So, you want to do Something for god? - RECORD.net.au

FEATURESo,you want to workfor God?by Roger GovenderMany of us want to do somethingremarkable for God, but we aren’t exactly surewhere to start. Isn’t there someone who canshare his or her years of experience? Isn’tthere a place we can hone our expertise? Elisha had theschools of the prophets, the disciples sat at Jesus’ feet andBarnabas was schooled by Paul. What about us today?We may not have Elisha or Paul around, but we do haveJesus and the Holy Spirit, and we have wonderful men andwomen with years of experience and great expertise willingto share everything they have. And it’s our privilege toconnect them with you at the Australian Union ConferenceLay Training Centre. The centre has been operating since2010, and we’ve seen the Adventist mission and visioncatch fire in class after class. “This is all about equippinganyone who is ready and willing for active ministry andengaging them in fulfilling service and leadership,” explainsAUC president, Pastor Chester Stanley.The course is broken into two, three-week intensives,over two years. The classes meet at the picturesque JumbunnaLodge in the Yarra Valley, about 70 kilometres fromthe Melbourne CBD. The Lay Pastoral Assistant and YouthBible Worker courses are designed to equip members toparticipate in evangelistic and pastoral work. The responsibilityand workload of local church pastors is becomingmore complex and demanding, and the support andleadership these graduates provide is greatly needed andappreciated.A favourite part of the course is the practicum betweeneach learning block that gives students the hands-on trainingthey desire. The local church pastor is responsible forteaching students how to give Bible studies, nurturing themembers through pastoral visits, preparing and presentingsermons, and providing the opportunity to participate in,and sometimes even present, an evangelistic series. Thepracticum is where the rubber hits the road!The training centre partners with the Lay AdventistSeminary at Andrews University. The Lay Adventist Seminaryprovides academic support with two semester graduatecredits per certificate which may be earned through theSeventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at AndrewsUniversity. The successful completion of all certificaterequirements, including an undergraduate degree, qualifiesthe student to participate in a post-graduate program.One Woman = 37 Baptisms and CountingAustralia is a very multicultural society. But how canthe Adventist Church reach every community? How aboutthrough our diverse members? Take Nan Myat for example.Nan, a Burmese refugee who arrived in Australia severalyears ago, decided she wanted to reach the Karen, Chinand Burmese communities in Melbourne so she attendedthe AUC Lay Training Centre. In four years she has led justover 37 people through to baptism. “I feel equipped. A bigthank you to AUC Training Centre and the teachers whotaught me how to preach, prepare and give Bible studies,”Nan says. Today, she is studying with 17 young people, 10senior members from the community and two groups ofindividuals via Skype who live interstate. She is just at thebeginning of her ministry!Church Alive!North Perth church in Western Australia had a vision toreach its potential in spreading the good news so it sponsoredthree members to attend the training centre. MelindaMuscara, Shirley Georgiou and Caroline Laredo were allprofessionally trained, but felt impressed by the call of22 JUNE 30, 2012 • record.net.auComment? Go to record.net.au/comment