June-July
Highlights
This update will be a little different, as I spent a chunk of time since the last newsletter on leave! Here are a few insights into my rest, return, and also some mid-year reflections:
I had the joy of taking some leave during July, and have just returned from a family holiday in and around Scandinavia! Before leaving, I observed that I was looking forward to this time as rest, rather than ‘recovery’ from pushing myself too hard in ministry. (By comparison, at the mid-point of last year I was feeling very drained at times while still adjusting to full-time work and ministry.) It was good to take a break from my regular routine and to spend time with my family, even with the surprising busyness of travel. While in Copenhagen, we were able to attend a church service at ‘Jesus Church’ (Jesuskirken i Valby, København), at which a child was also baptised with their family in attendance. It is always fascinating to see how other Christians meet for church fellowship; this was a sung service with 6-7 hymns and interludes, relaxed yet traditional, with the Lord’s supper served at the front rail (and all in Danish 😛). I realised that I hadn’t heard any of the hymn tunes before, bar one at the very end (“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”). It struck me that while a church service may accompanied by music and styles that can be diverse and culturally relevant, we all worship the same God of the Bible in spirit and truth through Christ Jesus.
Upon returning last weekend, I was grateful that a member of my growth group volunteered to pick me up and return me home from the airport, and I was very blessed that friends and fellow church staff have assisted in helping me settle back into life and work. Thank God that I was able to enjoy time away on leave with my family, to see new parts of God’s creation, and enjoy fellowship with other Christians from the other side of the globe. Thank God that I have grown in time management and ministry experience, so that I got to enjoy my holiday as rest and not recovery. Pray that I would be rested and refreshed in readiness to settle back into life and ministry at home.
Within a short time of returning for leave, I have a number of (good) things keeping me busy: on Sunday evening I got to provide organ music for a church service at All Saints Anglican Church, North Parramatta, celebrating what is traditionally ‘Transfiguration Sunday’; preparation for preaching this Sunday at all 4 English-language services at my church (on 1 John 5:6-10); and preparation for another sermon on Tuesday at Cornhill (James 2:14-26). Thank God for great opportunities to be stretched in theological thinking and serve others with various ministries, aided by feedback from my teachers and trainers. Pray that I will prepare well and teach faithfully from God’s word, that others might be grown in love of Jesus Christ. And pray that God would calm my stress and nerves as I complete this work, trusting that he will be at work through it.
Learnings
In preparation for leave, I spent time ensuring ministries were covered and church members equipped for serving. These things range from passing on leadership of Bible studies to ensuring someone is available with a church key to open premises when needed. (I have been reminded in the past that “we end up working twice as hard on the day before the Sabbath” haha.) But it is so refreshing and humbling to see God at work in my absence, and to be reminded very practically that God’s ministry continues effectively without me. I was able to see from a distance how church members got on with things and joyfully filled in my roles, taking responsibility by making thoughtful suggestions and changes to improve some outlines I had offered earlier. Upon my return, I also found myself at a lowered capacity to usual as I fought jetlag and inertia after a number of weeks away. I was grateful for team leaders and friends who checked in and shouldered responsibilities for me while I slept at freakish times, and were patient with me when I postponed or missed things. Praise God for the congregations of faithful church members who are keen and willing to serve him. Thank God for those who took initiative to lead and kindly offered to help me in a busy time. Pray that I will continue to serve Jesus with all humility.
I recently completed a 6-month review of my training goals with Bruce (my trainer) in early July. And this past week, Preeti (fellow MTS’er) and I also completed a training session with Carmen in which we revised the MTS training areas of “Conviction, Character, and Competency” to observe which areas God has grown us in, and which areas would be good to set future goals in. It was a great encouragement to reflect that God has indeed been growing us! We have both been strengthened in our theological thinking and Bible study through our formal study at Cornhill/Youthworks, training sessions with our staff team, as well as other opportunities for teaching, preaching, and personal devotion. Yet I also reflected that a marker of my growth as a ministry trainee is deeper awareness of my weaknesses and limitations, and ever-greater dependence on the grace, goodness, and strength of Christ: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a) Praise God that he uses weak and fallible people like us for his work, strengthening and equipping us to share, and grow people in, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank God that he has grown Preeti and I in our Biblical and theological convictions, godly character, and skills in ministering to and leading others. Pray that he would continue to grow us as Jesus’ disciples for a lifetime of godly living and ministry, as we teach and encourage others to also live for him.
August-September
Highlights
My MTS journey rapidly hastens to its last few months! Here are a few updates since writing in August:
Fellow MTS trainee Preeti and I ran a morning tea at St John’s to update our congregations about our training and to encourage prayer and financial partnerships over our final term of training. We were both greatly encouraged by the turnout and the thoughtful words of those who joined! Many from our morning services joined to chat with us, to ask about our joys and challenges, and to share encouragements. We were able to share more about what we get up to at church during weekdays (a bit of a mystery to some people haha) and get to know some of our congregation members better. Praise God that we are both well supported and cared for by our Christian community as we do MTS, and pray for good partnerships to continue well over this final term as we complete our apprenticeships.
I’ve had 3 more opportunities to preach in this past term: twice at Cornhill (on James 2:14-26 and Psalm 116), and once at my home church of St John’s as we completed our 1 John series (1 John 5:6-21)! (In reality, 6 times all up as I preached at all 4 English language services across one Sunday 🫠) It is a blessing and joy to prepare from God’s word and to address these groups of people, to encourage and edify them in gospel truths even as I wrestle with the passages for myself. And I have the privilege of receiving regular feedback and instruction from a plethora of experienced staff team members and guest preachers. Thank God for time to study and meditate on the truths of his word across a breadth of scripture, and for opportunities to proclaim these truths in preaching. Pray that these hearers were encouraged and challenged to love Jesus more and walk in step with him.
You can hear my sermon recordings below:
1 John 5:6-21 – https://youtu.be/La0CwYfarsQ?t=2558
James 2:14-26 [Bible reading ends ~1:14 mins]
Psalm 116 [Bible reading ends ~1:27 mins]
Learnings
Having reached the end of term 3 in my second year of training, I’m deep in thought and discussion about what I will do next year after MTS finishes. Although I’m not yet certain what it will look like, I’m caught up between several great options. Over the course of my training in the last years, I have become convinced that full time ministry would be a possibility for me, and God-willing hope to continue with further training at Bible college one day. But I am also weighing up the option of spending a year or more in the secular workplace to gain some life and work experience that I did not have before starting MTS. While considering these things, we recently enjoyed some timely training with our staff member Carmen looking into the theology of work and ministry. We read some passages from Martin Luther and John Calvin, and were reminded that serving God is not dichotomous to work, but that whatever vocation we have is the vehicle in which we have opportunities to display godly faithfulness. Thank God that I have a number of good options for what to do next year. Pray for godly wisdom as I weigh up what I will do after MTS, that whether I work or study I will continually faithfully serving the Lord.
The Marsden Fund 