Andrew has wide experience across different industries and leadership roles. His career spans aircraft engineer, business manager at Wycliffe Bible Translators, CEO of Word Investments, running a funeral business, berry farming, tow truck driver, and CEO of Presbyterian Inland Mission (PIM).
Fleur trained and worked as a teacher but spent most of her time educating her own three kids, as well as working as a researcher for the Presbyterian church.
“Jack of all trades, master of none. That’s how we market ourselves!” laughs Fleur.
After seven years working with Presbyterian Inland Mission, they found themselves at a crossroads. Andrew says, “We started moving towards finishing up – without knowing what that looked like,” he recalls.
Fleur adds, “We were restless, and I remember we prayed one day, ‘Lord, we’re really restless. If you want us to just settle down and refocus where we are, we’ll do it. But if you don’t, then show us where we should go.
And it was literally the next day the thought came to us that we could go to Bible college. We’d previously talked about potentially going when our two girls had left home.” The idea gained momentum, and they realised – why wait until their kids had left home?
“I always say, ‘We’re equipping ourselves for the next season. And we should have done this years ago!’” Andrew says with a smile.
“I always say, ‘We’re equipping ourselves for the next season. And we should have done this years ago!’”
Andrew’s two brothers and mother had previously studied at SMBC, so they knew the college well. “We’re not city people and never wanted to live in Sydney. But we knew that SMBC was a little bit of an oasis in the city,” says Fleur.
Andrew continues, “The full residential program at SMBC and my strong family connection were key factors for us. And even though we were steeped in the Presbyterian Church, we wanted something a little more interdenominational.”
Fleur had also had a taste of studying at SMBC, completing two Old Testament units online in 2022. “I really enjoyed it,” she remembers.
Once they decided to come to SMBC, they jumped in “boots and all.” Andrew completed a two-year Master of Theological Studies (MTS), Fleur studied a three-year Master of Divinity (MDiv), and their youngest daughter completed SMBC’s gap year program, The Bridge. All three graduated together at the end of 2025.
Andrew explains, “I found that for me, one year wasn’t enough, but I didn’t want to do three. So having the two-year MTS was ideal.”
Andrew and Fleur are now continuing their studies part-time with the SMBC Christian Mentoring Course – yet another step in their ongoing preparation.
Looking back over their time at SMBC, Fleur shares, “It’s been one of the best experiences we’ve had. We’ve loved the community. That’s been a real highlight for us. It’s so stimulating.
“For me, it’s been a little taste of heaven. Mature believers living together. It’s just an amazing privilege.”
You’ve got the lecturers, and you’ve got students of all different ages. We’ve loved that age spread. You can be in a class with a 25-year-old and a 75-year-old! For me, it’s been a little taste of heaven. Mature believers living together. It’s just an amazing privilege.
But I don’t think I’ve ever worked harder. We’ve tried to have the full experience and to get as much as we can out of everything while we’re here. Because we know we’re here for a season and then we’re gone.”
Andrew adds, laughing, “Not many people turn 50 while they’re at Bible college. I’m older than the principal! We even had a cohort of four ‘old blokes’ which was great fun.”
When asked about their study highlights, Fleur exclaims, “Oh, too many!”
“I really enjoyed the theology units the most. People think of theology as purely theoretical, but we just found it really practical. And I remember every assignment I did ended up addressing something that I was personally wrestling with.
“I really enjoyed the theology units the most. People think of theology as all theoretical, but we just found it really practical.”
‘Church Planting’ with Ed [Grudier] was also a highlight. He’s just such a good educator, and he’s got so much experience. It’s a very practical subject, but it’s also the way Ed runs the classes and the way he shares himself and his own experiences. It’s very special.”
She continues, “Lots of our subjects connected beautifully. We’d be studying 1 Peter and then exploring related themes in theology class. Everything interconnected, and the Holy Spirit was clearly working in us in particular areas.”
When asked where God might take them next, Andrew answers, “We’re just walking in a direction that God has opened up for us. We want to get local jobs in a regional area, get to know people in the community and help out a local church.
“It helps you really think about why you believe what you believe rather than just believing it.”
Andrew continues, “And there’s lots of churches in regional and rural areas that can barely afford even one pastor. So a couple of Bible college grads who are willing to structure their lives to have a little bit of extra free space to contribute to the life of a church – there’s lots of things we can do there. I’m also staying on the governing board of the PIM, and we’ve got our mentoring skills.
We’ve done lots of different stuff already. We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in the church. We’ve had a fair bit of experience there so nothing really surprises us. Whereas I think if you’re 30 and you’re going to your first parish as a pastor, there’s a very different expectation in all sorts of ways. We just want to be useful.”
What’s their advice for those considering study at SMBC?
“Just do it!” says Fleur with a big grin.
Andrew says, “If you can afford it and arrange it, do it full-time and live on campus. Other stuff is good, but that’s the richest part. That would be my recommendation.”
Fleur adds, “You’re not going to regret it. It’s equipping you for life. It enables you to concentrate, go deeper, and be more useful for the kingdom. Wisdom for life, wisdom for the future.”
“It’s equipping you for life. It enables you to concentrate, go deeper, and be more useful for the kingdom. Wisdom for life, wisdom for the future.”
Andrew concludes, “It’s a time to step back from your other responsibilities and just really get to know the Word and God and his people better in a really intentional way. It helps you really think about why you believe what you believe rather than just believing it.”
Armed with theological depth, mentoring skills, and a love for the local church, Andrew and Fleur are walking into their future with open hands. Their story is a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue what God has placed on your heart – whether that’s formal study, deeper preparation, or simply saying ‘Yes’ to the next season.
