Madelaine Brown is a Civil Engineer taking a 2-year career break. This is her story of how she’s intending to use that time.
Why did you choose to spend the next 2 years doing Ministry Training with City Bible Forum?
Madelaine: I have been thinking about doing a ministry traineeship ever since my final years of studying engineering. I was so impacted by the campus ministry staff. They helped me mature in my faith. I thought: “Could I do that for others too?” However I could also see the value of working as an engineer and gaining some life experience.
I’ve learned and grown a lot over my last three years in the workforce. As Christians we do need support because it’s easy to become consumed by our jobs and in the daily grind forget what truly matters in life: knowing God and actively following Christ.
City Bible Forum did a great job supporting me and I could see working with them would give me opportunities to support other city workers.
What will you be doing with City Bible Forum?
Madelaine: I am very excited to work with Headstart, the young workers community led by Grace Huang. Headstart helps young Christian workers mature in their faith and trains them to be bold in their workplaces to share Jesus. As part of the leadership team I will have organisational and public speaking roles, as well as providing support and encouragement to Headstarters.
I will continue to lead the Christian group at my old engineering firm. We meet fortnightly sharing and praying together. I want to continue strong friendships with my work colleagues and to share my faith and the work I am doing. I’m prayerful for opportunities to read the Bible with colleagues and run outreach events.
What does the future hold for you?
Madelaine: It was really hard to take the time off from engineering. It is so valuable being a Christian in the workplace. I also know that the decision to do ministry doesn’t make me any more valuable in God’s eyes. The most important thing is living for Christ, not what job we have.
I’m not quite sure what God has in store for me in the future. I may go back to being an engineer or I may not. I may work in Australia or I may not. But what I do know is that over these next two years of Ministry Training, I will be stretched in character, conviction and competence. And that will be a good thing, for whatever the future holds.
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