LATEST NEWS UPDATE
Last updated: 7 December 2009
2009 NEWS
SLCC NOW ACCREDITED BY UK GOVERNMENT!
We are proud to announce that in May 2009 SLCC was one of the first few theological colleges in London to be accredited by the UK Government. We were inspected and accredited by Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC) and placed on the Sponsors Register as an Approved Education Provider by the UK Border Agency. This means can continue to enrol and train international students under the new Sponsors Management System (SMS). See: www.asic.org.uk and http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
UK BORDER AGENCY LATEST VISA REGULATIONS
February 2010 - No More Visa Letters, but UKBA CAS Numbers
As from February 2010, all accredited colleges and approved education centres like SLCC will no longer be able to issue Visa Letters. Instead, once we grant you an official and unconditional offer of a place on a course of study, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will be issued via the UK Border Agency’s online Sponsors Management System. A unique CAS number (PBS Migrant Reference Number) will then be generated for you to SLCC, and then we will pass this on to you. This number is all that you will need from us in regard to your Tier 4 student visa application. You will no longer need to have an Enrolment Letter or Visa Letter from the college.
3 December 2009 - Corrections to Tier 4 Guidance Policy
UKBA published an amended version of the Tier 4 policy guidance, which covers applications to study in the UK under the points-based system.
25 November 2009 - Introducing Fingerprint Checks at the Border
From 30 November 2009, the UK Border Agency introduced fingerprint checks at the border for international students with biometric UK visas, entry clearances and Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals (ICFNs). On arrival in the UK, students will have their fingerprints scanned at border control in addition to the normal checks. These fingerprints will then be checked against those the student gave when they applied. The checks will verify that the student entering the UK is the same person who gave their biometrics when they applied for their visa, entry clearance or ICFN.
5 October 2009 – New Versions of Tier 4 Application Forms and PBS Dependant Form
The UK Border Agency has revised its application forms and guidance for migrants who want to study in the UK under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System and for dependants of Points-Based System migrants. From 5 October 2009 new versions 10/09 of Tier 4 (General), Tier 4 (Child) and PBS dependant application forms have been published on the UKBA website and they have replaced the old versions 06/09.
For more details, see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-updates/?area=Studying
JUBILEE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
To combat some of the challenges of the ongoing global recession for the benefit of our students, we are pleased to be able to award the Jubilee Scholarship to eligible and successful international applicants. The scholarship award is for 20% of the annual tuition fees for the duration of the study programme. Terms and conditions apply. Contact the college for further details. If sending an email to slcclondon@aol.com make sure you state “Jubilee Scholarship Enquiry” in the subject box.
GRADUATION 17 OCTOBER 2009
Our annual Graduation Ceremony took place on Saturday 17 October 2009. It was well attended by family and friends of the graduands. The graduating class included Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate students. Worship was led by the vibrant SLCC Students Choir (some in our Music School) and there were thrilling contributions in music, song and dance from members of the student body. They keynote speaker Rev David Okorodudu (Wisdom House) delivered an informative and inspirational message.
VALEDICTORIAN 2009
At our 2009 Graduation Ceremony, the Valedictorian award was given to Pastor Enoch Tettey, a BTh graduate. Unlike traditional academic Valedictorian awards elsewhere, ours was based on the fact that he was considered to be the student that contributed the most to the spirit and ethos of the college, and had demonstrated an exemplary Christian lifestyle and conduct over the years. He is also the pastor of Faith House Ministries in Barking, Essex.
STUDENT ORIENTATION TOUR, 26 OCTOBER 2009
A number of students new to our college and to the UK had an unforgettable experience when they went on our annual Students London Orientation Tour on 26 October 2009.
The coach tour started with a pick up at the college and took us through all the key historic sites in Central London. They got to experience some of London’s most popular monuments, squares, streets, its history and contemporary life in a gentle commentary alternating to stops near the most strategic spots.
We visited famous places such as Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, Speakers Corner/Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, elegant Mayfair and Piccadilly Circus, the heart of London’s West End.
Then after meandering through the Trocadero and Leicester Square, the Tour ended with a lovely college sponsored exquisite lunch in an exclusive Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown where East meets West in a clash of cultures and ethnicity.
SCHOOL OF PASTORS NOVEMBER 2009 - REPORT
About 30 delegates attend our recent 4-week School of Pastors which ran every Wednesday evening in November 2009. The sandwich programme which was open to non-students and non-pastors as well covered many important topics and shed light on difficult areas of pastoral and church leadership ministry. Session leaders were Rev Femi Olowo, Dr David Curtis and Rev Curdell McLeod.
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL ON CHRISTIAN TV
Our college principal, Rev Femi Olowo, was hosted for a half hour broadcast on Revelation TV on Friday 31 July 2009 with Pastor Yemi Balogun, one of their main presenters. During this programme which was repeated many times since then, Dr Olowo shared about the continuing vision of the College and the special events taking place in SLCC over the next 12 months.
