What’s Next?

Yay! Exams are over! Most seemed to go fairly well, though my slow writing meant I always ran out of time and didn’t get as much down on paper as I would have liked. With a bit of mercy from those marking them, I think I should pass! This means my full time study at Sydney Missionary and Bible College has come to an end. I still have 2 subjects to complete in the second half of 2008, and Brooke is going to do some part time study in the first half of the year to complete her SMBC certificate.

It has been an amazing privilege to spend this time gaining skills which allow me to better understand the bible and teach it to others, as well as being challenged to live a life that reflects the love God has shown us by sending Jesus to die in our place. But this leaves you asking the question, “WHAT’S NEXT?”

For a long time, we were wondering the same thing ourselves (and were getting a bit anxious about it). We are still working towards the goal of moving to the Republic of Ireland and doing Christian ministry over there (i.e. sharing the good news about Jesus with the Irish people), but the need to finish off some part time study in 2008, plus our hopes to start a family before we leave Australia, means there is a bit of a gap between now and those Ireland plans actually being realised.

This left us with the dilemma of how to fill that gap. We thought about the possibility of me doing some casual teaching (perhaps at Inaburra School, where I taught before going to Bible College), and also considered rolling my sleeves up and doing some manual labour (perhaps with my brother, or carting bricks or whatever!). In the end, we got an offer that was too good to refuse. Due to the generous financial support of a former church member, the minister of Christ Church St George (Carl Matthei) offered to keep us there in 2009 in a paid training position. We have been going to Christ Church St George (which is an Anglican church that meets in the school hall at James Cook Boys High) on Sunday mornings in 2007, and have really enjoyed our time there (the people are friendly, the style is relaxed, the teaching is relevant and biblical, Carl is a top bloke, and we’ve felt at home there).

The training position we have been offered is for 12 months, and allows me to complete my two SMBC subjects as part of the training. It will involve preaching at least once a month (including a short series on the book of Ecclesiastes, which should be interesting), leading bible studies, and helping organise and run various church activities (including events specifically aimed at telling those who don’t really know what Christianity is on about why Jesus is worth following). Basically, it will give me lots of opportunities to get better at teaching, leading and caring for people – a job that will be tough but rewarding.

We’re going to stay living where we are in the downstairs granny flat at John and Pam’s place, so these little hobbits haven’t left the shire yet! We’re also committed to staying in touch with people at Heathcote Engadine Baptist Church, and will be back there in 2009 as we start to put our Ireland plans into place, so you haven’t gotten rid of us yet!

If you are the praying type, please pray for us as we make these important, exciting, scary steps. Please pray that we will stay focussed on serving Jesus, loving others and growing in our marriage.

If all this info is completely new to you, sorry for not keeping you better informed! We’d love to talk about it more, and everyone is welcome to come check out Christ Church St George any time (except you HEBC people – no sheep stealing allowed!). Details can be found by clicking HERE.

Dave

P.S. These photos are of a game of Jenga we played at this year’s Church Camp – I think it captures a “what’s next” moment, as my shaking hand tries to select the right piece and avoid making it all fall down!