SMBC College Mission 2025

College Mission Teams

All full-time students at SMBC (and any part-time students who can) become part of an annual College mission team, led by a lecturer and co-leader. Mission teams travel to different parts of Australia as well as overseas.

Missions within Australia are usually for one week, while overseas missions are usually three weeks in duration. College Mission is an important part of preparation for mission and ministry. It provides opportunities to put classroom learning into practice, to work within a team environment, and to develop spiritual gifts and abilities. After mission, the teams continue to meet regularly during the year as College fellowship groups.

2025 Locations

In 2025, SMBC sent College Mission Teams to:

• Cabramatta Baptist
• MBM Rooty Hill
• All Saints Anew Newcastle
• Orange Evangelical Church
• Northern Beaches Anglicans Woolgoolga,
• Gateway Presbyterian Kyogle
• Temora Presbyterian with Ariah Park Baptist
• Pakuranga Chinese Baptist Auckland New Zealand
• Two South East Asia locations.

Cambodia

Team Leaders – Tim Silberman and Peggy Silberman

9 July

As part of their three week trip to Cambodia, one half of our college mission team had the opportunity to stay with SMBC graduates Kim and Phil. Both are long-term gospel workers in rural Cambodia.

For the past five years, they’ve been living in a remote village where there was no written language or Bible translation. Since then, a small church has formed, a few locals have come to faith, and weekly gatherings have begun! Phil has been recording audio Bible in the local dialect and is now working on creating an alphabet so the Bible can one day be translated in writing.

Please pray for perseverance, fruitfulness, and for God to raise up a Cambodian pastor for the church. Pray also for the college mission team as they travel on to another remote location.

10 July

The other half of the SMBC college mission team in Cambodia are in a different location with local missionaries learning about their outreach opportunities to unreached people groups in remote villages.

They stayed overnight in one of these villages with a local believer – the only believer in the village. They prepared and shared a local meal together, heard her testimony and prayed together – what a joy and privilege! They also enjoyed attending a local house church service along with two kids’ programs.

Coming up is more time with local missionaries, visits to some historic sights and temples, and more Khmer language classes. Please pray for N and B as they are the only Christians in their respective villages. Praise God for their testimony and their encouragement to the SMBC team.

South East Asia

Team Leaders – Derek Brotherson and Anna Brotherson

31 March

Please pray:

• For God to use our experiences, meeting gospel workers as well as non-believing locals, to shape our thinking about how we can best serve in the future.
• For good health, and for logistics to run smoothly.
• That we can encourage the gospel workers we spend time with.
• That we can be good guests on our home stay, showing and telling the gospel as we are able.

14 April

The South East Asia team has had a busy first week meeting new local and international friends serving as pastors, theology teachers, and university students. They’ve visited two local theological colleges and split up to attend four different churches on Sunday.

Seven team members have had the opportunity to share their stories in various settings, and the team have also preached, run English classes, and one member even travelled to observe a medical clinic in another location.

• Praise God for the opportunity to learn what it looks like to serve him in a cross-cultural context.
• Pray for discernment and guidance as the team continues to reflect on each new experience.
• Pray for good health and energy as they leave today for a two-night stay in a local village. It will be a new level of cross-cultural living!

Pakarunga Baptist, Auckland, New Zealand

Team Leaders – Geoff Harper and Katy Davis

31 March

Please pray:

• For safety in travel and for good relationships with billets.
• That God would enable us to communicate well across language and cultural barriers.
• That we might represent the Lord Jesus well in all that we do and say on mission.
• For the community of saints at Pakuranga, that God would continue to extend his kingdom in and through them.

7 April

So far we’ve been involved in three services over the weekend (two Cantonese with Geoff preaching; one English with James Chou preaching), plus kids church, youth ministry, dinner with the young adults, and a late night jam session with the youth!

It’s a quieter day today (Monday). We’ve been hearing from Pastors Albert Tang and William HC about the joys and challenges of ministry at PCBC. There’s also been some time to explore the beautiful Auckland area.

Please pray:

• For good engagement with folks at a community English class we are running on Tuesday morning
• For helpful conversations as we head to Auckland Uni on Wednesday to hear from the TSCF team there
• For good relationships and mutual encouragement with our hosts.

13 April

The team had opportunity to engage in some ‘hobbit ministry’ on Friday! The weekend was filled with evangelism ministries including three church services – Jess preaching in English and translated into Cantonese; James preaching in mandarin; and Albert preaching to the English congregation.

