march2009

2

By Sandra Fogarty

Welcome to our first edition of ePrepare for 2009! This year has really started with a bang. News of devastation seems to be constantly before us: fires in Victoria, floods in Queensland, the global economic crisis, let alone personal tragedies that don’t make it to the evening news.

Yet there is hope! We have been looking to our political leaders to stimulate the economy and turn our nations around, our governmental and community leaders to act quickly during disasters and support those experiencing loss, and our business leaders to act prudently and support their workers during this economic downturn. What we are waiting to hear and see is ACTION.

Furthermore, as Christians we have a mission to bring good news and God’s love to this world - our faith must be put into action. We at Southern Cross College don’t just teach about faith, we teach about and practice faith in action. Many of our readers are leaders, and as leaders we inspire people to do the same – put our faith in action.

There remains a further challenge to us all: How do we put our

faith in action? This issue of ePrepare focuses on Action and contains articles by our faculty and students, and news of our alumni – people who are meeting the challenge of how to put their faith in action. This issue features Stephen Fogarty’s article on Jesus the leader, and Mark Hutchinson’s piece on the history of Christian higher education in Australia.

2009 looks to be a busy and pivotal year for Southern Cross College. Our enrolments are higher than ever, we have a new campus in Brisbane, some new degrees and courses are in process, and we are transforming our technology, pedagogy, and programs to meet the changing needs of our world.

Finally, please have a look at our upcoming events and short courses, and keep tuned to our website for the latest news.

With love,Sandra

Editorial^

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Contributors

Leading Like Jesus by Stephen Fogarty

Actionby Chris Baker

Breathe in, breathe outby Michael Wong

Balance = Time/Change/Space to Thinkby Sarah Knight

The Intern...by Heather Stevens

Youth Work

Christian Higher Education in Australiaby Mark Hutchinson

Marlo Philip: Alumni in Action

Book Launchby Dr. David Parker

Everything is Spiritualby Dean O’Keefe

News & Events

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Contents^

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stephen fogarty PRINCIPAL / CEO

Stephen grew up in WA, loving

the football, cricket and surfing.

Graduating from SCC in 1985, he

worked in youth ministry, church

planting and pastoring before returning

to SCC in 1994 as a lecturer. Now

Principal of SCC, Australia’s largest

dual-sector Christian college, Stephen

still loves football, cricket & surfing.

chris bakerSENIOR TUTOR

Chris has completed a Master of

Theology in New Testament studies and

is an e-Learning tutor for the Pauline

letters. He is currently completing a

PhD on the identity of the Holy Spirit

in Paul which he hopes to complete

before his bank account runs dry.

sarah knightSTUdENT LIfE COORdINATOR

Sarah is the queen of FUN who likes

to get more out of life! She loves a

challenge and has a passionate love affair

with Uganda, Africa. One day she would

like to write a book that is of some use

to someone about life changing stuff!

dean o’keefedIRECTOR Of vOCATIONAL EdUCATION & TRAINING

Dean is a devout Queenslander, the son

of a preacher man, the husband of one

wife (Lisa) and father of two children.

Dean was a youth pastor before joining

the team at SCC. He is also the Children’s

Pastor at Hawkesbury Church, NSW.

dr mark hutchinsondEAN, ACAdEMIC AdvANCEMENT

Mark Hutchinson trained in history

at the University of NSW and has

spent his career building interest and

scholarship in the area of Australian

Christianity. He currently leads the

academic development portfolio at SCC.

Contributors^

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michael wongBAChELOR Of CONTEMPORARY MINISTRY STUdENT

Michael is currently undertaking the SCC

Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry. He

is also a (male) paediatric nurse who is

known to carry an extensive first-aid kit

in his car glove-box. He loves playing

extremely loud electric guitars and

‘vrooming by the sea’ on his Vespa.

heather stevensCERTIfICATE Iv IN MINISTRY GRAdUATE (2008)

Heather graduated from SCC in 2008

after completing the 1 year internship

program through SCC and Youth Alive

NSW. Loving youth ministry & having

fun, she is currently working as the

Marketing Assistant at Youth Alive NSW.

sandra fogartyCOLLEGE RELATIONS MANAGER

Sandra has a long relationship

with SCC beginning in 1978 when

she began studies in WA. She has

worked in pastoring, youth ministry,

church planting and teaching.

melissa fogartyTEChNICAL & dESIGN ASSISTANT

Melissa works in the College Relations

Team which involves organising &

designing marketing materials for

SCC as well as protecting her side

of the office from her coworker

(scoreboard: Mel = 2; Reesha = 3).

eprepareEPREPARE MAGAZINE

Published by the College Relations Team

Southern Cross College PO Box 125 Chester HillNSW 2162 AUSTRALIA+612 9645 9000 // info@scc.edu.au

6

We are inundated with

information on leadership

and biographies of leaders.

While all of this information

is undoubtedly useful, as

Christians we want to ground

our understanding of leadership

on the example of Jesus.

In this article, I look at the

leadership behavior of Jesus

as portrayed in John 21.

