2 From The Principal Moore Matters winter 2018
The urgent need for gospel workers Dr Mark Thompson
IT WAS A DELIGHT IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO SEE 105Â STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM THE COLLEGE AND TO HEAR THEIR EXCITEMENT ABOUT SHARING THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION IN CHRIST WITH A LOST WORLD. WE HEARD OF PEOPLE SERVING IN SYDNEY, RURAL NEW SOUTH WALES, ACROSS AUSTRALIA, IN ASIA, EUROPE, AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, AND OTHER PLACES BESIDES.
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t is thrilling and humbling to think that this small theological college on the edge of the world, located in the middle of one of the most secular and God-denying cities on the planet, is being used by God on such a wide scale. For a long time we have been committed to a global vision and it is clear that God has been realizing it. Not only are our graduates spread across the globe, the variety of ministries in which they serve is remarkable as well. Many serve in local churches, others serve in schools, others still on university campuses. Some of our graduates serve in hospitals and prisons and in more general chaplaincy work. At last count, 50 of our graduates (I might have missed one or two) currently serve on the faculties of 18 theological colleges around the world (not including the 16 who serve on the faculty at Moore). 14 active Anglican bishops in Australia are graduates of Moore. Seeing this impact of the work done at Moore College is one of the
best encouragements to keep at it. It is why our graduations are such wonderful events of celebration and thanksgiving but also of a renewed determination to prepare people as well as we know how for this great work. We know it is all the Lord’s doing. It is only under his blessing that this spread of gospel passion and biblical theology has taken place. Yet we are determined to be found faithful in the part he has given us to play in his great plan. Nevertheless, we know this is just the tip of the iceberg. The need in Sydney alone keeps growing with every year. Millions of men and women do not know the gospel in our city. They do not know they are lost and they do not know of the gift of life which Jesus came to bring. An alarming number do not know who Jesus is and they do not know anyone else who does. The need in the rest of Australia keeps growing too, and every year I receive requests from all over the world to send our graduates so that they can share in the benefits the Lord has so richly given to us. We are just not keeping
pace with the need. We pray with great urgency that the Lord would raise up labourers for his harvest. Would you pray that too? The need is for men and women who are thoroughly prepared for ministry in a challenging environment. The challenges of this moment are tough enough, with new fronts of opposition to gospel ministry opening up all the time. We do not know what the challenges of tomorrow will be. So we need gospel workers who deeply understand the teaching of the Bible and the world with whom we share it. We need people who are able to
