SMBC was established in 1916 by Charles Benson Barnett, a returned missionary of the China Inland Mission (now called OMF). His heart was to train people for Christian service in Australia and overseas. Cross-cultural mission has been in the very DNA of SMBC ever since.
Today, SMBC has a strong reputation for mission expertise. SMBC graduates are serving across a great variety of countries and ministries, alongside a wide range of mission organisations.
At SMBC, mission is infused into the experience of every student – through exposure to global mission workers, mission theology and networks of mission organisations. Our goal is to train globally minded graduates.
At the core is the belief that it is God’s mission to reach all people with his gospel, and that his people are called and privileged to participate in it.
SMBC Faculty and Staff
The SMBC missions faculty consists of three dedicated full-time missiologists; Dr Ed Grudier, Dr Tim Silberman and Jonathan James.
Of our faculty and staff, 16 have served in cross-cultural mission, with over 140 years of experience between them. They have served across a wide range of countries, people groups and mission organisations, including four PhDs in missiology.
Dr Derek Brotherson
SMBC Principal, Lecturer in Missions and Preaching
Derek served for 10 years with OMF in Southeast Asia in a variety of settings, including a Bible college and missionary training school. Derek’s PhD researched the complex topic of gospel contextualization among Muslims.
Rev Anthony Brammall
SMBC Vice Principal; Lecturer in New Testament
Anthony and his wife Jenny are graduates of SMBC. They served with CMS in Sulawesi for 8 years, where he taught biblical studies and Greek at the Theological College of Eastern Indonesia. He was ordained in 1997 by the Singapore Anglican Diocese.
Dr Ed Grudier
Head of Missions, Director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Mission
Ed and his late wife Kathy served for 14 years with WEC International in church planting and field leadership in West Asia. During this time he also served in WEC’s International Department for Equipping and Advance and as a visiting lecturer at Cornerstone Bible College for Mission Training in the Netherlands. After returning to the U.S., Ed worked as the Missions Pastor for 14 years at Cherrydale Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia.
Dr Tim Silberman
Lecturer in Missions; International Student Care
Tim has completed extensive research in global mission and intercultural leadership development. Tim’s PhD explored the involvement of Australian local churches in mission. Tim helped design and launch The Bridge mission-focused gap year program, and directed it from 2015-2017.
Jonathan James
Lecturer in Missions; Coordinator of Cross-Cultural Field Education
Jonathan served in East Africa for 13 years, mostly serving as part of a church planting team among an unreached group of cattle-herders.
Dr Ben Powell
The Bridge Director
After 8 years in Anglican parish ministry, Ben with his wife Beth, moved to East Asia for 13 years with a global mission agency, serving on a church planting team among an unreached people group. They served in church planting, mentoring, area and regional leadership, and on the International Leadership Team.
Hefin and Janet Jones
2026 Missionaries in Residence
Every year a missionary on home assignment serves full-time to mentor and guide SMBC students. Hefin and Janet served for 9 years in the Philippines with OMF. Hefin taught at an interdenominational Bible college and Janet served in media and mobilisation.
Matt Vander Heiden
Lecturer in New Testament and Preaching
Matt served in Portugal for 13 years, working at the Portuguese Bible Institute, overseeing the Academic Department and lecturing in Hermeneutics, Preaching, Evangelism and Discipleship.
Anna Brotherson
Lecturer in New Testament Greek
Anna was a missionary for 10 years in Southeast Asia. She led Bible storytelling groups, both with Muslim women in the community and at a Christian shelter for unmarried pregnant women.
Jasmine Lee
Lecturer in Christianity in History and Practical Theology
Jasmine served as a missionary with OMF International in SE Asia and was involved in student (high school and university) and young adults ministries in a large regional town.
Rev Dr Alan Mugridge
Lecturer in New Testament
Alan served with CMS for 7 years, teaching at St Philip’s Theological College, Kongwa, Tanzania.
Ray Notley
Community & Student Care Worker
Ray spent 16 years serving with Pioneers Australia, helping mobilise, mentor and prepare people to share the gospel to unreached people throughout the world.
Student Care Worker
Community & Student Care Worker
Sarah* served for 13 years in the Middle East with Interserve, and 10 years in Australia as a gospel worker alongside Arabic speaking communities.
*Pseudonym
Dave Adams
Student Services Team Leader, Course Advisor
Dave served with OMF for 3 years in Thailand working among urban poor communities through gospel witness, practical care, and church planting. He also served for 2 years in OMF homeside administration.
Maria Custodio
Course Advisor
Maria was a missionary in South East Asia for 11 years where she specialised in spreading the gospel through indigenous music and the arts.
Phil Thomson
Technology Support Officer
Phil served in Central Asia for 6.5 years with OM. He worked with a Business as Mission ministry and served in a local church.
Karen Moller
Engagement Team
Karen served in the Middle East for 3 years with Pioneers, working with media ministry creating resources for the Arabic-speaking world.