Grace Christian Church Buderim | Trainer: Darren Burnett

A bit about me! I live in Buderim (Sunshine Coast) with my wife Marianne. I grew up in the Sunny Coast hinterland (near Landsborough) and discovered Jesus in the Gospel of Mark while studying at USC in 2019 – Kasper Skar, an MTS apprentice at the time, led me through Mark’s gospel. This discovery changed my life, I gave up my sinful and destructive lifestyle and turned to Jesus. After attending Grace Christian Church for a few years, I got to know Marianne, and we got married on September 25^th, 2021. In April 2022, we kicked off Grace Youth (ministry for high schoolers at Grace Christian Church Buderim) along with 4 other leaders, and have been running the group every term since. Some of the things I enjoy: playing guitar, chatting with my wife, playing basketball, listening to a good podcast, and seeing people transformed by Jesus. This year I was tapped on the shoulder by a senior minister to consider doing an MTS apprenticeship. After much prayer, discussion with other trusted Christians (especially my wife), and attending the SPUR conference, I plan on commencing my apprenticeship in Feb 2024! I hope you can partner with me as I undertake an MTS apprenticeship and test the calling of vocational gospel ministry!

To this end, my support-raising target is $37,000 per annum – this is the minimum recommended support target from MTS. (Thankfully, Grace Church has already covered $10k of this). My goal is to have 56 regular supporters, donating an average of $40 a month, which = $26,880 of the $27k yearly support target raised for first year.

Please note that any donations made are tax deductible.

Prayer Points

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38

• Firstly, pray for more workers of the harvest – it is my hope and prayer that I will be the first of many apprentices at my local church. Pray that the Lord would stir up the hearts of others considering ministry to undertake an MTS apprenticeship at the right time
• Pray that God would graciously provide the necessary finances for my apprenticeship support targets through fellow church members, friends and family.
• Pray that he would guard me from any attacks Satan would make towards someone considering vocational ministry
• Pray that the Lord would give me strength and diligence as I prepare for MTS while working full-time, being married, and running a Christian Youth Group.
• Pray he will humble my heart and fill me with his Holy Spirit so I may undertake this apprenticeship in his strength and not my own
• Pray he may bless and strengthen my marriage with Marianne – MTS is a big change and can be stressful on a partner who is working full time. Pray the Lord would encourage Marianne as she is my biggest partner in this apprenticeship.
• Pray that others would be blessed through my apprenticeship by giving their lives to Jesus as Lord and Saviour, or growing in maturity in him.
• Pray that through this apprenticeship I would become a more well-rounded Christian, and grow in Character, conviction and competency. That I would learn more about God, and more about myself, and this might glorify him and help me follow his will during and after the apprenticeship.