Rural to City in Pursuit of The Gospel 

Living in the beautiful countryside of Orange, Lachlan Armytage had a desire to study God’s Word. Moving 260km away was a decision Lachlan did not make lightly, but he relocated from Orange and his family, church, work and community to pursue theological training. 

“I wanted to do my studies face to face,” Lachlan explained.  “I’ve experienced studying online and it’s not easy. It’s a little bit disheartening watching everyone in class and being behind a screen. So I knew that if I wanted to study I definitely wanted to study in person, in community.” 

Lachlan was choosing to study and be a part of a community that would be a part of his spiritual formation. But such a decision came at a cost. 

Financially, it meant giving up a steady income and stepping into rent and relocation expenses. Relationally, it meant long distance friendships and time away from his family. Practically, it meant navigating the uncertainty of moving from regional NSW to Sydney. But for Lachlan, this was not the first time he had experienced leaving his comfort zone for the sake of the Gospel.

A Heart For The Gospel 

Lachlan grew up in a Christian family in Orange, with both his parents studying at Bible College to become missionaries. In 2015 he moved to Vanuatu with his family to serve as missionaries for three years. 

Whilst growing up he struggled with finding assurance in Christ for his salvation, often believing that through good works he could achieve salvation. It wasn’t until he returned back to Orange at 16 years old that he recognised what Jesus had done for him saying, “Yeah, Jesus did it. Jesus paid for it.”

Through this revelation of Christ’s work Lachlan’s faith and personal relationship with Jesus grew, and he started to become active in his Church community with a personal conviction for youth and young adult ministry. 

Later, he undertook a Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) Apprenticeship with the Orange Presbyterian Church. Right up until he left for Bible College, Lachlan was faithfully serving in the Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Through the MTS program he was given the opportunity to experience these ministries in a full-time capacity which gave him a deeper insight into his calling from God. 

The Big Decision 

After completing his MTS training, Lachlan was confident in his desire to pursue vocational church ministry, and wanted to be equipped theologically to serve God in this way. 

“I was starting to think about which college to go to more seriously,” he shares. “For me it made sense to come to Christ College…I had attended some open days at Christ College and I was able to sit in on some lectures and visit the campus. My pastor also trained at Christ College and recommended it very highly.”

Lachlan was aware, however, of the complexity around relocating to the city and whether that would be possible. Critical to the decision about attending Christ College was the question of accommodation – for Lachlan, it was not just a convenience, but a necessity. 

A Place To Call Home

It was because Christ College offered on-campus accommodation that Lachlan felt confident in making a commitment to full-time study. 

“It’s made a huge difference for me, especially to be able to make the move and commit to studying… it would have been really hard without it.”

Without accessible, affordable and proximate housing, many students coming from outside Sydney would face significant barriers to studying at Christ College. 

For Lachlan the provision of housing at Christ College has alleviated a lot of pressure that comes with moving, especially the difficulty navigating the Sydney rental market. “It’s hard to find rental properties when you’re living in Orange,” he explains. “If you are already in Sydney, you can drive up somewhere and check it out. But moving from out of town is a lot harder.”

More Than Convenience 

Having the opportunity to live on-campus has meant far more to Lachlan than simply housing.  “There’s a shared excitement for the gospel here,” he shares. 

“To study by yourself is good and fine, but to be studying the Bible with a bunch of other people who are just as keen as you, there’s that shared momentum that drives you to study hard, but also to enjoy what you’re studying and to appreciate it more.”

Each day carries a natural rhythm which he would not experience had he remained in Orange. Lectures in the morning, shared meals, prayer groups, and afternoons spent studying, often alongside other students in the library. 

But for Lachlan it is those in-between interactions and moments that stand out the most to him: conversations with his peers before class, Wednesday lunch sessions, Tuesday night dinners and the spontaneous discussions in the library. 

“I’ll be working in the library and one of the other students will come up and ask what I’ve been working on…” he shares. “It’s those little conversations that don’t happen otherwise.”

It’s these organic moments and connections that Lachlan is able to experience because he lives on-campus. 

Removing Barriers for Future Students

Lachlan knows that his experience isn’t one every student can easily access. 

“I recognise that I’m very fortunate to be able to get this spot,” he says. “There are only nine units here, so it’s a very small accommodation block. Being able to offer more room would be amazing.”

Without student accommodation, the pathway to study at Christ College becomes significantly harder for those from regional areas, interstate or overseas. That is why Lachlan hopes for a future where more students in similar circumstances to him can study at Christ College. 

In addition to the benefits of student accommodation, Lachlan frequently utilises the campus library, which offers an extensive collection of academic materials far beyond what was available to him in regional NSW. He also finds the faculty to be a vital resource; lecturers are consistently accessible for informal discussions, eager to address his inquiries, and willing to review his assignment drafts.

For Lachlan, the practicality of having access to these facilities has greatly shaped his time at Christ College and the importance it plays in furthering the Gospel. 

“The gospel is about people and people need buildings to live in… there’s the theological study side of ministry, but then there’s also the practical side of things where people really need an actual roof over their heads.”

It’s from this perspective that Lachlan recognises that behind every lecture, every chapel service or Wednesday lunch gathering, there is a physical space making it possible. Without these, the work of Christ College becomes significantly harder, and for some, impossible. 

An Investment That Multiplies 

Lachlan came to Christ College to be equipped to understand God’s word and serve others. What he is learning through his theological studies will shape the lives of those he ministers to in the future. 

“You’re investing in people… You’re investing in ideally a lifelong career of ministry and teaching the gospel, preaching and caring for people.”

The buildings are not the background, but the crucial setting that makes it all possible. From Lachlan’s experience, “the building is where it starts from. So, while it’s good to invest in a whole bunch of other things that happen at college, I think definitely investing in where it starts is really important. To be able to have this available for us to come and study, is a huge blessing.”

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