As someone undertaking the Howard Guinness Project, I’m in a wonderful position of training students while also being trained and supported myself.

As a trainee, for two hours every Monday morning I sit under the wisdom of a senior staff worker who leads us through material relevant to working in ministry. Series of topics have included: doctrine of humanity, Biblical theology, personal holiness, worldviews and many more. For two hours each week I have staff meeting where a couple of the senior staff coach around five trainees. We discuss administrative duties and have the chance to ask questions and focus on pastoral issues. A senior staff member meets with me, fortnightly, to check in with how I am going, discuss any concerns, and read the Word and pray with me.

I am also a trainer. Weekly, I meet with students who are learning how to lead Bible studies. I train them in how to shepherd their group and to lead and write their own studies. I meet once a week with the Pharmacy faculty leaders to train them in how to lead a committee that is in turn leading a large body of students. I train people in how to do evangelism by running a course, doing individual mentoring, and taking students out to do cold-contact evangelism.

I’m given many tasks and responsibilities that are very stretching and out of my comfort zone, and the senior staff support me and enable me to learn how to do these and manage my workload.  So, it’s a great joy also having the opportunity to encourage students as they too feel stretched by their leadership responsibilities.

Last week there was a student who was feeling particularly overwhelmed about a certain responsibility. It was a beautiful moment as I was able to empathise with her and share my own lack of confidence regarding a new task I’ve recently taken on, and we could both recognise how well supported we were.

I love this model that the EU has for training because it prepares people so well for serving the Lord the rest of their lives.