Zenith was born in Hong Kong and arrived in Australia when he was three years old. His parents joined a local church to find community in a new place. While they found belonging, Zenith struggled with the cultural gap.
“Growing up, I didn’t see the purpose of going to church. The services were all in Chinese, and I couldn’t really understand what was going on.”
“It was a turning point. I realised the Bible actually made sense and it was something I could read and understand.”
That changed in Year 12, when he attended a study camp and encountered Christians who were genuinely and visibly living for Jesus. It was there that he put his faith in Christ. Around the same time, he moved to an English-speaking Chinese congregation.
“It was the first time I heard expository preaching in English. It was a turning point. I realised the Bible actually made sense and it was something I could read and understand.”
A Pathway to Bible College
At university, Zenith got involved with Campus Bible Study at UNSW. It was a pivotal time of spiritual growth and maturity.
“I first heard about the existence of Bible colleges at Uni. I was really involved with campus ministry, and I thought, “If I truly am convicted by the truths of the Bible, and what the Bible has to say about people who don’t know Jesus, then wouldn’t it make sense for me to spend a bit of time, go to Bible college, be equipped to take the gospel, teach it, and introduce people to Jesus?””
After graduating, Zenith worked as an accountant. He found himself working long hours and feeling disillusioned.
“The question began to seriously press in on me: What should I do with my life?”
“I attended a seminar on work, and I wondered what my purpose in work was. Was my job just helping people who loved money, love it even more? At the time, I was working at a Tech Start-up based in the States, which led me to work from waking up until I slept. I was compensated well but it made me fall into a loop of balancing out my stresses at work with dopamine hits of consumerism.”
“The question began to seriously press in on me: What should I do with my life?”
“I had always been drawn to the idea of investing more deeply in my faith. Not necessarily with a goal of full-time ministry or mission, but because the claims of the Bible are huge, and worth taking seriously, regardless of where I end up.”
“I expressed that desire to my pastors at church, and they recommended I do a one year traineeship at church.”
Zenith spent a year preaching, learning through team meetings, and serving with youth. During that year, Zenith was gripped by a growing sense of urgency.
“I was drawn to SMBC because of its missional focus. I wanted a college with high standards for academia, but also one that would push me to think through missions, and be invested in my journey.”
He was challenged to think more seriously about mission – not necessarily about a specific destination, but about what it really meant to dedicate your life to sharing the gospel.
Zenith was ready for the next step – training at Bible college. After many discussions and much research, Zenith was convinced that SMBC was the best place to be prepared for whatever came next. He started in 2025.
“I was drawn to SMBC because of its missional focus. I wanted a college with high standards for academia, but also one that would push me to think through missions, and be invested in my journey.”
Life at SMBC
Zenith is now in his second year at SMBC and living on campus. His wife Sarah has witnessed God dramatically shaping Zenith’s heart for mission and decided to study part-time.
“Coming to Bible college, I was really keen on growing in my intellectual knowledge of God’s Word – to be able to answer different questions, to know the Bible better. I definitely got that throughout my first year at SMBC. But I think the thing that was surprising to me and Sarah was just how God has been at work in our hearts for cross-cultural and global missions.”
“The thing that was surprising to me and Sarah was just how God has been at work in our hearts for cross-cultural and global missions.”
“I remember sitting next to students who were so convicted of the gospel, of the need for people to hear the gospel, that they were already putting things in place to prepare them to take the gospel across the world when they graduated. That was a really big encouragement for us.”
A Heart for Mission
“Mission feels woven into everything at SMBC. The lectures have given me substantial theological grounding, along with regular opportunities to think about how that knowledge applies in a mission context.”
“Community events like Ministry Matters have added another layer, where we get to hear weekly from visiting missionaries and gospel workers.”
“The lecturers, many of whom bring significant personal experience in mission, have been a constant source of insight and inspiration.”
“Mission feels woven into everything at SMBC.”
“This last year, we have been wrestling with the question of, “if we are convicted of the truths in the Bible and what it has to say about the eternal reality of people who know and who don’t know Jesus, then how can we not seriously consider taking the gospel to the ends of the world, where there are people who might live their whole lives without hearing of Jesus?””
College Mission and Next Steps
“Last year, as part of college mission, we went to Cambodia, and I saw for the first time the reality that there are people in the world who could go through their whole lives without hearing who Jesus is, and what that means for their eternal reality.”
“That’s how God has been at work in our hearts, to grow us not only intellectually, but to grow our desire for cross-cultural missions as well.”
“Our goal now is to grow our heart for overseas mission, and to be obedient to God’s will for us.”
Zenith has started discussions with missionaries and exploring potential mission fields. He is committed to completing his studies, while also serving as a ministry intern at Trinity Evangelical Church Sydney – a local church plant in Burwood.
Zenith and Sarah are praying for clarity, trusting that the God who has faithfully called and shaped them so far will lead them to the next chapter.
“Our goal now is to grow our heart for overseas mission, and to be obedient to God’s will for us. Whether it be locally or overseas, to be growing our heart for the lost, and making disciples wherever we are, in Burwood, Sydney or beyond.”
