inspire students from Cliff College and the university of Sheffield, where we will focus on seeing God at work in our life and around us.

This term will also see me involved in helping at Festival. This year’s theme ‘Therefore go’ is an interesting one for me personally as I am not yet sure what next year holds. Would God have me stay for a second year, or would he have me ‘Go!’? What this year has taught me, once again, is that being a disciple of Jesus is an adventure, and not without personal cost, but trusting Him to speak and guide us is key to being able to follow Him ‘to the ends of the earth’.

lorna koskela POSTGRADuATE INTERN

bEing aN intErn

COuRSE TuTOR ON OuR GROuND BREAkING THIRD AGE MISSION AND MINISTRY PART-TIME DIPLOMA COuRSE

interVieWeD bY ian White PROGRAMME LEADER; VOCATIONAL MINISTRY COuRSES

ian: Claire, tell us a little about the role you have in one of our local universities

Claire: I have the kind of job that when I describe it to other people they say ‘ooh that sounds interesting’ and it really is.

I am one of the few staff at my university to hold positions across two different Faculties and half of my role is in teaching in health where I am second year tutor on the occupational therapy undergraduate programme and lead modules around working with older people and facilitating groups. For one day a week I also hold a Faculty post looking at learning and teaching across the university. My work here has ranged from implementing an initiative looking at the use of games in learning and teaching, through to the development of a text messaging service to support students in managing transition to university, so it is wonderfully creative and gives me an opportunity to work alongside students and to change teaching practice.

The other half of my work takes place in Art and Design where I am a researcher, focusing predominantly on the role that design plays in relation to quality of life. Again this role is immensely varied. This year I’ve been involved in a number of research projects, the largest of which has been ‘engagingaging’ – a

trans-disciplinary study which compared the experiences of older people living in Taiwan with those of older people in the uk, seeing to develop a range of design solutions to some of the challenges that ageing brings. It was an exceptional piece of work which really positioned older people as the experts and included an exhibition of work embodying some of our findings which we held in the museum of contemporary art in the Tai Pei underground.

As I said my job is busy but certainly never dull.

ian: i understand that you recently received a national award for your teaching. How did that come about, and what particularly was noted about your teaching?

Claire: The National Teaching Fellowship was a wonderful surprise. I am the first woman to receive the award in the history of my university and the third occupational therapist in the history of the profession so it is an immense honour. It is awarded by the Higher Education Academy in recognition of individual excellence in teaching and learning. What was especially nice was that I was informed on the same day that I had also been nominated for my university ‘inspirational teaching award’ by my students so it was a double celebration.

ian: your own PhD research is in a key area facing many in our community, dementia. what are some of the key things you have discovered in your research?

Claire: My PhD focuses on the experiences of older people living in care homes. I’ve employed something called practice based research methods, giving people living in care environments cameras to capture images that sum up aspects of their experience and these have formed the basis of a series of interviews. I’ve also engaged

in my own photographic practice in parallel. Photography is an exceptionally accessible tool and people have used the photographs in many different ways. The range of photographs is incredible and people have had the opportunity to express much of their creativity. What I’ve really enjoyed about the research has been the collaborative nature, the process of ‘making sense together’ which has been very empowering.

ian: i know you are a committed Christian. as a Christian, what do you think the Church can be further offering in its work amongst older people?

Claire: Ageing is a gift and the Bible offers so many incredible precedents in terms of older people who were great leaders and who served God in truly remarkable ways. I am constantly drawn to the passage in Joel ‘your old men will dream dreams’. In my work, particularly my work in care homes I meet older people who possess an incredible faith. Individuals whom I am sure Paul would describe as ‘the saints’, people with a heart for God who are faithful in prayer. What an amazing resource these individuals are. Statistically we know that the population is ageing and increasingly we will need to call on these individuals, to learn from their experiences and faith journeys and harness these strengths.

The other side of this is that within these same care settings I meet older people who, confronted with illness, often facing end of life issues and who are

asking key questions in terms of the meaning of life and ‘what next?’. One of the saddest things that I encounter is when a person faces this on their own without knowledge or understanding of God and the hope that knowing Christ Jesus brings. In the church, that is the body of Christ, all of us have such a key role to play in ensuring that everyone has a choice and if people have questions, to be there.

ian: we are delighted that you have agreed to become Course tutor for the new third age mission and ministry course here at Cliff, and i look forward to working with you. Can you say what is important about this course, and your hopes for it?

Claire: Ian, it is an immense privilege and pleasure. I am so looking forward to being part of this ground-breaking course which I believe will make a hugely significant impact on the lives of older people. All I would like to say is that if you are reading this and you have a heart for God and for older people then please get in touch. I am really looking forward to meeting and working with you all.

For more information about the Third Age Mission and Ministry Course please contact Ian at i.j.white@cliffcollege.ac.uk or ring him on 01246 584213

iNTRodUCiNG ClairE Craig

tHE CLiFF CoLLEGE fEllowsHiPWhat is the CliFF College FelloWship (CCF) anD What Does it Do?

