Admission
Admission Policies
No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the school because of race, colour, sex or national origin. However, only persons who have a testimony of Biblical salvation and have a sincere desire to serve Christ are eligible for admission.
When to Apply
A prospective student may apply any time. There is no application deadline date, but we encourage you to apply early to reserve your place and discount.
Once an application is received, it will be processed as soon as possible. No reservation is final until the prospective student completes all forms and receives an official letter of acceptance.
Application Procedure
¨ Read this prospectus to familiarize yourself with Australian Baptist College.
¨ Get counsel from your pastor regarding your desire to attend (Hebrews 13:17).
¨ Completely fill out the Application Form.
¨ Provide us with a written statement of your salvation testimony.
¨ If not a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church, your pastor must complete the Pastor’s Recommendation provided with the Application Form.
¨ Send your application to Australian Baptist College
P.O. Box 5638 CQMC,
Rockhampton, Qld 4702
Transfer students are accepted based on the following criteria:
1. All previous college transcripts are found to be satisfactory.
2. A statement of good standing both spiritually and financially from the prior institution is provided.
Attendance
Believing that an education at Australian Baptist College will prepare students for the ministry, we place a high importance on being in the classroom consistently. The ministry does not need more workers who will answer the call “when they feel like it” or who will ruse up early to pray “if it is convenient”. Consequently, slothful attitudes toward attending classes are not allowed. Each student is allowed a minimum number of absent days, after which, his/her grade is marked down 5% for each unexcused absence. After six class absences, a student will receive an “F” for that class.
Tardiness is also unacceptable as punctuality is a Biblical character trait and more than two late arrivals to class without suitable excuse will also be penalized.
Transcript of Records
Australian Baptist College sends transcripts only to those students who have paid their accounts in full.
Graduation Requirements
The faculty must approve all candidates. The following guidelines have been established to be considered for graduation:
¨ Each candidate must have displayed consistent Christian character and conduct.
¨ Each candidate must have satisfactorily completed the required units of his/her course.
¨ All financial obligations must be satisfied before a degree will be awarded.
General Guidelines
The purpose of Australian Baptist College is to glorify God by providing not only an educational environment, but also a spiritual environment for developing servant-leaders in the 21st century. Therefore, while a student is enrolled at Australian Baptist College, he is required to maintain strong separation from worldliness. Every student must realise that he is a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, Lighthouse Baptist Church and Australian Baptist College. Our mission is to teach and to train students to live by the principles of God’s Word and to serve in local churches.
Students are expected to abide by the spirit, rules and standards of Australian Baptist College.
The following standards of Biblical conduct have been established:
¨ Dedication to God: an unreserved lifetime commitment to God (Romans 12:1,2)
¨ Devotion to others: an unselfish, sacrificial love for others (1 Cor 13; Mark 10:44)
¨ Disciplined Living: a sustained daily effort to be controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27)
¨ Dependable Spirit: doing what I ought to do (1 Corinthians 4:2; Proverbs 25:19)
¨ Discerning Mind: the ability to see people and circumstances as they really are (Hebrews 5:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14)
¨ Discreet Lifestyle: the ability to avoid words, actions and attitudes that are not pleasing to God (Psalm 112:5; Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:29-30)
¨ Discipleship Ministry: transferring convictions to others (Matthew 28:19,20; 2 Timothy 2:2)
General Dress Guidelines
One of our purposes at Australian Baptist College is to glorify God in our attire and physical appearance. Our aim is to lead students to develop hearts for God and to conform to Christ’s character. We must maintain this Christian discipline by wearing conservative and modest clothing at all times. We believe at Australian Baptist College that the outside is an indicator of the attitude of the heart (1 Kings 21:27-29; Gen. 41:14).
