These Australian Lutheran College pastoral ministry graduates come from a wide range of backgrounds but will all be stepping out in faith to begin their first assignments as General Ministry Pastors in 2021. Read on to discover more about their ministry journeys.
PHILIP BENTLEY
AGE: 57
FAMILY: Wife Narelle
HOME CONGREGATION: St Paul’s Mount Isa Qld
ASSIGNED TO: Greenock Parish SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? Too numerous to mention, but Jesus has been the most influential.
Who are the most influential people for you now? Jesus.
Before ALC? I have had numerous occupations along my life’s journey. The most significant would be 20 years’ service as a design and technology teacher.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? The Holy Spirit.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28–29 – NLT). I find it most comforting.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … your Father loves you! You can know him and have a relationship with him through Jesus. You can trust his Spirit to teach and guide you. You can believe that he is who he says he is. You can count on him to keep his promises.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Serving our living God. Being able to bring others to an encounter with our God who is revealed as a God of love; also being able to administer God’s gifts through the sacraments and the preaching and teaching of the gospel through God’s word.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I like to run and play the guitar.
JAMES LUK
AGE: 56
FAMILY: Wife Sarah, seven children and five grandchildren
HOME CONGREGATION: St Peter’s Frankston Vic
ASSIGNED TO: Bethlehem Morley WA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? I was
born in South Sudan. God called me through my older brother Philip. Then I was catechised by Peter Kay, who was the evangelist in the evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan.
Who are the most influential people for you now? Dr Ken Bartel and Dr Greg Lockwood – both have supported me in one way or another during my studies at ALC and even when I was doing my Diploma of Theology 10 years ago.
Before ALC? I was serving the Sudanese community for six years as Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) at St Peter’s Frankston in Victoria.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? One of my favourite Bible verses is: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 – ESV).
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? I look forward to serving the people of God for years to come in my new role as General Ministry Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morley, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I enjoy reading stories in my leisure time. I also like to take a nice walk.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would chat with Martin Luther if he was still alive because he rediscovered the truth of the gospel in the Scriptures, that we are justified through faith and not by our good works.
STEPHEN NOBLETT
AGE: 48
FAMILY: Single
HOME CONGREGATION: Calvary Glandore SA
ASSIGNED TO: Southern Flinders Parish SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? From a spiritual perspective my mother Dawn – she made sure that I was at church and Sunday school each week – which in turn allowed my pastor and teachers to have their influence on me.
Before ALC? I worked in the finance industry writing financial plans.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? Until a few years ago I never thought that it would be a path that I would take. However, various things happened that led me to realise that God was wanting me to make a change in direction.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? My most relied on Bible verse is John 3:16, there you have the gospel summed up in a single verse.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … Jesus died for you, he took on your sins and through his work you are restored into a right relationship with God. That is how much God loves you.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Sharing the message of Christ and what he has done for us with all people.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I enjoy a game of golf, but most of the time I am happy tending my fruit trees.
What is your favourite movie? If I had to select one as a representative of the movies I prefer perhaps The Titchfield Thunderbolt.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to have a chat with Archimedes – he was a great problem solver who could come up with very innovative solutions to problems.
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Wife Melissa and daughter Phoebe
HOME CONGREGATION: St John’s Southgate Vic
ASSIGNED TO: Nazareth Woolloongabba Qld
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family, my minister and my third-grade teacher. I learned a lot from Pastor Jarvis’s gentle and caring manner, and Mr Bussink challenged me to think critically and hear all the sides of a story.
Before ALC? I travelled a fair bit. I’ve done a number of labouring jobs, from warehouses to picking fruit. My last major occupation before study was managing a tea shop.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? God put a retired pastor, [the late] Neil Hampel, in my path. Neil encouraged me to consider studying for ordination.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? I rely daily on the Psalms. For one specific verse, Jeremiah 29:11. This verse and the context around it are a constant reminder that God does have a plan for his creation, me included.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … who God is: the creator of heaven and earth, the all-powerful being who sustains all life and creation. But far from being distantly high above, God condescends to us. God formed Adam with his hands. God knit us together in the womb. God humbled himself to become flesh and blood. God is all powerful, and yet he would and did die to bring us back into relationship with him.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? The special ways the pastoral office proclaims the gospel; absolving the sins of the congregation; proclaiming God’s grace and peace in sermons; serving fellow Christians the meal of Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I love to ride my pushbike.
What is your favourite movie? The Princess Bride
JOSEPH THEODORSEN
AGE: 38
FAMILY: Wife Maricel, and children Aaron, Elijah and Abigail.
HOME CONGREGATION: Hope Geraldton WA
ASSIGNED TO: Top End Parish NT
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family, particularly my mother. She has been a solid Christian inspiration throughout my life.
Who are the most influential people for you now? My mother is still such a great example of the faith. Also, many of the lecturers [at ALC], and congregational members and pastors that I have encountered.
Before ALC? I was a taxi driver; prior to that a recruitment consultant, an accounts clerk, general clerk, and a service station attendant and manager.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? The congregation in Geraldton, as well as Pastor Dieter Dell’Antonio and his wife Monica.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? The whole of 1 Corinthians 13. Everything I want to do and be as a Christian and a minister in God’s church is centred around love.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … that he loves you – so much that he gave his only Son to die for you.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? To minister to the sick and dying is something that I have found very humbling and honoured to be a part of.
What is your favourite leisure activity? My family and I are avid campers, we love to get out and about in God’s wonderful creation.
What is your favourite movie? The Matrix or Die Hard.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? The Apostle Paul. He has been an inspirational character for me. To chew the fat with him about his experiences would be something else!
ROLAND ADAMS
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Single
HOME CONGREGATION: St Luke’s Parkwood WA
ASSIGNED TO: St John’s Trinity Renmark and Holy Cross Paringa SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family has had a massive influence on me, along with teachers, sports coaches, and many other people that I have looked up to over the years.
Who are the most influential people for you now? There are many people – from other pastors to people that I have interacted with, to some more famous people who serve as an example for me.
Before ALC? I worked on the docks at Henderson in Western Australia in naval construction for BAE Systems.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? St Luke’s Parkwood congregation were among the most supportive, along with leaders of Lutheran Youth of WA, several pastors, and my family and friends.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Romans 8:35 is a reminder that no matter what happens in the world, God’s love is all-encompassing.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … God loves you, to the extent that Christ died for you.
What privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Bringing people the forgiveness of God, along with the body and blood of Jesus in holy communion.
What is your favourite leisure activity? This depends on how I am feeling, from spending time with friends or with a book to gardening, or computer games.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead who would it be and why? If I had the opportunity and language was not an issue, Jesus would be a good option.
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