John 21:1-25 describes a post-

resurrection encounter between

Jesus and seven of the disciples,

including Peter and John the author.

The plot of the story revolves

around a conversation between

Jesus and Peter. It serves to highlight

the leadership of Jesus and the

missions of Peter, the disciple loved

by Jesus, and the other disciples.

It demonstrates the close inter-

connection between these issues.

The success of the ministry of Jesus’

followers depends intrinsically on

their reliance upon him. This point is

made in each of the scenes.

LEADERSHIPIS A SUBJECT THAT

EXCITES INTEREST. THE TERM

CONNOTES IMAgES Of

PowERfuL,

DynAmIC INdIvIdUAlS wHO ACHIEvE

gREAT EXPLoITS

& InSPIRE oTHERS

TO foLLow THEM.

By Stephen Fogarty

Leading ̂Like^̂ Jesus^

7

The passage provides insight into John’s perspective of Jesus as a leader. His leadership can be understood as loving, transformational, charismatic, and servant leadership. It is an appropriate approach for contemporary Christian leaders.

JESUS &thE diSciplES [ vv. 1 - 14 ]The opening of the first scene introduces the seven disciples and Peter as a leader within the group. He leads them in a night of unsuccessful fishing. We can picture the disappointed disciples in the boat. Then Jesus shouts an instruction from the shore, they obey, and a bountiful catch ensues. Disappointment is replaced with excitement and anticipation as they wonder whether it is Jesus. When they come to the shore Jesus has prepared breakfast for them. The disciples experience the familiarity of another meal of bread and fish with Jesus. The aimlessness of the recent past is starting to dissipate in the light of his reappearance. There are two sets of actions in this first scene, the account of the fishing and that of the breakfast. They combine to provide a symbolic

message for followers of Jesus. The account of the fishing indicates that human effort will be unsuccessful unless it is at the direction of Jesus. The breakfast indicates that Jesus provides sustenance for his followers. Together, they suggest that Christian mission flows from fellowship with Jesus. Such mission has an inward and an outward aspect. The inward relationship of feeding and fellowship provides the capacity for the outward task of fishing for men. Union with Jesus is the indispensable basis for service for Jesus. Talbert (1992) states that “the 153 fish caught symbolize the universal outreach of the church’s fishing expedition in obedience to Jesus’ command.” Jerome’s commentary indicates that there were thought to be 153 different types of fish in the ocean. Just as the disciples have caught all types of fish the Gospel is for all humankind. Maloney (1998) suggests that the undamaged net is also symbolic. He states that “the church is a boat under the direction of the Lord, ‘gathering’ large numbers under the inspiration of the Beloved Disciple and the leadership of Peter” (p. 186). The unmistakable message is that successful ministry is at the direction of Jesus the leader and Lord.

JESUS &pEtER [ vv. 15 - 19 ]The breakfast is also the setting for scenes two and three which focus on a conversation between Jesus and Peter. In the second scene the symbolism of sheep is used to focus on Peter’s responsibility for those within the Christian community. Jesus three times asks Peter if he loves him. Three times Peter responds affirmatively and Jesus tells him to care for his flock. The threefold questioning of Peter’s love for Jesus is powerfully evocative. It brings to mind the threefold denial of Jesus by Peter and stimulates us to contemplate the nature of love and commitment to another. We feel pathos for Peter’s frailty and we are inspired by Jesus’ restoration of Peter to the position of caring for the Christian community. Peter is restored to the relationship and position he had before the threefold denial of Jesus. He is assigned the care of the flock with the knowledge that there is a cost to discipleship. In v. 18 Jesus predicts Peter’s death. The imagery of the proverb quoted conjures an image of the cross. The very thing that Peter feared in his denials is prophesied in his restoration.

8

In the meantime, Peter is to follow Jesus and to tend the flock.

JESUS & thE BElOvEddiSciplE [ vv. 20 - 25 ]The third scene is also dominated by the conversation between Jesus and Peter and the issue again is obedience to Jesus. Peter enquires as to the fate of the disciple whom Jesus loved. This description of John is evocative and portrays Jesus the leader as having a warm and familiar relationship with his followers. Jesus does not appear to be an aloof and detached leader. Peter is told that the fate of John is not his concern. John’s role is to testify to the message of Jesus. This is different to the role of Peter and to the roles of the other disciples. The role of each is assigned by Jesus and they succeed as they hear his voice and follow his instructions. Each should concentrate on his own calling without comparison with the other. The important thing is that each one follows Jesus. Talbert (1992) describes a progression in terms of the roles of the disciples: “If evangelistic outreach belongs to the disciples as a whole, pastoral care of the flock is given to Peter and the role of prophetic witness to the beloved disciple.”

