May 2009
120 Herring Rd, Macquarie Park
NSW 2113
P: 02 9878 0201
Tinsley Forum
Friday, 31st July 2009
9.45am - 2.30pm
Suzanne Sutherland, over 14 years, developed a Long Day Care Centre at Maitland Baptist Church. The Long Day Care Centre has seen over 100 people come to faith, Suzanne is now the director at Mayfield Baptist Church Preschool.
Suzanne will be speaking on evangelism and mission within the community and practical helps for those who may have lost a missional focus.
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Centre of Leadership
Leadership Forum
7 August 2009
Exploring the Strands of Church Governance with keynote speakers Graeme Chatfield, Ken Clendinning and Graham Hill.
This forum is designed to explore the relationship between leadership and congregational church governance. It considers various leadership styles and governance models for different sized churches.
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Sunday, 23rd August 2009 2.00-4.30pm at
Morling College.
Interested in studying at Morling College? Don't miss our introductory presentation at 2pm and an opportunity to chat with faculty about courses on offer for 2010.
Email: events@morling.edu.au for further information.
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Student and Principal Reflections on Angels and Demons
Dan Brown caused a stir with the book and movie release of The DaVinci Code a few years ago. Questions were raised of the church, Christianity and faith; people struggled with seeing the book for exactly what it is, a book. May 2009 sees the release of the follow up movie ‘Angels and Demons.’ The question needs to be asked, will it have the same hype and questions raised?
The book is fiction, full of conspiracy theories, “airport fiction.” Dan Brown acknowledges that his books are fiction; he claims they are based on fact and he believes much of it, hence writing the books. He created tension between what is fact and what is fiction, which has caused confusion for many people.
What do we, as Christians, do with Angels and Demons and books or movies that are similar? Should we fight against them and refuse to have any part of them? Or should we embrace them while keeping a distance to be able to distinguish fact from fiction?
If you want to understand what popular culture is saying about Christianity and the church, it is an idea to have a read or watch the movie. It’s a good opportunity to be able to chat to non-Christians about the book or movie, to set a few things straight. The popularity of The DaVinci Code movie and the book sales show that a fair number of people will see this follow up movie.
There are important issues brought up in Angels and Demons, such as the nature of God. Is God a matter of the heart, or a matter of the mind? Brown reflects the new age spirituality movement, where God is a private matter, a private faith and can’t be found in institutions like the church. One of the main characters is quoted as saying “Science tells me God must exist, my mind tells me I’ll never understand God and my heart tells me I’m not meant to.” We need to have an answer for this; we need to be able to answer the questions that are raised by the books and movies.
If people want the true story, the real message of Jesus, who he is, what he has done, point them in the direction of Mark’s gospel in the Bible. It’s much shorter than a Dan Brown novel. People are searching; they are turning more and more to science for the answers to satisfy the mind. We can provide them with an answer that can satisfy. That answer is Jesus. Christianity is not just a faith of the heart, but also of the mind. It covers what science cannot.
Know the truth of history, not the Dan Brown history portrayed in his books.
Be prepared to give an answer to all who ask about the faith that we hold to.
Benita Clark
Student, Morling College
For Ross Clifford's reflections on the movie 'Angels and Demons' listen to his interview on Sonshine FM.
Principal, Morling College
Why Morling?
Papuan Converts Thank Morling
In chapel this week we had the opportunity to hear from Dennis Brown who works in Papua with the Dani people. Dennis brought Ronny and Yunus, who have come to Australia to thank the college for the graduates who have become missionaries in Papua over the past 50 years. Some of these graduates include Dennis Brown, David Groves, Shelia Draper, Keith Jobberns, Dane Mountford, Brian Beaver, Doug Vaughan and Seton Arndell.
A challenge went out for more graduates to step up and follow in the footsteps of previous missionaries and go to Papua.
Ronny and Yunus taught the attendees of chapel a chorus in their native language, sung as a thanks to the college. They also prayed that people would feel the call to continue the work in Papua.
Much work is still to be done in Papua to spread God's word to the Dani people.
The history of Baptist work in Papua is being written.
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Tinsley Annual Lecture
On Monday night the Tinsley Institute hosted the Annual Lecture at Morling College. The 2009 guest lecturer was Simon Carey Holt, who delivered a message entitled "A Mortgage, a Motor-Mower and a Mission: Following Jesus into Suburbia." The listeners were encouraged to share Christ with the people in the suburbs in which they live as well as acknowledging that God is in the place of suburbia.
Dr Holt challenged his listeners to see that mission in suburbia is about embodying (a) deep contentment, (b) real security and (c) genuine community in a world where shallow versions of all three abound.
Copies of the Annual Lecture are available from Morling office.
Morling Press extends the teaching and influence of Morling College faculty and graduates beyond the class room by providing ministry resources for pastors and encouraging theological reflection, spiritual development and ministry effectiveness among church members through quality Baptist Evangelical books at a popular academic level. (Download - 4Mb)
Considering Theological Study in 2009?
Enrolments being taken now for Semester 2
Applications close 30 June 2009
Are you considering Post-Graduate studies, part time or full time studies or a course by distance Education? Download the above brochures to see what courses are on offer for 2009.
For more information contact us on
02 9878 0201 or email: AndrewL@morling.edu.au
check out our website: www.morling.nsw.edu.au
Theological Education without committing to a full degree of diploma.
Morling College now offers a variety of 4-session subjects taught by our Faculty at your church one night a week for four weeks or taught over a weekend. Just choose a subject that interests you. Pull together a group from church (we recommend no less than 15). Contact Morling College to arrange dates.
If you would like to be removed from the e-newsletter mailing please email jennyg@morling.edu.au
Morling College
120 Herring Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Ph 02 9878 0201 E admin@morling.edu.au