My parents tell me that the old Mark is back; the spring is back in my step; a huge weight has been removed from my shoulders. From their perspective my decision to leave Parish ministry in order to take up the role of Academic Registrar at SMBC has had a very positive effect on me.

The best thing about my role at SMBC is that I’m still involved in full time Christian ministry, but in a way which I think will better suit my skills and personality. I love the fact that it’s a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job that’s not located at my home. This means that when I’m home with the family that the temptation of work will be vanquished. It will be much easier for me to switch off.

I’m very thankful for the warm welcome that I’ve received at SMBC. I think that the people there are going to be a brilliant team to work with and that the ministry there will be an exciting one to be a part of.

I don’t in any way see my move from Parish ministry to this new role at SMBC as a backward step. Ray Galea affirmed me in this regard when he told me that my new role is an “essential ministry”. Peter Bolt from Moore College called it a “good ministry”.

Many people at St John’s, Minchinbury have urged me to keep being involved in Bible teaching as they considered this to be a great strength of mine.

It’s great then that I’ll be able to help out with Bible teaching at Beverly Hills this year. Hopefully I’ll be able to do the same from 2008 onwards when we start going to church somewhere closer to home (wherever that will be).

My brother-in-law once told me that I wasn’t big on change. Well I’ve certainly proven him wrong on this one and I think that it’s a change for the better. Importantly, it’s a change that will not prevent me from bringing glory to God. At the end of the day this is what life is all about, but it’s going to be good to strive to do this in a way which I think will make life more enjoyable.