For the 53 students who graduated from their course of study this autumn at Nazarene Theological College Manchester, the day marked more than the achievement of an academic accolade.  One reflected, “I want to thank NTC for taking a risk on me: I don’t think my application looked like a safe bet!”  Another commented that “to talk about NTC is to talk about home.  The classes challenge you, and often push you outside your comfort zone so that you can grow the ability to stand on your feet and push on.”

The Graduation ceremony brought together the reverence and ritual of a formal convocation with the intimacy, humour, and engagement of a family reunion. On the one hand, the breath-taking beauty of the massive pipe organ; on the other, the stories shared by graduates, the hugs from supervisors for their students, the roars of affection from proud families.  A joyous day, in every sense.

The Convocation speaker was Revd Ruth Turner, District Superintendent and NTC Board member, and she brought her eloquence, humour, and wisdom to a moving reflection on Mark 8.

This year saw NTC’s 100th PhD graduate: a total of 104 since the first ones, in 1999, and they are serving the Church around the globe.  There were 8 PhD graduates this year, along with 29 MA graduates, and 16 undergraduates, and they came from 17 different countries. And where are they going? Andrew is working for Operation Mobilisation; Alex is the new President of the Baptist Union; Jacques is ministering with those who live on the streets; Ioana is pastoring in a small town in Cheshire; Sylvia is Pastoring and Teaching; Richard is a professor in a Wesleyan Seminary; Patrick is a practicing doctor and a Minister; Victoria is a Community pastor. There are 53 stories, each of them unique, each of them brimming with possibilities.

The College also awarded over £100,000 in Graduation bursaries and scholarships, much of it given by friends and alumni of the College who are investing in seeing the flourishing of the Church through education. If you are interested in helping support students, or in finding out more about study options – on site or at a distance – then please contact the College at enquiries@nazarene.ac.uk, or visit the web site at www.nazarene.ac.uk

– shared by Nazarene Theological College, Manchester