The best years: How Trinity shaped Cohen for effective ministry

Cohen has always been a man of numbers. As a qualified actuary, he thrived in the certainty of mathematics, the logical precision of his field. But his journey led him from numbers to ministry, from consulting rooms to the pulpit, from financial forecasting to shepherding God’s people. And at the heart of that transition was Trinity.

“At first, we were thinking about overseas mission,” Cohen recalled. “We visited Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and we loved it. But every mission organisation we talked to asked the same question: ‘Have you been to Bible college?’”

That question became a turning point. If they were serious about serving in ministry, let alone overseas missions, they needed training. And so, Cohen stepped away from his actuarial career and enrolled at Trinity.

More than expected

Cohen’s initial motivation to study at Trinity was simple, “If I’m going to give three years of my life to studying theology, I want a college where the Bible is going to be faithfully taught.” Trinity met that criterion—but it offered so much more.

“I ended up discovering lecturers with pastoral hearts and a college that was truly gospel-centred,” he said. “I hadn’t really understood what that meant until I got to Trinity, where Christ was just exalted in everything.”

Trinity reshaped the way Cohen saw Scripture. “The gospel was at the centre of everything. It gave me a deeper love for and grasp of the gospel,” he explained. “I also got a grip on the big picture of God’s salvation plan from Genesis through to Revelation. Seeing how everything fits together—how all the promises and patterns in Scripture find their fulfilment in Christ—made the Word come alive in a way I hadn’t experienced before.”

Trinity didn’t just prepare Cohen intellectually; it shaped his heart for ministry.

“It’s helped me to see the grace of God dripping from every page of the Bible and, therefore, to see it even more clearly in my own life and in the lives of people around me,” Cohen said. “I think it’s helped me to love people more—being more gracious, more patient, more compassionate in their struggles.”

A lasting impact

This deepened love for people became crucial when Cohen transitioned into full-time pastoral ministry. After completing his studies, he began serving as an Associate Pastor and eventually took on the Senior Pastor role at Rockingham Church of Christ, located south of Perth.

“Rockingham is a community with a mix of city challenges and a close-knit feel. It used to be a place where people would come to holiday or retire, so there’s still a bit of a community feel,” Cohen said. “That gives more opportunity for conversations, but at the same time, there’s still a hardness towards the gospel in the general community.”

Trinity equipped Cohen for those conversations, whether preaching to a congregation, leading a small group, or sitting one-on-one with someone wrestling with doubt. “It’s given me confidence in handling the Bible faithfully and accurately,” he reflected.

If someone asked Cohen why they should study at Trinity, his response would be simple.

“It was the best three years of my life,” he shared. “It deepened my love for God, strengthened my passion for the gospel, and equipped me for a lifetime of faithful Christian service—loving, serving, and trusting Jesus every step of the way”

Cohen’s journey from an actuary immersed in numbers to a pastor shepherding people is a testament to the life-changing impact of a gospel-centred theological education. At Trinity, God not only sharpened his understanding of Scripture but also shaped him into a minister who reflects Christ’s grace and love in his community.