Clare Merkel never expected to end up in a national role with MTS. But looking back, there’s a clear thread running through her story: a deep conviction that gospel ministry is something to be shared and multiplied.
“I had the privilege of doing a ministry apprenticeship myself after years of being discipled one-to-one by various people as I was growing up and into my uni life,” she says. “And it was through that ministry experience that I became really convinced and convicted of the biblical mandate that we need to be training and equipping more people to be serving Jesus in all of life.”
That experience set the course for what came next. After doing her apprenticeship, Clare and her husband headed into pastoral ministry in Bathurst. There, training and equipping others became a key part of their work—especially for Clare, who saw a particular need to help women think seriously about vocational ministry. Over time, she trained several women through the MTS apprenticeship model, and each time she saw how valuable and lasting that investment could be.
“Seeing the fruit of their service and their ongoing fruit to this day,” she says, was deeply encouraging. That experience led Clare to get more involved in the MTS movement as a whole: first through the committee, then later stepping into a national staff role.
“I was approached to consider whether I was keen to be involved on more of a national scale,” she says. “And that really excited me. It was nerve-wracking, but also exciting.”
Building partnerships and pipelines for women in ministry
Clare officially started in her role at the beginning of 2024. She works part-time during school hours, which allows her to continue spending time with her kids and stay involved in her local church. Her weeks are a mix of meetings—some online, some in-person—with pastors, trainers, and ministry leaders across the country. Some days she’s helping churches think through how to raise up apprentices. Other days she’s chatting one-to-one with women in ministry or travelling to meet with ministry partners.
A big focus of her work is helping churches develop a vision and plan for training. Clare explains, “ My work is particularly on the raising end, so how can we be helping gospel workers raise up gospel workers through ministry apprenticeships? I help gospel workers think through how they can create a vision in their local context, and how they can develop strategies like leadership pipelines or develop recruiting calendars.”
It’s the kind of work that isn’t always visible, but can make a big difference, especially when someone runs with it.
Clare shares a story about Anna, a ministry leader in Sydney who had recently started training a female apprentice. After chatting with Clare about Ministry Pathways and how to cast vision for her team, Anna started a pilot program. Within a month, she had gathered 10 women in her church to take part—and it’s now something she hopes to run every year.
Another encouraging story came from Tasmania, where a pastor named Alistair was keen to take on a female apprentice, even though it was his first time training. Clare helped him develop a part-time curriculum and offered support along the way.
“I’ve been really encouraged by his intentionality,” she says. “His eagerness to get it right.”
Clare facilitating a breakout group for ministry wives at MTS Recruit Conference 2024
Supporting leaders in practical steps
Stories like these are a good snapshot of Clare’s role—quietly behind the scenes, helping leaders take practical steps toward raising up gospel workers. And that’s what MTS is all about: multiplying gospel workers through ministry apprenticeships. But, Clare points out, that doesn’t just mean training young men for pastoral ministry.
“We’re actually thinking more broadly about gospel workers,” she explains. “Men and women, of different ages and stages of life.”
Whether it’s someone working part-time, a parent with kids at school, or a retiree looking to invest in ministry, Clare wants to help churches broaden their vision for who they could be training.
Her work also includes developing new initiatives to support women in ministry—like flexible training pathways, female-led conferences, and partnerships with theological colleges. Many of these are only just getting off the ground.
It’s been a busy year and a half since Clare started in the role—but she’s thankful to be part of it.
“I don’t know why God chose me to be in this position,” she laughs. “I’m a country girl. I don’t have a high theological education. And yet God has somehow used this opportunity to do immeasurably more than I could have imagined.”
Clare’s work is making a real difference, helping churches across Australia raise up the next generation of gospel workers.
If you’d like to support her, there are two key ways to get involved:
Pray: Join Clare’s WhatsApp Prayer Partner group to receive weekly updates and stories from the field. It’s a great way to stay connected and pray specifically for the people and churches she’s working with.
Give: Clare’s role is funded through the generous support of individuals and churches. Your financial partnership helps expand this vital work and develop new initiatives to train and equip more women for gospel ministry.