News

Open Day, March 2nd

14/10/2009

Last week we had another successful Open Day here at Cliff College with potential students visiting us from around the UK in order to get a first hand experience of Cliff Life! They expressed how much they enjoyed themselves while participating in our lectures, meals and evening house groups.

If you would like to participate in an Open Day than your next opportunity is not far away as we will be holding our next Open Day on March 2nd, 2010. This is a great chance for you to come visit us and get a feel for what it might be like if you were to study full time at Cliff College. Please feel free to bring a family member or a friend along with you but make sure you book in advance as places are always limited. We will feed you, give you free accommodation and even try to arrange a lift for you from the nearest station should you come by train!

You could read all you want about Cliff and people could tell you all kinds of great stories, but there is nothing like coming and finding out for yourself, so why not go ahead and book by calling Matt Lollar on 01246 584 227 or sending him a quick email with all of your details to m.lollar@cliffcollege.ac.uk? If you are a Cliff supporter or alumni why not tell your friends about us, telling just a couple people could go a long way to helping both them and us!

Places Still Available

20/08/2009

Cliff College is still accepting applications for the 09/10 academic year. If you want more information or would like to speak with a member of staff, please call on 01246 584 200.

Staff Farewells!

24/07/2009

Sue Peat

Sue has been working as an Evangelist at Cliff College for the past ten years. Sue has given herself 100% to the good of the College. I remember every Festival and the enthusiasm, commitment and the hard work that she has put in with a serving heart. Sue believes in Cliff and what it stands for and she has contributed so effectively and positively to the life and ministry of this place. It has been a pleasure and honour to work with Sue. If you talk to students past and present, you will realize how much their life has been impacted for having had her pastoral support, the experience of being on mission with her, and the craziness and laughter of Sue in their lives. On the other hand, Sue has been involved with all members of staff, encouraging and supporting and being Christ-like to all.

Sue is moving on to follow God's call in her life to serve him as a Deacon in the Methodist Church. She has been accepted for training and is going to Durham for a year, before she is placed in a Circuit to fulfil God's calling. We send Sue out with our blessing, knowing that the God that calls, also equips and also knowing that Sue will be a blessing to many. Thank you for all that you have given us. You have been such an inspiration!

- Eva Walker

Chris Cole

Chris came to Cliff simply to help out in the grounds over the summer of 2002, but it soon became clear that he could turn his hand to maintenance and all things practical.  Soon after arriving, a major development of Cliff’s facilities began, so, moving away from gardening, Chris became involved in building and restoration work under the guidance of Andy Barnett.  After Andy left in 2006, many of his responsibilities moved to Chris who then assumed the role of Estates Supervisor, a job which he has done skillfully.

Yet Chris will be missed for much more than his technical ability.  He has brought much to Cliff in his strong Christian faith, his dry sense of humour and his energetic enthusiasm.  Chris is moving on to work for ‘Caring for Life’, a home in Leeds which gives long-term support to homeless and vulnerable adults, through an arts and crafts programme and through work on a farm which Chris will manage.  We want to thank Chris for his commitment to Cliff and we wish him and his wife Beverley all God’s strength in his new venture.

- Rick Fillingham

Ron Willoughby

Ron has served at Cliff College as our Contemporary Christian Studies Tutor and has made many positive contributions to the life of Cliff College during his time with us. He brought us many helpful and challenging insights concerning the practicalities of church planting and of the emerging conversation, and his gifts as a preacher have been much appreciated both within the College and far beyond. As the incoming Principal, I personally valued the help that Ron gave me last summer when he took time to guide me into the pattern of the life of the College and to interpret to me the various processes and pieces of paperwork which might otherwise have overwhelmed me on my arrival! Ron has been a source of support to many of the students and has always been concerned for the well being of his colleagues.

We also say thank you to Ron's wife Barbara for her work as a note taker and for her involvement in many other ways in the life of our community.

At a time of change we pray for Ron, Barbara, Kathryn and Joseph that they might know God's blessings into the future.

- Chris Blake

Helen Edwards

Helen has been a member of staff at Cliff College for the past nine years. Helen started work as an Evangelist and then moved on to become the Mission and Placements Co-ordinator, with recently being the second year course tutor as well. This shows her dedication to her work and to the life and ministry of the college. Helen believes in this place and she has been very involved with the discipleship and nurture of the students, rejoicing in their achievements and progress. Helen has been a good friend to many and people have been touched by her support, care and concern. She always went the extra mile in her care of the welfare of the students. Helen brought a lot to the college, and many of us are better people for having known her personally and the College has been blessed by her presence, commitment, ministry, skills, and willingness to help anybody whenever there was a need. 

Helen is moving on to do her teacher training, as she fulfils God’s calling to become a teacher. As she embarks on this new journey in her life, we want to let Helen know that she has been a blessing to many, and that God will be using her to make a difference in the lives of those she is going to meet. Thank you for all that you have given us. You have been a blessing to all and it has been an honour to have known you!

- Eva Walker

Other Changes

We also say goodbye to Rob Redpath who has served as our AVA and IT supervisor over the last twelve months and to Rev Jonathan Kerry who has been working for us part time during the last year giving us valuable help with various accreditation processes.

We pray for them as they move to new situations. We also pray for Eva and Mick Walker who are expecting twins. Eva is our European Evangelism Enabler but will be on maternity leave from the start of September.

We also pray for Phil Meadows who will be moving from full-time to half-time at Cliff College so that he can lead and develop the "Inspire Project". We believe that this change is the result of God's call on Phil's life and we look forward to hearing more about the development of this new area of ministry in a future edition of "Cliff Today".

Within the staff team the Evangelism Department will see a new staffing pattern from September. Heading up that team will be Rev Piers Lane who will take on the responsibility of being Director of Evangelism. Once again there will be more details in the next edition of Cliff Today regarding the ongoing and developing evangelism activity of the College.