This will be the last e-Appeal I write as Head of the Moore College Foundation and none could be more important. After almost 4 years in my role, I’m retiring for the second and final time! I’m sad to be leaving Moore, because it has been a privilege to serve in this special institution, and my role has allowed me to correspond and talk with an amazing and diverse group of prayers, donors and friends of the College. It has been an enormous encouragement as I have listened to the stories of our students and graduates, and the amazing things that God is doing in their lives.
It has also been exciting to see donor numbers grow by 25% since the Foundation was created. As well, we’ve seen a steady increase in funds of about 15% p.a. Just as exciting has been the creation of a number of new scholarship programs for our students due to a number of large and generous gifts. Perhaps the most exciting has been the creation of a new fund for scholarships that has now reached over $1million. This enabled us to provide support for 30 students at Moore College in 2020 alone. Without scholarships, these students would not have been able to commence or continue being prepared for gospel ministry. Scholarships usually range from $5,000 to $10,000 p.a. and generally continue for the student’s full course (3-4 years for degree courses), unless of course, their circumstances change.
The College has had a number of endowed funds for many years, primarily funded from the generous Bequests of our supporters over generations. Remembering Moore College in wills is still a very important part of the large scholarship program that has been built over many years. If you have an interest in leaving a bequest to the College, please do make contact so that we can offer information and advice.
In spite of a number of existing scholarship funds, as we have grown and added new courses like the PhD program and online programs like the ‘Diploma in Biblical Theology’ (DBT), there has been the need for additional support. For example, we set up a fund for the DBT just two years ago to support overseas students primarily from poor nations. Due to a generous one-off gift, overseas students who are eligible can have up to 75% of their fees paid. If you are a pastor leading a church of over 100 people in South East Asia (a real example), with a love of God and a gift for preaching, but minimal Biblical education, then this is a precious gift.
Since the Foundation was established in 2017 it has created a number of new scholarships for overseas students including the ‘DBT Scholarship Fund’, the ‘International Student Fund’, and the ‘Global Ministry Fund’. You can find details on these international scholarships HERE . Of course, it has only been possible to create these new funds due to the generosity of our donors.
Would you consider giving to one of these international scholarship funds so that more international students can be supported? Would you support these international students who want to be better equipped to teach and equip new believers in the nations of their birth? Your donations will help many more to grow in biblical knowledge, equip them to teach the Bible well, and also help them lead churches and do the work of evangelists to make Christ known.
If you would like to know more about these needs, please email FoundationHead@moore.edu.au.
Finally, I want to thank the College and the Governing Board for inviting me to establish the Foundation and to be its first Head. This has been a great privilege. I especially want to thank the Principal Dr Mark Thompson for his trust in me, his prayers for me and my family, and his ongoing support and encouragement. Importantly, I want to thank you our donors, friends and prayer warriors for your support and encouragement. I also want to thank Michael Sadler for his excellent work on behalf of the Foundation. It has been a rare privilege to hear many of your stories as well, and to pray with you and for you. I will continue to support and pray for the College’s faculty, staff, students and supporters.
I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Philippi when he addressed his brothers and sisters, in his case while in chains. He was thankful and confident that the work God had begun through his servants would be completed:
“3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:3-6
If you have a prayer request, or if you have any questions, you can email me at trevor.cairney@moore.edu.au or phone my direct line at +61 (0)2 9577 9900 (please leave a message if I’m not available to pick up the phone).
