“They’re doing something Satan doesn’t want”

Susan An almost didn’t apply for her new role as Dean of Women at Moore College – until God gave her a big nudge.

“I saw the role advertised and said to God, ‘If this is something you want me to consider, can you get one person to mention it?’,” says Ms An (right). “The very next day at work, someone brought it up!”

Ms An is the college’s third Dean of Women. The role was established in 2008 and the previous dean, Tara Stenhouse, held the position for 12 years.

“I love watching God at work,” Ms An says. “To see God really challenge [women] and shape and grow them, that’s what made me really excited about the role.”

As well as being available to female students, Ms An works alongside the Dean of Students, the Rev Paul Grimmond, to shape policies that look after all students’ wellbeing. She assists in group settings such as women’s chapel and chaplaincy groups and helps women know the college is a safe space.

“In the past couple of years, college has worked hard on domestic violence policies,” she says. “It’s now part of what we mention at orientation... just to make sure women know that college is a safe place and they can bring themselves forward.”

Ms An almost didn’t go into ministry. While others had told her she should consider it, she always thought it was for people who were better read than her, and who knew their Bible better.

She says that her work as a speech pathologist also gave her the “illusion” that she was in control of her life. And when she began to yearn for more after a couple of years, she bought a one-way ticket to England with the plan to work and travel for a time.

“As I was doing this, a thought dropped into my head: ‘You’re really set up well to go into ministry’,” Ms An recalls.

“In the eight weeks before I was meant to get on the plane, multiple people I’d never spoken to about ministry asked me if I had ever considered doing ministry. When I thought about it, I didn’t want to go to England – I wanted to do ministry!”

Her biggest prayer for female students is that college will be a positive experience. “They learn so much about God, but not just academic knowledge. I pray what they learn about God will make them love and appreciate God, and grow their desire to follow him in all of their lives.

“Some of them will be tested in all sorts of ways here [and] we have to be realistic about that. When women come to college, and men too, they’re doing something Satan doesn’t want them to do – they’re growing in their love of God and being better leaders in the future.

“I pray that the experiences they have will refine them for whatever they need for future ministries. God doesn’t waste any opportunity. We don’t enjoy temptation or testing, but God has a use for that in the future.

“I also pray that when things get hard, they will pick up the phone and call me for help!” SC