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Jono Mills: Welcome to To This Point: conversations with students about how God brought them to Sydney's Moore Theological College. I'm one of your hosts Jono, and today, we're talking with Jonny Hann: Johnny. Jono Mills: Woo!

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Uh, tell us about your home. Who do you live with? Jonny Hann: Currently live with my wife and little son, Charlie. Jono Mills: Hopefully currently in the future as well.

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Jonny Hann: Yes, yes. That. That's true. Yeah, that's true.

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Great. Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, there's another one coming in Joey's belly, so very exciting.

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Jono Mills: Congratulations. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: That's very exciting. Jonny Hann: Yeah.

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Jono Mills: Well, um, Johnny, we're gonna ask you a few different questions. Um, our three main questions are, where have you come from? Why are you here, and where do you have to go? Um, so we just spoke about your, your current family, but let's think about your family of origin.

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Um, where have you come from? Jonny Hann: I was born in Orange, in New South Wales, the little country town west of Sydney. And, uh, we were there because of my dad's work. Okay.

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He was an anaesthetist at the Orange Base Hospital. Jono Mills: Oh wow. Jonny Hann: And, uh, yeah, so they, they'd been in Sydney for study and head over that way and, um. At the time there wasn't, uh, a really flourishing church.

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Uh, I'm not exactly sure of the church scene, but enough for them to think we need to start something here. So, um, them being there was alongside a few other people was kind of the start of the Orange Evangelical Church. Wow. Out there.

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Yeah. Um, which I understand today has a fair few people and Yeah. Um, a great gospel ministry. So we were out there in Orange, um.

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Partly for dad's work. Yeah. And partly for the church. And um, I'm the youngest of four.

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Mm. Obviously everyone knows the youngest is the best. You might dis disagree with that disagree statement can, but um, it's a common fact. Um, and yeah, so I've got three older siblings. Um, we're all within five years of each other.

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So my brother, who's the oldest five years older than me and two sisters in the middle. And, uh, yeah, everything was pretty rosy it seemed, um, as I was growing up until I hit two years old. And, uh, that's when my dad got hit by a car and was killed, uh, or actually killed by a truck. And so that left mom with four kids under the age of seven, right, to look after by herself out in Orange.

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Um. So pretty full on start. Jono Mills: Yeah. Jonny Hann: To life, particularly for mom.

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Yeah. Um, and her approach at the time was, uh, let's make sure the kids are at church every week, every Sunday. On Sundays we go to church. That was a non-negotiable then, and kind of my whole life.

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Um, and she just lived out the gospel. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Um. So I think yeah.

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I've seen that from, for a long time through her particularly very faithful woman. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: Um, so faithful in fact that when I hit five years of age, school age Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Mum was like, well, I've been teaching these bible studies, I'm not a hundred percent sure I've been doing the right thing, so maybe I should ship off myself and four kids to Moore Theological College in Sydney. Jono Mills: Oh, amazing. Yeah. Jonny Hann: So in.

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About 2001, I think. Yes. Was our first year. Um, so it would've been a 5-year-old.

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I mean, here at college there were all kids running around. Jono Mills: Yeah. You, you were one of those kids. Jonny Hann: I was one of those kids, yeah.

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Yeah. Jono Mills: Your mom studying like full-time or Jonny Hann: how many kids? She studied full time.

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Jono Mills: Goodness me. Jonny Hann: Did the, at the, at the time it was a diploma of Yeah. Um, Bible admissions. Yeah.

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But she did it full time. Amazing. We were very much helped by a couple of lecturers. Mm-hmm.

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Um, Paul Williamson, Philip Kern were around at their house a lot. Oh. So it's been quite interesting. Remember my first week of college having classes with.

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Paul Williamson, whose house I was at Yes. As a 5-year-old, and then now with Philip. Um, Jono Mills: was it more interesting for them or for you in terms of they were going, they remembering you as a 5-year-old?

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Jonny Hann: Yeah. Yeah. It's probably more so for them and Yeah. Yeah.

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Just weird being like, geez, this is, it is a while down the track. Jono Mills: Wow. Uh. Jonny Hann: Yeah, so we, we were here that year.

