Bible College SA Newsletter: December 2022

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We are so thankful to have been able to celebrate with all of our exiting students earlier this month at our annual Graduation Celebration service, which was held this year at Coromandel Valley Uniting Church. It was wonderful to see so many friends and family come to share this fantastic occasion with us and to mark all the years of hard work and dedication by the men and women who now head out from us to continue as better-equipped servants of Jesus.

Graduation is such a special part of the Bible College SA year. Not only is it an encouraging way to end our annual labours, but it also provides a great opportunity for us to thank and pray for our graduates as they move to the next phase of their lives and ministries. And, of course, it is when they receive their academic awards, and their very own much-coveted Bible College SA mug too!

If you missed out on being there on the night, you can watch a recording of the service here.

We wish all of our graduates, along with our ongoing students, families, friends, and the wider Bible College SA family a very blessed Christmas, and a refreshing holiday period, enjoying the best celebration of all—the coming of our Saviour-King.

Historically, many churches followed liturgical calendars which would set and shape the different spiritual seasons of the year, each with its own particular emphasis. While that’s rarer these days, we certainly all still celebrate Christmas and many of us also recognise advent, the season of anticipation leading up to Christmas itself; the season we are in now.

Interestingly, in church tradition, advent is not only about remembering the first coming of Jesus, or trying to recapture the expectation of that time, it is also a season to look forward to his return. The waiting of the past that was fulfilled in the incarnation now turns to a waiting for the great last day when all of God’s final purposes in Jesus will be realised.

Of course, we don’t need advent to focus on these gospel truths. Indeed, we always want to be remembering the first coming of Jesus, to reveal the Father, to die for our sins, and to lead the way into new life through his resurrection. And we always want to be looking to the day when he will come again to judge in justice and righteousness, and when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord of all.

At Bible College SA, the message about Jesus doesn’t just shape our advent, nor just our convictions and perspectives on life and the world—it shapes our whole year’s work. We teach students the content of the Bible, all of which points us to Jesus who is God with us. We teach students how to study the Bible deeply and responsibly so they can continue growing in their knowledge of Jesus until he returns, or until they leave this world to be with him. We form students as loving disciples of Jesus who are ever more shaped by his presence and the expectation of meeting him face to face. We train students to help others look to Jesus in every stage and season of life.

On behalf of all our students, staff, and our Board, thank you so much for your prayers and partnership with us as we have laboured for Jesus and his message throughout all of this year. We pray that you have a great Christmastime that draws you into deeper thanks and greater hope for Jesus. And we look forward to connecting with you again in the new year as we continue our work that’s all about Jesus who came and who is to come.

Applications remain open for studying at Bible College SA in 2023. If you want to be trained for vocational Christian ministry, or to be a more effective leader in your local church, or to teach the scriptures to others in any context, then please consider taking some classes with us.

To apply, simply visit our website at biblecollege.sa.edu/study-with-us. Applications close on 13 January 2023. For more information, please contact our Registrar, Rebecca Vincent, on registrar@biblecollege.sa.edu.au or 8291 8188.

Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Anna Ottens, and I am 20 years old. I come from the tiny town of Lochiel, which is a couple hours north of Adelaide. I moved to Adelaide for the first time early last year to study for my nursing degree. However, as I got to the end of that year, I realised that God was calling me to switch fields and begin study at Bible College. I had always wanted to set some time aside to study scripture, and through God’s grace he opened that opportunity for this year.

What are you currently studying?
A Diploma of Theology at three quarter time. The subjects I am doing are Christianity in History from 1550, Old Testament Prophets and Writings as well as the Early New Testament Church. Each of these subjects has been so insightful and I have learnt so much from them.

What do you like most about studying at BCSA?
Something that struck me early on was the amazing sense of community that there is at BCSA. The people are so lovely, and as we are all there united to study and learn more about God’s word, it gives a great feeling of comradery. I have also really appreciated how knowledgeable all the lecturers are in their fields. It has led to great discussions and fantastic lecture content, which is great for growth.

In what ministry do you hope to work when you finish at BCSA?
I have always felt particularly drawn to women’s ministry, as I feel it is so important. I think there is something special about empowering women in their faith, especially in the context of today’s world. I also have a passion for young adults’ ministry, as we are the future of the church. That period of a person’s life is so important, and I think that this ministry should be invested in. However, I am always open to wherever God may lead me.

What is one thing you are learning at the moment that is particularly insightful?
There have been so many insightful things that I have learnt at College, but something that particularly stands out is God’s goodness to his church throughout history. After studying two semesters of Christianity in History, it really became apparent to me how through God’s grace the church grew from a small group of followers in Israel to impact the entire world. I think that is pretty amazing!

• Give thanks for our 18 new graduates. Pray that what they have learnt during their time at Bible College SA will serve them well for a lifetime of gospel ministry.

• Pray for all our staff and faculty to enjoy a restful and blessed break during our Christmas closure period. Pray that this time spent with family and loved ones will be refreshing and provide great energy as they return to work in 2023.

• Give thanks for all those who have applied to study with us in 2023. Please pray that more will continue to do so, and that a great number of workers for the harvest will be raised up for the next generations to come.

• Give thanks for all our partners. We are so thankful for their ongoing financial and prayerful support of our work each year. Pray that many more will continue to be added to this group and that the work of Bible College SA will continue strongly for many years to come.

• Please pray for our sister schools, Youthworks College and its principal Mike Dicker and Moore Theological College and its principal Rev Dr Mark Thompson, as they train and equip gospel workers in Sydney.

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