When Alfindy started her studies at Trinity Theological College, she was looking to find more answers about God, to know more and be able to do more ministry. Instead, she has found a whole new world of questions and things to discover about a God who is bigger and more sovereign than she could have ever imagined.
Growing up in Indonesia, Alfindy’s parents and sister had been baptised in the Catholic Church, and that was Alfindy’s first experience of God and religion. Going to Catholic schools, Alfindy was aware of God and Jesus, but she was worried about her own lack of baptism. But, she says, “God didn’t leave me there in my worry and brought my entire family into Christianity!” Her father started taking them to a Christian church, and this was where Alfindy got baptised.
But, she says, “At that point I was just relieved that I now had a religion without understanding how it should affect my whole life.” It was only when she moved from Indonesia to Perth that Alfindy realised how being a Christian is a big life-changing thing. Through going to university Christian groups and attending church more often, she understood her faith was about a life surrendered to Jesus and his will. It stopped being a separate thing and became a part of her whole life.
Alfindy had come to Australia to study creative writing and film. She followed her older sister, then ended up meeting her now husband and settled further into life in Perth.
While at university, Alfindy heard about Trinity Theological College and became interested in theological study. But the time never felt right. First she wanted to finish her degree and gain some work experience, and then it felt like work was too busy for her to stop. Difficulties around her visa and getting permanent residency also provided a barrier. Her work had a lot of turnover and Alfindy felt she was needed there to keep things going. But the desire to study theology didn’t go away.
“One friend in particular, who was studying at Trinity at the time, said, ‘if you never make the plan for it, it will probably never happen.’ That stuck with me, and I just kept thinking, maybe I should do it. I started praying and talking to my husband, and I mentioned it to my boss so we could find someone else to train up and replace me,” said Alfindy. She was able to leave her job on good terms – her boss was a Christian, so supportive of her plan – and begin studying part time.
One of the biggest things Alfindy has learnt through her studies is just how different the nature of God is from us, particularly through the systemic theology unit. “It just kind of smacked me in the face to know just how big God is and how little we are. It’s helped my humility to marvel at God’s greatness,” Alfindy reflected. She has also been surprised and delighted by how much humility is modelled from the lecturers and encouraged in the students.
Alfindy has learned to surrender more to God by seeing his big picture and how she fits into it. This has also helped her with maintaining a personal relationship with God while studying theology at a deep academic level. It’s important to her to continue to read the Bible for her own edification, and not just for the sake of her studies. “God is sovereign and powerful, but he also cares about all the little things, which is just amazing. He is so powerful and so personal at the same time. But it’s a lifetime learning sort of thing. This is barely the tip of the iceberg.”
To those considering studying at theological college, Alfindy says that your time studying God’s Word will never be wasted. But at the same time, you may leave with more questions than answers. “I know more, but I’m less likely to give a quick opinion, because I understand now that there is more I don’t know.”
Through her studies, and the process of deciding to study, Alfindy has learnt to let go of her plans for everything. “I’ve learned that in the end it never ends up working out the way I thought. It’s God’s plan, not our plan.” With support from staff at Trinity, Alfindy has decided to pursue ministry and is currently considering an apprenticeship in a church setting for more experience and training.
