Ying Yee is the Pastor of Chinese Christian Church (CCC), Milson’s Point. He has been the pastor there for 30 years.

In Ying’s story we explored:

Podcast Timings:

Ying’s Story - (0:37-32:35)

Paddy and Aaron Reflections - (32:35-49:56)

Resilience & humility when pushing through ministry challenges - (32:35-34:30)

Avoiding unrealistic expectations about ministry - (34:32-37:35)

Navigating dating & singleness when pursuing ministry - (37:35-45:40)

Avoiding unrealistic expectations about ourselves - (45:55-49:56)

Kellie Nicholas is a cross-cultural missionary to Japan. She has spent 4 terms in Japan. She has been sent and supported by CMS (Church Missionary Society). She studied at Moore Theological College.

As we heard her story we spoke about:

Podcast Timings:

Kellie’s story: (1:15-31:25)

Paddy and Aaron reflections: (31:32-44:36)

Which missionary agency should I choose? Are missionary agencies even important? (31:32 - 36:20)

Prayer & overseas mission (36:20 - 38:50)

Can Introverts do ministry? How can we utilize the wisdom of older missionaries? (38:50-44:36)

This is the second part of our Season 1 Q & A.

Thanks for asking such great questions!

Timestamps

Is there a tendency for people to pursue a full-time vocational ministry trajectory too early? (1:23-4:21)

What would disqualify someone from pursuing full-time ministry? (4:21-7:17)

What about those who struggle with pornography? (7:25-9:41)

What if I'm scared of full-time ministry because I'm scared of being in the spotlight as a target (and potentially guilty) for allegations of some kind of moral or systemic failure? (9:43-17:35)

What are the logistical pathways to go in ministry? (17:36-19:38)

Can you speak to the differences - in both the underlying philosophy and then practical implications - of ministry as a vocation vs a 9-5 job? (19:40-22:34)

Should more people be considering part-time work, and part-time ministry? (22:35-27:50)

What do ministries mean when they are telling people to “do the ministry”? What’s the deal with this? Is this ok? (28:02-34:02)

How does the timing of aspiring in to ministry interact with major life decisions/commitments people may make around their 20s-30s (eg purchasing property, starting a family, getting married etc)? (34:03- 41:05)

How strategic should you be in deciding about how to serve? Can you “waste” your gifts? (41:08- 49:33)

How should those in ministry best be aided by “support networks” around them? (49:34-54:31)

Where is the line between unnecessary/unwise burnout and godly suffering for the kingdom in terms of working within/beyond your capacity? (54:31-59:18)

What does it mean when it says that teachers will be judged more strictly in James? (59:44-1:03:23)

In this final episode, we do a special Q and A to end Season 1.

We addressed the first half of the questions( asked in the Facebook Aspire Podcast Community Group) in this episode and will address in part 2 the rest of the questions.

Timestamps:

In this final interview of Season 1, we hear the story of Mandy Curley - the Director of Membership at Christ Church Gladesville.

Mandy shares the path of working in government, having a lack of female role models, loving her secular job, and wondering what type of ministry job she should do, that were all apart of her road into ministry. 

Timestamps

Mandy’s Story (1:28-32:16)

Reflections (32:26 onwards)

What is the importance of having a role model? (32:45-39:58)

Paddy’s cat (39:43-39:57)

Why should I consider leaving my ‘secular’ job if I love it? (39:58-42:31)

Is there a temptation to aspire to only ‘impressive’ types of ministry? (42:32- 46:50)

In this fifth episode, we hear the story of Mikey Lynch, a campus director & church planting director in Tasmania.

Mikey shares about his university conversion, his experiences of jumping into a ministry role straight after his arts degree, how he discerned his ambitions, and how he ended up in church planting and university ministry.

Timestamps:

Mikey’s Story (1:39-37:14)

Aaron & Paddy Reflections (37:23 onwards)

Should some “young guns” go straight into ministry? (37:42-41:45)

How can I tell if I am the exception to the rule? (41:46-44:15)

Is ministry “real work”? (44:15- 49:33)

Music: Hugo Wrench

In this fourth episode, we do something different. We hear the story of someone who is not already in full-time ministry but someone who is in the process of aspiring towards ministry.

Shem Jeevaratnam, is one such story! Shem is currently a corporate lawyer and is studying part-time at SMBC while she considers transitioning into full-time ministry at some point in the future.

Timings

Shem’s story - 1:15-35:46

Paddy and Aaron reflections - 35:46 - 50:23

Part time vs Full time study? - 37:53

How can character formation best occur? - 41:19

Should you move to where you study? - 43:47

Intensive study? - 47:24

Intentionality in aspiring - 49:00

Music: Hugo Wrench 

In this third episode, we hear the story of David Fell a chaplain to Norfolk Island, an island 1800 kilometres off Australia's mainland. 

Dave shares the path of early childhood convictions, recruitment consulting, MTS, and reluctant parents-in-law that were a part of his road into ministry.

He shares wisdom on how to navigate resistant parents, how to understand your convictions and the benefits of MTS. 

Timings

Dave’s Story - 1:58- 33:00

Aaron & Paddy Reflections - 33:00- 51:15

Music: Hugo Wrench

In this second episode, we hear the story of Anna Beaver, a former Sydney University Evangelical Union staff worker now looking to do mission overseas.

Anna shares the path of secondary teaching, key mentors, a 3-year plan & financial temptations that were apart of her road into ministry.

She shares wisdom on how to overcome frustrations with work before ministry, how to navigate financial temptations, and how to be authentic once you are in ministry. 

Anna’s Story - 1:30- 31:40

Aaron & Paddy Reflections - 31:40 - 47:00

In this first episode, we hear the story of Nathan Campbell, the Night Church Minister of St Matthews Manly.

Nathan shares the path of stress, worry, conviction, and unexpected circumstances that led him into ministry.

He shares wisdom for overcoming challenges in ministry and advice he would give to people who tend to stress about whether to do ministry in the future or what exact ministry to aspire towards.

Personal introduction 0:57 - 4:00

Interview with Nathan Campbell - 4:00 - 38:10

Paddy & Aaron Reflections - 38:10- 50:20

Music: Hugo Wrench