welcome to Holroyd Ministry Development College's website

Why a "Ministry Development College"?

First an apology for the temporary nature of this website - transitioning from old software has been slow and difficult... Please be patient.  We have supplied basic enrolment info at present.  Thank you...

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".
  Holroyd MDC's Purpose….

Developing God’s people to effectively serve...

 

  • God Himself

 

  • Christ's Church

 

  • the Surrounding Community
  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

NOW  GO  TO

Current Unit's Details    Application Form

Student Testimonies  and  Previous Years' Principals' Reports

Previous Units' Details

Further College and Course Details

The basic philosophy: The Body of Christ is meant to be a functioning “charismatic community” in which every believer develops into their God-ordained place of anointed ministry. In this way the corporate Body fulfills the Great Commission —becoming a more effective witness of the gospel of Christ to a watching, needy community .

The method: It's one thing to study in a classroom / notes / interactive discussion environment; it's another thing to have vision / understanding / wisdom / anointing rub off onto students!  Jesus mixed the two.  He instructed, dialogued, and then took them out and they ministered together.

The structure: class time is in six week units.  Each subject is separate; and independent of the others.  This is so students can pick them up continuously or non-continuously.  Some subjects are repeated at a later date, depending on the level of requests for further instruction.

Group meeting time are on Thursday nights, starting promptly at 6.30pm with a briefing / review time over a light meal.  Session regularly include periods of teaching, student-led devotion, prayer, an open critique session, small groups each chaired by a student (this has proved very popular and helpful!), and prayer together.

MDC occasionally runs parallel courses where appropriate, which break after the introduction and mealtime, then come back together at the conclusion of the three hour session. The main session for each topic is solidly Word-based.  Then there is a lot of interaction over this material.

Student’s work responsibilities may include weekly assignments (where appropriate), preparation of presented material, serving in practical areas (clean up, etc.),  Course marking includes assignments (where applicable), delivery in public sessions, as well as grades for punctuality, servant spirit, and other elements that can make or break the effectiveness of our grace gifting, but are not related to academic ability.

An audit level of participation is available in appropriate Units, where students may sit in on the course without the assignments.  However, no assessment is made of them at the end of the Unit.

The outworking: each student is required to function in an ongoing position of service in their own church.  Other opportunities to develop will arise from time to time—missions’ trips, serving in area ministry (like schools SRE), etc.

The Cost: There is no set fee structure. We fund it by faith. An offering box is left out to cover the essential costs of the course. Students will be expected, at the least, to cover the cost of their meals.

The pieces of paper:  If you are primarily concerned about graduating with an appropriate piece of paper, this College is not for you. We encourage students to pursue their academic and systematic biblical education through their own local church and Tertiary colleges such as Tabor. This College’s purpose is to work alongside that. It is primarily about lifting the level of competence in ministry for every ordinary believer.

A certificate of recognition will be issued to candidates upon completion of 12 six-week units where an overall pass grade is attained. Excellence in application will be formally honoured.  Several students have received this recognition; and some have subsequently completed 18, 24, and 30!  (of a total of 37 Units in the 10 years MDC has been functioning)!!

The real graduation: The aim of Holroyd MDC is to return students to their own local churches better equipped to minister with the servant spirit of Philippians 2, and from there to step out into fields of further function with a sound understanding of what ministry is really all about, and how to minister more effectively the full range of the gospel by the empowering of the Holy Spirit.