My introduction to Moore College was unexpectedly early. Fourteen years before I set foot on campus as a first-year student, I was already studying core course content. The Biblical Studies unit at my school had the somewhat dubious idea of distilling Moore College’s bachelor degree into a high school curriculum. In a school where most students weren’t Christians, Biblical Studies was barely tolerated. But there was always that one freak who actually enjoyed studying the socio-political context of Nahum, or the ongoing reality of sin in the life of the believer (à la Romans). Guess who!
The road to Moore was not immediate or direct, however. I’d been established in the Word, but I was still young and there was much work to be done on me as a disciple of Christ. In the meantime, there was engineering to be done and, later, a ministry traineeship with Campus Bible Study. But even then, the door was not wide open. The traineeship had hit me hard and I’d discovered that I was nowhere near as emotionally robust as I thought I was. My passion for ministry had not dimmed, but it was with a considerably more sober self-appraisal that I began at Moore.
My decision to come to Moore was based on reputation and recommendations. I was told that it was among the best places in the world to learn how to read the Scriptures and experience has only ever shown that to be true. The faculty are talented and thoughtful; the lectures, stimulating and stretching. It has been, however, those things that I wasn’t expecting that I have come to value most. My lecturers—experts, geniuses and boffins alike—are humble, and they love Jesus and want to make him known. They are committed to us and our progress, sacrificing time and energy to attend to our concerns and problems. My peer group are among some of the most talented and godly people I know. My cohort has confronted my pride and insecurity but also shown me the true joy of fellowship in Christ. I am deeply thankful for their example, support and single-minded devotion to Christ. The classes have formed me, but so have my classmates. I owe a great debt to them, for through them God is preparing me for ministry.
Where to after Moore? My current intention, the Lord willing, is to head to Perth. Why Perth? I like to say I was Perth-cepted. The semblance of an inkling of an idea was planted in my mind long ago—I know not how or by whom (although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t DiCaprio). But the idea grew and got comfortable. Growing alongside this was my conviction that the gospel riches we have in Sydney need to go out. There are reasons to stay in Sydney to minister, but none of them applies to me. Will I end up there? That’s in God’s hands. I suppose we’ll wait and see.