JESUSthE lEAdERThe progression of mood throughout the narrative is from uncertainty and possible despair through excitement and on to the sense of purpose and challenge that comes from the commission of Jesus. We are inspired to contemplate the possibilities of a life that is committed to the leadership of Jesus. He is the leader who loves and provides for his followers, who is able to give the necessary direction and instruction to produce successful ministry, who confronts and converts weakness and failure, and who restores those who respond to him.

lOviNGlEAdERShipWinston (2008) offers the concept of agapao as establishing the beliefs and principles of behavior that support good leadership. agapao is the Greek word translated as love in John 21:15-16. It carries the sense of doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. It is the love that Jesus recommends in Luke 10:27 when he answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and

with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Gibbons (2008) points out that agapao expresses God’s great benevolence toward humankind expressed in his undaunted determination to shape all things for the good of those who believe in his Son, Jesus. It reflects a positive and willful attitude of his mind toward us rather than an emotional response to a person or their sin. It also speaks of God’s joy over his created beings and the delight he takes in them. Leadership that is based on such love establishes a foundation for an altruistic relationship in which both leader and follower are benefited through a morally right process of interaction. Winston maintains that agapao behavior produces higher respect for the leader and higher performance by the follower towards achieving the leader’s goals. The leadership of Jesus in John 21:1-25 accords with Winston’s notion of agapao leadership. He demonstrates genuine concern for his followers, particularly in his restoration of Peter. They in turn demonstrate an undying loyalty to him and to his cause. Jesus, therefore, demonstrates how good and effective leadership behavior is expressed as he engenders in his

Leading ̂Like^̂ Jesus^

9

followers an ever growing sense of respect, commitment, and service.

tRANSFORMAtiONAllEAdERShipTransformational leadership as identified by Burns (1978) seeks to transform organizations through identifying the importance of task outcomes and by seeking to help followers raise themselves above self-interest to higher ideals. Transformational leaders seek to raise the consciousness of followers by appealing to higher ideals and values such as the greater human good. Yukl (2006) states that “Transforming leadership appeals to the moral values of followers in an attempt to raise their consciousness about ethical issues and to mobilize their energy and resources to reform institutions” (p. 249). Burns (1998) notes that “...transforming leadership ultimately becomes moral in that it raises the level of human conduct and ethical aspiration of both leader and led, and thus it has a transforming effect on both” (p. 134). Transformational leadership applies idealized influence, individual consideration, and

inspirational motivation to the task of energizing individuals and organization to achieve the desired outcomes.

The leadership of Jesus can be identified as transformational in incarnating ideals such as love, humility, and service, and inspiring the same qualities in his followers. This is demonstrated in his washing of his disciples’ feet in John 13:14 where he says to them, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.” The encounter with Peter demonstrates transformational leadership as Jesus focuses Peter on the higher motivations of love for his Lord and service to the flock. The power of Jesus’ challenge to Peter stems from contrast between the self-sacrifice of Jesus and the threefold denial by Peter that provides the background context for this dialogue. Peter, along with the other disciples, is transformed by the leadership of Jesus. They go forth from the events described in John 21 to transform their society.

Jesus demonstrates that effective leaders inspire followers by their role

modeling of exemplary behavior and commitment to the vision and values of the organization.

chARiSMAtic lEAdERShipYukl (2006, p. 251) points out that charismatic leaders influence followers to collectively accomplish great things that initially seemed impossible by internalizing new beliefs and values within their followers. Charismatic leaders influence the attitudes and behavior of followers by articulating an appealing vision, making self-sacrifices to attain the vision, communicating high expectations, and empowering followers (p. 252). Shea (1999, 408) describes charismatic leaders as “providing followers with clear visions of the future, expressing high expectations for follower performance, and displaying confidence in their followers’ ability to accomplish challenging tasks.” She states that leadership research has consistently found strong positive relationship between charismatic leadership behaviors and follower performance (p. 408). Jesus engages in charismatic leadership

as he inspires his followers to possibilities that they could not otherwise envisage. These fishermen can become fishers of men. Peter can rise above his failure to lead and shepherd the church of Jesus Christ. John can testify to the many works of Jesus. Ordinary men take on extraordinary tasks because of the impact of Jesus on them. Leaders can inspire followers by articulating a clear and appealing vision and by expressing confidence in their ability to rise to the challenge.

SERvANt lEAdERShipJesus the loving, transformational, and charismatic leader is also a servant leader. Servant leadership as popularized by Greenleaf (1977) posits that service to followers is the primary responsibility of leaders and the essence of ethical leadership (Yukl, 2006, p. 420). Service includes nurturing, defending, and empowering followers. A servant leader is concerned for the needs of his followers and seeks their well being along with the well being of the organization. A servant leader empowers followers rather than dominating them. Greenleaf believes that followers of servant leaders are inspired to become servant leaders themselves. The results of servant

leadership include higher ethical standards within organizations and greater value placed on human worth. Society benefits from servant leadership.

Jesus certainly meets the criteria of a servant leader. In John 21 he does not consider it beneath his position to make breakfast for his followers. He takes the initiative in restoring Peter. Of course, he is the one who has lain down his life for his followers (c.f. John 15:13). Peter, reflecting later on the example of Jesus, writes “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Indeed, Peter and the other disciples did follow in his steps.

