Equipped for all of life: Annika Chong’s part-time college experience 

There’s often a misconception amongst Christians that you need to choose between a university degree or bible college. Prospective theological students think their options are limited to full-time ministry in a church or Christian organisation. At Christ College we have a vision to break away from this perspective. Prospective students don’t need to feel pressured to make a choice between secular work and theological studies. Rather, Christ College is here to offer a whole-person formation that prepares its students for not only the pulpit, but also the hospital bedsides, the secular workplace and their personal life. 

Prior to enrolling at Christ College, Annika Chong had never thought about pursuing a theological degree to equip herself for a career in the secular workplace. Yet, her experiences of Jesus growing up was a stepping stone that later led her to considering how she can bring Christ’s love into all aspects of her life. 

Growing up in a Christian household meant there was never a time that Annika’s parents didn’t share the love of Jesus with her. Throughout her childhood Annika was blessed to witness the love of Christ through her parents’ example. However, despite this strong foundation, during her teenage years she struggled with issues around body image and self-worth, finding that experience deeply lonely. “It was really only God that knew. It was really only God that made me feel loved, that I was worthy of love, and that made the idea of salvation become really real for me,” Annika shares. Her faith in Christ filled her with a desire to bring her love for him into all aspects of her life, creating a framework in which she approached her time at university and later her career in architecture.

From architecture to theology

The idea of studying at bible college wasn’t something Annika considered until she started studying a Bachelor of Interior Architecture at UTS. During her studies she got involved with one of the Christian groups on campus, SOW (Student Outreach to the World). Doing ministry with this group opened her eyes to how deep and beautiful God’s word was and how much she enjoyed learning about systematic theology and biblical theology. The framework it gave her for reading the bible also transformed how she saw the Christian life and how she wanted to journey through life with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Annika’s time at SOW grew her desire to be equipped in understanding God’s word in a way that prepares her for the secular workplace and her personal life. When she finished university in 2024, she started working in her field of architecture. But she didn’t jump straight into a full time role. Instead she found an architecture role that would allow her to also study at bible college, one subject at a time.

“It’s so amazing to live in a country where bible college is so easily accessible,” Annika says. “It’s such a wonderful opportunity, I just thought, why not go for it?” 

Annika was encouraged by both mentors at SOW and pastors at her church, Cornerstone Rhodes Presbyterian Church, to pursue theological study. Many of her pastors had trained at Christ College, which made it a natural fit for Annika. “They all spoke very highly of the experience, the teaching and the fellowship,” she says. 

High expectations fulfilled 

Her experience at Christ College so far has not disappointed these high expectations. “It’s been amazing. I went in with the idea ‘oh I’m just going to learn what I can so that I can be equipped for ministry in all of life, not necessarily going down a specific pathway to ministry. It was just to grow in my knowledge of God’s word and my love for God’s word. And while it has been that for sure, it has also been much more.” 

Studying alongside other Christians has made the process of learning God’s word even more joyful than Annika expected. Annika found that at university, the focus was on getting the best possible marks and achieving good academic results. But at Christ College, the focus is a lot more holistic. Getting to learn with others who have the same passion for Christ, for ministry and for mission has made her time studying fulfilling as well as fruitful.

One thing Annika has learnt through her time at Christ College is how God works in everyone’s lives in such different and diverse ways, to use everyone’s circumstances for his glory. “Hearing everyone’s stories at college has been mind opening. Hearing these stories has made me think ‘wow, God really uses his people to do his work in different ways.” 

Learning the biblical languages has also been a huge highlight for Annika. “Slowly uncovering the intricacies of the original language of the Bible in Greek has been so fun. It’s been hard, but very rewarding as well.” 

Peace in uncertainty 

Since starting at Christ College Annika has been equipped to speak into her current work environment and have great gospel conversations with work colleagues. “Bible college is about equipping the saints for ministry in all of life, in a holistic sense. We’re eternity bound, and college is the best way to prepare for that.”  

To those still unsure as they consider theological study, Annika tells them to go for it. “It might be scary, you might feel you’re not smart enough or mature enough in your faith to go. But I would say that at the end of the day, we’re all just Christians running the same race. We’re all just wanting to learn and love God more and more. And the best place to do it is at bible college.” 

In particular, Annika wants to encourage more women to consider studying theology. “It’s an amazing opportunity, and there’s so many ways to do it. There’s night classes, and you can just audit classes if you don’t want to do the assessments but just come and learn. I would love to see many more women coming to study at Christ College as well.” 

Annika is now less sure about what her future holds than she was before she started college. But she has also grown in learning to embrace that uncertainty with peace and contentment as she follows where God leads. “I know I have a great God who’s going to use me however he wants to, and I have an amazing support system at college who can help me figure out what that looks like,” Annika says.