Wednesday 15th February 2006

Unit 9 at the Bible College of Queensland was the tiniest space Rob and I had ever lived in. “Lord, can it get any pokier than this? Yes, a caravan. This is what we toured around the country in, ministering in churches of all size and brand. Our ministry 'toolbox' consists of songs, personal stories and powerful imagery using multimedia. Weaving these together we have watched the Prince of Peace bring refreshing, revelation and strength to congregations and church leaders alike. The issue of tiny spaces and my 'personal space' was something BCQ addressed in many ways...

In 1993 Rob started a Bachelor of Ministry and I worked in a bakery to bring in the dough :-) Living on campus, dining in community and being on duty rosters was foreign and challenging. The Lord began my training for ministry as I softened to the value and strength of community. My personal space was being shrunk.

Theological training started for me in the following year, an Associate Diploma. Having flunked at University I worried about a repeat performance. However, acquiring knowledge became a side benefit of learning how to learn, how to research, how to ponder, how to search the mind of Christ that we are promised to have. I started to see spiritual parallels and analogies in the everyday moments and wrote them down. Encouraged by Rob, this became the foundation for my story telling and book “Grace Reflections”.

Duty rosters were an integral part of BCQ life and in retrospect, a vital element in our training. They were also met with suspicion and frustration.... “What are you doing in my life? I've come to bible college to train for ministry, not get my hands dirty”. But in between the wet towel fights, sweeping floors and cleaning loos, ground was
tilled in our hearts where fellowship, community and servant hood grew.

Today we meet anywhere from 200 – 1500 people per week. We often eat together, coffee together, cry together.. there are always dishes to do and messes to clean up. Our spiritual impact needs to take place from behind brooms, tea-towels and tissues as well as from platforms. Servant hearts are really only tested in the mundane and unrewarding tasks. After washing up for 60-70 people in the college kitchen, helping out anywhere else is easy.

Rob and I realise the luxury of breezing into a town, ministering and then breezing out again. We honour the faithfulness of Pastors; who for the most part have short seasons of 'breezing' and long seasons of bunking down with the troops. It turns
out that duty rosters were a secret component of missiology.

Duty rosters for lunch and dinner time devotions are where I began piecing together story, songs and scripture. Devotions were a scary proposition for most, including myself. This was my experimental ground. Rob was my 'theological checker' and encouragement (still is). We were training for pastoral ministry and yet Rob said to me eventually “Aliki, one day you will record an album, write a book and share with many people”. This sounded ridiculous! My visionary husband hung onto this
belief for the 10 years it took me to trust God with the details. My peace was anchored in the idea of financial stability. Singing for our supper seemed foolish. 'Faith' ministry is *_only_* to be undertaken if you're *_sure_* that God will supply your needs... right? I didn't want to exercise faith, I wanted to exercise control.

Getting through bible college financially, provided just as much training as getting through theologically. During college, waves of miraculous provision healed old wounds of abandonment and fear. Two albums, one book, and permanent touring later, the term 'Faith Ministry' is much more about surrender.

Community, servant hood and faith grew in our hearts during our 3 years at BCQ. We find ourselves equipped by both text books and sweat. Physical, spiritual, and emotional sweat. People are amazed that we could give up 'the white picket fence' to live and minister from a truck and caravan. We are amazed at a God moves our circumstances and mindsets to clear a path to His perfect and excellent will.