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Um, it's kind of, I don't know if you have in your mind the first memories of life you have. There's a couple in orange, but for me it kind of starts, Jono Mills: starts at more, Jonny Hann: starts at more, um,

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Jono Mills: yeah. I remember, I remember chatting with you about, remember copies of s being around when you were little and been excited to be in it. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: And now you've been editor for

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Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: A few years now. Jonny Hann: It was a very weird experience to, to, yeah. Be put.

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'cause it, it was, we get preferences at college for which service teams. Service teams are kind of different things you are, are involved with to be a part of the student community, helping with scripture, um, a whole bunch of different things. But Societals was my third preference. And so to be put on it, I was like, oh, this is Oh, act.

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That's kind of cool. Jono Mills: Yeah. Jonny Hann: Um, Jono Mills: providential.

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Jonny Hann: Providential. Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: Yes. Jono Mills: Uh, goodness me.

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So orange Newtown. Jonny Hann: Yes. Jono Mills: And then you mum did one year of study? Jonny Hann: She did one year.

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Yes. And in that time was thinking, what do I do after college? Yeah. She was approached by a few different people.

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Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Um. Having talked to her about that time, it seems that a lot of senior ministers are a bit unclear exactly what ministry looks like for single women. Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Um, and so she found that an interesting process, you know, people offering her part-time roles that covered the rent and that was it. And she's like, I've got four kids. I can't do that. Um.

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So we're very thankful. Um, up, uh, Greg Lee up at Hunter Bible Church invited her to come up and all the family and be involved with the student ministry on campus there. So we then shipped off to Newcastle, just 'cause another change. Wow.

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She was all about change. Jono Mills: It's a lot of travelling so far. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: You're only like six years old, seven years old.

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Jonny Hann: Yeah, Jono Mills: you've lived in three different cities and had a lot of hard times Jonny Hann: and lots of different just houses. Jono Mills: Yeah.

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Jonny Hann: Like in each place we just kept moving. So yeah, I think, uh, there's a reason my ambiguity tolerance is high. Yes. 'cause Yes.

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Uh, to sometimes to my wife's difficulty, um, be more planned. Jono Mills: Yeah. Jonny Hann: Yeah. But that's part of the reason why.

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Yeah. Mm-hmm. Jono Mills: Wow. Um, so you were in Newcastle for quite a while, right?

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Yeah. Because when, when I first met you, we met at uni and I always thought Johnny's in Newcastle. Now I've only discovered today that's wrong, but I partly Right. But you're in Newcastle for the rest of your childhood and teenage years?

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Jonny Hann: Yeah, basically all of school. Jono Mills: Okay. It Jonny Hann: was Newcastle, so I. I started year one through to year 12 was Newcastle and that, that was quite stable.

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Jono Mills: Yeah. Jonny Hann: Um, we were headed along to Hunter Bible Church. Mm-hmm. Which was a, a Bri was and is a brilliant church.

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Um, and that was really where for me, um, mum made sure that me and my brother in particular had male role models. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Not just role models I should say, but people who would disciple us very intentionally. We didn't have a dad.

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Um. And so in her wisdom as I look back, she made sure someone's reading the Bible or Wow. Or we're at someone's house to just have the influence of an older male. Um, in many ways, my brother kind of filled that position at times as well.

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Jono Mills: Hmm. Jonny Hann: And, uh, yes, but it was a time of working through, um, uh. A new place. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: My siblings and I didn't all get along, particularly my sister above me. We had lots of fights and that was a very difficult time. And at the same time, the faith that I'd grown up in was very real to me. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: Didn't understand where Jesus fit. Jono Mills: Oh. Jonny Hann: Um. I remember at church we moved from the kids' church, which had been a great time.

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Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: Um, into the adult church with normal Sunday. Jono Mills: Yep. Jonny Hann: And we started to hear sermons every week in year five or something like that.

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And I just kept preaching about Jesus. Jono Mills: Oh yeah. And you're like, you want some wild Testament stories and Jonny Hann: Well, I was like, God's the big one.

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I preach about the little one, like God's the big one. I mean, at this time I was. Talking to my friends about Jesus. So, or maybe I was just talking to 'em about God, I can't remember, but I was very keen to talk to them.

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Jono Mills: Yeah, yeah. Jonny Hann: Um, I was aware that they were in need of a saviour and they were sinners. And rejecting the Lord is not a good thing. Mm. Um.