Some Biblical dress principles by which we should be guided are as follows:
¨ Distinction versus Unisex - Deut 22:5; Jeremiah 34:9; 1 Cor 6:9; 11:14,15; James 4:4
¨ Reserve versus Looseness – 1 Timothy 2:9; Rom. 13:14; 14:13, 21; 1 Cor 8:9, 13; Jude 23
¨ Emulation of godliness versus imitation of worldliness – 1 Cor 4:16; Hebrews 13:7
¨ Sensible versus impractical – 1 Timothy 2:9 “sobriety” means sane, sober, practical.
¨ Smart versus untidy – 1 Timothy 2:9 “modest” means well arranged, orderly.
Student Conduct
Australian Baptist College, as a Christian institution, expects that its students shall not only live lives that are above reproach, but that they shall also exemplify Christian unselfishness and kindness in dealings with faculty and fellow students. Attendance at Australian Baptist College is a privilege and not a right. If, on the basis of the college’s judgment, a student’s spiritual response, character, or conduct is considered to be sub-Christian or sufficiently spiritually deficient as to make him unworthy of the privilege of holding a degree from this Christian college, the college retains the right to deny that student further enrolment or to deny him his degree. It is imperative that all conduct be appropriate and above reproach for Christian ladies and gentleman. It is the desire of Australian Baptist College to lead students to strike a Biblical balance in their lives by instilling honesty, obedience, respect for others, loyalty, and integrity.
Australian Baptist College stands firmly on Biblical, personal holiness. We recognise the need to re-kindle the fire and zeal in each life. Each student is personally responsible for his walk with God. The policies and standards of conduct at Australian Baptist College are designed to direct students to God’s best for their lives. Our standards and rules are not an end in themselves, but are another means of fulfilling the purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.
As students will be trained to be tomorrow’s leaders, the student will be seen as a leader in training, and must understand that leadership has its own Biblical implications of influence that sometimes require sacrifice that others are not necessarily called to offer.
The Bible has numerous examples of these requirements of godly leaders. There was the
¨ Royal Standard of the king. Principle - The despairing and dying drink, but dynamic directors don’t. (Proverbs 31:4-9)
¨ Religious Standard of the priest. Principle - Careless conduct causes calamity (Leviticus 10:1-3; 21:4,17-23; 1 Samuel 2-4; 6:6,7)
¨ Runner’s Standard of the apostle. Principle - Rewarding results require the relinquishing of rights (1 Corinthians 9).
¨ Remarkable Standard of Daniel. Principle - Superior service surpasses set stipulations (Daniel 5:12; 6:3; Mathew 5:41)
¨ Revival Standard of Ezra. Principle - Radical repentance and resigned rights resulted in revival (Ezra 10).
¨ Relationship Standard of the Early Church. Principle - Preferring particular people’s preferences promotes peace (Acts 15:19-29; Romans 14:14,15).
¨ Redemption Standard of Jesus Christ. Principle - Mirroring the mind of Messiah is mandatory for ministry (Philippians 2:5-8).
If you are not interested in following the godly requirements of Biblical leadership, then Australian Baptist College is not for you.
Christian Service Requirements
The college offers many opportunities for developing spiritual leadership. Australian Baptist College emphasises the importance of the local church. This includes the soul winning program. All students must serve in one ministry aspect on Saturday or Sunday.
Pastor Robert Bakss has had, and continues to have, a great vision for Lighthouse Baptist Church; therefore there are numerous ministry opportunities such as: Adult Bible classes, discipleship, children’s church, youth ministry and soul winning. The staff and members of Lighthouse Baptist Church endeavour to doorknock every household in Rockhampton each year, as well as letterbox each house once a year, seeking to win people to Jesus Christ. Once their salvation is assured, we seek to get them regularly attending church, baptised, discipled and faithful to the Lord and to His house.
Discipline
At Australian Baptist College, we believe that the students’ college years should be filled with enjoyment and that these years will become among the most memorable years of their lives. Because the spiritual climate at Australian Baptist College is Christ-centred, each student can achieve personal discipline in his own life. The goal in the lives of the students is godliness and faithfulness. The student will be directed and instructed in learning and living the principles of God’s Word. He will establish daily devotions, a scripture memorization schedule and an effective prayer life.