We kick off blogging with a live-blog for the Ignite Training Conference 2016! Keep a tab on this site as I’ll be posting up my summaries of the talks and selected workshops.
Here’s what this year’s conference is on about:
Since the 1700’s many in the West have dismissed the Bible. With the Enlightenment’s rise of science and rational thinking, it was dismissed as a series of embellished legends. Western society prides itself on being equal opportunity, embracing, and tolerant. So the Bible has been dismissed as irrelevant for its perceived patriarchy, oppressiveness, and intolerance.
Christians have addressed those matters, yet it seems short-sighted to simply believe the Bible is truthful and relevant today. But the Bible is the God of life speaking to us. We know His very thoughts when we open to its pages. The Bible claims to be essential to life, not just a useful add-on. Without the Bible, there is only death and decay. The Bible is the only way to find life, because it’s the Book of Life.
Ignite 2016 aims to build our confidence as God’s people in God’s living word. Come to hear Bible talks (given by Richard Gibson and Mark Baddeley) and be trained in God’s word, and discover together how we find life’s fullness in it.
Here are the speaker profiles from their respective sites:
Rev Dr Richard Gibson (Principal, Brisbane School of Theology)
BSocWk, DipATh, BTh, MTh, PhD
PRINCIPAL, HEAD OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT, NT LECTURER
Richard has more than 20 years’ experience teaching Greek, New Testament, church history and preaching. Raised in a Christian family, it was at university that Richard realised the importance of Jesus and his gospel. After studying theology and being ordained as an Anglican minister, he pastored a congregation in Sydney’s west for four years. Seeing the value of continued learning, he completed a Master’s degree on 1 Timothy and doctorate on the emotions in early Christian thought. Subsequent published articles have addressed issues in the New Testament, church history and ministry. Currently, his research interests are the book of Romans and the history of preaching. Richard’s love of effective preaching led him to serve on Sydney Diocese’s College of Preachers which he chaired for seven years. His greatest passions are his family, teaching the Bible in college, church and university contexts, and caring for students.
Richard and his wife Kim attend St Andrew’s Anglican Church in South Brisbane, where Richard sometimes preaches. Kim is involved in ministry to university students with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students and volunteers with the Grow women’s conference committee. In his spare time, Richard enjoys staying active, playing the odd game of touch football, golf or tennis.
Mark Baddeley (Lecturer in Systematic Theology, Queensland Theological College)
Mark wouldn’t say so himself, but he is widely regarded as one of the most able evangelical systematic theologians in Australia today. He came to QTC straight from Oxford, where he was completing his D.Phil. on Athanasius’ Doctrine of the Atonement, having already done a masters degree in systematic theology (also at Oxford University). Prior to that, Mark had studied and then taught at Moore Theological College. Since coming back to Brisbane, the boy from Arana Hills has settled on the bayside, where he is an Elder at Redlands Presbyterian Church. Mark is responsible for a large percentage of the consumption of Coca Cola in Queensland, is married to Jenny and has two boys, Jonathan and Sam. Hear what Mark has to say about his subject areas at QTC.
Don’t forget that the evening lectures are free and open to attend – come at 7:20pm for a 7:30pm start (983 Rochedale Road, Rochedale).
And also don’t forget that I’ll be running the bookstall again – everything is 20-25% off! Pop by, say hello, and get some great resources :)
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