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But yeah, it didn't quite fit. Where's, where's this Jesus fit in to all of this. It was Jesus. I'm

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Jono Mills: having the same kind of thoughts of why did they always go to Jesus? Talking about the Old Testament. Isn't that enough? Jonny Hann: Yeah.

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Jono Mills: But what, what, what, was there a moment that clicked why Jesus was so important for you? Or was it a, a slower thing? Jonny Hann: I think in God's grace, it was an unfolding over time. I don't think, as I look back at my story, there's.

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One moment. Mm. Lots of people, that's their story and praise God. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: My story.

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I think over time, I, I, I remember at the time. We were asked to think about preparing our testimony. You know, how you do some training, I don't even know where it was, kids church or youth group or something. And um, I was really wanting to look for that moment.

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And the temptation at the time was to really emphasise dad's death and how that had really been this huge change. Actually just wasn't true for me. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: I think what was true for me was God had been faithful over many years and I'd realised at some point actually, I, I don't need this one moment to go, whoa, I'm now a Christian.

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Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: I need to trust what Jesus has done for me on the cross, and, and his God has raised him as Lord of all. Mm-hmm. And he's returning to judge the living in the dead.

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And that has real implications for me. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Mm. Which was actually quite freeing to go, oh, so I can trust this and if I trust this, I don't need to wait for some big bombshell moment. Jono Mills: Yeah.

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Jonny Hann: So I think it was just God's grace over time. Changing my heart, heart and helping me to understand the things I'd probably been learning my whole life. I don't think it was 'cause there was anything wrong with the kids' church not teaching me about Jesus. Um.

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A chapel the other day, uh, in an interview, one of the speakers said, there's no tough passages, only tough people. And so I was, are tough Jono Mills: people. Yes.

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Um, I, I, I really think that those stories of long-term faithfulness are a lot more exciting. Really. They don't seem like that to us, but yeah, it makes me think, Jonny Hann: I, I think back to.

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When I was asking for prayers for Charlie, my son, Jono Mills: mm, Jonny Hann: when he was in utero, and the constant prayer that I kept hearing from various people was, may he never know, a day not knowing Jesus. Jono Mills: Yes.

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Jonny Hann: And I think people must have prayed that for me. Jono Mills: Oh, Jonny Hann: and, and praise God for it. I think of, there's a lady named Faye Horridge, um, from Orange, who obviously she knew our story, she knew what had happened to dad and for years and years she would write a, um.

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Birthday card to all four of us. Wow. It was for 15 plus years. To our shame, we rarely, if ever responded.

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Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: She faithfully kept writing them, would send bible verses and prayers and things, and, uh, I think the Lord delights to hear Jono Mills: mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: The, the prayers of the saints and.

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Maybe sometimes in my youth as I despised my boring story using air quotes. Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: I didn't understand what the Lord had been doing through others and his faithfulness to them as much as to mum and to me, and yeah, it's wonderful the way the Lord works, even. When it's hard for us to see it,

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Jono Mills: uh, one of the encouragement is all to pray for those kids who are just all around college all the time and in the playground and stuff like that too. Jonny Hann: Yeah. I think of the, there was a time later on jumping the timeline a bit when I was a scripture teacher in a local high school. Jono Mills: Yeah.

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Jonny Hann: And most of the children who were there were there because their grandparents prayed for them. Wow. At least that's the reason they gave me Jono Mills: Yes.

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Jonny Hann: What I'd say. Oh, why are you here? Oh, my grandpa's a Christian. He says, he prayed for me.

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Yeah. And I think that happened all the time. Jono Mills: Amazing. Jonny Hann: Yeah.

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Uh. Jono Mills: So you firmly a Christian, uh, end of high school. Um, what, like what was your ambition when you finished? What did you wanna do post school?

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Um, did you have an idea of where you wanted to end up? Jonny Hann: I think the time at college had instilled in me ministries a possibility. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: It's a thing you do or you can do, at least

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Jono Mills: at the time at school. Sorry, Jonny Hann: at time, yeah. At college also growing up.

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Yes. Jono Mills: Yeah. Growing up Jonny Hann: at five years old.

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Jono Mills: Wow. Jonny Hann: I guess maybe we shouldn't, um. That's a scary and a delightful thing that five year olds taken more than you think. Jono Mills: Yes.

