How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:9
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St Marks has a unique ministry to uni students set as it is in the midst of a thriving tertiary campus. We enjoy a vibrant blend of students from all walks of life, disciplines and nationalities - UNE has a solid reputation for catering to the needs of international students. Our aim is to support and encourage our students to think Biblically and clearly in a warm, dynamic environment where mutual love and care is practiced and Christian maturity honed. Uni students are at a critical stage of life, when inherited beliefs and morality are being challenged by a world of contrary beliefs and moralities, and when future directions are being set. Bringing the truth of God’s Word to bear at this time in stimulating and challenging ways is crucial to the survival and growth of these future leaders. |
As many of our students come from outside Armidale, St Marks in many ways becomes a second family. As such we seek to encourage interaction not only with peers, but with the younger and older members at Chapel. We do this through mixed-aged College and town-based Growth Groups, Chapel community events and camps, involvement in children’s ministry, formal and informal hospitality, and through providing practical support with accommodation, transport etc.
• UBS (University Bible Study) > Mondays 12 noon - 1:00pm upstairs @ The Bistro
• WUF (Wednesday Uni Fellowship) > Esp. for town-based students. Wednesdays 7pm for 7.15pm. Contact > Sam McNamara 0401 647 729, or Dan Teitzel 0401 564 762.
• UNEchurch College Growth Groups >
Duval College > Tuesdays 6.30pm for 7pm start. Tanderra Common Room. Contact > Trent Lukins 0429 807 512 (ext 5715), Dan Teitzel 0401 564 762, or Naomi Heal 0401 839 926.
Earle Page College > Wednesdays 7pm. Contact > Emma Garraway 0427 565 131, Tim Purser 0433 041 225, or Ben Bowman 0427 467 087 (room C4) ext 5349.
Drummond & Smith College > Tuesdays 7pm. Contact > Ryan Young 0437 151 328, Ashleigh Hawkins 0403 555 712, or ‘Beard’ 0400 218 195.
Mary White College > Tuesdays 6.30pm. Jo Woolmington Room. Contact > Gavin & Kate Jones 0439 591 033.
• Kick Off Camp @ Scott’s Head
March 14 - 16 > a
terrific weekend of fellowship, fun at one of the coast’s top
spots. Call Dan Teitzel 0401 564 762.
• North West Mid-Year Conference (August) > Great
speakers, helpful training sessions on living as a Christian and fabulous
fun and fellowship.
• Valedictory Ball (early November) > A night of ball
dresses, tuxedos, delicious food, great music, dancing and fond farewells.
Check out last year’s Val Ball http://www.stmarks.net.au/val_ball07.html
• MTS (Ministry Training Strategy) http://www.mts.com.au/ > a
hands-on apprenticeship program conducted in churches and specialist
ministry teams. It is on-the-job ministry training based on prayer,
Bible study and practical ministry. A word from one of our current
MTS workers…
“The Ministry Training Strategy has been a fantastic opportunity
for the four of us. The opportunity has been challenging, fun, a time of growth
under God’s word, and certainly a time of being stretched. We have had
the opportunity to be involved in many areas of ministry, including the running
of College Growth Groups, Young Workers Growth Groups, Wednesday Uni Fellowship
(WUF), Guys and Girl’s lunches, Men’s breakfasts and
other informal activities. We are also involved in the general running
of church, and organising church functions such as the O-week functions,
Kick on, Kick Off, NWMYC-CYC, Wine and Cheese Nights, and the Valedictory
Ball. Several of us have also had the opportunity to prepare and
deliver sermons at St Marks, Uralla, Bundarra, Walcha, PLC, NEGS
and other surrounding churches. One-to-one meet ups have also been
a good opportunity to build relationships with the students, with
the aim of helping them (and ourselves) to grow in their understanding
of our great God, and what He has done for us in Jesus. Each of us
also meet up with Martin or Dave for help with our preparation for
sermons etc, to read the bible, pray, and discuss current issues.”
Dave Fisher
Call The Office for more about MTS 6773 2029.