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Jono Mills: Welcome to To This Point.: conversations with students about how God has brought them to Sydney's Moore Theological College. I'm your host, Jono, and well, today we're speaking with: Phoebe Edwards: Phoebe. Jono Mills: Phoebe, great to have you here.

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Uh, Phoebe, I think you are the only first year, uh, interviewed To This Point., so. Very glad that you said yes. Phoebe Edwards: Thank you for having me. Jono Mills: I'm looking forward to hearing your story 'cause um, I've known you for a while, but I don't think I've actually ever asked you your whole story.

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So this will be fun. Um, To This Point., ask three questions about how God has been at working you. Um, the first question is, where have you come from? Uh, the second question, why are you here?

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Why are you studying at Moore College? And the third, where do you hope to go? Uh, so let's start with the first question. Uh, where did you come from?

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Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Um, I grew up in Canberra, truly the greatest city in the world. Um, the Jono Mills: nation's capital, the

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Phoebe Edwards: nation's capital, Jono Mills: the flower of the Australia. Yep, Phoebe Edwards: absolutely.

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Um, yeah, I grew up there my whole life. My parents moved down, um, from Sydney to be a part of the uni ministry to support it. Mm-hmm. Um, as workers.

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When it started up in, I think the nineties. Yeah. Um, yeah, so we've been around the uni my whole life and, um, I studied linguistics and science communication. Um, at uni before I did MTS.

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Wow. Also at a NU. Yeah. Jono Mills: Um, so you literally were around the uni for a long time growing up around there, and although your parents weren't in full-time ministry, they were very ministry minded.

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Uh, in terms of uprooting themselves to support a growing ministry in Canberra, how did Jesus fit into the young Phoebe's life Phoebe Edwards: into young Phoebe's life? I mean, I have the blessing of saying that I always knew that Jesus was the king. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm.

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Phoebe Edwards: Um, I was probably at the end of primary school, at the start of high school, um, when I heard a talk that said. God, he adopts us as sons, uh, but he doesn't adopt grandsons. Jono Mills: Oh, yeah. Phoebe Edwards: Um, and so we're not welcomed into heaven because of the faith of our parents.

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We actually need to live with Jesus as our own king. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Phoebe Edwards: And I think that was quite pivotal for me in going, oh, actually this is something that. I need to think seriously about personally.

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Yeah. And not just ride on the, on the coattails of my parents. Jono Mills: Okay. Phoebe Edwards: Um, to church each week.

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Mm. Yeah. Jono Mills: So early high school, you made a decision, this is my own faith, I'm gonna live it out. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

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Jono Mills: Wonderful. Well, did you have any, like when you finished high school, any dreams or aspirations of what you wanted to do with your life? Phoebe Edwards: Um, I don't know. When I finished high school.

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I mean, probably in terms of dreams or aspirations, I just wanted to have fun. Yeah. But, um, like I chose the things that I studied because they were the things that I enjoyed studying at school. Um, I think in particular for my life, I wanted to make sure that I had space to do theatre.

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I really loved Jono Mills: Oh, yeah, Phoebe Edwards: yeah. Music: Um,

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Phoebe Edwards: musical theatre, and I know that it's quite a drain on time, um, in particular. Mm-hmm. And so. I started uni, um, in 2020.

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Music: Yeah. Okay. Phoebe Edwards: Which was, uh, not helpful. Not for the theatre, for getting into the theatre scene.

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Um, but then yeah, realised through 2020 actually I really only had capacity to do study and either the uni ministry involvement or theatre. Um, and so I was sad, but. Yeah, I truly was sad, but, uh, the uni ministry kept on taking precedence and I was sad, but that was a good thing, I think ultimately. Yeah.

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Yeah. Jono Mills: There you go. So uni through the COVID times, but yet the Christian group was still going, still vibrant while you were there. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah.

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Well, you would admit, Jono Mills: I, I would there for some of it too. Uh, I'll crossover. So, yeah, at uni in COVID ministry is happening even though theatre stuff isn't happening.

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Um, was that when you started thinking about ministry? Phoebe Edwards: Um, yeah. Through uni I started thinking about ministry. I think like early on I would've said that I was not.

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Going to go into ministry. Mm. I think, um, my thought process would've been like, that's not really our family's trade, even though my sister, I think was already doing an apprenticeship Jono Mills: Mm. Phoebe Edwards: While I was at uni.

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Um, and my brother-in-law did an apprenticeship as well. Mm. Um, I was like, it's not really our family's vibe. Um. But yeah, I was challenged to keep thinking about it.

