Growing up, Josh Haynes recounts that he saw God not as a figure of love, but one of fear. “A lot of my responses as a kid were fear based, trying to avoid punishment,” Josh reflects. But that changed into an understanding of God’s love when he went to university to study physiotherapy. Josh became involved with the Christian group, and began to understand God’s grace. Particularly, he understood that Jesus’ death was the ultimate display of God’s love. This reorientated Josh’s life and faith to one based around thankfulness, not fear.
During one Christian conference he attended while at uni, Josh heard a preacher emphasising that being a Christian meant your whole life being lived for God. “I thought, maybe I don’t need to do physio for the rest of my life. Maybe I could do something else that might be more beneficial for the gospel and the kingdom.”
Josh spent three years working as a physio after graduating, before returning to university, this time as a ministry apprentice with AFES. For Josh, this experience confirmed his desire to work in ministry, and so he thought seriously about theological study. His trainer at AFES also happened to lecture part-time at Trinity Theological College, so Josh was confident about his choice to study there. “It seemed like a really solid Bible teaching college that set people up well for ministry life,” Josh explains.
Josh initially found the transition to full-time theological study quite challenging, saying “I went from meeting with young Christians at uni every day, to sitting in a classroom or at a desk reading a heavy theological book.” But the change in pace to slow down and think carefully about things is one of the ways God has been growing Josh through this experience. “I tend to be very outcome focused. But here it is a long term goal of being equipped for ministry. Slowing down is good for me if it means that I can serve him longer term.”
The balance between robust intellectual studies and keeping Jesus and the gospel the main thing is one Josh has been thankful for at Trinity, describing the units as “doggedly gospel focused.” Another highlight has been studying the Old Testament in depth for the first time, and getting a solid grasp on how books like Isaiah fit into the grand story of God’s redemption of his people. Josh also explains how clear teaching has made the Old Testament even more compelling, saying, “There was never a lecture where you go away thinking I’m unsure of what I have been taught. There’s always verses that aren’t easy to understand, but the direction of where we were going in class was always clear. I think David Kummerow does an especially good job at the end of each lecture relating it to the Bible story as a whole.”
During hard seasons of life, Josh and his wife Sharon found the Trinity community a source of comfort and support. When they welcomed their first baby, the adjustment was more difficult than anticipated. Josh is grateful for the kindness of the staff, and their willingness to help by giving extensions as needed. Josh values that Trinity cares about him not just as a student, but as a person, and cares for his family as well. “It’s not really just about one assignment, it’s that they want you and your family to thrive in ministry.”
Josh now works one day a week at his church, to widen his ministry experience and help him decide if church-based or university campus based ministry is where he might head next after College. He asks for prayer for endurance in his studies, and that his time at Trinity will equip him for serving God long into the future.
Overall, Josh is thankful for an increased confidence that God is in control. “I in myself am ultimately inadequate to change people’s hearts and minds. And that’s actually comforting when I am struggling to understand difficult concepts. I can still be confident that God is going to work through my imperfect service to change people.”
