frequently asked questions

1.  What is OCA?

2.  When did it start?

3.  What churches are involved?

4.  How are colleges chosen?

5.  What is the advantage of giving to OCA?

6.  What relationship does OCA have to other mission agencies?

7.  Who is Stuart Brooking?

1.  What is OCA?

Overseas Council Australia is a mission agency that is concerned to raise up more national leaders for the church in the developing world. It provides funds to theological colleges in developing countries to provide leaders for the church in those countries.

Founding OCI Chairman Dick Capin, STU President John Chongham Cho and OCI Founding President Charlie Spicer in 1980.

2.  When did it start?

OC started in the US in 1974, and in Australia in 1987. OCA is an Australian company limited by guarantee. The US and other national Overseas Councils have no control over OCA. They are however good friends.

OCI's first partner college
– Seoul Theological University.

3.  What churches are involved?

OCA is not affiliated to any denomination, but receives support from a number of different churches including Anglican, Baptist, Uniting, Pentecostal and independent churches. Typically churches that have a commitment to overseas mission and training for ministry are interested in the work of OCA. Some of the larger churches in Australia are regular contributors to OCA. Most funding however comes from individuals who have caught the vision of training nationals in their own country.

4.  How are colleges chosen?

Out of the 4,500 colleges in the developing world, Overseas Council as a group supports just over 100. OCA supports about 20 from this list. OCA has strict criteria for including a college on its list. For more information click here.

5.  What is the advantage of giving to OCA?

OCA provides a unique way for Christians in Australia to contribute to the upcoming leaders of the church in the developing world. These young men and women will lead churches, evangelise, and plant new churches in their countries. Unlike Western missionaries they already know the language and culture. Your investment in them will last for thirty or forty years as they minister through their work life.

6.  What relationship does OCA have to other mission agencies?

OCA works cooperatively with a number of Christian mission agencies in Australia and overseas. In Australia we have strategic relationships with several agencies, allowing each one to specialise on what they are called to do. Many of the colleges we support were founded by mission agencies and still have some missionaries on the staff. While we believe the time for Western missionaries is not over, it is certainly time that the Western church put a greater emphasis on developing nationals in leadership for their churches.

7.  Who is Stuart Brooking?

Stuart is the Executive Director of OCA. He is an Anglican clergyman who has worked in Sydney and Geraldton, WA. He previously was National Director of the Church Army in Australia, a society of evangelists. He has degrees in Psychology, Theology, History and Management. He lectures occasionally at Morling College (Baptist) in Sydney and Moore College (Anglican) in Sydney. He is a Moderator for the Australian College of Theology.