Celebrating National Baptism Week. Explore the first baptism in New South Wales and reflect on the deep significance of this act in our faith journey,...
Thursday 20th June 2024
Morling’s mission is equipping and shaping Christ centred followers to impact the world. This happens one student at a time and every student matters! Andrew came to Morling College with experience serving in youth ministry and a heart for mission. However, his educational experience in the past had not been easy. He says:
‘I was about 34 years old coming back into study. The last time I’d studied in a strong educational context was year 12. It was a really hard year for me. I’d hit a bit of a, you could call it, a depressive episode. Just the pressure of study and different life circumstance had overwhelmed me at the time. Coming back to study was pretty daunting. I had to front the nerves and there was initial worry about keeping up with deadlines.”
Andrew was motivated by a new role as a school chaplain but above all his passion to serve Christ by sharing the message of Jesus and his love. He began study with the units required to be approved as a chaplain but was soon encouraged by his pastor to complete a Diploma in Ministry. His enthusiasm for learning and support from Morling College has seen him overcome his initial fears, complete his Diploma, and now return for a Bachelor’s Degree in Ministry.
Morling’s flexible and supportive model of learning meant Andrew could work as a school chaplain and study at night. Learning became a joy.
“I really loved the night classes. Quite often it was night classes because you’re working until 4 during the day. I loved the great richness of people you come across.
I loved how the lecturers really invested in relationships, invested in you. We had one class with Tim MacBride that was like a mini revival. Students would sit in all different seats each week. They wouldn’t have their cliques. And I was the daggy older person who wasn’t too embarrassed to ask questions so then it would kick start a conversation.”
What about those nerves about deadlines? Andrew gained support through lecturers to bring him up to speed on writing and referencing and there was support for him as a person to reflect on his experience in year 12.
“So, with a little bit of well-being support it was good to overcome that. I probably fell short of my academic potential before. I wasn’t a Believer then, so I am thankful I didn’t go down a path of say engineering and miss my calling as a chaplain.”
How would he sum up his educational experience. “It’s really redemptive. It’s so so redemptive.” Andrew’s vision is now to seek Baptist accreditation and he has been supported through a matching scholarship. Morling, his school and his local church have partnered with Andrew. The offer of a scholarship was a first for Andrew.
“It was the first time I’d been granted a scholarship for tertiary level study. It’s been really cool because not only has it meant the financial step is less of a hurdle. It broke it down. It was a partnership way to enter study again. You could talk about being safer financially because its less bearing the load fully but also spiritually it meant I had someone in my corner backing me. Almost like that blessing or investment in me. They said we see the positive in you.”
It’s because of a partnership approach that Andrew can respond to the call of pastoral
ministry. Our goal is to raise $50,000 in six months to raise more workers for the harvest. Could you give a tax-deductible gift to our Morling Scholarship fund to support students like Andrew today? Or chat to us about a matching scholarship for someone in your church?
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