ORDINATION OF SLCC GRADUATES
Every year, a handful of our students who have proved their ministries are approved as candidates for ordination into Christian ministry. This is done under the auspices of JIMA, our ministers association. Those ordained in 2009 were Rev Moyela Lewis (Healing Hearts Ministry, 10 January), Rev Enoch Tettey (Faith House Ministries, 5 Jul) and Rev Dorcas Ellu (Mitcham Baptist Church, 15 November). Ordination is open to non-students as well so long as they can satisfy our criteria for legitimate Christian ministry. See ‘Ministerial Association’ in this website. You can request a JIMA Ordination Brochure and an Application from jubileeinter@aol.com
2010 NEWS
PRINCIPAL TAKES SABBATICAL IN 2010
During his 20th year of leading the ministry of SLCC, the Founder and Principal, Rev Femi Olowo, will be taking a well-deserved sabbatical. This will be for 8 months from April until 30 November 2010. During this time, as well as doing some background project work for SLCC, he aims to complete some personal research and also serve as a visiting lecturer for one trimester in a theological seminary in Africa. During his absence, Dr David Curtis will be serving as Acting Principal. We are trusting God that all continue to run smoothly during this crucial period in the life of the college.
ISRAEL TOUR, 17-24 APRIL 2010
Whether you are one of our students or not, you are invited to join us on an 8-day tour of Israel in 2010. This trip is guaranteed to be exciting, life-changing, educational and spiritually uplifting. It is an experience of a lifetime not to be missed! It is an opportunity to see the Holy Land where it all happened. It certainly makes the Bible come alive!
Highlights include Jerusalem, Tour of the Old City, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Garden Tomb, Bethlehem, Bethany, Hebron, Jericho, Qumran, En Gedi, Swim in the Dead Sea, Megiddo, Nazareth Basilica, Boat Trip on Sea of Galilee, Baptism in the River Jordan, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Mount Carmel, Visit the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
Total Cost - £695
Booking Deposit - £175.00
Booking Deadline - 30 January 2010
Those who wish to join us must pay the refundable Booking Deposit, on or before the extended deadline of 30 January 2010. Spaces are always limited, so it is on a first come, first serve basis!
If interested, contact the college for details and a booking slip.
Terms and conditions apply.
4-WEEK SCHOOL OF DIVINE GUIDANCE - APRIL 2010
We run several 4-week short courses or “schools” each year. These practical “schools” with a spiritual and ministry emphasis are scheduled for one evening a week over four weeks, and are normally on Wednesday evenings (7.00pm-9.00pm). The cost for each short course or “school” is £45.00.
The next upcoming course is the School of Divine Guidance which starts on Wednesday 7 April 2010. The focus will be on how God speaks to His people and how to be led by the Spirit of God.
2010 Dates and Schools:
Spring 2010 (April) - School of Divine Guidance
Summer 2010 (August) - School of Leadership
Winter 2010 (November) - School of the Cults
Certification - Students who complete the course can receive a certificate of attendance upon completion.
Hosting a “School” in your Church - These “schools” can also be held in your church if you are in the UK. Contact us if you are an interested church leader or pastor, and full details of the wide range of subjects we can cover will be sent to you.
SLCC GLOBAL TRUST TO BE LAUNCHED SHORTLY
We are launching our Global Trust Vision 2020 within the next few months. Do watch out for this exciting initiative which will unveil our God-given 10 year plan for SLCC and give you information on how you can be involved. Details will be available shortly from our Marketing Manager, Antoinette Crawford, as well as in this space.
CRYPTIC FUN BIBLE QUIZ No. 1
Note: Some questions are Cryptic while others are Factual.
1. How old was Adam when he died? [F]
Clue: Not as old as Methuselah.
2. Question 1: During whose lifetime was the Earth divided into continents? [F]
Clue: Answer in both Beginnings and Histories
3. Who led the building of the Tower of Babel? [F]
Clue: He was not a farmer.
4. Question 2: If Noah used a Class Register system, which animal would have gone into the Ark first? [C]
Clue: Cat comes before Rat.
5. Question 5: How many cows went into Noah’s Ark? [F]
Clue: The answer is not ‘too’ easy.
6. Question 3: There was a nun in the Old Testament who gave birth to a famous son. What was the name of this son? [C]
Clue: The nun was not famous, but the son was.
7. Question 6: There is a famous USA TV host who was also in the Old Testament, although a little mixed up. [C]
Clue: She refused to leave home.
8. Question 4: Who in the Bible would every unemployed person like to have? [C]
Clue: Without this person, you would suffer in life.
9. Question 7: Who in the New Testament went to a pub and drank beer (King James Version only). [C]
Clue: He had a change of name.
10. Who was Onesimus? [F]
Clue: He would do well in a working-class marathon.
Instructions: Send your answers on a postcard to SLCC. First entry with at least 9 correct answers will receive a special prize.