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Jonny Hann: Yeah. Uh, and as I was at, um, church in Newcastle, there was a very much a strong culture of my youth leaders and others being trained up and heading out to do NTS, um, heading off to Bible college or whatever it was. So I think surrounding me was, ministry is a normal thing. Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Ministry is something you, you do and you can do. I think I was being encouraged in that as well. Jono Mills: Wow. Jonny Hann: Um.

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So I thought, gosh, my, my mom had said, don't go straight into ministry. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: Some people have, it's a wonderful thing. She obviously saw in me, IM maturities, surprise, surprise, good mothers do those kind of things, and so encouraged me to go off to uni.

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She said, you've got one year at home and then I'm kicking you out. Jono Mills: Wow. Jonny Hann: She said that in love. Jono Mills: Yeah.

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Yeah. Jonny Hann: Yeah. And I heard that and thought, well, I might as well get out now then. Um, it was a wonderful time at home.

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Uh, so I went off and thought, oh, what's actually gonna be useful if I want to be doing ministry longer term? Which people have been encouraging me towards. And I thought, well, teaching's a pretty Jono Mills: yes,

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Jonny Hann: good option. Yes, you're in front of people all the time and you're having to learn how to present. And, um, a lot of those skills really useful. So I went and did a undergraduate teaching degree at Wollongong University just to move another place because why not?

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It was the only uni, um, outside of Newcastle that had, uh, the degree in four years, not five. Jono Mills: Wow. Jonny Hann: And Newcastle's built on a swamp. And I hate mosies, so I decided not to go there.

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Jono Mills: Go down south instead. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Yeah, that's right. And so not long after that would've been when we met

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Jono Mills: indeed, both very young and fresh faced. Uh, Jonny Hann: yes, that's right. Jono Mills: Wow.

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Um, I guess a normal question, a normal big second question is why are you here about your calling conviction to ministry, but you always kind of had that desire or perhaps pull towards ministry. Was there any ever any time where you were feeling conflicted about that when you were getting into teaching or was it always that was kind of the way you're drifting towards? Jonny Hann: I think there are a few times along the way. Where the Lord had to keep putting people in my life to encourage me in that direction.

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Mm. Hypotheticals are often useless, so I can't say where I would've been without them. Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: But as I look back, I think there was, you know, the campus director, Rob? Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: Um, another one of the workers, Richard. And along the way they would meet up with me regularly and just keep trying to. Put it on the agenda. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: Richard's phrase was always just put a stone in your shoe. And that stone in my shoe, uh, grew and grew. Grew and grew. I think at uni, under the Uni Bible group or um, evangelical Christian Union at the time as it was.

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Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Uh, it was very easy to be like, yeah, ministry, ministry because Jono Mills: you've

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Jonny Hann: got the midweek bible studies, you've got midweek talks, you've got training, you've got conferences and camps, and you're freed up to think about it, meet one, one-to-one with people. It's a wonderful thing for anyone not in the human ministry. Get in it. Jono Mills: Yes.

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Jonny Hann: It's awesome. Jono Mills: Yeah. If you're heading to uni. Or if you're at uni and you're not there already.

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Jonny Hann: Absolutely. That would be a huge first step, even if you're thinking college down the line. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Wonderful things.

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When I got out of uni, you start thinking kind of. This work thing's kind of fun. Yeah. And I kind of enjoy it and Oh, that paycheck, it's pretty nice.

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Jono Mills: And also you're doing like a good job. Yeah. You know, you are actually helping society and you are a good Christian witness as a teacher. Jonny Hann: And I was working in a Christian school.

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Yeah. So I had opportunities and teaching scripture as well. I had opportunities to speak Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Um, of Jesus. And so I think along the way it was very much, oh. I could keep doing this. That would be a good thing.

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Yeah, totally fine. Yeah. Would it would've been a good thing? Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: My wife would've been very happy at stability and at the time we'd had a lot of instability. Her mom had been sick with cancer and various things. Um, so it would've been very easy to just stick at it and easier and more known. Mm. And the thing that kept coming up was stewardship.

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Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: Jesus says to those who've been given much, much, will be expected. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: And as I looked over my life, I thought I've been given a lot.