YOU thE lEAdER

Jesus the leader is an agent of positive change as he redirects and inspires his followers to the task of evangelizing the world and building the church. In John 21 his leadership is loving, transformational, charismatic, and that of a servant. The impact of such leadership is inestimable. As the narrator concludes, “there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could

Leading ̂Like^̂ Jesus^

10

not contain the books that would be written.” History demonstrates the abiding legacy of Jesus’ leadership.

Any leader will benefit from studying and seeking to emulate the leadership qualities of Jesus that are demonstrated in John 21. To lead is to be an agent of positive change and to inspire and empower followers toward noble goals.

Stephen Fogarty is the Principal of Southern Cross College in Sydney Australia. He holds a BA in Economics, an MA in Theology and is currently enrolled in a PhD in Organizational Leadership. He is the Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Theological Association, a member of the Council of the Sydney College of Divinity, and a member of the Faith and Unity Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

See article in Leadership Accenthttp://accent.acc.org.au/

REFERENCES

Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. New York, Harper & Row.

Burns, J. M. (1998). Transactional and transforming leadership. In G. R. Hickman (Ed.), Leading organizations: Perspectives for a new era (pp. 133-134). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Gibbons, S. Spiritual formation: The basis for all leading. Inner Resources for Leaders, 1.1. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/innerresources.

Greenleaf, R. K. (1997). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

Hickman, G. R. (Ed.) (1998). Leading organizations: Perspectives for a new era. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Moloney, F. J. (1998). Glory not dishonor: Reading John 13-21. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Shea, C. M. (1999). The effect of leadership style on performance improvement on a manufacturing task. The Journal of Business, Vol. 72, No. 3, (Jul., 1999), pp. 407-422.

Talbert, C. H. (1992). Reading john: A literary and theological commentary on the fourth gospel and the johannine epistles. London: SPCK.

Winston, B. Agapao leadership. Inner Resources for Leaders, 1.1. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/innerresources.

Witherington, B., III. (1995). John’ wisdom: A commentary on the fourth gospel. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Yukl, G. (2006). Leadership in organizations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.

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By Chris Baker

On what basis can we put our faith in action? Paul states,

God’s righteousness is given through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all who believe.

(Romans 3:22)

I am struck by how central the view is for Paul that God’s own righteousness is dependent upon the faithful obedience of Jesus to his call and mission, the pinnacle of which was his sacrificial death. While it may be tempting for

us to default to more popular explanations in order to explain this (“of course, Jesus is God!”), to my mind this view of Jesus’ faithful action demonstrating God’s righteousness has two implications:

1. God’S RiGhteouSneSS iS dEpENdENt UpON ChRiSt’S FaithFulneSS

Firstly, the faithfulness of Jesus is more representative of his humanity and his own sense of call. Despite opposition, he was obedient even unto death on a cross (cf. Phil 2:8) in order to bring about the vindication of God’s righteousness. This, more controversially, implies a risk on the part of God for his own righteousness rests in the hands of his Son.

2. ChRiStiS OUR MOdEl OFFaithFulneSS

Secondly, for us, Jesus becomes the model of one who remained faithful to God, and this faithfulness was demonstrated in his continued obedience to the will of God. It is this act of obedience, which in turn reflects God’s own righteousness, that provides a challenge for us as we seek to live out our faith, knowing that Jesus, as our representative, has modeled such a faithfulness to us (cf. 1:5 and 16:26).

While God’s own righteousness may not rest in our hands, the model of faithful obedience would seem to be a challenge enough in itself.

So in light of Christ’s faithfulness, what action can you begin, and continue, that demonstrates your willing obedience to God?

God’s riGhteousness is given through the

faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all who believe roMans 3:22

Action^

12

An artistic friend of mine recently commented on how a visit to the local art gallery (and through the appreciation of the works that hung there) led her to develop ideas for art pieces of her own.

Relating to this experience of inspiration for myself, I reflected on this dynamic: isn’t it so interesting how exposure to somebody else’s achievements or productions is often the catalyst that sees us utilize our own creativity? It happens all the time -

BeethoVen iS iNSpiREd BY BaCh

BoY MEEtS GiRlANd SAtURAtES thEiR

livES iN ROMANcE

We are motivated to produce through our exposure to other people’s success. Be it resulting in a new charcoal sketch, an insightful leap of development in a thesis, a pragmatic ideal for

business, or simply an epiphanic thought,our exposure to another’s demonstration of creativity gives us a personal desire to create as well.

The osmosis of inspiration is innately intriguing as more often than not we know ourselves that we hold the potential, skills and talent to ‘produce’. Genesis 1 notes that “the tree’s seed is within itself.” Thus, the conundrum is not our location of the resources within ourselves but the process of getting what is on the inside, out.

We know that the idea, the painting, and the thought is inside of us but so often we think we’ve reached a dead end or a mind block (or even a bad hair day!) that hinders our release.

In these situations, the refresh-ment that ‘inspirational exposure’ brings may not only end our creative drought but also force us to delve into the reservoirs of our own gifting and extract out of ourselves a resource that was always present.

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pleasantantly surprising ourselves that the discovery of this ‘mining rig’ of our own liberates us from our insecure dependancies. Isn’t it funny how our vision of other people’s success sometimes forces us to confide in our own ‘genius’.