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Mm-hmm. Um, in particular, Gloria Nelson met up with me through uni and the person who eventually became my trainer as well. Music: Mm-hmm. Phoebe Edwards: I realised halfway through my final year, this is a bit embarrassing, um, that.

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My HECS debt was going to be too big to do Bible college afterwards. Mm. And then I went, wait a second. Why do I care about whether or not I can afford Bible college? Jono Mills: Oh, really?

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So your, your affection had changed before your, your mind had realised? Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Yeah. That's a good way of putting it.

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I noticed that like my heart was somewhere that my head wasn't quite yet. And so I started MTS. But through MTS, I was like, this is just to see like, yeah. Worst case scenario.

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Yeah, worst case scenario. I'm a better trained person to serve, um, in the future, but I'm still not planning on going into ministry. I think, yeah, my trainer did a really good job of going like, actually this is an important investment like that you're making. And yeah, we're not just training you up so that you can go and have a cushy job.

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The harvest actually needs workers and you're someone who is placed to do that. Um. I think my hesitation was like, I know that I'm not fully aware of the sin of my heart. Mm-hmm.

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Um, and I'm like, how could someone like me who is not Jesus Jono Mills: Yes, Phoebe Edwards: do ministry? Jono Mills: Yes.

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Phoebe Edwards: But I realised that actually all of the people who do ministry, who aren't Jesus are not Jesus. Um, and I think a really important lesson that I learned was that. We actually can expect our hearts and our lives to change as we seek to be more like Christ. Um, and yeah, I noticed over the two years that I found it slightly easier to be patient with people and um, you know, I had a slightly better control of my tongue and I was like, oh, actually.

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I'm not a slave to sin. Jono Mills: Mm. Phoebe Edwards: Which, you know, the Bible had been telling me my whole life. Um, but sometimes I think you need to pay attention to learn things.

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Jono Mills: Mm, Phoebe Edwards: yeah. Jono Mills: Mm. Uh, really helpful. I think.

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Um, a lot of people can have that kind of mentality before coming to college or going the minister track. I've gotta work on some things. I've gotta work on some things. Yeah.

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And, and for some people they do before they start, but I think. It's helpful to, to, for people to hear may maybe you who are listening that you can actually work on things, particularly if you something like MTS. Yeah. Yeah.

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But you did finish MTS Phoebe Edwards: Yes. Jono Mills: And you ended up at college. Was that like the easy decision or what was it?

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Still a wrestle to the very end. Phoebe Edwards: Um, uh, another factor came into play. Um, so I got sick in May of the second year of my MTS Mm. And my capacity was like fully mixed. I got COVID and then I had long COVID, and so it was just like crazy fatigue.

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Yes. Um, I pulled back a lot from uni ministry, so, um, the way that our uni went, we had like a big public meeting. Music: Mm. Phoebe Edwards: Or like weekly bible talk thing on.

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A Thursday, and then we'd have a international meeting on the Thursday night, and my responsibility area was a Thursday night international meeting, and as I regained my capacity, I still never got up to the point that I could go to the Thursday day meeting. Music: Mm. Um. Phoebe Edwards: So college was off the cards honestly, for a bit there because I was like, there's no point going to somewhere that I just can't, like do the thing that you're supposed to do while you're there. Um, but yeah, I set some goals and I went, well, if I can work, I think I was like, if I can work a 30 hour week by the end of November mm, then um, then we'll be thinking about college again.

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I was like applying for the sake of like having something to do, but yeah. Um. I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be here, but yeah, God has kind of gave me healing, which is not promised to people with, um, with fatigue issues. And yeah, I'm really grateful to be able to be here.

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But yeah, I think about halfway through. I think that taught me a lot about grace through that. Jono Mills: Yes, yes. Phoebe Edwards: Um, and I think that was.

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Realising that like I don't bring anything to my salvation, which again, is something the Bible tells us, so we know. But going, um, I still had some part of me that thought, oh, I must be like, God wouldn't want me. He must want me because I have like a skill that's useful, something that's helpful for the kingdom and going, no, no. The so thing that you're able to do at the moment is sleep, and that's not helpful for anybody.

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So there is no way that God would want you in his kingdom? Yes. Yeah. Phoebe Edwards: Um, so that you can sleep.

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Yeah. Um, it's actually, it's not because you have any skills or any, um, like personality traits or any like, particularly strong convictions. It's actually just because he loves you. Yes.

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And he sent his son to die for you. Jono Mills: Yes. Phoebe Edwards: And there's no like, oh, but he loves me because it's like, no, no, no. He loves you because he loves you in

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Jono Mills: spite of Yeah. In spite of Phoebe Edwards: this. Yeah.