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Mm-hmm. Particularly gospel wealth wise, great teachers, people who understood the gospel, who were concerned about the Bible, and making it clear and well understood, and helping me to understand the centrality of Jesus and his lordship and all these things. Alongside a great education and various things, all gifts, none of my own, um, doing. And I thought and was encouraged.

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Even one of the talks from a, um, uh, national training event, which is a uni ministry wide Oh yes. National training where there's talks and. You understand how to read a passage and those kind things. One of the talks by William Taylor was on.

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Jono Mills: I remember that one. Jonny Hann: You did? Yes. Jono Mills: I was in the room with you.

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Jonny Hann: Yeah. Yeah. Maximising. Uh, it was a, a par on the parable of the talents and maximising what you've been given.

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And Richard kept, um, who at the time I was living with, sorry for you, trying to figure out the timeline listening to this. It's all over the shop anyhow. Uh, Richard, it was Jono Mills: before you were married?

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Yes. Jonny Hann: Yeah, it was before. And Richard, uh, would be saying you could continue to be a math teacher and a great math teacher, and that would be a good thing. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: Um, but. I'm paraphrasing here. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: But don't forget, you need to be freed up to teach the gospel.

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Jono Mills: Wow. Jonny Hann: And you'll have much more time to do that if you're freed up. And I looked at my day teaching and I thought, okay, let's say an eight, nine hour day. Jono Mills: Mm,

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Jonny Hann: seven hours, 50 of it is teaching, preparing to teach it's admin. It's. Whatever. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Jonny Hann: 10 minutes is gospel conversations. Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: What if I could be freed up to have all eight hours and, and don't hear me saying denigrating teaching at all? It's a wonderful profession and um, I absolutely loved my time and there's many people doing wonderful things there, but for me personally, I think the challenge was to think about what personally I'd been given and people kept encouraging me towards ministry.

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So that was a real challenge and I thought on that final day, I'm gonna have to give an account to the Lord Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: For how I've used what he's given me. Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Which is not a, um, a crushing thing in any means. We have a Lord of Grace. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: At the same time I thought, if I'm gonna give an honest account, if I am to keep teaching

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Jono Mills: mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Well, I think for me it wouldn't have been right to keep teaching. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: So many people encouraging me yes.

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In this direction, yes. What I've been given all, all this stuff. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: So to steward what I'd been given was, okay, let's train for ministry.

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And, and what that looked like for me at the time was to do a ministry apprenticeship with University of Wollongong. The Christian group there. Jono Mills: Wonderful. Uh, so very convicted, uh, particularly on stewardship.

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You embark on the MTS at Wollongong by this stage. You're married, uh, and Jonny Hann: she's done. MTS

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Jono Mills: on Jodi ts before you Jonny Hann: Yeah. Ministry training. Jono Mills: Mm.

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Jonny Hann: Scheme, I think Jono Mills: before should know Jonny Hann: what it stands for. Right.

00:21:57.620 - 00:21:58.840

Strategy, Jono Mills: strategy, strategy. Yeah. Yeah.

00:21:59.360 - 00:22:09.380

Jonny Hann: I should know that. Having done it, she had done it at our church, St. Michael's in Wollongong at the time. She did that before me. Just as a brief note, we decided for her to do it before me.

00:22:09.410 - 00:22:15.780

'cause we thought. Well, now we're married. Kids are always a possibility. Do we want to come to kids?

00:22:15.780 - 00:22:28.220

Her having worked or having done a traineeship? And we thought probably having done a traineeship because that's gonna serve us well for life as much as the money and experience would've been helpful. Otherwise. Yes.

00:22:28.220 - 00:22:35.250

Um, yes. So anyway, Jono Mills: words of wisdom. Uh, but you come to college after having done that, um, and.

00:22:35.910 - 00:22:46.250

Uh, how did you find college when you first arrived? Was there any, um, encouraging things or surprising things? Jonny Hann: It was very different to my apprenticeship. Jono Mills: Mm.

00:22:46.710 - 00:23:02.610

Jonny Hann: My apprenticeship was a lot of doing stuff and talking in staff teams and kind of wrestling with ideas and things and strategy, and it was a wonderful time. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Coming to college. It was hard work.

00:23:03.120 - 00:23:12.840

'cause it's hard work. Having to get into Hebrew and Greek and trying to be diligent. That was the hardest thing for me. Mm-hmm.

