Christian Outreach Centre
Encyclopedia
Christian Outreach Centre (often referred to as "COC") is an international movement of churches founded in 1974 by former Methodist
minister Clark Taylor.
Taylor launched the first congregation with 25 people in his house in Brisbane
, Australia
. The meetings were characterised by lively worship, including clapping and dancing, and an emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit
. They regularly included "altar calls" in which people would come to the front of the meeting to receive prayer. The church grew rapidly over the next few years, moving several times as it outgrew its venues. It gained a reputation for welcoming marginalised people, including the homeless, drug addicts and ex-criminals. By 1977 COC numbered over 1000 people, and began planting new congregations in nearby towns. The television programme "A New Way of Living", produced by the church, included many claims of miraculous healing. By 1985, the Brisbane church met in a purpose-built 5000-seat auditorium.
By 1988, the movement had grown to 136 congregations, including groups in New Zealand
and the Solomon Islands
as well as Australia. In 1990, following the resignation of Clark Taylor, Neil Miers was appointed International President, and under his leadership the movement expanded to include churches in over 30 countries. In 2009 Ashley Schmierer became the new International President.
, followed by another on the Sunshine Coast in 1979 called Suncoast Christian Academy, later renamed Christian Outreach College Sunshine Coast, then again changed in 2001 as Suncoast Christian College. A third school was built and opened in 1982 in Toowoomba called, Christian Outreach College Toowoomba
. The mission of each of the schools is roughly the same, best summed up in the statement 'Our mission is to disciple students in their personal and scholarly growth within a Biblical worldview so that they may serve God and their fellow man.'
The schools cater for students of all ages from preparatory right through to 12.
, Brisbane, Queensland describes itself on its website as '"established in 1986 as a result of Christian Outreach Centre's vision for Christian higher education"'.
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister Clark Taylor.
History
Taylor launched the first congregation with 25 people in his house in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The meetings were characterised by lively worship, including clapping and dancing, and an emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. They regularly included "altar calls" in which people would come to the front of the meeting to receive prayer. The church grew rapidly over the next few years, moving several times as it outgrew its venues. It gained a reputation for welcoming marginalised people, including the homeless, drug addicts and ex-criminals. By 1977 COC numbered over 1000 people, and began planting new congregations in nearby towns. The television programme "A New Way of Living", produced by the church, included many claims of miraculous healing. By 1985, the Brisbane church met in a purpose-built 5000-seat auditorium.
By 1988, the movement had grown to 136 congregations, including groups in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
as well as Australia. In 1990, following the resignation of Clark Taylor, Neil Miers was appointed International President, and under his leadership the movement expanded to include churches in over 30 countries. In 2009 Ashley Schmierer became the new International President.
Schools
Christian Outreach Centre operates a number of schools within Queensland, initially opening a campus in Mansfield in 1978 called, Christian Outreach College BrisbaneChristian Outreach College Brisbane
Christian Outreach College Brisbane is now known as Citipointe Christian College the Christian Outreach College Brisbane, a Christian independent day school located in Carindale, Queensland. The school has a population of around 1700 students from preparatory to Year 12, including students in the...
, followed by another on the Sunshine Coast in 1979 called Suncoast Christian Academy, later renamed Christian Outreach College Sunshine Coast, then again changed in 2001 as Suncoast Christian College. A third school was built and opened in 1982 in Toowoomba called, Christian Outreach College Toowoomba
Christian Outreach College Toowoomba
Christian Outreach College Toowoomba is independent, co-educational, Christian day school, located in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia which offers education from kindergarten through grade 12. COCT is a private school located in Toowoomba, QLD which caters for approximately 800 students...
. The mission of each of the schools is roughly the same, best summed up in the statement 'Our mission is to disciple students in their personal and scholarly growth within a Biblical worldview so that they may serve God and their fellow man.'
The schools cater for students of all ages from preparatory right through to 12.
Tertiary education
Founded in 1986, the Christian Heritage College at MansfieldMansfield, Queensland
Mansfield is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, situated approximately 11 kilometres south-east of the CBD. It is located in the region of the city which is now colloquially known as the "Bible Belt" due to the large number of people who have settled there to be close to Fundamentalist Christian...
, Brisbane, Queensland describes itself on its website as '"established in 1986 as a result of Christian Outreach Centre's vision for Christian higher education"'.