Reflections: My Time With AFES

My apologies for the delayed update. Since last time, I've been in Hobart for an AFES staff day (It was great having some of the National Leadership Team join us). I've also spent a weekend with the 2025 student committee in Swansea preparing for next year. I've also visited 7 church congregations encouraging them to continue supporting students.

Recent AFES Staff Day

This will likely be my last update before my big move, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to reflect on some of the past 4 years I've worked with AFES. There is much I could share so I've decided to dot-point them.

• Helping students become more confident in reading the Bible for themselves and developing healthy spiritual disciplines.
• Training students in theology as they grasp doctrines like God's sovereignty, Christology, the cross, revelation, and biblical theology.
• Hearing the prayers of students asking the Lord to work in the lives of unbelievers.
• Seeing students grow in their leadership potential and care for others.
• Encouraging and modelling to students how to have gospel conversations with others.
• Being part of a wider national fellowship of staff and networking ideas of how to engage and teach students.
• Seeing 2 (maybe soon to be 3) students come to know Christ!

• Working hard against a university culture that is becoming less centred around quality education, learning and relationships.
• Trying to encourage students to prioritise their own discipleship and Christian maturity among the many other commitments they may choose to involve themselves in.
• Staying persistent in prayer during the disappointments and discouragements that ministry can bring.
• The personal sacrifices that can come with serving others (relational, emotional, etc...).
• Reserving time for good rest during occasional periods of busyness due to conferences and events.

• To be gracious and patient with students as they mature and navigate adult life.
• Recognising my own limitations and God's great power.
• Valuing the need for regular spiritual refreshment through word and prayer.
• Learning to work with people with different convictions and ministry philosophies.
• Understanding more about my leadership style, gifts and abilities.
• Continued growth in ministry wisdom and competency.

Thankfully the students won't fully be left to themselves next year. Nathan Tivendale, who works at UTAS, is keen to provide some oversight for the group. Although he won't have heaps of time on the ground with the students, he will be regularly checking in with the student committee to see what they need help with.

In the meantime, I've been networking among local ministry leaders who are willing to come in and provide training and teaching from time to time.

In some ways I think my departure will be healthy for the group for a short time, potentially giving the students more motivation and ownership of the community. However, I can easily see the ministry collapsing without more intentional support after a year or two. Our prayer is to still find someone to be paid by AFES to work with the students to provide a longer-term vision.

Uni Fellowship End of Year BBQ

Most things are now in place for me to head to Sydney next year. I'll finish all my work with AFES and The Branch on December 20. This will give me a few weeks to have a break, move out of my rental and get my car on the Spirit of Tas in mid-January. Orientation starts on February 1 which includes a 2-week Greek intensive. Something I'll need to brush up on.

Thank you so much for your continued support for me and this ministry. It truly is a blessing knowing so many people are praying for this work that I have had the pleasure of being able to do.

I hope to continue sending updates, on what I'm up to at college for those who want to stay connected with me. I'll send out a separate email soon for you to opt into that.