00:23:12.840 - 00:23:22.020

And still is, to be honest. Jono Mills: When you've lived in Newcastle and Wollongong, like, you know, the uni last, lazy, lazy freedom. Yes. Jonny Hann: Yeah.

00:23:22.020 - 00:23:26.030

Yes. Yeah. Wollongong's not known for its, um. High academic anyway.

00:23:26.160 - 00:23:34.980

Jono Mills: No, when you, you, you're considered a nerd if you wear shoes at Wollongong Uni, so, Jonny Hann: yeah, that's right. That's right. So I, I think the diligence is very hard.

00:23:35.130 - 00:23:45.300

Mm. I was disorganised, more organised than had I not been with my wonderful wife, Jo, more organised than if I'd not. Taught and being forced Jono Mills: yes. Jonny Hann: To get some organisation.

00:23:45.570 - 00:24:00.300

Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: But still, you know, you get all these readings, I couldn't have told you what reading was due when I couldn't have told you what assignment was due when, and I actually think that was probably a godliness thing at the end of the day. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: That I've valued.

00:24:00.660 - 00:24:17.010

Uh, I valued, I don't even know what I valued, but I clearly didn't value the readings enough. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Didn't, uh, put the time and effort into thinking, how actually am I gonna maximise this time? So forgetful.

00:24:18.060 - 00:24:29.900

Uh, so, but at the same time, it was wonderful. Jono Mills: Mm, Jonny Hann: wonderful people, people in our. Year at the time were just lovely and kind and gracious.

00:24:30.470 - 00:24:37.580

Getting to know people. It, it was tricky. I was commuting up from Wollongong, so it was a two hour commute either way. I did that for my first two years.

00:24:37.610 - 00:24:47.990

Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Coupled with a wonderful student ministry, a bull Anglican. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Uh, which was all Sunday lot learn lots, love the people there.

00:24:48.980 - 00:24:52.910

And it was a lot. I was preaching eight to 10 times in the year. Oh, Jono Mills: wow.

00:24:53.120 - 00:24:58.160

Yeah. Jonny Hann: And, uh. So, yeah. Juggling all the things

00:24:58.220 - 00:25:04.670

Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: Was difficult. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: At the same time, what I was learning was just wonderful.

00:25:04.670 - 00:25:08.790

Yeah. Like just gold. Yeah. So good, so thankful.

00:25:08.790 - 00:25:17.070

The lecturers are all so clear they know their stuff. It's kind of questions I'd have my whole life. And a lecturer would say An offhand comment. Yeah.

00:25:17.070 - 00:25:18.900

One Jono Mills: sentence. Jonny Hann: Oh my gosh. Jono Mills: Yeah,

00:25:19.100 - 00:25:22.740

Jonny Hann: that's, yeah. Wow. Oh, it's so simple. Why did I think of that?

00:25:22.980 - 00:25:27.870

Jono Mills: Yeah. They're so blessed, aren't we? Jonny Hann: And I was aware of the privilege. Mm. Maybe.

00:25:28.470 - 00:25:46.710

Um, was it last year they had an a team from a, from college go to India for mission. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: And they were teaching the, um, preliminary theological certificate, the PTC over there, and the people over there just wished they could be. Yeah.

00:25:46.980 - 00:25:54.630

And just long, it's too expensive. It's too far from family. They're running churches, but they just long to be here. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

00:25:54.750 - 00:26:01.200

Jonny Hann: I thought, man, what a privilege to. Be here. Jono Mills: Yeah. Something we can take for granted or we complain about sometimes.

00:26:01.620 - 00:26:09.920

Yeah. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: Oh, I mean. You at least have the appearance of somebody who learn to become more organised and disciplined.

00:26:10.220 - 00:26:15.230

And I think we at society has benefit from that. Jonny Hann: Mm-hmm. Jono Mills: Um, so I'm glad. Yeah.

00:26:15.250 - 00:26:26.480

College has obviously taught you that or forced you to become more like that. Uh, in fact, like our, our issue this year is gonna be about focus and distracted the world. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: So I think it was your idea was that

00:26:29.180 - 00:26:36.830

Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: Was that a personal thing? Jonny Hann: Uh, Jono Mills: or is that just you thought it was appropriate to all college students and graduates?

