Carey had their 2018 Graduation at the end of March. Here is a couple of stories...
The journey keeps going
Although it was exciting to graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Theology at Carey Baptist College’s recent graduation ceremony, the journey isn’t over quite yet for one Carey student.
Jess Dixon was one of 81 people who graduated from Carey on 24th March but she has decided to continue with her Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Theology. Jess, her husband Jared, and their two-year-old son Elijah are Missioners based at St John the Baptist in Waitara, New Plymouth. They are exploring new ways of being church into the future.
“To be honest, we’re not sure what that looks like yet,” Jess says, “but we believe it’s important to contend and grapple with this ecclesially and to reflect theologically. Studying theology at Carey has enriched my knowledge of and relationship with God so much, and we believe this season isn’t over quite yet.”
Like many students, Jess has family who have studied at Carey previously and the sense of community at the college connected with her. She had some real‑world experience first working at a hospital pharmacy and starting a Bachelor of Science degree until a deep experience with the Holy Spirit led her into investigating theology. “The vibe you get at Carey was something I wanted to be a part of,” she says.
“Studying theology changes your lens. I’ve re‑discovered God, and the God I know now is so much better than the God I had before. It’s epic!”
Masters programme highlights
2018 saw the largest number of graduands in our Masters programme since its inception six years ago. Four postgraduate students and nine thesis students walked across the stage and were celebrated for their unique contributions to Christian research in New Zealand.
Their research covered a diverse range of topics, from evaluating the external support services used by the New Zealand Defence Force chaplains to maintain their relationship with God, to exploring the stories of Māori‑Baptist engagement in the Lower Waikato, to theosis in the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar.
Carey Graduate School is extremely proud of each of the students and looks forward to seeing their research take life and impact people across New Zealand.
