All are welcome, students, friends, members of churches. The lecture will be held on the 4th April 2012, in the PBC Chapel at 1:30pm. The lecture is scheduled to go for an hour. For more informatuion contact the college.

Domestic students in our Masters Coursework Programme (MDiv, MTh) will now have the opportunity to receive Austudy financial assistance as well as Fee Help. Austudy is similar to Youthstart or Newstart for those studying Full Time at PBC. We have had Austudy approval for our undergraduate programmes for some time, so it is an extra blessing to get this as we start into the new year. For more information on our programmes please continue to browse our website or contact the college by phone or email.

Of the many examples one could cite of God’s ongoing work in the world, one could simply point to the Chinese Mission. Over the last century the Chinese Church has grown up to four times the Australian population. A stunning fact attributed to God and his continuing fulfilment of the promises he has made in Christ; to bring people IN. To this work, we, the people of God have been called to participate, a fact of which, as PBC graduates, you will be most aware, so also in like fashion to the author of 2 Peter 1:12,  “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.”

 Yet Second Peter is more specific about what “these things” are that he feels compelled to “always” call to remembrance. In fact there are seven things that he calls the informed Christian to remember and embody in their living ministry. However, before we list these seven things we must, as Peter does, remember the foundation on which we are called to act. This foundation is the magnificence of God’s divine power and the promises that flow from this same power. As Peter says,

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The Christian is called to act in response to the sublime gift of God’s good providence and the sheer magnitude and reality of the promises he has made his people. We are simply called to appropriate this foundation in faith.

But since the promise and divine gift, in this time between times, exist in a contested reality, in a world saturated with corruption and evil, the people of God are called to add to their faith several qualities for the living ministry (by living ministry I mean that vocational life to which we have been called into, simply by virtue of being Christian). Peter’s list of qualities is as follows,

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to  godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In his great providential love, God continues to provide instruction for living ministry.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election   sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In moving through the stages of life in this time between times, what greater comfort could a Christian have than to be given the promises of God in Christ and also a concrete framework with which to act “so that we will never fall.” It doesn’t say “never fail” it says never “fall.” On the basis of the gift of election, God has provided us the means of “making our calling and election “sure.”

¹² So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

As children of God you have been established in the power of God’s promise and the gift of his Son. You have also been well instructed in those qualities that God considers to be most effective and productive; those qualities that flow from the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters,

make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Even though you have been well instructed in these qualities and are firmly established in the truth, we must always remember that the gift and promise of God in Christ have so set us free that we are a people “freed for” as well as a people “freed from.” The gift of righteousness in Christ has freed us from the alienation of sin and death and into life and reconciliation. So I charge you, brothers and sisters, embrace the quality of Christian life that has freed you for; freed you for an effective and productive life in the Kingdom of God.

To finish with the words of one of the greatest theologians and churchmen found in chapter 16 of his letter to the Romans, Paul says;

Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, ²⁶ But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: ²⁷ To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Rom 16:25-27)

PBC has a track record of experience in this field and has developed a strong ongoing, positive and effective, relationship with the network of Fellowship of Hope churches which continues to outreach to the poorest people in Cambodia. Specifically we will be partnering with the churches in and around Phnom Penh. We will also work with, people in Happy Village where families have been relocated from an old slum area, and also assist in Christian educational centres. The education facility provides extra general education as well as Christian input to the lives of the children. The trip also includes the opportunity to see some of Cambodia’s cultural, historical, and religious sites, giving an important introduction into Cambodian life.

Dates: July each year

Leaders: Experienced Staff at PBC

Cost: Included in Fees (covered by

Fee-Help): includes flights, hotel

accommodation, all meals, taxes,

transport, travel insurance.

You Need: Current Passport and a passion to

serve God.

If you would like more information about our involvement with the Cambodian Church then please contact the college on 9243 2000. For extra information on the ministry visit the Fellowship of Hope at http://www.fellowshipofhope.net/

Graduation marks a significant point of celebration as graduands reflect on their time at college, the highs and lows of study, and the overall sense of fulfilment that comes with completing a major academic achievement.

If you are interested in joining us for this celebration event, as a friend of the college, or, as someone just wanting to “check us out,” then please feel welcome to drop in and participate in this uplifting event. It is, of course, free and there will be an afternoon tea provided after the ceremony.

The ceremony will be held on Saturday the 3^rd of December at 3:30pm at the Duncraig Christian Fellowship: 41 Beddi Road, Duncraig.

The group will also act as a forum for theological discussion. If you are interested in starting a theological language for the 2011/2012 Summer Study Group then please contact Dr Muhlhan as soon as possible on 92432000 or brett@pbc.wa.edu.au.

Hennie is the author of a number of internationally acclaimed books and journal articles in Practical Theology. He is also a founding member of the International Academy for Practical Theology and has acted as president for the Society for Practical Theology. He was a Founding member of the International Journal of Practical Theology, and the Journal of Empirical Theology, an international journal.

Prof. Hennie Pieterse will be conducting a seminar on Advanced Preaching at Perth Bible College targeted towards practicing preachers. He will also be conducting an intensive series of lectures on Practical Theology, exploring the dynamic relationship between the Christian tradition and contemporary social experience. These sessions will present models and case studies of the engagement between the two, inducting the participant into the art of theological reflection and illustrating how all theology can lead to action and transformation.

For more information or to apply, download the brochure.

Ken opened the time with a recollection of how God had called him into the faith as a young adult. In response, Ken spent several years working for the Anglican Church and eventually pastored a Baptist congregation. By the time Ken and Barbara were called into mission work in Africa they were married with two children. The specific mission they joined was the African Inland Mission. This organisation had been pioneered by Christian missionaries in 1895 when a small group of Christians trekked into Kenya and proclaimed the gospel. Today there are over 1000 missionaries in Kenya doing a great variety of work for God. Some of the aspects of this work that Ken has been involved with is the establishing of church planting teams and the institution of several theological and bible colleges. In particular Ken spoke about the Moffatt College of which he was a part and of which had had a significant role in shaping Kenyan leadership. One instance he recounted was the conversion of a young boy through the reading of the ‘clean book’ (the Nadi translation of the bible). This young man went on to become a generous Kenyan president. Ken continued to emphasise the preaching and teaching of the gospel and concluded that after 100 years in Africa 20 of the 40 people groups were still unreached with the good news.

Barbara followed Ken with an account of her own calling and ministry in Kenya. Barbara recounted how during theological training, she was exposed to the very real and immanent problem of HIV AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. After God compelled Barbara to follow this calling he led her into the development of several training programmes that helped educate people about biblical strategies for resisting the devastating impact of AIDS.

The college resonated with a sincere thankfulness for Ken and Barbara’s presentation and the faithful witness they gave testimony to. It seems that God can take everyday people and do some very unique and powerful things through their faithful willingness.