March Newsletter
We are a month into our first semester for 2022 and it has been an interesting start to the year.
On the 14th of February, we welcomed eleven new students and five returning students. This means we have eight students in our Certificate course and eight students in our Diploma course. They are a fantastic group of students and we count it a privilege to teach and mentor them as “servant leaders for the end-time global harvest who manifest the character of Christ and minister in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit”. We are excited to see what God has planned for them this year.
During this year’s Orientation programme, we made an intentional decision to hear from Faith Bible College alumni. Ben Findlay (2010-2011) shared how what he learned shapes what he does now in his ministry - Catalyst Movement. He encouraged our students to prioritise their relationship with God and to invest their time into letting the Holy Spirit take what was taught in class and build it into their very character. James Muir who at times has been a student, staff member, and is now Co-ordinator for the Alumni Group, shared great insights, especially around cross-cultural mission and service. Pat Buckley also brought a fantastic message on behalf of the Faith Bible College Trust Board.
Already we’ve had some great experiences with picnics, walks up Mount Maunganui, a games night, and times of prayer and worship. Campus life hasn’t been “normal” with most students and staff having a time of self-isolating but others have stepped up to lead worship, host devotional sessions, and support with alternative teaching methods such as Zoom classes. Thankfully, no one has been seriously ill, and most staff and students are back now. We would appreciate your continued prayers for those that are still unwell and for those who are most vulnerable in our community.
Students are loving their classes and have reported feeling “encouraged to study the Word” and to “implement better spiritual habits”. At each turn, we have been asking questions such as, What did God do in this situation?; How do I see God at work in the present? It has been amazing hearing such positive responses in light of some difficult circumstances.
This year we have welcomed several new staff members to the team. Firstly, a familiar face to most, Elizabeth Hill accepted the role of Student Enrolment Administrator. Elizabeth was our most capable intern last year and we are excited to have her in a formal staff position this year. As her title suggests, her role tracks all things to do with enrolment from enquiry to graduation. Secondly, we welcomed Colin Shilston to the teaching team. In 2021, Colin was an adjunct lecturer. Students appreciate his depth of experience and knowledge but particularly his commitment for God to be present in the teaching space. He will continue to teach a variety of papers as well as provide student support and help with devotions and other practical ministry opportunities. Also, Stef Short, who helped with a variety of administrative roles last year, has been very busy in her new role as Accommodation and Kitchen manager. And finally, we welcomed two new cooks to the kitchen – Heather and Celeste.
This year, we have included the Kairos course into our curriculum. The initial Kairos course was written by a Faith graduate and has been included in the programmes from time to time throughout the years. It is a fantastic course with a similar focus to Faith’s Mission Statement. It provides strong biblical foundations for understanding and applying the mission statement to all of life. We are grateful to the Kairos team for making this possible.
We thank you for your ongoing prayer support and encouragement.