From the Outback to Overseas

When Kate* moved from Alice Springs to Sydney to study at Christ College, she wasn’t chasing a title or a role—she simply wanted to know God’s Word more deeply and be better equipped to serve His people. What she found was a theological community that challenged her thinking, strengthened her convictions, and shaped how she would minister in the years to come.

Kate spent her childhood between Papua New Guinea and a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory, where her parents served with Mission Aviation Fellowship. 

“It was an incredible blessing to grow up in both a Christian and mission-minded family,” Kate reflects. “I came to Christ when I was eight years old; I’d seen the joy of Christians and knew Jesus must be real. I wanted Jesus to be my Saviour too. I was baptised aged 10 at the local croc-infested beach!”

After school, Kate trained as a physiotherapist and worked in hospitals across Victoria and Alice Springs. It was during her time in Alice that she began to sense a deeper call. 

“I realised just how important rich theological training was for understanding and sharing God’s Word well, and building up His Church,” Kate explains. “God planted in me a desire to study His Word deeply, and it was that leading from God that saw me pack up my life in Alice and head to Sydney for Bible college.”

Kate’s decision to study at Christ College was shaped by formative years in a Presbyterian church in Melbourne. 

“I was confident I could trust Christ College to be spot on in their teaching,” she shares. “I won’t lie, though—I was a little nervous in approaching them initially, as I was female, studying the MDiv, and committed to a Baptist church at the time! My very first meeting with (principal) Ian Smith set me completely at ease. I was warmly welcomed, taken seriously, and treated like family from that moment on.”

Kate quickly found her place in the Christ College community. She appreciated the rich, thought-provoking teaching that grew her knowledge and love of God and His Word. She loved that classes not only stretched her theologically, but kept her grounded in the practical as they asked the question, ‘What does what we are learning mean in our own walk with Jesus, and in our ministries?’

Kate appreciated the theological depth of the faculty, and the authenticity they modelled: “They were approachable, open, genuine in their care for the growth and development of the students, and genuine when sharing their experiences.”

Living in the campus accommodation on Clarence Street was another gift for Kate. As she puts it, “How often can you be sitting in a library, working on essays, with a view looking out over the Sydney Harbour Bridge?!”

Since graduating, Kate has been serving in Queensland as part of a church ministry team, while keeping a toe in physio practice. Her ministry focus has included pastoral care to women and outreach to local communities, including refugees. It’s been both a huge privilege and a huge challenge, and her sense of calling has continued to grow. 

“About 18 months ago, God laid an unreached people group on my heart,” Kate explains. “After much prayer and discernment and partnering with a mission organisation, I’m currently in the preparation phase of heading overseas for a new chapter serving God.”

Kate acknowledges that Christ College played a key role in preparing her for what’s ahead. She feels her season at college equipped her with skills to delve deep into the Word and handle it with care as she opens it with others. It also equipped her with really good, practical training in leadership.

“I think above all, my time at Christ College stoked a love for Scripture, which has only grown since, and a love for doing life in community, even when the going gets a bit tough,” Kate shares.

For anyone considering Christ College, Kate’s advice is clear: “You’ll be stretched and challenged, convicted and refined… but it will be so very worth it. You will learn, you will grow, your love for God and people will deepen, and you will be equipped for a lifetime of ongoing learning, ministry, worship, and enjoyment of God.”

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*First name only, as Kate is heading to a sensitive location