Oxford Offer For

theadvocate.tv MAY 2015 “What kind of environment are you in? In Conversation Senior Minister of CityLife Does it help you grow or is it holding you back?” Church, Mark Conner talks about awareness JOHN MAXWELL PAGE 13>> and attentiveness to God. PAGE 12>> Oxford offer for dux 3 Discovery mission WA pastors walk the streets of Melbourne during the Vose Master of Divinity graduate Vicki Lorrimar Capacity Builders’ visit >> has been offered a place at Oxford University with direct entry to a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) program. Vicki received the honour of “I particularly hope to the Janet West Prize for the top combine my theological student of the Australian College studies with my background in of Theology (ACT) for 2014 at genetics and medical research the Vose Commencement and to consider theological Conferral Service at Riverton responses to emerging issues 8 Chronic lack of awe Baptist Church in March. She also in bioethics.” Stop and say ‘thanks’ on received the prize for the highest Vose Seminary Principal 30 May >> marked thesis at Masters level and Dr Brian Harris said Vicki the dux of Vose Seminary. is a high achieving student and her academically strong student peers must also be acknowledged. I particularly “[This year] we had the largest number of students hope to ever graduating which is combine my wonderful,” Brian said. “The service was a 15 School Scoop theological celebration of students’ Emmanuel Christian commitment to on-going Community School students studies with learning and God’s goodness.” write for The Advocate >> my background The diversity of the courses studied has expanded Vose in genetics Seminary’s influence in theological training. and medical Seventy-two students research ... graduated from a variety of courses during the graduation ceremony. The Building Vicki is waiting to hear if she keynote speaker on the night will receive a scholarship which Pastor Karen Wilson spoke healthy will provide living expenses for passionately on the topic ‘Let her further studies. the Adventure Begin’. churches. “ACT is always very excited Dr James Lee presented to see our best graduates awards to the first group of undertaking further study at a Korean students to complete premier institution like Oxford their studies entirely in the BAPTIST CHURCHES University,” ACT Associate Dean Korean language at Vose’s Photo: Sarah Wickham SJ Creations and Director of Research Rev. Dr Bentley campus. More than a Vicki Lorrimar is waiting to see if she will receive a scholarship to help her WESTERN AUSTRALIA Graeme Chatfield said. dozen students travelled from further her studies at Oxford University. Vicki said that she could not their homeland to study at Vose have chosen better than Vose. this year. courses. These are delivered Morling College in Sydney “Not only have I discovered Students from Vose Equip’s in the combined contexts also graduated and three a real love for grappling with Vocational Education and of active service in a local students graduated in Mauritius theological questions, but the Training program were also church or organisation with Certificate IV level staff and students have set a presented with their awards. and Vose Seminary, or qualifications. wonderful example of uniting Vose offers highly practical, distance learning. The evening was intellectual insights with deeply biblical training through Twenty students enrolled the highlight of the new practical application.” she said. its Certificate IV and Diploma in Vose courses through academic year. 2 my view MAY 2015 Visionary seniors inspire change Being a ‘senior’ still seems a bit strange, but it’s not because of my age. When “Despite my discomfort, my grandson asked, “Poppie, is your hair painted that colour?” I loved it. however, I can’t think of one Biblical tenet that would be violated. I trust the Holy Admittedly, when his little brother Fiebig accurately observed, “Age when God calls, and sorting out Spirit, and my fellow leaders, added, “Do you have a baby in does not diminish the extreme when conflict crashes in. In I trust you.” your tummy?” it wasn’t quite so disappointment of having a age appropriate ways, they are What a radiant portrayal much fun. In the words of Ogden scoop of ice cream fall from the still doing it. To me they are the of the vast difference between Nash “When I jog, I joggle”, but cone”. We are not constrained real ‘seniors’. what wrinkles the face and what I’m thankful I can jog and for so by labels like ‘senior’. Life bursts Some years ago for example, wrinkles the soul and spirit. many other blessings. out of all labels, but that’s not our young people proposed ‘Senior’ saints everywhere; Recently I had the joy of it either. something