Why am I doing MTS?

So next year I will be undergoing an MTS ministry training apprenticeship with my home church The Branch. In this post, I hope to explain my thoughts as to why I am considering this and where I think God is leading me.

For the past couple of years while I have been studying at University, just like any other student I have been thinking about what I might do after I have finished my degree. It really is a big question to answer and can sometimes take a long time to find clarity about.

Uni Fellowship at NTE 2019

At University, I been actively involved and even had the blessing to be around when the student ministry in Launceston started called the University Fellowship of Christians, branching off a group that has been running in Hobart for many years. Being part of this, God has used, challenged, and radically grown me in many different ways. Before being part of this group, I would describe myself as a shy Christian with a shallow understanding of what he believed but I am now being transformed into a more confident Christian wanting to boldly proclaim his faith and has a desire to see others grow more and more in Christ.

From the opportunities that have been given to me by leading and serving others, I have discovered potential in the gifts I think God has given me, which I want Him to use for the sake of His kingdom. From my current experience of being involved in ministry, I have found that it is mutually beneficial by not only being a blessing by serving others but it also personally helps me to be accountable in living a gospel-centred and mission-minded life.

The reason for me pursuing ministry training is to seek more insight into what full/part-time ministry involves. Being involved with University ministry has opened my eyes to God's bigger vision for this world. I think it is important for Christians to be constantly working out their faith and seeking to see others come to know Christ. I think there is much work to be done and want to be part of this in helping others grow to be more like Jesus and making disciples of Him. At the end of completing ministry training, I hope to understand how I am wired internally to see if I am fit to serve in this way long-term and if not, where else I might be more effective with what God has given me.

If I do find that I am capable of serving long-term in ministry, given my previous experience, I would currently see myself working in student ministry. University is a unique time in people's lives as it is when they learn and start to ask deeper questions about themselves and how the world operates. As I have grown up I have noticed that between youth and early adulthood that people who have grown up with a Christian background either flourish in their faith or easily fall away. This is an important time to encourage these people to continue and fully understand what they believe. This type of environment also opens up many opportunities for evangelism as people want to talk about what they believe and discuss it with others. Universities in Australia particularly are an attractive place for international students to study and they are usually very keen to hear what the Christian message offers. So when Jesus says to make disciples of all nations, University is a unique place where the nations literally come to your front door. The best bit is that once they have been equipped with the gospel, they may head back to their home country where they can tell their own people about Jesus.

The reason why I have ended up seeking to do my MTS at my own church is partly because of a few reasons. At the end of this year, I will be finishing up in my administration position for The Branch. During the 3 years, I have been working in this way and being more involved with the rest of the staff team, I have gained more insight into what our church wants to achieve and how it has been doing that. Becoming an apprentice will give me the opportunity to continue serving within the same environment, although in different ways, striving for the same vision. It will also allow me to explore other possibilities of how God might better use me within a church setting.

While I am passionate about what has been happening among the students in Launceston, it is still in its early days and not fully sustainable by itself. Fortunately, as my church has benefited and sees much value in Uni Fellowship, I will still be able to have contact with the students in some ways that will also contribute as part of my apprenticeship. As churches and student ministry have very similar purposes, goals and aims, I think it will also be beneficial to see how they compare and complement each other.

Graduation Photo

Why would I consider doing a ministry apprenticeship if I have just finished a Bachelors's degree in ICT? Wouldn't it just be 4 years of wasted time, effort, and money? In my honest opinion, I don't think it is.

As I have already mentioned, it is only during my time at University that I have grown my desire to serve others and recognise my potential for ministry. Particularly if student ministry is where I will end up, then I would not have a valuable understanding of the University context without being a student there myself.

When you go to University, sometimes it is easy to think that the only things you learn are from the content you study. Due to how society and culture change, I think this is becoming less and less true. There is much more to the student experience that you gain from studying at a University. While many students usually say they are always busy studying, there is still normally a lot of time for socialising and getting to know new people. These people you meet are friends you will probably keep for a lifetime due to being in similar stages of life and on similar long-term pathways. I think this will be particularly valuable having Christian friends like this.

Additionally, there are also many other important life skills that you from just being within that environment. You learn how to be focused and disciplined but also flexible and adaptable. How to work with others in groups as well as separately but also completely independently. One of the most beneficial things I have gained outside my area of study is understanding how different people think based on their worldview and how they might approach life differently. All these things are helpful to have and be aware of no matter what you end up doing after University

So to answer the question "Why am I doing MTS?", really is that I want to serve God with all of my life and the best way I can think to do that is by being engaged in ministry. I have a desire to see others come to know Christ and for people to become mature disciples of Him. I have discovered the potential for me to lead and teach others from the various opportunities I have already been given. To me, that seems like a good enough reason to explore further. Although I still don't know the details of what that will look like or where it might eventually lead but for now I am willing and excited to see what God can do with my strengths and weaknesses for his purpose.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

I would appreciate your prayer as I start this new season in life. Here are some things you can be praying with me for.

• Thank God for what he has been doing in my life during my time at University and for this new opportunity to be able to test myself for ministry.
• Ask that God would use me as I do MTS to humbly serve others and to be well equipped for whatever the future holds.
• Pray that I would be able to finish up my administration work well at The Branch until I switch into my new position on January 11th.

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