The CCF is open to all former and current students and staff of the College. We acknowledge that not

everyone can afford to give financially so membership is offered to all who will commit themselves to supporting the College and the Fellowship in prayer. There is testimony of how God still answers the prayers of his people around the world.

The Fellowship is wider than the geographical site of the College. Here in mid Wales for instance I have fellowship with three former members of the college – one Baptist, one Anglican, and one Methodist. I am grateful for that Fellowship.

What then does the CCF do? It seeks to strengthen support for each other and for the college. This is seen, I hope, in the examples, above. But we seek to find ways of mutually building each other up and of supporting the College.

We are currently looking for people to join our ‘committee’ to help us explore other ways of strengthening the work of the CCF and of the College. We would like, if possible, people from more recent times in the college. If you wish to volunteer or if you wish to nominate someone else then please contact me. My email is revhaydndavies@talktalk.net or you can contact me through the Principal at the College.

haYDn DaVies CHAIR OF CCF (STuDENT IN 1972)

Praying FoRCLiFFSuNDAY

THuRSDAY

FRIDAY

SATuRDAY

Please pray for the continuing life and development of Cliff College, for its vision and activities; praying that the College will continue to proclaim “Christ for all and all for Christ”. Pray for the full-time undergraduate students in their weekly mission placements and as they prepare for, and are involved in, the Easter Mission programme. Pray for our part-time students as they study alongside their continuing mission and ministry activities in their local churches and communities.

Please pray for the 50 students on the BA in Theology course. Pray especially for those who have joined the course this year and for those who serve on the Student Leadership Team.

Please pray for the 130 students on our various MA streams focusing on many aspects of mission including evangelism, leadership and renewal, emerging church, Celtic mission, Wesleyan theology, children and youth work, religious pluralism, the world of work, and Christian mentoring.

Please pray those who participate in our various short courses including our Summer School programme, Training the Trainer Course, Christian Mentoring Certificate, the Certificate and Diploma in Christian Leadership and the Certificate in Christian Life and Mission. Pray for the Cliff College International Training Centre programme in Nigeria taught by Cliff College staff and friends and which currently is training almost 200 Nigerian Methodist Ministers in mission.

Please pray for the 20 research students working towards an MPhil or PhD qualification. Pray especially for the 6 students starting on our new PhD in Missiology programme.

Please pray for the 90 students on our various part-time undergraduate courses – Diploma in Children Mission and Ministry, Diploma in Youth Mission and Ministry and the BA in Mission and Ministry. Pray especially for the introduction of the new Diploma in Third Age Mission and Ministry.

to help your prayers more information is available on www.cliffcollege.ac.uk

Please play for the College Principal and staff as we train and equip people in mission and ministry. Pray for the academic staff and for all who offer administrative, financial, housekeeping, estates and catering skills to support and develop the work of the College. Pray for our annual Festival event and for all the preparation and planning involved. Pray for the College as it responds to the result of the Fruitful Field consultation.

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At Cliff College we continue to give thanks to God for the prayerful and generous support

of our many friends and former students. Some of that support comes in terms of time offered as a volunteer, some comes through a commitment to regular prayer for Cliff and some is offered through financial gifts. Each of these ways of supporting the College is much appreciated.

In terms of financial support, there are various ways to give to the work of the College. Single gifts can be given to the College using the “donation slip” included in each edition of Cliff Today. Regular monthly giving can be arranged by setting up a direct debit arrangement while some people will be able to support our work by arranging to leave a legacy to Cliff College in their will.

If you want to start to give to the College by Direct Debit, or to speak in confidence about how to include Cliff College in your will, then please feel free to contact me on 01246 584209, on c.blake@cliffcollege.ac.uk or by writing to me at Cliff College, Calver, Hope valley, Derbyshire, s32 3xg.

Thank you all for your continuing support for the work of the College.

Chris blake PRINCIPAL

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WE HavEN’T dECidEd To oPEN a SECoNd CoLLEGE iN JERUSaLEM, BUT WE aRE GoiNG To TEaCH oNE oF oUR UNiTS THERE...

2Nd – 9TH JULy 2012

in July 2012 a group of 2nd year Ba Th students will take a new unit entitled

‘Luke in the Holy Land’ which is about reading the gospel in a particular location, and how that context impacts your understanding of God’s word. We’ll look at the background to Luke’s Gospel, contemporary life in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, faith and forgiveness from the Temple Mount, sacrifice and the via dolorosa, resurrection and the Garden Tomb, witness and the Road to Emmaus, and Scripture, faith and other important themes.

in addition to the group of Ba Th students, there is room for other college students and friends of the college to join in. if you are interested, please contact Stephen Skuce on s.skuce@cliffcollege.ac.uk to see if there are places available. The unit will be led by ian White and Stephen Skuce, will cost friends of the college £1100 which includes flights from Manchester, internal travel, half board, shared ensuite accommodation and will run from 2nd – 9th July 2012.

www.cliffcollege.ac.uk

stuDy WiTH CLiFF in JErusalEm