Even skilled painters ponder Rothko. Literary artists recall Austen. Man ponders God. It probably then seems wise to surround ourselves with people who inspire and motivate us - people who are demonstrating and harnessing the giftedness that is within them.

Williamson1 comments that as “we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Yet so often as humans we get stuck in a rut as far as creativity is concerned. It’s perhaps then that we need to pay a visit to our local art gallery.

By Michael Wong1 Williamson, M. (1992) A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, Harper Collins.

reathe^ Out^Breathe^ In^

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By Sarah Knight

How do we find balance in life? When pressures come our way - emotional, spiritual and physical - how do we cope? I suggest that through a holistic perspective of yourself as a person and looking at all areas of your life enables you to begin balancing your life. As you take time to think about changes that have happened, or could happen in the future, life will not simply ‘pass you by’ AND you will get more out of life.

As Student Dean I have the privilege of helping students navigate through the many pressures in their personal worlds. Trying to manage study, ministry, relationships and everyday life has challenges and can sometimes create a sense of being out of control. We all have different roles we play, duties we perform and people we show love to. Managing these different areas in our lives can be likened to juggling balls. The different balls are moving

at a fast pace and take different priorities as life goes on. At any moment a ball could be dropped for whatever reason: a distraction or interruption of a spiritual, emotional, or physical kind.

When a ball is dropped you have to adjust your rhythm of juggling to compensate, otherwise you may end up dropping all the balls at some point! I suggest that in this high-paced Western World it can be very easy to:

1. Adjust your rhythm of juggling so quickly that you don’t even remember what balls you have dropped or changed. If you adjust so quickly that you can’t even remember what has changed you lose an opportunity to learn from life experiences and a circumstance that may help you in future with more difficult juggling tricks!;

OR

2. Not adjust your rhythm so the balls never quite flow as they should, and as such, frustration

and boredom can lead to dropping the balls altogether!

Thus The kEY queStion iS: WhaT are YouR

pRioRitieS in liFe?

Today, in our society, it is so easy to not stop or take time-out or be still! We fill our lives with so much and we have so many ways to communicate it! e-mail, SMS, Facebook, MySpace, phone, Skype, and in person (that’s a novel one!) We now check at least 5 communication portholes to keep in touch with people - it is no wonder that as the head hits the pillow each night there is not much left to give, let alone time to be still and think about life.

Thus the key question is: What are your priorities in life? What balls do you want to juggle? I suggest that you take some time out to look at what balls you are juggling and whether you should change those balls or rhythm? If change

Time^/Change^/Space^ To^ Think^= Balance^

14

is going to happen you have to prioritise the change process and allocate time to make the change.

While this may seem like a basic principle in life, try it some time and see how long it takes and what you learn from the process.

In closing I suggest that when you have balance in life it is more enjoyable, more fulfilling, and assists us to be who we are called to be as followers of Christ. So take a look at those balls and work out what you are juggling, what you should be juggling, and what needs to change.

All the best to a more balanced life!

Humans go from extreme to extreme and in some cases we can find balance when swinging on the pendulum. We get fed up with being on one side or the other and so desperately want to find the Equilibrium. Balancing your commitments in life is always something you have to deal with, no matter what season you are in.When balancing commitments you first need to prioritise what areas of involvement are of most importance through to those of lesser importance. For example, during college I chose to make my study a priority. I found that a diary is most effective in planning and delegating particular times to certain commitments. When

you have conflicting demands on your time simply choose where your priorities lie.

Something I have learnt while trying to balance study, work and church life is to monitor my goals and activities, as they do change. Most importantly, maintain your motivation through friends, mentors (and good marks) or you will lose your commitment levels. Another lesson is to manage my stress by making time for leisure and reading books on managing stress (and stress balls really work too!) Finally, put some kind of strategy into place. Whatever people tell you about balance – you need to put it into practice.

BAlANciNG cOMMitMENtSDuring my three years of study

By amanda

sCC student

15

Hey I’m Heather (that’s me with some of my intern mates).

I did the internship in 2008 because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after I left school. Through doing this course I have learnt so much about my faith, understand the Word so much better and I gained hands-on experience in marketing and planning for a major event through the planning for Big Exo Day.

I had never really done anything in marketing before, except through

the school Exo day I organized with a mate in year 10. I discovered that I was pretty good at marketing and was planning to do something in marketing next year when I was approached about a position as Marketing Assistant at Youth Alive.

I’m so excited for the future and I could never have discovered my strengths and have the knowledge of the Word I have now if I had not done this internship. I encourage anyone who wants to give it a go.

it’S ONlY A YEAR ANd whAt BEttER

wAY tO SpENd A GAp YEAR thAN

leaRninG the thinGS oF God and StReGtheninG YouR Youth MiniStRY?!

I’M SO EXCITEDFOR THE FUTURE& I COULD NEVER HAVE

DISCOVEREDMY STRENGTHS& HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE

OF THE WORD I HAVE NOW

IF I HAD NOT DONE THIS INTERNSHIP

By heather Stevens

3:Youth MiniStRY inauStRalia- iNtENSivE -

2:BiGeXo daYinteRnShip- EvENtS -

1:Youth aliVeinteRnShip- with lOcAl chURch -

WANT TO GET EQUIPPED FOR YOUTH MINISTRY? THREE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

The^ Intern^...

