New Ground-Breaking Faculty books

As we gear up to equipping and teaching our 2012 students it’s exciting to know our Faculty continue to be acknowledged globally. Two new books just released testify to this.

Ross Clifford together with visiting lecturer Philip Johnson have just had published by Baker Books a book that is a one-stop shop resource on the resurrection of Jesus and our own resurrection. It applies a theology of the resurrection to the ethics, evangelism, discipleship, culture, world religions, postmodernity – a holistic theology. It focuses on the Old and New Testaments, church history, films, literature and shows how the resurrection empowers life in 12 areas of life.

The title is The Cross Is Not Enough: Living as Witnesses to the Resurrection and has received strong endorsements from evangelical scholars and practitioners such as Craig Blomberg, Gary Habermas, Terry Muck, Darrell Bock and Michael Quicke. Mike Bird says,

If you want to know what to tell your church on Easter Sunday beyond the annual droning of “well, there really is life after death, ain’t that nice,” if you want to know how to be “children of the resurrection” as Jesus said, then for the love of Martha, read this book!

Whilst honouring the cross the book also seeks to restore the resurrection to its biblical place as the centre of Christianity. See http://bakerbooks.com.

Mike Frost’s new book (also published by Baker) is entitled The Road to Missional: Journey to the Center of the Church. It has recently become acceptable, and even fashionable, to refer to one’s church as “missional”. With a light hand and a pastoral spirit, Mike points out how most of us are not quite there yet. He re-establishes the ground rules, redefines the terms accurately, and insists that the true prophetic essence of “being missional” comes through undiluted. This clear corrective will take ministry leaders from “not missional yet” to well on their way. Scott McKnight says,

It’s all here – divine origins, shifting evangelism, cross, resurrection, and holistic redemption – in accessible form. This is the first book to give someone who says ‘What is missional?’”

Rev Kel Willis, Chairman of the Morling College Board, said, “These books are ground-breaking as they biblically challenge the thought and practice of Christians as together we seek to do Gospel ministry”.

Principal, Morling College

A New Beginning

New beginnings offer opportunities. Example: Clayton and Anna Hinds. What brings a chief of staff for a member of Federal Parliament and a registered nurse to study at Morling College? Clayton and Anna were looking for flexible study options to enable both of them to study while caring for their son, the ability to live on campus, and the option to study Theology and Counselling.

Morling College was able to meet the needs of Clayton and Anna. Clayton enrolled in a Bachelor of Theology while Anna commenced a Master of Counselling at the same time. “We decided to trial three subjects each per semester, to see if juggling both courses while looking after our two-year-old son was realistic.”

Anna and Clayton worked overseas in Southern-Central Africa. Clayton remembers: “We worked in Zambia for a very small organisation which aided a shanty community on the outskirts of Ndola, provided a school program for kids in the community, and ran an adult education program as well. It also offered refuge to street kids and tried to repair the ties between them and their existing family members. I provided administrative services and Anna ran a health education program and looked after the kids’ health needs.”

Due to these experiences in Zambia Clayton and Anna felt the need to be further equipped in study through Morling. “We thought it was important to equip ourselves for future ministry, and our time in Zambia really highlighted our need to further our knowledge and skills in caring for people spiritually and at their point of need. Morling for us was the college we really wanted to attend. We knew Morling’s approach to learning and theological standing were sound as members of my family had previously attended or been involved with the College. Anna chose to do counselling instead of theology as it marries up with her skills as a nurse and would be useful to us should we head into ministry together again. She is really enjoying the course and appreciates the way that theology and integration of your faith into work life are emphasised and challenged.”

At the conclusion of their first year of study what does the future look like for Clayton and Anna? “We hope to both be working in jobs where we can minister to others. This sounds quite broad, as God can use you anywhere, but we are both interested in helping people and seeing people come to know God. We will take it as it comes and serve God in the midst of it.”

Like Clayton and Anna, are you looking to be equipped for ministry, mission and the work place? Consider Morling College: visit www.morlingcollege.comor phone (02) 9878 02010 or email enquiries@morling.edu.au