B. Ec. (UQ), Youth & Ed. Dip. (Alcorn), M.R.E. (Duke), Cert IV A&WT, Grad Cert Public Relations (USQ)

Tel: 08 8416 8428

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I live with a wonderful family of 4 women of various ages. My passions are listening to and playing music, cooking with spices, dabbling in multimedia, living outside the suburbs (we're in the Hills), Apple Macs, sci fi/fantasy novels, chocolate and books in general.

I've come to Uniting College with a strong desire to help the church move in the flow of God's mission, to connect the riches of faith with tommorrow's society, and to help people discover their identity and giftedness in Christ.

Teaching & Research

My graduate background is in Christian education. At the College I have been teaching youth ministry in the degree program, as well as some occasional sessions in both worship and evangelism.

In the Certificate and Diploma programs I have been teaching youth ministry, multimedia ("The Wired Church"), church and mission ("The Thriving Church", "The Welcoming Church"), as well as overseeing leadership and spirituality topics.

I've also been involved in developing professional development for ministers in the areas of community development and rural resource ministry.

My current research interests relate to the spirituality of youth and young adults, 'fresh expressions' of church, and the place of the media and creative arts in worship and education.

Print Publications

Selected publications  & articles:

"Youth Ministry Encyclopedia" by Anderson, K., Fairley, S., Francis, S., and Mitchell, C.,Serendipity/JBCE, 1985.

"How to Work with Young People" by Anderson, K., Anderson, G., Mitchell, C., Melbourne: JBCE, 1991.

"Encounters with Jesus", Mitchell, C. (ed), Melbourne: JBCE, 1992.

"I Believe in Jesus Christ": Life Plus Module & Study Book , Melbourne: JBCE, 1994

"Money, God and Us": Life Plus Module, Melbourne: JBCE, 1995.

"Students at Risk: School Support Programs", Melbourne: The Queen’s Trust, 1996.

"The Best For Youth Leaders Vol. 1", Anderson, G., and Mitchell, C. (eds), , Melbourne: JBCE, 1996.

"Youth Leader Certificate Trainer’s Kit", Mitchell, C. (ed), Melbourne: JBCE, 1992-1997.

“Supporting students at risk” in Youth Ministry Australia, Vol. 1. No. 3. December 1995, Brisbane: Ministry Support Services.

“Sexuality and Young People” in Sexuality: exploring the issues, Melbouren: Uniting Church Press, 1996.

“Youth Spirituality: Worship, Belief and Living” in Springboards, Commission on Liturgy, 1996.

"A Comprehensive Approach to Ministry and Mission with Children, Youth & Families" (editor), JBCE, Melbourne, 1997.

“Reaffirming Our Baptism: A Proposal for Confirmation Reform” in Uniting Church Studies, Vol. 4., No. 1, Sydney, March 1998.

“Planning for Baptism and for Confirmation and Reaffirmation of Baptism” in Cheryl Lawrie (ed), The Belonging Kit, Melbourne: Uniting Education, 1998.

“Beginning, Belonging, Becoming” in Cheryl Lawrie (ed), The Belonging Kit, Melbourne: Uniting Education, 1998.

“Snapshots of Rural Ministry” in Australian Ministry Digest, Vol. 7, No. 4, October-December 2000, Adelaide: MediaCom.

"Water For The Journey: Lenten Studies", Melbouren: Desbooks, 2001.

"Children in the Bible", General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, 2005.

"Devo'Zine Mentor's Guide", Nashville: Upper Room, periodical 1998 - 2004.

Multimedia Productions include:

"Leader" Video, Melbourne: JBCE.

"Ucan2 - Country-City Transition DVD", Grampians Presbytery, 2002.

“Thriving Church” DVD featuring Thomas Bandy, Mission Resourcing Network 2004.

“The Future Is” DVD, UCA National Multimedia & IT Conference, Uniting Education, 2004.

“Habits of the Soul” - DVD & Audio CD of “The Winter School of Prayer” 2003, Mission Resourcing Network & Parkin-Wesley College, 2004.

“Xperience Community” Small Group Leader Training, National Christian Youth Convention 2005, UCA SA.

and a bunch of promotional DVDs

Website development and management has included:

www.missionresourcing.net.au

www.ucan2.org.au

www.youthspirituality.com

www.growing-disciples.org

www.nextgenerations.org.au (forthcoming)

craigmitchell.typepad.com/mountain_masala/

www.parkinwesley.org.au

I've been hosting an email discussion group for six years on the use of multimedia with youth and young adults. It has almost 200 members from all over the world and you can find it here .

My personal blog site is here .

Other things

I am an accredited administrator for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

I have completed a train-the-trainer course in Search Institute's Developmental Assets.

Background

I've lived in Brisbane (where I grew up) on 3 occasions, Canberra, Adelaide (twice), Melbourne, Horsham and Durham, North Carolina (where I did my Master's degree). I started life as an economist working in crop marketing, before training as a youth and children's worker. I then worked in congregations in Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as on two national youth events. Headed off to the US for 2 years to study. I had 3.5 years as synod youth consultant in Queensland, followed by 7.5 years as the UCA's national youth ministry person. We then moved to Horsham where I worked as a regional development worker with rural congregations, and taught multimedia on the side. Then two years have been spent working with the Mission Resourcing Network and on NCYC 2005. Along the way I've studied bits and pieces of multimedia, personality theory, community youth development, theology, communication, and other stuff. I also wrote a few things and made some videos and a few websites.

I love to learn and to be with people who want to learn and discover things.
I'm open to surprises. I like open doors and empty canvases. And sandpits.

Did I mention that I also like good coffee? And chocolate?