Florence Zung
1. What ministry have you been involved in?
After college, I've been back to my hometown " Hong Kong. I started in May this year and am with the Evangelical Free Church of Chinese, YanFook, serving in youth ministry and an adult fellowship group called Timothy.
2. What ministry do you hope to be involved in the future?
God willing, I'm hoping that I can stay with YanFook for at least five years, especially with their youth ministry. After going to two short-team missions in China within the last two months, I realised the gospel needs in China. I don't know whether going to China is God's plan for me, but I guess at this stage I'm open to it!
3. What preparation and training did you undertake before taking on this role?
The two areas of ministries that I'm involving in are all new to me! Although I was doing uni ministry, dealing with adults is quite different. They've much more other things they need to worry about: marriage, families and relatives, work, finances, health etc; and they've much less time. Youth ministry is totally new to me (I didn't even think of doing youth, but God always has a better plan). Also, serving in HK is very different from serving in Sydney. So I guess I didn't undertake much preparation and training before taking on these roles, besides doing two years of the Ministry Training Scheme (MTS) and going to college. But, I believe that my past ministry experiences have taught me that there is only one Bible, so I can translate my theological understanding to adapt to different people and culture, so to have different ministry approaches! I'm still getting used to and getting to know more about the youths and adults, but I'm enjoying it, seeing that what I'm teaching is the same old Bible, just differently.
4. What are the strengths and benefits of training you are receiving from Moore College and MAC?
Having started working, I realise that there aren't many times you can just sit down with friends to talk theologically and openly (and they say it will only get worse); and talking theologically is one thing that I miss about Moore and MAC. Going to lectures was just mind-blowing! We learnt about how to read the Bible in its depth and richness. We heard about people that might be different from us, so to help us to spot false teaching, and to understand more and be able to articulate better about our beliefs. Class discussions were stimulating; I would never have thought in a particular way if fellow students hadn't brought it up. The faculty members were just awesome! They were all big thinkers (with larger heads than normal people, we thought!). They were very critical but very nice and funny too! The three chapel services each week were times where I was reminded to relate God’s word to my life and to sing His praises! I loved MAC! I learnt a lot by simply living with a group of Godly women (both students and staff) with all our ups and downs. I learnt heaps about how to care for people from seeing how the MAC staff related to us! At Moore College and MAC, I learnt theologically and practically all the time!
5. What are you most looking forward to about the ministry you are involved in? What are you enjoying most about ministries you are involved in?
Christians have to be very different from the people around them; but youths usually need lots of acceptance from their friends, hence it's very easy for them to fall into temptations. So, I'm looking forward to seeing the youths grow and stand firm in Christ, and be the next generation of gospel workers for the Lord.
6. What would you say to women considering training for ministry?
I would say ‘JUST DO IT!!!!’ There are so few workers but so many needs. We can serve in so many different capacities and we have so many opportunities. Everyone should be trained and be ready to serve in whatever situations God has placed them. Just do it so you’re ready to serve, even in the areas that you would never have thought of!
Kay Clark
1. What ministry are you currently involved in?
I teach in a bible college in the Anglican diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The college trains men and women for ministry in the local church - lay or ordained. We run two courses: a three-year pastors’ course and a one-year evangelists’ course. This past year I have been teaching doctrine to the evangelists and theology to the pastors, as well as doing English Conversation with them. This year (2007-2008) I am teaching theology and New Testament and Church history, and still English Conversation (I am the only native English speaker on the staff - it means that there will be a bunch of Tanzanian pastors speaking English with an Australian accent!)
2. What preparation and training did you undertake before taking on this role?
In my middle age I did Th. L at the School of Christian Studies (Robert Menzies College), then MA partly at Morling then at Moore. Prior to going to Tanzania with CMS, Russell and I spent six months in a missionary training course at St Andrews Hall, the CMS training institution, in Melbourne.