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The Southern Cross College and Youth Alive NSW Internship will stretch, challenge and help your young adults grow. It will show them where their strengths and weaknesses are in their walk with God and in ministry. They’ll make some great new friends from various churches and walks of life and it’s perfect for anyone wanting to be involved in ministry, events, or even just for a gap year program.

This year we have two different types of internship to choose from.

1. Youth aliVe inteRnShip- with YOUR lOcAl chURch - This course will consist of one full day of lectures at Southern Cross, one full day internship at Youth Alive and one full day internship at your local youth ministry. Your young people will be involved with the work Youth Alive does to support youth ministries throughout NSW and will be involved with The Big Exo Day, the largest Christian youth festival in Australia, while serving in a greater role in your youth ministry.

2. BiG eXo daYinteRnShip - EvENtS - This course will consist of one full day of lectures at Southern Cross and four days full time at Youth Alive.For those that are keen to pursue a career in events, this is a perfect opportunity to gain knowledge and hands on experience as they join the Big Exo Day Key Team and play an important role in making the largest youth festival in Australia happen.

20 - 24 apRil 2009

3. Youth MiniStRY inauStRaliaintenSiVewith SOUthERN cROSS cOllEGE & Youth aliVe nSWpRiciNG StARtS At $100

Applications close 20th March 2009.

Who iS it FoR?Do you have any key students in your youth ministry that you know are already ministry active in your church and their high school OR who have the potential to be great leaders? Send them to this intensive! They will get to hear from Scott “Sanga” Samways and the Youth Alive team - some great youth speakers and communicators who are at the forefront of youth events in our nation.

What’S it aBout?This course will help you to identify and target youth culture, be authentic in ministry, build teams and create programs. It’s heaps of fun, very practical and will equip your young people for effective youth work in the local church, high schools & community.

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youth^ Work^

17

Christian Higher Education in Australia has a patchy history. The first tertiary institutions in Australia were Christian in intent – from J D Lang’s Australian College, which combined school with theological college and really collapsed with the flaming career of its founder; to Bishop Broughton’s St James’ College, which also followed its founder to The Glebe until it closed in 1849. The fighting between these two figures was a contributing

factor to the choice of the emerging British secular university model (as seen in, for example, London University) over the traditional, more integrated Oxbridge model, when the University of Sydney emerged in 1850. While Churches would found and endow associated colleges with Australian universities thereafter, the division between ‘divinity’ and secular studies quickly grew to reflect the broader development of Australian pragmatism and practical

CHRISTIANHIGHER

EDUCATIONIN AUSTRALIA HAS A

PATCHYHISTORY.

By dr Mark hutchinson

Christian^ Higher^ Education^ In^

Australia^

18

atheism. The next 150 years of ‘Christian Higher Education’ (except for a few, scattered experiments) lay in separate theological colleges, and in the bible college movement which emerged in Britain in the 1870s.

It was this latter model – that of the interdenominational, often faith missions-oriented bible colleges – which became the norm among Pentecostals as our movement emerged from 1909 onwards in Australia. Many early Pentecostals came from the faith movements – Keswick, early Methodism, missions bands, the Salvation Army etc – which saw Christian post-secondary education as essentially skills based application of a simple evangelistic message. Jesus would be back tomorrow – there was no time to waste. Relatively few – amid a population which as a whole still saw university education as an elite activity – had any experience at universities, and when they thought of them at all, thought only of them as the places where people lost their faith, and where liberal theologians wrote useless books1. Education was

something from which one had to be saved. Ironically, it was an attitude which essentially locked Pentecostals out of the most influential areas of idea formation in Australian life.

The rise of the information economy, and mass education, however, has made it clear to many that the mind, too, is a proper field of Christian endeavour. In some traditions – such as the Catholic and Anglican traditions – that was an insight which had never been erased. Several attempts at starting a Christian university staggered on in the 1970s and 1980s – mainly sponsored by reformed and Anglican Christians. All collapsed when it came down to actual unity of action. The Catholic Church – with a larger, increasingly middle class constituency, and a large institutional base in its Teachers colleges and schools – was the first to make a mark, with the foundation in 1989 of the University of Notre Dame

in Western Australia, and in 1991, the Australian Catholic University Protestants chipped away at the edges, with Charismatic Christians founding Christian Heritage College (1986) and the Tabor College network in Adelaide (1979) as part of their dream of influencing all of Australia for Christ. Charismatic influence in the megachurches also revolutionized traditional Pentecostalism into a larger vision of education – in 1993, for instance, David Cartledge carried that vision from his key church in Townsville to the national bible college of the Assemblies of God in Australia. Through the 1990s, Power Ministry College became Hillsong International Leadership College, one of the largest Christian VET providers in the country. By 2005, there were significant Christian Higher Education institutions in Adelaide and all the Eastern capital cities, all with dreams of university

1 There were exceptions to this – Kelso Glover, for example. But typical are such articles as: ‘Wanted—One Answer to Prayer: Atheistic Blasphemies’ in the Australian Evangel, 1/07/1927, which outlined the rise of atheism on university campuses.

