In early June, a group gathered near Lismore to consider the challenge to gospel work. MTS staff Russ Smidt, Carmel Vincent and Juliette Lee attended in support of the event and to partner with pastors raising up apprentices!

The SPUR Northern Rivers event served as an important opportunity for churches across the region to come together and consider how MTS apprenticeships might serve both individual growth and the broader work of gospel ministry. 

The SPUR Northern Rivers event was held at Gateway Church in Kyogle. It brought together 20 attendees from surrounding churches, all united by a common purpose: to consider MTS apprenticeships as a pathway into gospel ministry.

Organised by Jill Coutts from Southern Cross Presbyterian Church, the evening featured presentations from MTS staff Carmel and Russ, with main speaker Dave Bailey from Warwick Presbyterian Church addressing the gathered group.

The heart behind training

Luke Thomas, Minister at Gateway Kyogle and former MTS apprentice, who did his apprenticeship a decade ago, spoke passionately about the need for ministry training. 

When asked why he wants to train an apprentice, Luke pointed to Matthew 9:

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” v37-38

“There is a huge need to train up workers for the harvest field,” Luke explained. “More and more in ministry, I just see the need to see workers trained up.”

However, Luke was honest about the challenges churches face. He shared that there are barriers when it comes to finances to put on an apprentice, but also challenges in finding the right people. He shares, “We need to also have a person there to be raised up, someone willing to be shaped in the three C’s—character, conviction and competency!” And for regional churches, this isn’t always easy.

Steven Tilley, a current apprentice at Southern Cross Presbyterian Church, encouraged potential candidates to consider MTS apprenticeships “if they feel ministry could be helpful to their church or in their future.”

Reflecting on the evening, Steven found particular encouragement in “the reminder that we are out to look for the lost and have a responsibility” and the opportunity to “train under older brothers.”

Looking Forward

The SPUR NR event yielded many exciting opportunities for local churches and the broader MTS movement!

Dave Bailey from Warwick Presbyterian heard at the event how an apprenticeship could be funded, and now has definite plans for his first apprentice to start soon!

This means he will be a new trainer and Warwick Presbyterian a new training centre – a reality that their church thought was still years away.

Dave has also started talks with Russ and the MTS team in order to replicate the SPUR event for Darling Downs Presbytery in 2026.

Praise God for how He has already worked through SPUR Northern Rivers and those who attended, and pray He will continue to use MTS to grow His kingdom.