Most productive?

May 2, 2023

When do you feel most productive?

I feel most productive when I am one on one with people. When I can sit and talk, or walk and talk with others, I feel I am in my sweet spot. When I can listen, ask questions and encourage them I feel God can use me to bless them. It is this one on one time that is a big reason that God put me here on earth. Often I go away feeling blessed and like I have used my God given gifts to help others.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT

A prayer for today

May 2, 2023

I read this prayer in a Bible app plan today and thought I would share it…

God, thank you for creating a specific purpose just for me. Help me to see myself through your eyes and to throw off all the lies that might hold me down. Help me to believe that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your image and that there is no one else like me. Continue to refine me and prepare me for the purpose you have for me. Show me the next step I should take to grow closer to you and to help fill the space you made for me in your Church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ministry reflections

April 27, 2023

In the past week I have been on holidays and have been reflecting on the ministries I have been involved with over the years.

Over the last 30 years I have been involved with youth groups, led Bible study groups, Pastored a church, been an Elder, a lay preacher, been on the prayer team, helped with emergency food parcels and headed up a para church ministry.

In all of these roles my heart has been to care for and encourage people and to help people grow closer to Jesus. It may have been delivered in a slightly different way because of my job role, but the focus has always been the same.

At the moment I am working in the role of Chaplain. It is something that I have never done before in an official sense. But I guess no matter where I have worked I have been the “unofficial” Chaplain of my workplace. I have often listened, encouraged, had spiritual conversations and prayed for people as the need arose.

Although I did enjoy being a Pastor of a church, I do really enjoy being a Chaplain more. I get to talk to and encourage people, listen to their struggles and pray for them. And in the role I am in I am with a lot more non Christian people. I can share God’s love and light in a real and practical way. This is something I really enjoy too.

Decisions that have helped me

April 21, 2023

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Probably the biggest thing that helped me grow in my faith was to attend Bible college.

I first went to Perth Bible College in 1994. I learned a lot and grew in my faith. Then in 2008 I took a year off work to focus on a one year course at Tabor Adelaide. This was done online.

At Tabor I a number of really helpful units including:

  • Introduction to the New Testament
  • Introduction to the Old Testament
  • Introduction to Theology
  • Pastoral Care
  • Christian Leadership
  • Creative Living (understanding who we are in Christ)
  • Public Speaking and Preaching
  • Pastoral Ethics
  • The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
  • Introduction to Biblical Interpretation

Looking back to those studies it gave me a good foundation of who I was in Christ, an overview of the Bible, how to preach and communicate God’s Word, and how to care for others as a Minister.

I have gone on and done more studies to have more tools in my ministry toolbox, but those units gave me most of what I needed to do the things I have done including Pastor, Elder, Chaplain and Lay Preacher.

If you are interested you can find the websites below.

Perth Bible College – www.pbc.wa.edu.au

Tabor Adelaide – https://tabor.edu.au