new and strikingly I honour every one of you. In conducting the first wedding It is because of my elders at different. Throughout a lengthy the words of scripture, “I thank Graham Mabury where I had also married the Mount Pleasant, and elsewhere, church board discussion a highly God for you … your love for all his Graham Mabury is 2015 bride’s parents. How is that who followed Jesus, not their respected foundation member holy people and your faith in the WA Senior of the Year and possible? How can 2014 be own preferences. Living and remained thoughtfully silent. Lord Jesus … has given me great a Pastor at Mount Pleasant the 50th anniversary of The breathing mission, they resisted When asked for his view, it was joy and encouragement, because Baptist Church. Beatles Australian tour? The the temptation to control. They our turn to listen intently. you …have refreshed the hearts years have flown but ‘senior’ lived authentic faith in triumph “In my day this would have of the Lord’s people.” hasn’t taken me by surprise. Jim and tragedy; in stepping out been unthinkable”, he said. [Philemon 4-5, 7] On a granddaughter’s birth ... Well, after seven years of marriage, my oldest son and his wife have presented memory of Christ’s victory over us with our first grandchild, a girl, Maya-Rose. Her welcomed arrival has seen sin, death and the devil firmly us swamped with good wishes from far and wide. etched in our minds and hearts. I long that she will allow those events to shape and direct her I have been touched and many affirmations of her, and form, or will her primary role life ... actually, that is my deepest delighted by how positive they when she opened her eyes, was have been that of an onlooker? longing for her. all are. I expected that people content to gaze at me with calm There is history waiting to be She is now carried in the would say, ‘You’re a grandfather but bemused curiosity. made, and even if her name is arms of loving parents, family – welcome to old age.’ Instead Statisticians report that a not the one forever mentioned, and friends. I am forever they assure me that I have female child born in Australia I am quietly confident that grateful that she, like you and I, joined the best club in the world. today is likely to live for around there is a Maya-Rose shaped is also carried in the loving arms There is something about 85 years – which gives Maya- difference that she can make, as of grace. Dr Brian Harris the birth of a child that touches Rose a fighting chance of indeed there is for each of us. Dr Brian Harris is the even hardened hearts. It is easy making it into the 22nd century. I am so glad she was born Principal of Vose Seminary to see why. As I gazed at Maya- Will that be a world she tut-tuts just a few days after Easter. So and Pastor at Large for the Rose, I saw innocence, fragility, about in her old age, or one that good to be on the resurrection Carey Group. trust – and great sleepiness. she affirms with satisfaction? side of those transforming Indeed, she dozed through my Will it be a world she helped to events. She arrived with the Engaging the outer skin I am sure you know it is better not to peel an apple before you eat it. As individuals we know Why? Because much of the goodness is stored in the skin. The skin is a how to interact with the tax thin boundary, the place the apple interacts with the sun and the rest of department because they give us the forms that translate our lives the environment. into data they understand. We know how to order at a restaurant You also know that you can kill have given enough thought to of Christ interacts with the rest of because they give us a menu that a tree by taking a ‘ring’ of bark the boundary where it interacts the world our church boundary is helps us ‘speak their language’. from its outer most layer – the with the world. Perhaps where being redefined and activated. What does a church need to boundary that interacts with the most important and defining Surely there is a place for us to think about to interact well with the rest of the world. For most work is done by the church. give greater focus and discussion the community around it? That living things and groups, there We put a lot of work into our as to how we can better resource is the task in front of us, we need is defining and unique work worship services, publications, and supply the outer boundary of to think deeply and act bravely as Steve Ingram done at the boundary where the branding and websites oblivious the church? Most churches have we develop a new and innovative Steve Ingram is the Director of organism interacts with the rest that the boundary of our church worked out how to ‘do’ stuff with outer skin.

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