Faculty-based ministry is the bread and butter of what we do in the EU campus ministry, especially among domestic students. I have been a staffworker for around 10 years and worked with almost as many faculties and so when staff deployment came out for last year and I was with the SciVet (Science & Vet) faculty it felt like life had come full circle; I was back where I started as a student in the EU with the Science crew. I was thankful for the opportunity. However, as a part-time senior staff worker (2.5 days on campus), I felt daunted as there was more work to do than I had time for. We were able to cobble together help from other staff for the groups that I wasn’t able to cover in 2024, but it just wasn’t the same as having a full-time Howie on the faculty. I knew it, and the students knew it. I was overjoyed at our graduating students’ dinner last year to be able to officially announce to them that they would have a Howie for 2025. “Our own Howie? And not sharing with another faculty??” They excitedly responded, and I could say yes! Part of me felt disappointed that I couldn’t be the staff worker that they needed and they were just waiting for their own Howie to come, but I knew that it wasn’t about me, but about the difference that a Howie could make to their faculty.

Fast forward to the start of 2025, and Adrian “Skandy” Scandrett started and joined the team, and I got to stick around with the SciVet crew as well. I was initially quite excited at the prospect of having so much of my time freed up and being able to do heaps more one-to-ones now, and a bit of a lighter load with someone else there to help steer the ship. I had forgotten, though, that this easing of load does not happen at the start of the year as the first few weeks of work for any new Howie is lots of orientation and getting their bearings; Learning things days (or hours) before students find out… sometimes learning them from the students! Skandy was full of love for the students and energy for the ministry but I wasn’t instantly freed up in my week to do all the things I had envisioned, there were still lots of bible studies, committee meetings and leader trainings to attend and run – alongside with the blessing of doubling the SciVet first years compared to last year!

I think about my experience and time in faculty ministry and realise that I sometimes just go for the simple thing that I know will work rather than having the energy to try new things, which is why it is such a blessing to have Skandy on our team. He will often announce, “I have an idea that I want to run by you”, and his desire to be present with students, investing time in discipling them, and encouraging community comes with an energy and enthusiasm. I do not have a lot of this in my tank at the moment, so I like to think that we can make a great team in teaching, training and pastoring this faculty into the future.

– Katie Ristevski, EU Senior Staff

It has been great being able to split the work to look after a faculty, which allowed me to aim for depth rather than breadth. The informal and formal times that Katie and I have had together, from Monday morning meetings to hanging out with students, have been insightful. I have seen all angles of a senior staff worker in student ministry. I am looking forward to consolidating what we have together in the EU for Semester 2 and being able to spearhead what comes our way. It is a lot better working with another or working in a team in university ministry, so I am very thankful to be looking after the Scivet faculty with Katie!

– Adrian Scandrett, Howard Guinness Project 2025-2026