Reflections from Finishing Howies

by EU GradsFund

Sylvia

What have you learnt about vocational ministry during your time as a Howie?

In my time as a Howie I’ve been learning the joy and freedom of not comparing who I am and the ministry I get to do with others. It is so much more joyful and exciting to thank God for those I get to serve alongside rather than feel insecure and intimidated by the gifts and strengths God has given them, because in turn, God is also equipping me for the the ministry that I get to do for Him!

What are your plans post-Howie program?

To faithfully serve Jesus as a bible college student. I hope to keep taking small next steps to be trained, equipped and open to the doors that God will keep opening for me to love Him and His people.

Andrew

How have you grown during your time as a Howie?

As a Howie I’ve been stretched to be a Pastor-Teacher-Evangelist for my faculty, and have experienced first hand what caring for a small army of 60 followers of Jesus can be like.

What are your plans post-Howie program?

Next year I’ll be getting married in April, which will be an exciting time for me and my Fiancée, Sarah, as we seek to make lifelong promises of faithfulness to one another. I’m hoping at some point in the future to go to bible college as well, and further my theological and pastoral formation through study.

Felicity

How have you grown during your time as a Howie?

So many ways!! God has grown me in learning to trust in his sovereignty when I can’t control things (or people!) and to prayerfully give things that I care about over to him, accepting my own limitations.

I’ve learnt that vocational ministry is not just about personal, spiritual investment as you journey alongside many people (though that is one of the great joys!) but also about investing time in systems and communicating well with other to keep the structures going which facilitate ministry.

What are your plans post-Howie program?

I am having a baby! Baby Kerr is due mid-January, so I don’t have to ‘fill the time’ for very long, but after I settle in to motherhood I hope to work in some kind of ministry.

My long-term plan (God-willing!) is to do some further study in theology, but I’d also love to study postgraduate philosophy – so my ideal would be some kind of great combination of the two!

Phoebe 

What have you learnt about vocational ministry during your time as a Howie?

I’ve learnt more about my strengths, weaknesses, and capacities in ministry. This has helped me figure out whether full time ministry is something I could do long-term, and how to do it wisely.

I’ve learnt that God answers prayer, and I’ve learnt the value of partnership. It’s so good to realise we are part of a body with all the different members working together, that ministry is not a solo gig!

What are your plans post-Howie program?

I plan to work for a year to keep up my speech pathology registration, then head to Bible College in 2025. Down the track I’d love to do more uni ministry, and to keep thinking about places that are less-reached and less-resourced.

Rohan

How have you grown through the Howie program?

I grew so much through the powerful combo of real ministry with real training. God taught me the power of sharing my weaknesses with students, because I am not discipling them to be like me, but to be like Jesus, who we all aspire to.

What are your plans post-Howie program?

I will study at Moore Theological College for 3 or 4 years, and God-willing serve in Japan soon after that.

Trish

How have you grown through the Howie program?

I have grown in my conviction that it is only God who gives the growth in my time as a howie. I just get the joy of partaking in the watering and sowing!

I’ve learnt that being a minister of the gospel is about helping people think through life situations theologically, not just about sharing my personal life experiences!

What are your plans post-Howie program?

I will be heading to bible college studying at SMBC next year, hoping to be more equipped as I hope to do cross cultural mission.

Henry

What have you learnt about vocational ministry during your time as a Howie?

I’ve learnt that there is more gospel ministry work to do than I have hours in the week! I’ve grown so much in my dependency on God and His loving sovereignty over these past two years — having failed in different tasks and being forced to let Him take over and seeing how He has worked in my weakness. What I knew in my head as knowledge, I now believe with faith in my heart – I have seen God’s power at work!

What are your plans post-Howie program?

I’m going to do a Master of Theology at Moore college and doing student ministry for one day a week.

Sarah

How have you grown through the Howie program?

I’ve seen God grow me so much in both humility (or at least, I’ve definitely felt very humbled at points) and confidence: I feel so much more confident in ministry despite knowing my flaws and weaknesses all the more clearly, because I’ve seen how much it is that God sustains his people and his ministry, instead of it all resting on us.

What are your plans post-Howie program?

Next year, I’ll be studying part-time with SMBC and I’ll be continuing part-time with the EU staff team!

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