Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Ballarat | Trainer: Toby McIntosh

Hi, I’m Sam and am thankful to God for this opportunity to be a ministry apprentice. Thank you too, for being willing to partner with me in this endeavour! I can pray, like the Apostle Paul, ‘with joy because of your partnership in the gospel’ (Phil 1:5). 

I finished high school, nearly two decades ago, with a strong desire to enter into full time gospel ministry. Yet it was in God’s good plan to have me wait until now to finally do so. During those waiting years, by God’s grace, I met and married Penny and God has gifted us two children. I have worked as a teacher, chaplain, gardener and ‘home-Dad’, learning much through all of this. God has tested and deepened my faith, showed me his grace and taught me to trust in his power made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). I pray that this apprenticeship will provide more opportunity for God to do all those things in me as I consider whether I may be able to go on with this kind of work in the future. My hope for the long run is to become a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

I am glad to be able to serve the congregation at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church here in Ballarat through this two-year full-time apprenticeship. I will be learning from and working with our minister Toby McIntosh in a variety of church ministry areas. I am grateful to METRO (Presbyterian Church of Victoria’s training organisation) and MTS (partner organisation), along with my church family for granting me this opportunity. As part of my apprenticeship, I will be continuing my theological studies through Ridley College.

Prayer Points

Please thank God…

• Thank God for motivating me for ministry and enabling me by his grace.
• Thank God for an encouraging ministry staff team and a supportive church.
• Thank God that I have nearly all the financial support I need for the two years (based on what people have either given or pledged to give)

Please pray…

• Ask God to give me wisdom to know who I might spend time with each week in witnessing, discipling, encouraging etc.
• Ask God to protect and strengthen the relationships at our church, especially that of the ministry staff team.
• Ask God to give grace to our family as we continue to navigate the many changes at this time.