Avondale College, the “experiment on the Dora” is in its 124th year. And what a year that has turned out to be with the challenges of coronavirus.
Professor Kevin Petrie, a former Victorian and Nunawading Church member, is the new Vice Chancellor at Avondale College
Professor Kevin Petrie is the newly appointed Vice Chancellor for the College. The Adventist Record recently shared this interview with him. In his entry interview with Brenton Stacey back in March, he said that nothing will hold back his vision to transform students who then go and transform their communities. In the context of an ever-changing situation, he emphasized flexibility and tenacity. And above all, placing trust in a God who reads the future as easily as He does the past.
Part of that vision involves ensuring the College remains viable by securing a solid financial base; a need that was unrelated to the pandemic but which the pandemic has naturally affected, providing even greater challenge. In May, a ‘roadmap’ was released with the aim of balancing the budget by 2023, with Professor Petrie saying he was convinced that with God, the task is achievable and requested prayer that the vision of transforming students to then transform their communities will shine brighter than ever at Avondale.
By June, the College news was able to report that all had become acclimated to social distancing and the other measures that had been taken to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Most staff were working from home and all students were studying by distance mode. Professor Petrie was impressed with the innovations in teaching and pastoral care (including a Festival of Faith via Instagram!) and students completed the semester successfully.
To ensure the College did not lose students because of personal financial hardship, Avondale’s annual appeal and the SPD’s June offering for the College was allocated support the economic hardship grants. You can donate to domestic or international student grants here.
Semester two also has its challenges… with the need to be flexible and responsive to the changing environment caused by the pandemic.
Joining the College for Semester two, is one of our own pastors, Emanuel Millen. He has been asked to teach Hebrew 1A and Hebrew Prophets during second semester while remaining in Melbourne.
Emanuel Millen will continue his pastoral ministry at Yarra Valley Church while teaching online.
“My interest in Hebrew began while I was working in the finance industry,” he says, “after making it a life goal to read the Word of God in its original languages.”
He enrolled in a Hebrew introduction course that was offered to the community by a synagogue in St Kilda, which helped tremendously with Biblical Hebrew when he eventually went to Seminary at Andrews University. “Since graduating I have kept up my Hebrew by referring to it in my devotionals and in sermon preparations.” Emanuel goes on to say that Hebrew is a rich and multi-layered language which can communicate several ideas at once and it is fascinating to explore it.
“I look forward to the exciting opportunity to connect with future ministers at Avondale and to grow with them in our understanding of God and His Word.”