19

or higher theology/ ministry education enrolments in Australia. Pentecostal theological education has come a long way indeed!

Numbers are only one marker of that advance. In 1999, Southern Cross College had one of the only staff members with a PhD in the country. Within a decade, nearly all the major providers had significant numbers of staff trained to doctoral level, there were research based journals and colloquia emerging, and Australia was having a significant impact on Pentecostal higher education in that normally American preserve, Asia.

By the end of the decade, Australian Pentecostal theological students may properly expect to be reading textbooks written in Australia, by Australian Pentecostal scholars, who are engaging with the best literature in the field worldwide. At least four colleges had also extended their curricula beyond theology, and were embracing business studies, counselling, teacher education and the like. We are not yet at the stage where – like American Christian institutions

– we are able to point to dozens of alumni contributing to the Bar, to medicine, to politics or any of the other noble professions and centres of influence. There is, as yet, no Australian Pentecostal Nobel Prize winner. But that day is coming, and will be built on the foundations laid today.

Given its history, it is clear that the future of Christian higher education in Australia lies with institutional Catholicism and energetic Pentecostalism. The former needs to learn the flexibility and penetration of all of life of the latter, while we could learn from Catholicism something about cooperation, unity and the ability to build lasting organizations.

What we have yet to learn is how to harness the energy of the surge in enrolments which has given us a privileged place in Australian Christian higher education. Now is the time of opportunity – let us learn, so that we may redeem the time which God has given us.

status, but (at the time of writing) without the constituency to take them to the ‘tipping point’.

Their achievement has been remarkable in what has – for traditional churches – been a shrinking market. As the heads of the largest theological institutions in Australia revealed in a recent submission to the Federal government, by 2008 half of all students studying ministry or theology in Australia are enrolled in Pentecostal or Charismatic colleges. Secondly, if one takes out the university schools offering theology (Notre Dame University being the largest, twice the size of all other university enrolments in theology put together), the largest provider is the Australian College of Theology, and the largest unitary provider is Southern Cross College.

Between them, the five largest Pentecostal/ Charismatic colleges in Australia (Southern Cross, Tabor Adelaide, Tabor Victoria, Christian Heritage College and Harvest Bible College) make up over one-third of all degree level

PENTECOSTALTHEOLOGICAL EDUCATION HAS COME A

LONG WAYINDEED!

See article in Leadership Accenthttp://accent.acc.org.au/

20

Marlo Philip graduated from Southern Cross College in 2005 with a SCD Master of Theology and returned to India with a passion to make a difference. On his return, Marlo met Sheril, a talented (and beautiful!) musician who shared his passion for India. Shortly after their marriage, Marlo and Sheril established Tejas Asia, a social welfare ministry for the poor and homeless children of New Dehli. In July 2006 they began a feeding program for needy young people. In New Dehli alone there are over 400 million young people.

When the program first started, Marlo and Sheril were able to

feed up to 100 children per week. Today they are feeding over 300 children per week in various locations around New Dehli.

BUt tEJAS ASiA iS

aBout MoRe thAN JUSt

FeedinG the pooRMarlo and Sheril also provide the young people with creative education and recreational avtivities, giving these children an opportunity to learn, laugh and be loved. They also provide much needed health care through regular medical camps.

This is just the beginning of their vision for India.

Marlo and Sheril’s passion to help India’s underprivileged children keeps growing. Recently they traveled to Australia, visiting churches, conferences and Bible colleges in every state and territory to share their vision.

If you would like to support Marlo and Sheril’s work, they would love to hear from you!

YOU cAN chEck OUt MORE

iNFORMAtiON ON MARlO ANd ShERil’S

wORk At thEiR MiNiStRY wEBSitE:

WWW.tejaSaSia.oRG

MaRlophilipScd MAStER OF thEOlOGY (2005)

Alumni^ In^ Action^

21

This book offers a fresh approach to learning New Testament Greek by replacing the necessity of remembering by heart (rote). Instead, this book uses simple tools to help you identify Greek words and their meanings. Thus, allowing you to concentrate on Greek language concepts and how to apply them to passages in the New Testament. By using this book you will be able to understand your Greek New Testament after a dozen or so lessons, potentially within weeks instead of the months required by

the traditional methods practiced in Colleges around the world.

This is a practical, common sense book designed to help you gain confidence in reading the New Testament in Greek. It is for all people who want to ‘dig a little deeper’ and better understand the significance of that which is behind the many variations of the English Bible translations.

LEARNINGNEW

TESTAMENT

GREEKNOW AND THEN.

