Academy Prospectus 2014 for International Students

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME

WHAT IS THE KERITH ACADEMY?The Kerith Academy is a unique opportunity to grow in your relationship with God, learn more about the Bible during classroom based teaching, and to be part of the team at Kerith Community Church.

Through the training and serving, this can be a year for you to nurture your relationship with Jesus and to take hold of the plans He has for you. As we take time to build strong foundations in our lives, we open ourselves to the opportunity of being used by God in huge ways.

SIMON BENHAMSenior Pastor at Kerith Community Church

Through the Academy we want to provide an opportunity for Christians locally, nationally and from other nations to give a year of their lives to receive both practical and theological training in an area of ministry, and be equipped for the rest of their lives to be more effective in serving God. So, no matter where you’re from, age or background, the Academy is open to you.

If you are able to give a year of your life to the Academy, then we will commit to doing everything we can to make it a life changing year which could change the trajectory of your life.

BEN POCOCKKerith Academy Co-ordinator

I am so excited that you are considering the Kerith Academy for 2013. By giving a year to be part of the Kerith Academy you are making a step that says to God you are open and willing to learn, grow and hear from Him. I know that you can grow hugely in a year, and this could be a year that you will remember for the rest of your life.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMEKerith Community Church has great friendships with many pastors and leaders around the world and it is part of our vision as a church to do all we can to help these local churches.

Through the generous financial giving of people in Kerith Community Church and the Kerith Academy, we are able to provide a year’s training to a number of students from churches overseas to be part of the Kerith Academy.

OUR VISION... is that students will finish the Kerith Academy equipped and encouraged to be leaders back in their home country, whether that be in an area of church ministry, the secular marketplace or other circles of influence. The students will be empowered to fulfil their God-given potential in all areas of their lives.

TRAINING DAYSThere are two Training Days each week: Wednesday and Thursday. The training will take the form of lectures, seminars, discussion groups, debates and activities. There will also be times of ministry, worship and prayer together. As part of the training, there will be a mixture of spoken and written assignments to help in your learning.

You will be taught by a range of leaders from the Kerith Community, external speakers and other leaders from Kerith Community Church. All of whom have their individual gifts, passions and professions, but are united in working to advance God’s Kingdom through the local church.

:A SAMPLE OF THE TRAINING MODULES INCLUDE

�Old & New Testament Survey�Church Vision & Mission�Jesus�The Nature & Character of God�The Person and work of the Holy Spirit�Personality Profiling�Leadership Development�Handling Personal Finances

ARVYDASKerith Academy student (Lithuania)

“Every week I learn something new. We talk about the Bible, faith, spiritual life and more. Every Training day is so refreshing! God speaks through many people to us. I can feel how my faith is growing.”

SERVING

The Kerith Academy aims to help you in all areas of your life. Not only do we learn through hearing, but we learn through doing. You will spend 3 days each week serving at Kerith Community Church. Each student is assigned a ‘Primary Ministry’ area, which is decided by the leadership team at Kerith according to your passions, gifts and skill set, as well as the availability and need of the ministry. The serving time is usually spread over Monday, Tuesday or Friday.

As well as your Primary Ministry, you will be involved in serving other ministries, including the Facilities and Building team and Sunday’s volunteer team.

PRIMARY MINISTRY AREAS

Young PeopleChildren (0-5yrs and 5-11yrs)

Youth (11-18yrs)

Creative Arts Music, media, production, communication and more

Social Justice TeamCAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Counselling

Foodbank - distributing food and befriending those in needKonnections - supporting disabled children and their families

Social Outreach Team

Operations Team Various areas (for example event management,

courses, catering, finance)

Site Services & Buildings team

‘Faculty’A diverse and experienced teaching team from within Kerith Community Church include

SIMON BENHAMSimon is the Senior Pastor of Kerith Community Church, and has led the church since 2007. Simon is the author of the ‘Peach and Coconut’, a book describing the ‘come as you are’ culture being created at the church. He also preaches at various Christian events and conferences across the country.

REV. BEN DAVIESBen Davies was the Senior Pastor of Kerith Community Church for 43 years and is still on the eldership team at the church. As the Kerith Ambassador, he now preaches globally and helps develop pastors and leaders across the globe.

MICHAEL ROSS-WATSONMichael has been a missionary with WEC, a pastor, a preacher and an excellent Bible teacher for nearly fifty years. With his wife Esther, he has ministered in various parts of the world but focused mainly on Indonesia and Singapore.

MARLENKerith Academy student (Estonia)

''lot and try to notice everybody and they make it feel like home. Even though Kerith is such a big church, every single person is needed here and can be useful.''

People here are so open and friendly. They encourage each other a

SUPPORTWe are committed to our vision of providing training to people from every nation but appreciate that training in another country can be expensive. With this in mind, Kerith Community Church has supported students from other countries over the years, and is committed to helping people from all places around the world access training.

The support the student’s will receive will be based on the means of the church and student(s) involved.

We do not wish for finances to stop anybody applying for the Kerith Academy. Please contact us and we can discuss it further.

STARTINGThe Kerith Academy runs from Wednesday 10th September 2014 to Saturday 18th July 2015, with holidays around Christmas and Easter, as well as 3 reading weeks throughout the year.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS� A commitment to Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour� A pastoral referee from your current church who has known you for over a year� An assessment made by the interviewers who agree that you will be able to complete the course� A competent grasp of the English language, both spoken and written� The International Programme is for overseas students and applications are limited to those living outside of the UK who are actively taking part in their home church

ACCOMMODATION

It is most likely that the International students will live in the Kerith Community Church house situated within 5 minutes walk of the church buildings.

The church house is split into two parts:�3 bedroom floor, with1 bathroomkitchen, dining area and lounge are downstairs�1 bedroom ground floor studio flat, with separate kitchen, dining area, shower and toilet facilities

It is possible that students may be required to share bedrooms with other students. The accommodation is fully furnished with a back garden and an off-road parking space.

The address of the church house is 30 Farnham Close, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 9AX, UK.

CONFERENCES

As part of the Kerith Academy, the students will attend at least one external conference. This is likely to be the HTB Leadership Conference in May 2015. Throughout the year, other opportunities may arise to attend other conferences, either based on leadership, or your specific serving area. As an Academy student, you will also be involved in the various conferences that Kerith hosts (including the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit) by serving in one of the volunteer teams.

CHURCH LIFEThe Kerith Academy is not just about the teaching and serving. Throughout the year, you can throw yourself into the life of the church and invest in some great, deep friendships. We have small groups that meet throughout the week, courses that run through the year, and interest specific groups that meet to build relationships and have fun together. The Academy is an ideal time to meet new people from all walks of life and from all around the world.

To help support you through your year, each student has a mentor; someone you can talk to, receive help from, and share how things are going.

APPLYINGThere are a limited number of places available for students on the International Programme. Students must apply as per the instructions in the Kerith Academy Prospectus. Please fill out the application form and email or post it to us as soon as possible.

We will arrange a telephone or Skype interview with the applicant, and leaders from Kerith Community Church will then decide who has been successful in their application and they will then be offered a place on the International Programme. An application to be on the Academy does not confirm a place on the course.

The closing date for International Programme applications is Monday 26th May 2014. Please apply as early as possible, so that if the application is successful, the necessary visas (where applicable) can be applied for and received in time for starting the Academy in September 2014.

KERITH ACADEMY2014/2015

MORE INFOwww.kerith.co.uk/[email protected]+ 44 (0) 1344 862699

The Kerith Centre, Church RoadBracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1EH, UK