Building for mission:
strategic development at Redcliffe

A Strategic Review carried out in 2005 identified key areas where we need to adapt and grow to help missionaries from everywhere go to everywhere with the gospel.

The following areas provide the building blocks for our vision to resource the changing needs of mission.

1. Partnership Programme

We have strong links with a wide range of mission agencies including CMS, Latin Link, IFES, Interserve, European Christian Mission and OMF.
 
In 2006, in partnership with Global Connections, we initiated a wide-ranging review of mission training needs in the UK. This strengthened our understanding that the strategic developments we are making are vital to the future of mission training.

We are also exploring and forming partnerships with other colleges, including a student exchange programme with Moody Bible Institute in the USA.

Go to partners page

2. Course development

Recent and future course developments provide up-to-date and relevant training for our students who experience first-hand the changing face of mission. Courses providing in-depth regional studies in Europe and Asia help students to focus on particular areas of interest.

2003: MA in Global Issues in Contemporary Mission available in full-time, part-time and distance learning-type formats.

2005-2007: New undergraduate modules in European Studies, Children’s Ministry, Teamwork and Leadership, Business as Mission and Youth Ministry.

2007: European Studies: Europe is increasingly recognised as a challenging mission field.
This includes a specific European track to resource those from around the world involved in mission to Europe. In addition, we have developed Nova, a research centre for innovating mission in Europe in conjunction with a number of leading European mission agencies.

2007/8: MA in Sport and Christian Outreach offered in co-operation with the University of Gloucestershire Sport department.

2007-2010 Asian studies: From September 2008 we will offer a new MA in Intercultural Studies in Asian Contexts, for missionaries working in Asia or among the growing Asian Diaspora in the West. Our Head of Mission Studies, Dr Kang-San Tan, is from Malaysia, and along with his wife Loun-Ling, brings a crucial non-western perspective to our faculty. In addition to the MA, we plan to develop undergraduate courses and a Centre for Asian Studies at Redcliffe by 2010.

Go to course options

3. Marketing and Communications
Through the implementation of an effective marketing and communications programme, the number of students studying at the College has grown significantly and we now train over 100 students each year.

4. Facilities
Student numbers have more than doubled since moving to Gloucester in 1995. In addition to the main building, we bought Redcliffe House in 2000. This provides specialist family accommodation for five families, and houses the college crèche. Further family accommodation is also available through our exclusive use of Redcliffe Court, a block of six two-bedroom flats.

It is now clear that if we are to develop our vision to resource the changing needs of mission, and accommodate the growing numbers of students, significant additions and developments to our facilities are needed.