Aspire

Ever felt that tug toward ministry, but your brain immediately goes, “Nah, not you. Too much mess in your past. Too many stuff-ups. Nowhere near holy enough”?​
In this episode, Jacob Madder (Youth and Music Minister at St Faith’s, Narrabeen) shares his raw story. He grew up in a solid church community with a low hum of “maybe ministry one day” in the background, but internally he was sure he wasn’t the type, and his choices seemed to back that up. He drifted from church, dropped out of uni twice, made some painful mistakes, and carried a deep sense that he was never going to be truly forgiven to ever call others to follow Jesus.​
This episode covers:
The quiet weight of “you’d be great in ministry” when you’re convinced there’s no way you could be.​

How walking away from church and hitting a low point in his mid‑twenties became the turning point, not the end.​

The moment a new staff member, who didn’t know his past, told him he should consider ministry, and why that hit different.​

The real‑life wrestle between a big pay rise on the tools and a minimum‑wage ministry apprenticeship.​

What Jake has learned about insecurity, shame, forgiveness, and letting God use every part of your story.​

If you’d like to watch the full conversation, subscribe to us on our YouTube channel to catch the full video there. Link in our Instagram bio.

What does it look like to prepare for gospel ministry without leaving your local church or community?
In this episode of the Aspire Podcast, Jeremy Kidd shares his journey into ministry through a ministry apprenticeship (MTS) while studying theology from a coastal context on the Central Coast. Jeremy reflects on his conviction for evangelism, the value of hands-on ministry training, and why he believes apprenticeships are essential for anyone considering paid gospel ministry.
We talk about discerning a call to ministry, choosing Bible college, studying part-time while serving in church, and how character, competence, and conviction are formed best in the pressure cooker of real ministry. Jeremy also unpacks why coastal and regional contexts are strategic places for mission—and how God is powerfully at work beyond the city.
Whether you’re exploring Bible college, wondering about a ministry apprenticeship, or asking what your next step might be, this conversation will help you think clearly, prayerfully, and realistically about serving Jesus long-term.
This is a series of episodes on students at bible college. Hear their stories, their longings, and their questions.

Why do you need a rich theological education to pursue Christian ministry? Why should you come back and study further if you are already in ministry or on the mission field? Is a ministry apprenticeship  the only way? What is it like doing bible college as a family?

This is a series of episodes on students at bible college. Hear their stories, their longings, and their questions. 

We are also now live on Youtube!

How can I overcome financial fears about the costs of moving to or studying at bible college? Is it worth the cost?
This is a series of episodes on students at bible college. Hear their stories, their longings, and their questions. 
This is our first video episode!
If this episode was helpful, we would love to invite you to consider giving us a review on Spotify Podcasts. This helps others find out about this podcast. Our goal is to hit 50 reviews by November 30!

What type of formation should you hope to get from bible college? What does it mean for your study to be 'rigorous'? Is rigorous intellectual formation the only goal of bible college?
This is a series of episodes on students at bible college. Hear their stories, their longings, and their questions. 
If this episode was helpful, we would love to invite you to consider giving us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This helps others find out about this podcast. Our goal is to hit 50 reviews by November 30!