Theology students travel the world to tell the good news
Josh Dye
Public relations intern
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Ben Reynolds preaches in the village of Esani in Kisii, Kenya. More than 300 people in 10 countries have been baptised over the past 18 months because of the ministry of Avondale ministry and theology students. Credit: Lachlan Campbell.
“The projector is broken and the generator is out of fuel.”
This is Lachlan Campbell telling of the challenges he faced when presenting with three other ministry and theology students from Avondale College of Higher Education an evangelistic series in Kenya over the yearend.
Lachlan, along with Ben Reynolds, Jared Smith and Martin Thomson, also ministered in Dubai, India and Zambia. He did not have to go.
Trips such as Lachlan’s are initiated by motivated students wanting to share their faith, says Dr Murray House, senior lecturer in ministry and theology at Avondale. In the past 18 months, 11 students have travelled to 10 countries to spread Jesus’ love. “What they receive in return is the amazing discovery that God’s Word transforms lives,” says Murray.
The experience of sharing Jesus in different cultures has helped Lachlan appreciate the freedom with which we worship in Australia. “In Dubai, because it’s in a Muslim country [the United Arab Emirates], it’s illegal to publicly evangelise. People risk death when they become Christians—you have to baptise in secret.”
This is good for students, says Murray—it opens their eyes and deepens their passion for Jesus. “They come back on a spiritual high because they’ve watched God work miracles.”
Martin Thomson opens the Bible in Itumbi, Zambia. Credit: Lachlan Campbell.
In Kenya, India and Zambia, Lachlan witnessed the poverty many face. “Despite their struggles, the people I met seem more open to the gospel than we are in the West.” This openness has seen more than 300 people give their life to Jesus through baptism during all the trips by the students in the past 18 months.
It is not all about the numbers, though. “Rather than coming with an attitude of ‘we’re making the trip to get thousands of baptisms,’ it’s important to empower the local staff and elders so they can continue the work when we leave,” says Lachlan. “We emphasise it’s not ‘Mzungu magic,’ which means white man’s power, it’s God’s power.”
Lachlan sharpened his skills as a communicator during the seven-week trip. “When you speak through a translator, it’s important your message is clear and simple so the meaning isn’t lost.”
Murray agrees. “When the students are preaching every night for three weeks, their communication and presentation skills really improve and mature.”
Closer to home, the ministry and theology students are just as active. All engage in door knocking and work placements in local Seventh-day Adventist churches. After five years of evangelism in the Lake Haven and San Remo areas, a church is being planted there this year. Murray believes the Holy Spirit has been working on the areas. “San Remo is spiritually aware; it’s time to plant a church there.”
And his vision is for the ministry and theology students to play a part in the new church. “It’s exciting to see motivated young adults speaking easily about their faith and sharing it with others.”