3. What are the strengths and benefits of training you received from Moore College and MAC?
From my Moore College training I think I gained a good firm context for my Biblical understanding - a framework in which to set my previous Christian knowledge - which I use in my day-to-day teaching. My MAC experience has come through being involved in teaching some of the courses there (with Narelle) and chaplaincy work with the women students. I learned a lot through both of those about adult education and ways of effectively engaging with adult learners. In both contexts I myself have found the interaction with my fellow-students to be stimulating for my own thinking and reflection on Christian issues.
4. What do you love most about the ministry you are involved in?
In my current ministry the thing I love most is relating to my students. It is a great privilege, and very humbling for me, to see these mature Christian people who have had almost no education (none have been to high school) so appreciative of the opportunity to study, and so determined to tackle obstacles like essay-writing, or having to endure being taught theology by one who is far from fluent in their language. They are committed to getting themselves equipped to serve God and His people better - they are an inspiration. It is also very rewarding to be teaching in a totally different culture. I get asked questions no student has ever asked me before - it gives me a fresh perspective on what I am teaching!
5. What would you say to women considering training for ministry?
I’d say - go for it, if you have the opportunity. And you may be surprised where it takes you - I started doing Th. L. ‘recreationally’ when our youngest child started at pre-school, because I wanted to use my brain for something to do with my Christian faith, and to help me writing high-school Scripture material for our local church team. I was very surprised at the end of my course to find myself with two ‘real’ jobs - one in Christian writing at CEP and one on the ministry team at our church, and now here I am in theological education half-way around the world! It is good to be here doing that, using the gifts and experience that God has given me, because there is no impediment at all in the Tanzanian church to a woman teaching men the Bible - it is very refreshing!! It would be my observation that God doesn’t waste the gifts he gives his people so be prepared!!
Tabatha
1. What ministry are you involved in?
I am currently in China, I have been sent here with CMS and now work with an organization called Evergreen.
2. What preparation and training did you undertake before taking on this role?
I’m not sure how much of my training was consciously for this exact role, but it’s all coming in handy, and I can see it will in the future too. Having said that, I have wanted to come and work in China since I left high school, so at uni I studied Asian history and politics and a little bit of Mandarin. After that I did some ministry training, worked in a nursing home, headed to bible college where I was trained in the scriptures and grew in Christ. This was some of the best training as it stands me in good stead each day but also will be crucial as I get to know people who both do and don’t know the Lord. In a country that has been officially atheist for decades, the ability to see how the gospel applies across cultures and in all situations is a daily need. Of course then I went through all the CMS training too " that I am so grateful for now.
3. What are the strengths and benefits of training you received from MTC & MAC?
I loved studying at MTC and MAC. I not only learnt heaps from the word and great minds of the past but also lived amongst a community of people striving to serve and be equipped for serving the Lord. In MAC in particular, there was a supportive community that I could debate and relax with- a double bonus!!! I made life-long friends there, and it is wonderful to be in partnership with them across the waters now. These are the kind of relationships that people in lifetime ministry need to develop to stay accountable, revived and inspired. Equipping at college is not just about books!
4. What do you most love about the ministry you are involved in?
The ministry I’m involved in at the moment is, well, it’s a journey!!! At present I am 16 months into two years of language study. What do I love most? Probably learning the characters - they are beautifully fascinating and reveal so much of the culture. It is a great privilege to be here and to be supported by God’s people to be involved in His work here. Longer term I will be involved in ‘caring’ ministries and creating ways to share the gospel.
5. What would you say to women considering training for ministry?
I guess, definitely think about it seriously, and ask those you’re in m with now if they think you should pursue it. I think whatever ministry we’re doing, and every Christian’s doing something, we should be equipped for it; God’s people deserve the best of our efforts and not just the scrapings. If you’re wanting to teach the Bible - be it to kids, women, groups, uni students, whatever - make sure you know what you’re talking about!!!! So do some training, and if you can, why not do it at MTC - you’ll never regret it and those under your care won’t either.
