Mary Andrews College and Youthworks have just announced a new partnership to take children's ministry skills to more people across Sydney and boost the quality of school Scripture teaching.
From Semester 1, 2011, people will be able to access the Practical Skills subject as an intensive at Youthworks College, or throughout the semester at Mary Andrews College.
Robyn Powell, newly appointed as visiting teacher at Mary Andrews College, believes that training teachers will have an impact on church-based programs, as well as SRE in schools.
"Ethics course or no ethics course, the secret to happy, engaged children in Scripture classes is to have teachers trained to the highest possible standard. I am thrilled to be a part of that aim," she says.
Participants will have a choice of two very different venues and very different structures for this course: once a fortnight lectures over a semester in the city centre at St Andrews House, or a 6-day intensive in the bush setting of Youthworks College in Loftus.
The Youthworks intensive version of the course will take place over six days in term 1, January 31 to February 2 and February 7 to 9.
At Mary Andrews College, lectures will take place fortnightly, from Feb 7 to June 6.
The Rev Graham Stanton, Principal of Youthworks College, is excited by the partnership.
"Our great desire is to see more and more people equipped and energised for children’s ministry,” he says. “This is a strategic partnership between our two colleges that makes effective training for children’s ministry more readily available."
The aim of this course is to teach practical skills. A wide range of issues, from child development and learning styles, through to drama, games and story telling will be covered.
At the Mary Andrews College version of the course, training in how to minister to special needs children will also be covered.
The Rev Jackie Stoneman, Mary Andrews College’s director of Studies, says the aim is to help people “know how to demonstrate and articulate Jesus' love in the context of every day life”.
“No matter what age group, we want to support and encourage everyone to have the greatest impact for the gospel. From the cradle to the grave people need to hear about Jesus!"