By Dr David Parker

pRiCe

$20 +p/h

ContaCt / oRdeR

info@scc.edu.au02 9645 9000

Scd MAStER OF ARtS with AleadeRShip StReaM

leadeRShipeleCtiVeS

2009 dateS- BOOk iNtO YOUR diARY -

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Book^ Launch^

22

Rob Bell released a DVD in 2007

entitled ‘Everything is Spiritual.’ He

proposes that human beings, created

in the image of God, are spiritual

and physical beings. The creation of

humans was God’s workmanship in

joining that which is spiritual and that

which is physical. Rob asks, ‘Is the

human being physical or spiritual?’ to

which he responds, ‘Yep’1. You cannot

separate human beings into physical

and spiritual. The dimensions are one.

The Western World today has

persuaded us so aggressively that

we are simply physical beings.

People have grave ‘doubts about

their ability to reach beyond the

physical world’2. However, the Bible

clearly teaches that we are spiritual

beings living in a spiritual world.

Jesus truly understood how to live both

physically and spiritually as a complete

human. Our goal is to become like

Jesus: Truly human; created good and

without sin. Can we achieve this? The

answer is clearly no - BUT whatever

is “impossible with human beings is

possible with God” (Luke 18:27, TNIV).

How does one become like Jesus

(or as close as one can get this side

of eternity)? The answer is Christian

Discipleship - our journey to become the

person we were created to be. Christian

Discipleship places us in a position for

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Bible describes many disciplines that

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Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration

of Discipline, writes ‘God intends the

Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for

ordinary human beings’4. Practicing a

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To be human is to be spiritual. How

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EvERYThING IS SpIRITuAl.

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FootnoteS

Spiritual^E^vErything^^

Is^

1 R. Bell, Everything is Spiritual. DV

D, G

rand

Rapids: Flannel, Zondervan, 2007.2 R. Foster, Celebration of D

iscipline, rev. ed. London: H

odder & Stoughton, 1989, 1999, 3.

3 Refer to Foster, Celebration of Discipline.

4 Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 2.

23

2009 Mid-YeaR intaKeS

MA [Leadership Stream]

Building Reputation &Stakeholder Engagement

ChristologySafe Places WorkshopLocal & World MissionSkills in Counselling 1Youth Ministry in AustraliaRaising Women LeadersHuman Development & CounsellingPsychology of LeadershipEstherMA [Leadership Stream]Intercultural CommunicationDeveloping a Youth MinistryChildren’s MinistryHuman Resources ManagementMA [Leadership Stream]MA [Leadership Stream]

Intensives & Short Courses

Brisbane

BrisbaneBrisbaneSydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneySydneyAucklandSydney

Campus

27

279

202020202722222627143131152819

January

JanuaryMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchAprilMayMayJuneJulySeptemberOctoberOctoberFebruary 2010DecemberJuly 2010

Applications Close

23-26

23-266-920

20-2420-2420-2422-2522-2620-2427-3021-249-12

23-2623-2612-1622-2513-16

March

MarchAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilJuneJuneJulyJulySeptemberNovemberNovemberNovemberApril 2010February 2010September 2010

Dates

program

Bachelor & MasterCert IV & DiplomaBachelor & MasterBachelor & Master

Session

WinterSemester 2Semester 2Summer

223

1031

MayJulyJulyOctober

Applications Close

15273

23

Classes Commence

JuneJulyAugustNovember

News^ & E^vEnts^

24

11-12

26 March -

27 April -

27

22-23

25

29-30

1-3

20-22

9

22

23-24

March

1 April

1 May

April

May

May

May

June

June

August

August

November

Event

Youth Alive NSW Youth Pastors RetreatBondi, Sydney

Colour ConferenceSydney Entertainment Centre

Australian Christian Churches National ConfGold Coast

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!Register on our website to be the first to know

Youth Alive NSW Groundswell / ImpactSydney

Information Night [5pm-8pm]Chester Hill Campus40 Hector Street, Chester Hill, NSW

Careers & Education ExpoSydney

Christian Management Australia ConferenceMelbourne

Education ExpoSydney

Love a Librarian Fun RunCity2Surf - Sydney

Open Day [10am - 3pm]Chester Hill Campus40 Hector Street, Chester Hill, NSW

Graduation CelebrationsSydney

More Info

youthalivensw.com

colourconference.com

acc.org.au

scc.edu.au

youthalivensw.com

scc.edu.au

eocexpo.com.au

cmaconference.com.au

edexpo.info

scc.edu.au

scc.edu.au

ViSit uS at . . .

BIG

announcement

Register on our website to be the first to know!

www.scc.edu.au

27th April 2009

Dates

ContaCt us today for more infoP: +61 2 9645 9000 E: futurestudents@scc.edu.au W: www.scc.edu.au

1. LOCAL CHURCHCertifiCate iV in ministry

mobilise your congregation for leadership in the church with your own Bible College.

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neW sHort Courses & study oPtions

Wide range of subjects to increase your learning and revitalise your faith.

TAILORED STUDy OPTIOnS fOR yOU...no matter who you are, Southern Cross College can equip you to become more effective in ministry, because we exist to develop leaders.

this year has exciting things in store as we gather together amidst the surf,

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an incredible time of Vision and strateGy for youth ministries across nsW.

for bookings and enquiries please call youth alive or register online

(02) 9894 4107

www.youthalivensw.com