The EU GradsFund’s vision is to flood God’s church with lay and vocational leaders. We caught up with some recent graduates of the EU and asked how the EU has been formative for them and how they are now serving in either secular work or vocational ministry.
Sarah Braga (2022 Graduand):
How has the EU equipped you for ministry and life as a Christian?
During my five and a half years with the EU I attended a number of Equip training courses, including Jesus Centred Conversations and Cross Cultural Ministry, which has equipped me for ministry in all different contexts from formal ministry opportunities like Cru camps to informally having conversations about Jesus with colleagues in the workplace. Attending Working in God’s World in my last semester, also prepared me for how stepping into this next chapter from study to work will be different, and the importance of being intentional about living as a Christian in a secular workforce.
How has the EU impacted your thinking about ministry and the future?
I have been challenged over many Annual Conferences to seriously consider vocational ministry with the Send Me pledge and mission with the LRLR pledge. At the same time, I’ve been encouraged and challenged to think about the value and necessity of work from my friends and EU Law’s former Howie Richard Wong.
Now I’m having to make decisions about what I do and where I do it! While I’ve decided at this time to pursue a career in the secular workforce, that has been an intentional choice now led by serious reflection, with the goal of being able to prayerfully and financially support others in mission and ministry, and also serve as a witness to my colleagues and clients who don’t yet know Jesus.
Anna Hoole (2018 Graduate):
How did the EU help you grow as a Christian?
God was so kind in allowing me to experience the EU during my time at Sydney Uni! When my Arts degree classes could make me feel lonely in a crowd, the EU was a place I found genuine friendship and connection, giving me the courage to go and share the gospel with my classmates. My time in the EU was deeply formative for my faith. In my first year at AnCon, I heard we would be learning about the doctrine of Revelation – and I got excited that we were studying the last book of the Bible! It’s safe to say, at that AnCon I learned so much about what ‘doctrine’ is anyway, and how God speaks to us in his powerful word.
How has the EU impacted your thinking about ministry and the future?
Year by year, at every AnCon I attended I took another step in faith – first signing the LRLR pledge to consider serving God rurally, then wondering if vocational ministry is right for me, then thinking about whether God might have me serve overseas, and finally making plans in that direction. Now I’m at Moore College with my husband Josh, and we’re still praying about how God would have us serve in Australia and around the world. I’m grateful to have been formed by the EU and trained to lead in a variety of contexts – and I’m sure God will use these experiences for his plans and his glory into the future.
Compiled by Andrew Le Marne