What’s better than studying alone? Studying with a good mate.
Ethan Neal (23) and Matthew Hitchens (23) are part of Riccarton Community Church in Christchurch. Both independently decided to pursue theological education.
As they began talking about it, and with encouragement from their church’s elders and pastors, they saw an opportunity to ground their study in local church ministry, relationships, and practice.
During the week, both work long days—Ethan as an engineer and Matthew as an electrician—Monday through to Friday morning. Most of Friday is then set aside to watch lectures and study together at RCC’s church offices as they work towards their Certificate in Christian Studies through Carey Baptist College.
Matthew serves on RCC’s Worship Team and in Youth Ministry. He says that in their first semester they are studying an Introduction to Pastoral Care paper.
“It’s nice being able to go and have a chat to different staff at the RCC offices during lecture breaks. We have been able to talk about what we’re learning about Pastoral Care and what this looks like within RCC.”
“It has been really cool being able to apply some of the relational sides of what we’re looking at to both worship and youth ministries—to care for youth well, and to look out for other leaders and peers.”
Matthew says he felt a nudge to prepare for whatever God has for him in the future, recognising the need for well-equipped people in a range of ministry roles, and the opportunity to deepen his understanding through theological study.
Ethan has also sensed God prompting him to go deeper. Like Matthew, he is actively serving as part of RCC’s worship and youth ministries, and is keen to grow:
“I decided to start theological study because I feel like every week, I’m sensing more and more of a call to end up in ministry—and to put down engineering. I have a feeling it’s a long-term call, and I want to be prepared. So here I am taking the first step in that, taking one course to see if this is where God wants me to be right now, and if so, I plan to continue.”
Ethan says the study has been eye-opening, and he is keen to apply what he is learning in the areas of church life where he serves, particularly in pastoral conversations.
“I really want to be able to apply it to the different areas I’m serving in at the moment, being able to have those pastoral conversations intentionally, in passing, and within the small group in youth that I lead—to better understand people and point them towards God.”
Both Matthew and Ethan are recipients of the JH Baldwin Scholarship—set up to assist people within CCCNZ/Open Brethren Heritage churches to be biblically and theologically equipped to be better preaching, pastoral and mission leaders among the CCCNZ movement of churches, camps and support ministries.
