Tasmanians in training
Our students at Ridley. L-R Luke Isham, Kate Boughton, Joel Kettleton and Chris Bowditch
We have spent a lot of time thinking about and working toward church health, says Paul Cavanough, director of Ministry.
One of the most exciting signs of our improving health is the fact that four of our young people are currently in training for ordained ministry. I hope that the updates from these brilliant emerging leaders will inspire us all to prayer and new energy in our own ministries.
If you would like to help support the ordinands financially please give me a call at any time. The ministry council's budget is $10 000 a year short of what it needs to be to provide assistance with purchase of text books, the development of a core theological library, travel and conference costs for each ordinand.
Can you help?
Student: Chris Bowditch aged 23
Home Church BayWest aka WellSpring, Blog www.casperchris.blogspot.com
I've been living in Melbourne for eight months working at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Doncaster as the Youth Minister and studying for my Masters of Divinity at Ridley. I'm still passionate about seeing young people make radical commitments to Christ and I'm still convinced that vibrant youth ministry is important for healthy churches. I'm less sure however, about what my future holds, but I'm certain that God will provide me with opportunities to serve him and his church. Ministry and the study opportunities here in Melbourne are proving to be both rewarding and challenging!
I left Hobart to undertake theological training because I believed that this would equip me with great skills for a life of serving God in paid ministry. I've found the study to be intellectually engaging as well as a great help to my own spiritual growth. While it can challenge some of my long held beliefs, it also affirms my faith in Jesus, his life, death and bodily resurrection, as the means for my salvation.
It is an amazing privilege to be able to spend time seriously studying the Bible. I hope to run into many more people coming to Melbourne from Tasmania to study. Providing this sort of training for people who are paid to run churches, who equip congregations to preach the Gospel, is only going to benefit the Diocese of Tasmania see 'every Tasmanian committed to Jesus Christ'.
Student: Joel Kettleton
Moving to Melbourne, starting a new job as a Young Adults Worker in an outer-suburb parish, and studying three subjects a semester at Ridley hasn't been as hard as I thought. I put this down to God's goodness and knowing that He called me to Ridley at this time in my life.
I think for me the greatest things about studying theology are the ways it continual challenges my own walk with God, the way in which it equips me to teach in ministry, and the chance to delve into the Bible, the character of God, and who we are as humans.
Studying on campus is pretty much the greatest thing ever. Having studied eRidley (distance) in the first semester I can say that for me the friendships and ministry opportunities you gain by being on campus are amazing.
Praise God for his provision in enabling me to learn more about him!
Student: Kate Boughton aged 27
Home Church: BayWest now Wellspring
I find it hard to believe that it's been close to three years since I left Tassie to come to Melbourne. Since I've been here I have witnessed some great changes not only in myself but for Ridley College, now Ridley Melbourne. For me it has been a great time of spiritual growth that has resulted from my learning both in classes, in the library and at the churches where I have had the privilege to serve.
My time at Ridley, has been encouraging and challenging. I thank God for the people who have studied at the same time as me, the lecturers and staff, for their support and encouragement. Ridley has given me the tools that I need for future ministry and my prayer is that God will use these to continue to equip me long after I have left Ridley.
As I am coming to the end of my degree I look forward to my return to Tassie at the end of the year and I pray that God will use my learning and experience to build his church in Tasmania.
Student: Luke Isham
Amy and I moved to Melbourne not quite sure what to expect. On the one hand we're energised by the city's constant activity, trams, people, planes, strange shops and interesting restaurants. However we also miss being able to see the horizon, mountains and the sea. As I study for my Master of Divinity at Ridley, Amy's launched her career by getting a job as a systems librarian and I've delved into theology, ideas and debates.
We've settled in a typical three service Melbourne Anglican church deep in the Eastern suburbs, St Mark's Camberwell. I've manged to double up working at St Mark's for one day a week with an internship at Ridley. The church has undergone a recent leadership change which meant that not only did I get to observe how a new minster arrives at church, it also made me the longest serving employee at the church! Amy's been involved with music and an outreach to Korean students.
Studying at Ridley has heightened my sense of ministry. The church needs ministers devoted to prayer, scripture and pastoral care. However I also think the church needs more trained and equipped lay people. I'm really encouraged by some of the lay-people who travel a long way into the city to study at Ridley so that they can be better equipped to serve at their local churches.