00:26:37.160 - 00:26:47.750

Jonny Hann: Yeah, I think as I looked at myself, looked at the world, mm, thought we're very busy people. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: There's a lot going on. There's always more to do.

00:26:48.410 - 00:26:59.450

Of course, that's not true all around the world, but it is in our part of the world. And I thought, yeah, we're actually a people who need. Focusing. Jono Mills: Mm.

00:26:59.480 - 00:27:06.440

Jonny Hann: And isn't that true in the scriptures? Constantly. I mean, Paul constantly says, remember these things? Yes.

00:27:06.440 - 00:27:15.290

Come back to these things. Come back to these things. Remember, remember, encourage one another, build each other up and focus. Well, we're in a very distracted world.

00:27:15.290 - 00:27:28.610

The world around us is exceptionally distracted by all manner of things, not realising that Jesus is alive and Lord, right now. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: We need to reach the lost. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

00:27:28.700 - 00:27:40.580

Jonny Hann: We need to reach those around the world who are in darkness. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: And hopefully this issue will help recapture our focus on Jesus. Jono Mills: Mm.

00:27:40.760 - 00:27:50.630

Jonny Hann: And, uh, particularly the, the person of Jesus. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: It's so easy to get caught up in the things of church and whatever else. Yeah.

00:27:50.630 - 00:28:05.550

Which are you gotta in one sense, but we never wanna lose sight of the person of Jesus. The man Jesus Christ is alive right now, seated in heaven, coming back to judge. Jono Mills: He's not the little guy, is he? Jonny Hann: He's the guy.

00:28:05.550 - 00:28:07.470

He's not little guy. Great. Great. Circle back, John.

00:28:07.740 - 00:28:10.020

Jono Mills: Well, you did it. Jonny Hann: He's not the little guy. You did it. Yeah.

00:28:10.020 - 00:28:18.330

He's not the little guy. He's the exalted lord Jono Mills: and Jonny Hann: high priest who sits at God's right hand having made purification for sin.

00:28:18.800 - 00:28:24.080

Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: And he's the one that we serve. He's the reason we're at college. And that's, it's very easy.

00:28:24.140 - 00:28:30.710

You, you wouldn't think this to be true, but it's so easy to be distracted at college. Jono Mills: Yes. Jonny Hann: From the things that really matter. Jono Mills: Yes.

00:28:30.770 - 00:28:36.440

Jonny Hann: Oh, I've got this, you, I've got that. You, I've got that to do. I've got this to do. I've gotta talk to that person.

00:28:36.440 - 00:28:41.450

I've got organise student ministry. I've got a plan. Jono Mills: Even as you're reading things, even as you're reading the bible as well. Jonny Hann: Yeah.

00:28:41.450 - 00:28:47.400

Jono Mills: Like, you're like, how can I get distracted from the real meaning of this? Uh, too easily. Way too easily. Jonny Hann: Yeah.

00:28:47.760 - 00:28:50.640

Jono Mills: So we, we do need focus. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: Mm, Jonny Hann: that's right.

00:28:51.180 - 00:28:57.720

Jono Mills: Um, but so you mostly enjoy college. That sounds like if you've enjoyed it more and more as you've gone on. Jonny Hann: Yeah. I've loved it.

00:28:57.780 - 00:29:10.700

Jono Mills: But you are towards the end of your time at college, Johnny Fourth year. Jonny Hann: Yes. Jono Mills: Um, just, you know, uh, looking ahead, where would you like to be, like post-college? What are you hoping for?

00:29:10.700 - 00:29:25.650

Any plans or anything, you know, you're exploring? Jonny Hann: I think at this stage we're thinking we'll get plugged into a church, uh, in the Anglican diocese. Soon after. Jono Mills: Mm.

00:29:25.710 - 00:29:29.600

Jonny Hann: Um, sorry. The Anglican Church. In a diocese, Jono Mills: yes.

00:29:29.600 - 00:29:38.140

Jonny Hann: Soon after. Where exactly that is, we're unsure. Mm. We've been reminded that we always make any decision in the unknown. Mm. Yes.

00:29:38.140 - 00:29:44.880

And it feels like that's very true at the moment. We're trying to make decisions in the unknown. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: There's options on the table.

