Shaped by grace: Tyler’s journey from school teaching to Bible teaching

For Tyler, the most fundamental truth about himself is simple: “I’m a sinner saved by grace,” he says, reflecting on the path that led him to ministry. That grace, he explains, was modelled to him from an early age, first through his parents, then through the church, and ultimately through his studies at Trinity.

But ministry wasn’t always the plan. Tyler initially trained as a primary school teacher, working in Perth and Geraldton. It was only through years of serving in volunteer youth ministry, walking alongside others in their faith, and being encouraged by close friends that he began to sense a deeper calling. “Through those experiences, my eyes were really opened to the joy and necessity of gospel ministry,” he recalls.

Going all in at Trinity

Eventually, Tyler made the bold decision to pursue full-time theological study by enrolling in the Master of Divinity. Unlike some who ease into ministry through apprenticeships or part-time study, he jumped straight into the deep end. “I just decided to go all in,” Tyler explains. “We had known people who had gone through Trinity, and we had enough of a sense of what the College was about—the character of the place. In that respect, there were very few question marks.”

At Trinity, Tyler found more than just theological training; he found a community that would shape him in profound ways. He fondly remembers the friendships forged over chapel services, pastoral care groups, and even table tennis matches. But what stood out most was how Trinity’s teaching wasn’t just academic—it was deeply personal and pastoral.

In particular, one course left a lasting imprint. “In my last year at Trinity, I had the real privilege of doing the Psalms unit with Don West,” Tyler shares. “It came at a time when life and ministry were really pressing in, and in God’s timing, being able to come to the Psalms—just marinating in that part of God’s Word—was such an important, formative time. It reminded me again of how God works through his Word to hold us, to keep us going, and to draw our eyes to Jesus.”

Ministry shaped by the Word

Even after graduating, Trinity continues to shape Tyler’s ministry. “Some of the guys I’m closest to are those I went through Trinity with,” he says. “God has used those friendships to keep encouraging and exhorting me.” And it’s not just his peers—Tyler speaks warmly of the Trinity faculty, who modelled humility and a lifelong commitment to learning. “They don’t see themselves as having arrived. They come alongside us, helping us continue to grow in Christ.”

The impact of Trinity has also carried Tyler into every ministry role he has taken on. At St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Shenton Park, he led the children’s ministry for many years and now shepherds a congregation. In all this, his approach remains the same: “Grounding myself and those I minister to in God’s Word—that our attention might be directed to Jesus, seeing the sufficiency of him for our hearts and our lives.”

Passing it on

Tyler also teaches at Trinity at Night, counting it a great joy and privilege that he gets to pass on some of what he learnt at Trinity himself.

Trinity at Night is designed for all Christians who want to grow in their understanding of the Bible, and provides an opportunity for people to study God’s Word in a structured and accessible way.

“It’s been stretching, but so good for me,” he says. “I love teaching, and it’s such a privilege to help others dig into God’s Word more deeply.” He has seen firsthand how these short evening courses help people—whether they are parents, workers, retirees, or students—grasp the richness of Scripture and apply it to their daily lives.

“It’s amazing to watch people have those ‘aha’ moments—when they see how the Bible fits together, or when they recognize how God’s promises in the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus,” he shares. “Those moments remind me of why teaching God’s Word is such a joy.”

Even though teaching at Trinity at Night is different from pastoring a church, Tyler sees a strong connection between the two. “It’s all about equipping people,” he says. “In the same way I want my church family to be growing in their love for Jesus and confidence in the Bible, I want the same for those who come along to Trinity at Night. If they leave a course feeling more excited about reading the Bible for themselves, then that’s a win.”

So why should someone study at Trinity? Tyler’s answer is clear: “Because in that environment and community, you are going to be so helped—not just in your head knowledge, but in a whole-person appreciation for Jesus Christ. You will be challenged and helped to keep growing in him—not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of the city, the state, and beyond.”