Mellisa Wang - Fourth Year Profile

“Perhaps in my old age I’ll consider believing in God.” That was me responding to a Christian friend at university after she had invited me to her church’s evangelistic event. Little did I know that a few months later I would ask this friend to help me become a Christian.

Through this friend’s intentional and bold sharing of her faith and persistent prayers, God graciously opened my eyes to see how I had been suppressing the truth of his existence in my unrighteousness. Growing up I had always wondered about the big questions of life yet I never wanted to accept that God was the answer. I’m always reminded of my own haughtiness and God’s mercy whenever I read Romans 1:18-20.

After explaining the gospel to me, my friend brought me to Australian Asian Church (in Hurstville) and there I was exposed to faithful gospel teaching and living. It took me a while to fully grasp the call of the gospel message to a sinner like me because I was just looking for meaning and purpose for my life. It jarred with me that as a Christian my life was now meant for glorifying another.

“I don’t want to give up my life.” That was me responding to my pastor when he asked me to consider quitting my job to start a ministry apprenticeship. I thought full time ministry was for the super-Christians and that I had done enough for Jesus simply by actively serving at church with my free time. At that time I really felt challenged by Jesus’ words in Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” I knew I was still wanting to live life my own way and that needed to change.

Again, by God’s grace, He changed my heart and helped me see that following Jesus meant taking time out to consider serving him in gospel work full time. After 2 years of apprenticeship I was encouraged to get theologically trained and I had no doubt that Moore College would be the place. The people who had taught me the gospel were trained here and I have great respect and trust in them as ministers of God’s word and people.

My time at college has been the most rewarding and joyful period of my life. The breadth and depth of study provided here has grown my conviction and love for God. Doing life with fellow students, staff and faculty has been a great model of servanthearted, loving, Christian community.

I was at a crossroads in life during my time at university and I’m so thankful for God providing a Christian to bring light into my dark world. This is the case for many university students who are seeking wisdom and direction in life and the word of the cross is the wisdom and power of God. Australia is in a privileged position where the world is coming to us through huge international student intakes. My hope after college is to serve with AFES at a university campus outside of Sydney to share the gospel with international students so that they may know their saviour and rightly live their lives for him.