From the age of three, Isaac knew he wanted to be a scientist. This was a passion that drove him through his schooling and studies. So many people, including Isaac himself, were surprised when he finished his science degree and then turned around and signed up for another four years of study in a completely different field. What had happened? God had put a new passion and drive on Isaac’s heart – one that directed him towards theological study and youth ministry.
Isaac grew up on the south side of Brisbane, going to church with his family. He has fond memories of going to Sunday School and kids club, and later on, youth group and young adult groups. From the age of seven or eight he can remember having consciously chosen to be a Christian. But it was when he left high school, at a beach mission camp at the end of year twelve, that he recommitted his life to Jesus.
His first degree was a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and genetics, and while at Griffith University he also joined the on campus AFES Christian group. “It was super helpful to have that on campus, to keep growing and being discipled,” Isaac recalls. He was set on being a faithful Christian working in science, what he had always dreamed of. But as he finished up his degree, he felt God was showing him it wasn’t the only option.
“God was showing me that I could explain difficult concepts to people, and I loved hanging out with young people and doing youth ministry. But it took a whole journey of prayerfully considering it to change direction,” Isaac says. “I talked to my AFES leader, and I talked to a mate of mine who I knew was thinking about going to Bible college. I was just like ‘I know nothing. Tell me everything.’”
After lots of thought, prayer and conversations, Isaac settled on a new direction – enrolling in a Masters of Divinity at Brisbane School of Theology. Having grown up in both the Uniting and Baptist church, and having experienced interdenominational ministry with AFES, BST appealed to Isaac as a place where different views could exist side by side, and with a focus on the missional aspects of ministry.
Isaac combined his studies with an internship at his church, and loved his four years learning and growing in community. The Bible college mission trips each year ended up being a particular highlight for Isaac. “You’re in a smaller group and you have to work together really intentionally and prepare for that week, and you end up really close as friends and students.”
One of the subjects Isaac appreciated the most was the unit on spiritual formation. “It was at the end of the degree, and it really focused on how we would care for ourselves spiritually when we go out to work in the church, and have a support network. Because it is a caring profession, you can get burnt out a little bit faster than other professions. It was about how we would live out all the other knowledge we had learnt,” Isaac explains. Another highlight for Isaac was learning to see the big picture of God’s plan in the Bible. “It was lovely to see that despite how humanity acts, God has a plan,” Isaac says.
Throughout his studies, Isaac’s passion and calling towards youth ministry remained strong. In his first year, BST had a visiting lecturer from Ridley College (Graham Stanton) run an elective in youth ministry. This subject was transformative for Isaac. He now works in church-based role combining youth, young adults and child safety. He is continuing to be mentored by that lecturer through a youth ministry professional development group (Youth Ministry Futures – YMF).
After eight years of studying two degrees, Isaac was ready to take a break from tertiary education for a while. “I’m done studying!” he laughs. But he doesn’t regret the time he took to study at BST at all. “It was a good four years, creating great memories with staff and fellow students,” Isaac reflects. “We’d sit in class and talk about what the Bible says about living in community as Christians. And then we would walk out the door and put it into practice straight away.”
Now, Isaac is putting all he has learnt into practice in his role at church. He remains passionate about transforming how people see youth ministry, and how young people are included in the life of the church. Isaac describes churches as often being very good with kids and young adults, but finding the age group in between difficult to know how to handle. “What do we do with these teenagers? They have an attitude and twisted dark humour. But that’s where I want to be – to hang out and say ‘have you thought about Jesus in the midst of all the darkness?’”
Isaac’s ministry role involves connecting with teenagers at different schools through pancake breakfasts, running youth programs on Sunday and Friday nights, and organising a big local youth camp. It’s busy, but it is where Isaac wants to be. He strongly believes youth ministry isn’t just the stepping stone on the way to something bigger and better – but that youth ministry is where the action of transforming hearts for Jesus is happening.
As Isaac continues in his ministry, he asks the BST community to pray for wisdom for him and the church leadership as they grow from a small to medium sized church, and they handle growing pains. But this comes with a praise point, that new people are constantly walking through their doors. Isaac asks that God would equip his church to faithfully show these newcomers the love and grace of Jesus in all they do.
