Holroyd Ministry Development College

[ Home ] [ Current Course Details ] [ College Details ] [ Application Form ] [ MDC student life updates ] [ MDC student testimonies ] [ Previous Courses ]

NEXT UNIT - 08-4 - ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD...

Pastor Michael Green presents an Intensive Unit over three days in which we examine the place of adversity and suffering in the maturing process in the life of a believer. This area is becoming an often-neglected part of the Western world’s modern gospel; We will discover with fresh insight how to understand God’s wisdom in times of apparent contradiction, and maximising the benefit from such a process. GO HERE FOR DETAILS

Welcome to the home of Holroyd MDC. After a pilot course in late 2001, Holroyd MDC began in 2002 with a group of students (of all ages) from Holroyd New Life Church. Since then, students (and leaders) of several other churches have joined in the College. 120 students from 21 different local churches have completed Units since 2001. Our aim is to see Holroyd MDC function as an equipping place for Christians from many different local churches, exposing them to teachers and encouragers from various backgrounds, so that each can grow in effective ministry within their own local church.

While continuing to emphasise the benefits of regular attendance and related course work, we also welcome audit-level attenders who may want to watch, listen, and soak up the taught and discussed material, without going on to complete the work required for award recognition.

From time to time, the College includes two differing levels of teaching / training, plus an occasional elective (such as #06-3 - computers for religious dummies!). In 2008, we are currently developing a small correspondence adaptation of some Units for distance ministry development (including for Holroyd New Life's Zimbabwean Lifeline connections). This is not the preferred way of teaching and growing in the material, but is now available for students who are unable to attend the regular weekly 3-hour sessions at Girraween.

An overview of the College's life and ethos is also captured in the annual Principal's report.

Holroyd MDC's Purpose….

Developing God’s people to effectively serve

	*God Himself*
	*Christ's Church*
	*the surrounding Community*

Our Philosophy

To enhance and release the gifts and calling of God that belong to every Christian. It’s about activating the ministry / priesthood of every believer Romans 12:1-8 speaks of. This is ministry development which aims to develop a servant spirit in our ministry so we learn to work out our calling in the (biblical) context of the health, welfare, and development of the Body of Christ, especially at a local church level. It is not a “Bible College”. We believe basic doctrinal education is the responsibility of each local church. Nor are we about pastoral care, or walking in the Spirit stuff - this too belongs to each local church.

It needs to be emphasised too that we are counter-culture to the prevailing Western mindset which stresses the "me" (individualism) above the "us" (corporate emphasis). Biblical ministry finds its best expression in a body environment, so we continually highlight the plural "you" of the NT (sadly lost in English), and in this context, we find our own place of anointed serving, and fulfilment.

Something of how this philosophy works out practically is indicated in our annual Principal's Report.

Who's in Charge??

The hosts: At present, Holroyd MDC comes under the oversight of a Board of Reference which consists of the senior ministers of the churches with (regularly) participating students. Currently, Brian Rensford (senior minister, Holroyd New Life Church) functions as Principal of the College, and Peter Chan (pastor, Fellowship of Christ) as College Facilitator.

The teachers: Are at present drawn from the leaders of the involved churches, and occasionally other teachers with a specialised gifting these have included in the past, Sam Abalo (senior minister of Living Word Centre, Tabor College graduate and Board member, and experienced Bible teacher), Phil Grebert (senior minister, Wentworthville Baptist), Les Hansen (pastor New Creation Ministries, Neil Anderson material representative), and Kevin Hovey (Southern Cross BC lecturer on cross-cultural evangelism). And now Michael Green (pastor, Parramatta AoG is presenting Intensive Unit #08-4.

The candidates: Holroyd MDC is open to all Christians who are established in their own walk in the Spirit—regardless of age or level of development. We are currently expanding the levels of participation to include

students who are younger in age and/or experience;
established believers presenting themselves to serve the Lord more effectively, and
ministers experienced in leadership and ministry responsibilities.

First timers need a reference from their pastoral oversight.

Why a "Ministry Development College"?

Doesn't this sound high-flying for a bunch of people from pretty ordinary churches in the Western suburbs of Sydney? Well, it helps us recognise just what we are doing (and what we are not!).

	Ministry - serving, this is a lowly word, and it is not leadership (which is only one element of ministry - see Rom 12:1-8). Ministry belongs to every believer! It's part of our calling.
	Development - every believer is a work in progress! We all have a calling from oldest to youngest, from the most experienced to the youngest believer. We are all still developing / growing by applying our learning.
	College - "an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field". It also has the idea of "colleagues" - " associates in a profession or in a civil or religious office". We are learning, growing, developing in the context of a body of people, never alone (hence, the curse of the question, "what's my ministry?"). So, we can truly say we are a "College".

Please note, it is not primarily about developing your character - that essentially belongs to your local church environment (although obviously greater depth of character will emerge through your participation), but about extending your God-given ministry grace gifting - fruit >> more fruit >> much fruit!

IF THIS APPROACH RINGS A BELL IN YOU, YOU WILL BE BLESSED BY COMING
AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS THROUGH YOUR INVOLVEMENT