Then final farewells before heading to the airport. Please pray for safe travel home to Australia and for the ongoing work of the gospel in Pakuranga.

Orange Evangelical

Team Leaders – Alan Thompson and Alayne Thompson

31 March

Please pray that:

• We would be an encouragement to the staff team and the church at Orange, and to each other.
• Our time with the various growth groups would be a blessing to those there.
• The kids’ talks and sermons would be faithful and engaging.
• Our school assemblies would go well and that the kids would grasp the message about Jesus.
• The input from the staff team would bring helpful insights for ministry life.

10 April

Our team had the opportunity to be interviewed across the four different church services on Sunday, sharing about our journeys into ministry and also people who have had a significant impact on our faith. The team also gave a kids talk at three of these services, The church has been walking with Jesus through the Gospel of Luke and on Sunday encountered God’s divine confirmation that Jesus is His Son at the Transfiguration.

We had the opportunity to help out at PlayPals – a kids’ play group that runs at the same time as the women’s growth groups to free up young mums to spend time in God’s word. It was encouraging to see the young kids engage in the Easter Bible story and to have a hand in shaping their understanding of Jesus’ saving work on the cross!

We did a MAP (ministry apprentice program) info night on Tuesday night. Ben did a talk on 2 Chronicles 17 to challenge people to think about where their hearts are. There were eight people and we had some good conversations with people as they consider what it might mean to do an apprenticeship. Pray for them to take next steps. Pray for current apprentices Lauren and Tim.

Some of our team were involved in running SRE Easter assemblies in local public schools. We had fun sharing that Jesus is the Greatest Super Hero of all time with students from K-6. We also had a great time joining in and learning about the ministry of Jesus Club. Jesus Club is disability ministry for adults with intellectual disabilities. We sang together, had a bible talk, completed a craft activity and shared supper together.

Give thanks to God for the above! Please continue to pray for the remainder of our week:

• Some of our team will be sharing again at SRE assemblies.
• Mark will be giving a talk at the Adrenalites kids club on Thursday evening, and others from the team will be serving with them.
• We have the opportunity to engage with community families through the Ragamuffins play group.
• Some team members will be conducting a Youth group leader training event
• Kirsten will be giving a Kids talk at church on Sunday
• Ben will be preaching on Sunday on Luke 9:37-50.

Temora Presbyterian and Ariah Park Baptist

Team Leaders – Anthony Brammall and Chris Kotsaris

31 March

• Give thanks for God’s provision of an alternative destination at late notice.
• Pray for our three SRE assemblies – good planning, lively engagement with kids and fruitful outcomes.
• Men’s meal event and women’s craft event – pray for our students speaking and demonstrating, and good conversations.

9 April

The  team have been busy getting into country life and ministries. Over the weekend, we visited both the Temora Presbyterian and Ariah Park Baptist churches – sharing testimonies and giving talks at services, running youth group and participating in the women’s Bible study. On Monday we ran a women’s basketry event – learning to weave with a gospel talk about how God weaves love into our lives.

We’ve also been hearing from SMBC grads – Derek and Anna at Temora, Anthony and Tamara at Ariah Park – and the joys and challenges of living and pastoring in rural towns. For the rest of the week we will be participating in a nursing home service, playgroup, farm visits, SRE and kids club.

Please pray for:

• Good engagement with the community
• For students to have open hearts and understand country ministry better
• Pray that the team might be encouraged by locals and be an encouragement to locals.

15 April

The Temora and Ariah Park team ended the week with the men’s trivia event and sharing, nursing home visits, SRE, chatting to the mayor and the Easter bush dance.

It has been a blessing to get a glimpse of how God has been working in Temora and Ariah Park and hearing how the gospel continues to be faithfully proclaimed. We pray that our time has been an encouragement for our brothers and sisters in the country and pray that God will continue to work to grow the church.

All Saints Anew, Newcastle

Team Leaders – Ed Grudier and Laura Tharion

31 March

Please pray for:

• The church Anew that they’d be growing in unity and love for and faithfulness to God.
• Our host families that we’d be mutually encouraging.
• Those who will be giving talks or testimonies, that God would help them in their preparation and delivery.
• The SRE, Bible studies, crèche, kids’ church, youth, men’s and women’s events we’ll be joining in on, that our presence would be used by the Spirit.
• The kids’ outreach event on Wednesday we’ll be running that God would use it to reach locals in Newcastle.
• Wisdom for Ed as he leads the group.
• That we’ll all grow in godliness through this process.

