Student Story - Laura

“The blend of theological and pastoral care training has given me a solid balance between being biblically literate and knowing how to communicate that literacy effectively.”

Q: Can you share a bit about your journey to faith?

Laura: When I left high school, I was expecting that university and beginning my career would be the best time of my life. I was really looking forward to being an adult and experiencing all the things I thought would come with that independence.  Instead, it ended up being extremely disappointing. 

It was incredibly confronting to find that all these things I’d assumed would bring me joy and purpose actually did the opposite. I found myself really upset and that created a sort of inner crisis for me. I just had all these unanswered questions. 

I hadn’t grown up in a Christian home, so when I got to university and began making friends with some followers of Jesus, I found myself intrigued by them and their attitude to life. They just seemed to exude this complete opposite perspective to me. The were really happy, and had this incredible love and capacity to love others that I had never seen in a human being before. 

I was invited to Bible study and campus meetings with the Evangelical Union at the University of Sydney, and as I read the Bible more, the more things changed for me. By my second year, I gave my life to Christ. Around this time, I also met my husband and got married and our prayer from the start was that we’d be able to start a family quickly.

How did you decide to start studying theology as a new mum?

Laura: I was delighted to fall pregnant not long after graduating university and though my husband and I had always prayed about starting a family I was a little bit worried, because I didn't have a Christian upbringing. I had no idea how you teach children about Jesus! 

I realised that if I had this massive responsibility of teaching children about Jesus, I need to learn more myself, and I really need to take it seriously. 

Laura’s son congratulates her at her graduation ceremony as staff and fellow graduands look on

“Being newly married and a brand-new mum, I knew I would need some extra support and flexibility. With Mary Andrews College being an all-women's college, I felt it would have the support, love and understanding that I think only a group of women could provide.”

What was the experience like for you?

Laura: Being newly married and a brand-new mum, I knew I would need some extra support and flexibility. With Mary Andrews College being an all-women's college, I felt it would have the support, love and understanding that I think only a group of women could provide.

And I was right, I’ve never felt left alone to juggle everything and have felt such overwhelming support and overwhelming love from both the teachers and from everyone else in the class. It’s been particularly wonderful being able to learn from older women who have walked with the Lord for much longer than I have.

I started studying, over Zoom, with a brand new baby and God has granted me extraordinary patience and perseverance in studying and attending lectures whilst at the same time caring for my children. Even when it was challenging, God has revealed what a gift it has been to have my children see their mother take theological education seriously.

In what ways did your theological studies help you disciple your children?

Laura: Since completing my Undergraduate Certificate in Theology, I now feel confident in addressing my children’s questions about the Bible. 

My older son is getting to the age where he's starting to ask questions, and I am now able to pull out knowledge and facts that I've learned which has been incredible.

Recently I was reading about Moses him, and he pointed to a picture of Moses with the burning bush, and asked why Moses had taken his shoes off. I was able to explain, in two-year-old language, why it's important that this ground was sacred and holy, because that's where God is. Being able to contextualise the Bible for my kids is exactly what I had hoped for when I began this journey.

How has studying at Mary Andrews College help equip you for ministry and life?

Laura: I still have a lot to learn, but as a mother I believe the most important thing I can do is to teach my children about Jesus and Mary Andrews College has given me crucial skills in how to share the gospel appropriately with those around me. 

The blend of theological and pastoral care training has given me a solid balance between being biblically literate and knowing how to communicate that literacy effectively. I now have a range of practical tools that I can use both in my role as a mother and in sharing my faith with others.