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Um, so. I think realising that sort of broke down the last few barriers in terms of me making a decision about whether or not I wanna go into ministry. Jono Mills: Mm-hmm. Phoebe Edwards: But yeah, I was still nervous to send myself in.

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I, um, lent heavily on my wise council Yes. To say, do you think I should go to college? Jono Mills: No, that's really good advice though, when you like to have wise friends around you. Yeah.

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Uh, to be showing you the way. College was on the cards again, you encouraged to do it. Uh, was there any reason why more college in particular? Phoebe Edwards: Yeah.

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I wanted to go to a college that had really solid theological grounding. Mm-hmm. Um, someone helpfully said to me, um, it's important to be selfish in your training so that you can be generous in your ministry. I learned that Moore College leans heavily into having a cohort and having people to study alongside.

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Yeah. And I know that's something that I really value community and getting to know people deeply and well. Um, so that was one reason why Moore College. Um, but then also.

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I have a sister and a brother-in-law here. Yes. Um, and they have children and Yeah. Other sort of family in the, in the near vicinity.

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So I knew I'd have a sort of support network here, which was a big selling point. Yeah, Jono Mills: indeed. And how did you find college?

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You had six moms in, so very fresh. How have you found college so far? Yeah, Phoebe Edwards: it's been great.

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Mm. There have been some ups and downs. Um, at the moment I'm hugely thankful because I really love all of my courses. Jono Mills: Ah, so good. Mm.

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Phoebe Edwards: Which is just brilliant because I'm like, in uni you'd always have like gass sanity course and a blood course. Okay. You know. Yeah.

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Something that you're like, I'm not really gonna try in this one. 'cause it sucks, Jono Mills: but they're all good. Right.

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Phoebe Edwards: But yeah, they're all good. Um, Jono Mills: and all the lecturers do care about the subject they're teaching too. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah,

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Jono Mills: yeah, Phoebe Edwards: yeah. I did one chemistry course where, um. You could tell that he just like had to be there so that he could keep being at the uni because he'd do these optional lectures where he would light up like he'd sit down.

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Yeah. Okay. He'd be talking about like reaction mechanisms and he'd be like, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, alcohol. No, like, whatever, I don't know.

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And then you go to the optional lectures and he's like, did you know that a pair has 12,000 times more formaldehyde than a vaccine? Jono Mills: Yes. Yes. Phoebe Edwards: And you're like, wow, you really are passionate about some aspects of chemistry

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Jono Mills: that that like second time of energy is present. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Across Jono Mills: some and

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Phoebe Edwards: all of the, yeah. Jono Mills: And even in some things that, you know, occasionally, maybe somebody might find potentially boring, other theological lectures are finding really fascinating and that mm-hmm. Means that we too get fascinated as well. Yeah.

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Which is right. So, Phoebe, do you have any tips that people seen as you're six months in? I feel like most people when they come with the podcast, they just can look at college through rose coloured glasses, uh, and forget about what the transfer was like from either work to college or um. Mt. S to college.

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Any tips or anything you learned about that that would be helpful for people to hear? Phoebe Edwards: Ah, I don't know if I have tips yet. Mm-hmm. I feel like I was given a lot of good advice in that.

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Like it'll take a long time. Yeah. But then you do have to kinda live it to realise that it's gonna take a long time. But like I've found recently, like I've only just found some walks that I really love doing.

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Music: Mm. Phoebe Edwards: And some like patterns that are really. Helpful for me. Mm-hmm.

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Um, I realised recently that like, something that's hard about moving from out of Sydney to college is that college really is your whole life. Um, yes. Like, or maybe church is a different aspect of life. Yeah.

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Church kind of in a way is pretty similar to college. Yeah, yeah. Um, yeah, I just realised like the place I live in all of my housemates, because I live at the singles accommodation mm-hmm. Um, all of them are college students.

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Um, and we all have dinner in the dining hall that we eat lunch in. Yes. Yeah. And, um, and everything is timed and like given to me.

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I like, I have a bit of autonomy. Mm. I don't have a bit of autonomy, um, that I used to have. And yeah, one of the girls said, oh, would you go to a night chapel if we had chapel? Oh, wow.

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Wow. 'cause I was talking about how much I love chapel and I was like, absolutely not too much. My nights are my only time. Um, yeah.

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Jono Mills: So it can be quite different, like if you go from when you, particularly like a ministry apprenticeship where you choose what you wanna do in your time. Yeah. Having things quite structured, I think. Especially in a singles accommodation, there's something to be aware of, right?

