Good Shepherd Anglican Church Curtin | Trainer: Ben Soderlund

Hello there, I’m Alexander, and for most of my life I’ve been chasing my namesake’s shadow of greatness. Until now. I am a dreamer. Formerly, I was a government lawyer in immigration for four years, but because I dream now for revival in Canberra—whether in my lifetime or not—I have decided to do MTS.

And by revival, I do not mean simply evangelism leading to an increase in converts, nor more churches, and more than joy, enthusiasm, and peacefulness; but for an enlarging of the hearts of Christians in Canberra by the Spirit, a trembling at the greatness of our holy God’s forgiveness, and a nearness to Jesus our Lord; and I believe this begins with the powerful preaching of the gospel in the Word.

Canberra is a unique place, where people from all over Australia congregate, and then leave. If the church in Canberra can be strengthened, to convert and train Christians that come to Canberra and then leave, it will be a path to touching the hearts of Australians all over the country!

To this end, I am assisting Ben to plant Good Shepherd Deakin in 2024. I will lead services, preach and grow our missional purpose by developing evangelistic courses and training disciple-makers. I will also continue to serve our mother church—Good Shepherd Anglican Church Curtin—by growing the one-to-one Bible reading ministry to entrench a culture of discipleship, disciple our youth, and continue to lead small groups.

I decided to do MTS because I aspire to full-time gospel ministry in Canberra as an ordained minister (God willing). I have faith that God will use MTS to test and grow my competency, conviction and most importantly, character. Finally, while I am convicted about my vertical calling from God, I also take seriously the horizontal calling from the church in Canberra; so I want to be tested in their sight through MTS, so that they can wholeheartedly join me in partnership to bring revival to Canberra.

Both my churches reside in the richest parts of Canberra. And those are the hardest of hearts. But I believe that as Christians, our destiny, no, our calling is to attempt the impossible, that is only possible with God!

Will you partner with me to win this battle for the hearts of Canberra?

Mark 10:43-45 “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If you want to partner with me, please fill out this google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1o7_ORqM4Fh4ksU-fm9NyYKSva31mKR-eglGe9NrRoko/edit

To provide financial support towards Alex’s MTS Apprenticeship, beyond your usual giving to Good Shepherd, please set up monthly transfer or one off deposit to:

Account Name: Good Shepherd
BSB: 702 389
Account Number: 0520 1277
Message: Alex MTS Support

For newsletter updates on the MTS journey, subscribe to: https://xanderfeng.substack.com/

Prayer Points

• Please pray that God in his kindness would soften the hard hearts of those in Curtin and Deakin, and bring revival to Canberra.
• Pray that amidst all the new responsibilities, tasks and relationships, I would continue to place my relationship with God as the first priority.
• Pray that I would continue to be courageous for the gospel, and not let the fear of failure cripple me.
• Pray for those I minister to and minister with, that we would be strengthened with power, to pray with expectation and full assurance, knowing that God can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to his power at work within us.
• Pray that MTS would help prepare me for whatever ministry God calls me to in the future.