9 April

We’ve been involved with three services over the weekend; Rachel and Bri were interviewed at the 8am and 5pm services and Jesse gave his testimony at the 10am service. We’ve been involved with kids church, youth ministry, SRE, as well as a Seniors Growth Group where Sarah gave the message, Ben gave a testimony and Rachel, Epi and Fleur taught a song. As well as doorknocking for the upcoming Easter services, we’ve had many good conversations and have been witnessing the mixed emotions of a church planning to divide in order to multiply.

Please pray:

• For energy as multiple team members are involved in multiple activities
• For those preparing sermons and talks, that the Holy Spirit would minister our words to the people who hear them
• For us to be an encouragement to our billets, the staff team as well as the wider church in their time of transition.

Gateway Presbyterian, Kyogle

Team Leaders – Matt Vander Heiden and Kiri Vander Heiden

31 March

• Thank God for the opportunity to see him at work in a new context.
• Pray that the team would be an encouragement to the church, and their billets in particular.
• Pray that God would use our time away to shape us, and also as part of his preparation for future service of him.
• Thank God for the opportunity to spend this unique time together as a team, and that God would use it to deepen our relationships with each other.

9 April

After a scenic drive up, mission started with a BBQ dinner on Saturday night, where we got to meet our billets and some of the church leadership. The next morning, we got to meet the rest of the church, as we participated in the morning service and had lunch with the church family afterwards.

Monday was spent hearing words of wisdom from some of those involved in gospel ministry in Kyogle. First, we met with a local Aboriginal elder, who has a heart to see the gospel impact his community more deeply. After lunch we heard from Luke (the pastor of the church) and his wife Adela about their experience in country ministry. Some great insights were given, as the students look to pursue gospel ministry post-college. Tuesday we had the opportunity to share at the local nursing home, and do a letter box drop letting people know about the upcoming Easter services.

Prayer points:

• Praise God for the encouraging start to mission, including the opportunities we’re had so far to share the gospel.
• Pray that we’d be an encouragement to those at Gateway Presbyterian during the week, and also to the other churches in the Northern Rivers that we’ll be visiting on Wednesday.
• Praise God for the opportunity the team has had to get to know each other better. Pray that times of rich fellowship would continue throughout the week.
• Pray for two SRE opportunities we have on Friday – an Easter Assembly at a near-by primary school, and a Scripture class to high school students.

MBM Rooty Hill

Team Leaders – Kristen Young and Kirk Patston

8 April

Our team has had a full and joyful start at MBM! Over the weekend, we visited three congregations—sharing devotions, testimonies, Q&A with youth, and taking part in interviews during the main services.

Monday gave us a behind-the-scenes look at ministry life through staff and pastors meetings. Our active schedule for the week ahead includes several Scripture classes in local schools, Ladies Connect, outreach ministry including ESL classes and a ukulele club. On Tuesday we also have a church planting excursion to MBM Mt Druitt with our brothers and sisters from Moore College. We’ll finish the week helping run a big kids’ sleepover full of fun and gospel conversations.

Please pray:

• For smooth prep and stamina for the kids’ sleepover
• For courage and clarity during walk-up evangelism in Parramatta (Friday)
• For wisdom and humility as we visit a Hindu temple and engage with MBM’s unique multicultural regional context
• For our teammate, who has been unwell and unable to join us
• For sustained energy and curiosity as we listen to God’s work in the lives of others.

Cabramatta Baptist

Team Leaders – Janson Condren and Carolyn Woods

31 March

Please pray for us at Cabramatta Baptist that God would prepare our hearts for loving people, especially those from very diverse cultural backgrounds. Pray that God would both use us powerfully and shape us in significant ways during the week. Pray for those preaching (in a least one instance through a translator) as well as others doing talks, Bible studies, and giving testimonies. Pray for the ability to be both simple and relevant. And pray for those organising and running kids and youth ministry events. Thanks!

Personalised Mission

Team Leaders – Karl Deenick and Amy Townsend

31 March

Please pray for those students doing a “choose your own adventure” mission. This year we have a couple heading for an exploratory trip to Japan, someone exploring various types of chaplaincy, and another engaging in cross-cultural mission opportunities here in Sydney. Give thanks for the organisations that are creating space for the students to explore these areas of ministry. Pray that the missions would be fruitful opportunities to serve God and others, that even in such a short time they would bear fruit for eternity, that the students would grow theologically, spiritually and practically, and that the missions would bring the students clarity on where God might want them to serve in the future.