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Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Yeah. And I just don't have, um, like friends in Sydney that are also college as well, which Jono Mills: Mm.

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Phoebe Edwards: Like, it's like, it's fine. I love all my college friends. Um, but it's, yeah, it's just a bit. It's a little bit, it's different.

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Yeah. Yeah. Um, sorry, that is a lie. I have one friend who's recently moved to Sydney.

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Oh, okay. He's not a college person and I'm really excited to go see her. Jono Mills: That's good. Just in case she's listening.

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Phoebe Edwards: No. Also like the reason that I realised that. I was like, why am I, I mean, I love her, which is why I'm excited to see her. But I was like, why am I so excited to see her?

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And I was like, oh, it's because she's like, Jono Mills: yes. Phoebe Edwards: She doesn't know Tony Payne. Like she is just outside of this like very sort of intense, enmeshed universe.

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So Jono Mills: yes, I think I remember when I started college, somebody said, it's like being at a conference that never ends. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Jono Mills: And it does feel like that.

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All the positives and sometimes the negatives as well. But yeah. What a joy. And I think it works when you realise it is a, a short term thing.

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Yeah. Even with three or four years doesn't seem very short when you begin. Yeah. Phoebe Edwards: But it has an end date.

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You, it Jono Mills: does. Phoebe Edwards: You're not here forever. Jono Mills: Yeah.

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And we, we are being trained. We are in that Christian bubble at the moment. We've been trained Phoebe Edwards: Yeah.

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Jono Mills: And equipped to spend the rest of our lives outside of it too. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Jono Mills: Um, which brings me to our last question actually. Where do you hope to go?

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Yeah. Uh, in the future, what would be your dream place to be serving God back to Canberra? The greatest thing in the world, perhaps, or perhaps somewhere else? Phoebe Edwards: I think I'm really keen for uni ministry still.

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Um, yeah. I really enjoyed getting alongside, particularly the girls at my campus and seeing them learn about the person of their king and. Who he is and what he wants for them and how they can love him. I think there's something really special there.

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So I'm excited to go back to that somewhere. But in terms of where I'm, I'm in first, first year, I have no clue. Jono Mills: Wonderful. Well, I guess I kind of think it really excites me chatting to people at college and particularly first years.

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When there's so much possibilities in front of them. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah. Jono Mills: And you chat with them. And even looking for little scientist profiles, this is kind of where this podcast idea came from.

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Is everyone at college, a full-time student has like a little paragraph where they share where they've come from and where they're hoping to go. And I'm, I always love to go back to old editions and see what people, where they came from, also where they're hoped to go. And then sometimes you know them. It's interesting to see sometimes the way they walked was the way they expect, and other times God had very different plans for them is very encouraging, um, and also surprising too, the way God works in our lives.

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Phoebe, thank you for sharing some of your story. I'm sure there's a lot more. Is there any way we can be praying for you? Phoebe Edwards: Ooh, yes.

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Always. Please pray that I grow to become more like Christ. But yeah, also, um, you can pray for my energy if it comes and goes in seasons and yeah, you can pray as I seek to learn more about myself and where I might serve well in ministry in the future. Mm. Um, that's a long term prayer at the moment, but it will need a decision eventually.

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Jono Mills: Mm. Phoebe Edwards: Um, yeah, you can pray for wisdom and clarity for that. Jono Mills: Oh, wonderful. Phoebe Edwards: Yeah.

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Jono Mills: Well, I might pray now. Phoebe Edwards: Thanks. Jono Mills: Father, we thank you so much for Phoebe. We thank you for her faith in you.

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We thank you for her parents in their sacrifice in serving your people by upbringing their lives to support the the ministries in Canberra. And thank you also that Phoebe always knew you. And for that challenge she had when she was in late primary school in early high school to live wholeheartedly for you to live with you as her saviour and her Lord. Thank you for the wise friends, the mentors who've gone before her for the godly encouragement she had for while at uni to put Christ first and to consider serving him in full-time ministry.

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Thank you for sustaining her through. Periods of, of illness, uh, for healing her. Uh, Lord, we do pray. Be continuing to, to heal her.

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Help her to navigate the ups and downs of health and to keep on growing in her love and trust of you. And also, father, we do pray she can be trusting you with her future too. Uh, father, we pray that wherever she serves you in whatever capacity in the future, it would be for the building up of the church, um, and for your glory, Lord. We thank you so much for the joys of hearing one other's stories and for the way you've been at work in our lives.

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Amen. Nathan Hutchinson: 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. That's moore.edu.au.

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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.