00:29:44.970 - 00:29:58.110

Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: I think at the end of the day, we wanna be where we can maximise what God's given us. Jono Mills: Mm. Jonny Hann: And serve God's people and his sheep, and feed them and proclaim Christ.

00:29:58.320 - 00:30:09.780

Reach the lost. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Where exactly that is, what exactly I'll be doing, I don't know. But ministry is about prayer proclamation and people, so it'll be something to do with

00:30:10.230 - 00:30:17.280

Jono Mills: what to do with people and proclaiming to them the gospel and praying with them Exactly. And praying for them. Jonny Hann: Yeah. Jono Mills: Um, as indeed people have done for you.

00:30:17.290 - 00:30:24.760

Yeah. Jonny Hann: And Jono Mills: you, you've benefited so richly from that. Um, how could we be praying for you guys for the big changes ahead?

00:30:25.390 - 00:30:31.390

Jonny Hann: Yeah. Big changes ahead. Mm. For those listening to this down the line. Uh, keep praying.

00:30:31.390 - 00:30:38.020

I don't do anything stupid. Uh, just very aware Yes. Of my own sin. Jono Mills: Mm.

00:30:38.080 - 00:30:48.820

Jonny Hann: As well as, uh, the effects that it has on a church. Mm. And, and God's name ultimately and get God's honour. So, mm-hmm. Pray I don't do anything stupid and keep.

00:30:49.250 - 00:31:06.570

Not doing anything stupid and pray that I'd grow such a love for the scriptures that I spend my time. Desiring to know the Lord more and more through it and to help others see that. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Jonny Hann: Um, there's stuff at this particular point in time.

00:31:06.840 - 00:31:18.600

Pray for the baby. And Jono Mills: yes, Jonny Hann: they'll grow up to never knowing, day, not knowing Jesus, and pray for Charlie that he'll do the same and pray for the move will be moving with a two month old.

00:31:18.600 - 00:31:25.560

Lord willing. Jono Mills: Yes, Jonny Hann: there's a whole bunch of stuff, but the, the core is not doing anything stupid and sticking with Jesus. And

00:31:25.590 - 00:31:30.720

Jono Mills: yes. Jonny Hann: Trusting him and proclaiming. Jono Mills: Oh, let's pray about that now. Jonny Hann: Thanks,

00:31:31.080 - 00:31:50.550

Jono Mills: uh, dear Father, I thank you so much for Johnny. We thank you for. How you've been at work in his life. Thank you for the rich heritage he has from his parents, and thank you for his faithfulness of his mother, uh, her thoughtfulness, intentionality and care, um, for Johnny and, and for his siblings.

00:31:50.640 - 00:32:14.300

Um. Father, we thank you so much for all those, uh, men and women who over the years looked out for Johnny, uh, from when he was a little boy playing around here at Mo College, uh, to Hunter Bible Church and then to to Wollongong Uni. Um, father, we thank you so much for the, the growing conviction you gave him as well. We thank you so much for how you're blessed, Johnny.

00:32:14.300 - 00:32:38.240

We thank you for, uh, the gifts you've given him and to serve your church. Thank you for, uh, those people who have challenged and convicted him, uh, to serve you in ministry. Lord, we do pray you can help Johnny to keep watch on his doctrine and his life. Um, help him to keep on saying no to sin, um, mindful of, of not just.

00:32:38.870 - 00:32:55.580

How that can, uh, be bad for himself and for his family, but for his future flock, he'll be caring for. Lord, we do pray for, uh, him and Joe, uh, and the kids as they prepare for the changes. They ahead please be guiding them in decision making. Uh, and also with the move coming up.

00:32:55.940 - 00:33:06.440

Uh, Lord, wherever they end up, uh, we pray. Be using them for your glory. Hmm. To pastor your people to reach the lost, uh, and to reclaim Jesus.

00:33:07.460 - 00:33:27.420

Amen. Amen. James Squire: You've been listening to To This Point, a podcast from Societas, the student magazine of Sydney's Moore Theological College. To find out more about the College and to listen to past episodes, head to moore.edu.au.

00:33:32.060 - 00:33:47.660

That's moore.edu.au. This podcast was edited and produced with assistance from the Communications Team at Moore Theological College, and our music was provided by Moore College graduate Zaneta Neal. Disciples proclaiming Christ.