The first semester of 2026 has been one of great encouragement and perseverance for our first-year Howies. 

Being a Howie has been a “whirlwind” for Mac, who has been encouraged by the EU’s fellowship and his one-to-ones in the Health faculty.

“We’ve had, in the Health faculty, over 230 students in small groups this semester,” Mac says. 

“Nearly 90 of them have been first years, which have been super encouraging.”

The first years have especially been a source of joy for Mac as they have found their place within the wider EU, the Health faculty, and with each other. 

The engagement of faculties continues to be a source of praise for Miranda, who works across the Science and Con (Music) faculties.

“Both faculty committees have been really active and trying to organise different events,” Miranda says. 

“From the Easter week, to the prayer and praise night, and to even organising merch, I’ve been really encouraged to see how both faculties have been working hard and wanting to really love and serve their faculty.”

Whilst Miranda has certainly enjoyed training student leaders and group members to grow in their understanding of God’s word, she recognises there is an element of pastoral care to her ministry, especially with one-to-ones.

“One-to-ones can be tricky because every one-to-one is different. (…) I think I’m still growing in how to ask questions that help the students think and reflect well, and not jumping in to say what I think.”

Jacob has found in his one-to-ones in BizLaw that students found a space to ask questions they hadn’t yet been willing to share.

“Some of those conversations were really joyful,” Jacob says. “Some were really tearful, though. And there’s everything in between.”

Growing relationships with EU students has been highly rewarding for Jacob, but he has found balancing his time challenging.

“I spend too much time polishing and finalising a Bible study, then I’m actually going to run out of time to do the one-to-ones that I found really rewarding for both myself and the students.”

“I think God’s been teaching me that I should manage my time in a way that is more realistic, and I shouldn’t be measuring my faithfulness by how polished everything is.”

Balance has also been a challenge for DEngo Howie Erin, who has otherwise loved being stretched in her ministry apprenticeship.

“I think the Howie job and just student ministry in general is very dynamic,” Erin says. “So if I don’t find I have a good routine, I can really forget to rest well.”

Erin has especially enjoyed training EU students and seeing them grow.

“I’ve loved getting time to spend with the students, getting to know them, and reading the Bible with them.”

Eve, working with the Health faculty and CousMin, has been overjoyed by the growth she has witnessed among EU students in their evangelistic efforts.

“I’ve loved journeying with my ASGLs and seeing them grow in skills and confidence,” Eve says. 

“I’ve loved doing walk-up evangelism and having conversations with cousins, and discipling young women through hardships and witnessing them rely on God’s strength.”

Eve has especially been encouraged by first-year students inviting their non-Christian friends to small groups. 

“And these non-Christian friends have come for multiple weeks and have felt welcomed by the group.”

Tim has seen God work through Discovery Dinners, which Focus started this year for non-Christian international students to learn more about Jesus.

“Every time I get to hear students sharing about what they’ve been learning at Discovery Dinner, they are so, so, so excited,” Tim says. “You can see in the eyes.”

One such student is from Hong Kong, who didn’t take his faith seriously back home.

“But after coming to Come Home Dinner, he’s been so convicted to be more public in his faith. And so he started to read the Bible with his friends outside of Come Home Dinner.”

Tim has witnessed great growth from students, but also within himself during his time as a Howie.

“I’ve seen God shaping not only the students, but also showing my own flaws, my own pride, teaching me humility, trust, and daily dependence on him.”

All of the first-year Howies have witnessed God’s work through themselves and the students they serve this semester, but they have also been deeply challenged through their ministry.

A common thread was figuring out how to effectively balance time between their ministry’s different demands.

“Sometimes you just want to catch up with students all the time, but there’s also a little bit of admin that needs to be done,” Mac says.

“I’ve definitely found the amount of admin pretty challenging,” Erin says. “And the amount of smaller tasks can be quite draining.”

Over the break, the first-year Howies have AnCon to look forward to, as they prepare to teach from the Psalms in Faculty Time.

The Lord has worked in such great ways through our new Howies this semester! We’d love it if you could support our Howies by praying from the points below. 

Check out each Howie’s extended video perspectives here.

Prayer Points

Mac

• Please be praying that the Lord would reveal Himself through the scriptures to a non-Christian Mac meets up with

Miranda

• Pray that Miranda doesn’t push herself beyond her limits
• Pray for Miranda’s health
• Pray for wisdom as Miranda meets with students wrestling with their faith
• Pray for Miranda’s AnCon preparations

Jacob

• Please pray that Jacob would continue to grow in Christ-like character in his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity
• Pray that Jacob would be correctly prioritising things

Erin

• Pray that, as Erin prepares for the Psalms teaching, she could be faithful to God’s Word, but also teach in a way that’s helpful for the students
• Pray for some students of Erin’s who are really struggling and seeking Christian community at the moment, whether that’s in the EU or outside, maybe in church
• Pray that Erin could keep working on her own godliness and keep spending time with God in her busy weeks of ministry

Eve

• Pray for good rest, wisdom as Eve prepares talks on the Psalms for AnCon faculty time
• Pray for wisdom for Eve and her husband as they consider moving to an LRLR church next year

Tim

• Pray for Tim to have wisdom in navigating pastoral issues that arose during this semester
• Pray that through it all, God will be the centre of all things for Tim, and that Tim can really point the students back to his word