As the banner “Into all the world” hung over the stage, the ceremony for the 2011 graduates of Moore College proved how appropriate it was.

Hundreds of relatives, students and church members packed the Sydney Recital Hall to see degrees conferred and hear about ministry to be conducted in places as diverse as Melbourne, Brisbane, Tamworth, Perth, Singapore, London and Fiji.

In his welcome, Moore College Principal Dr John Woodhouse, said the graduates went into a world that was “uncomfortable with forgiveness, unfamiliar with truth, ignorant of salvation and my impression is that it is becoming more so.”

The majority of the 102 students were present to receive their certificates from Archbishop Peter Jensen, President of the College council, although some were overseas and interstate. Dr Woodhouse said Archbishop Jensen’s “consistently enthusiastic support means a very great deal to all of us who serve at the college.”

Diplomas and degrees

The first diploma to be awarded was to three students who had completed the one year Diploma of bible and ministry, either full or part time. 

A further fifteen people including teachers, uni students and women with husbands in ministry completed the Diploma of Bible and Missions and one student completed the Diploma of Bible and youth minstry.

Sally Davidson, a high school science teacher who was awarded the Diploma of Bible and Missions says although she has now gone back to her job, she feels quite differently. “Having spent a year learning more about God, He is much bigger than I think I gave him credit for. The way in which I approach people and make relationships with people and share the gospel with them is so important - because people need to know the gospel.”

Seventeen students were awarded the three year Bachelor of Theology and fifty five were awarded the Bachelor of Divinity.

Lincoln Moa, who received the Bachelor of Theology with merit, was unable to attend as he has now returned to work in Singapore.

“There are good Bible colleges here in Singapore so people ask why did I come all this way to study at Moore College” Mr Moa said via video.

“The reason why I did that is that the people who I respect a lot and who are great servants of the gospel in Singapore, a lot of them had been to Moore college and said it was a great place to study and to be stretched” he said.

Eleven people were awarded masters degrees, including the Principal of Youthworks College, Graham Stanton.