A groundbreaking trainee scheme has begun which will link children’s and youth ministry trainees with parishes through the Ministry Training Strategy and Youthworks College.
The scheme utilises the MTS “hybrid” timetable, under which trainees spend half their time at college and the other half working in parishes.
“It’s a boost to parishes to have trainees available,” says the Rev Andrew Nixon, outgoing principal of Youthworks College, “and it strikes a 50-50 balance between study and on-the-job experience, which is exactly what our college has always done. So it is a perfect fit.”
The first two students in the scheme, Evan Moses of Gymea Anglican and Jennifer Soncum of St Alban’s MBM, Rooty Hill, began this year. The positions are administered by MTS, trainees attend the Spur conference and raise their own finances.
That’s a great help to churches, according to the rector of Gymea, the Rev Graham Crew.
“Evan had his heart set on studying with Youthworks and training with us and we were keen but we didn’t have any spare dollars in our church budget,” he says. “Our church has set a goal of raising up 10 young men and women by 2020 to train for full-time ministry. So together we promoted Evan as a great
‘investment’ to our church members, family and friends to raise the scholarship.
“The tax deductibility offered by MTS helps donors make the most of their dollars and they have been efficient in administering the scholarship funds, so that’s one less thing for our busy church treasurer to worry about!”
The training relationship is also a plus, according to Jennifer Soncum. “A highlight of my training is meeting up with my trainer, Sandy Galea, fortnightly,” she says. “It is a time where I can ask her any question about ministry, where we read the Bible and pray together. She takes me through some of her own training papers and she encourages me in my skills... points out what I am lacking in and helps and guides me in growing in these areas.”
There are also advantages at the end of the trainee program. “Instead of coming out of MTS and having no qualification, at the end of the two years I will have the Diploma of Theology/Diploma of Ministry and from that would be able to secure a job or enter into second year Moore College,” she says.
Mr Crew says the experience has also been positive in his parish. “We’ve been wonderfully blessed through having Evan minister and train with us,” he says. “Our church has seen him growing in his ministry skills, his character and in his knowledge of God’s word. He’s been a pioneer for us and I hope others will follow his example in years to come.”
Featured: Evan Moses speaks to youth group members at Gymea Anglican. photo: Yolande O’Donnell
