Joshua Downs was born in Perth but moved to Taree with his mum as a young child. His story is a powerful reminder that faith isn’t about earning God’s approval, but receiving His grace. After drifting away in his teenage years and facing significant life challenges, he came to a life-changing understanding of the gospel that reshaped his direction and purpose. Today, as a husband, father of four, and now studying his Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology at VBC, Joshua is continuing to grow in faith and serve others in his church and community.

As of this year, the Great Southern Training Hub, in Western Australia, now runs its vocational programs in partnership with VBC, with VBC serving as the Registered Training Organisation. This allows Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications in Christian Ministry and Theology to be nationally accredited while delivered through local churches. Damon shares that he’s expectant and excited for “training and equipping more of God's people for ministry and raising up labourers for the harvest.”

Ryan grew up in Launceston and moved to Devonport at 18. Although raised in a Christian family, faith stayed in the background for many years until a camping trip with friends became a turning point, leading him to fully commit his life to Jesus. A diesel mechanic by trade, Ryan now serves in pastoral ministry, and is beginning his Advanced Diploma with VBC this year as he continues preparing for ordination.

Elizabeth Burns joined our VBC team in November last year as a Compliance and Administration Officer. Her role will focus on ensuring VBC’s documentation remains fully compliant with the VET system, as well as preparing for audits, and supporting trainers. Read her story below, and be encouraged by her faithfulness. We are grateful to have her on our team!

As the year draws to a close, we thought we’d ask a bunch of trainees to share their thoughts on their training with VBC in 2025. We hope you are as encouraged as we have been to read these testimonials.

Cory Crook grew up in a small village not far from Tamworth. He was introduced to the reality of God from a young age, but as he entered his teenage years, life took a different turn.  After many years of his world being dominated by alcohol, drugs, and the distractions of the world, by God’s grace, Cory was delivered from his addictions, and this year he commenced training at VBC.

You could say Kyle Moore’s path to ministry wasn't exactly textbook. He went to church as a kid until he was eight, but then life got pretty rough. Kyle's now the youth minister and worship coordinator at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Port Macquarie.

At just 19 years old, Crystal Azocar has already experienced what many others discover much later in life: a conviction to serve Jesus in vocational ministry. Currently training through VBC’s Certificate IV in Ministry and Theology, this young woman from Western Sydney is being equipped not just with biblical knowledge, but with practical ministry skills that are already making an impact.

After two decades in the metal trades, Luke Davies knows the value of hard work and hands-on learning. But last year, he sensed that it was time to invest that same energy into his faith.

Mario picked up a dusty old school Bible during lockdown—and everything changed. Choosing Jesus cost him deeply, but he wouldn’t turn back. Now, he’s training with VBC to serve others with the same hope.

18-year-old Bethany Davey has chosen to intentionally invest in her faith during the year before she moves away from home for university. For her, that looks like a gap year through her church in Goulburn—part of which includes training through VBC.

It’s been more than 12 months since VBC graduate John Delezio planted a church in Warilla North, so we sat down with him to find out how it’s going.

Dan Macomish juggles two roles each week: one as an electrician, and the other as a youth pastor. This year, he’s added training through VBC to the mix—so we had a chat with Dan to find out more about him.

Vocational Bible College has welcomed a bunch of new students this year. So what sorts of people have started training in 2025? Meet Mandy Wu.

Matthew Grant lives in Wollongong with his wife Sarah and their three young kids, and he’s delighted to come on board as a Trainer with VBC in 2025.

For Hamish Liney, it wasn’t until he joined a Beach Mission that he was confronted by the number of people who had never heard of Jesus. He’s been on a journey ever since, and this year he’ll start the next chapter: a ministry apprenticeship with his church, which includes training through VBC.

As the year draws to a close, we thought we’d ask a bunch of trainees to share their thoughts on their training with VBC in 2024. We hope you are as encouraged as we have been to read these testimonials.

Suellen Milham is on staff at Orange Evangelical Church. As part of her role, Suellen has the joy of mentoring women undertaking an apprenticeship. Her current apprentice, Tabatha, is training part-time with VBC.

Greg Brooks teaches Scripture in three high schools, and he’s also studying part-time at VBC. He really enjoys both the teaching and the training!

David Shekede is not one to shy away from a challenge. Vocational Bible College has tasked him with recruiting 10 students so that he can begin working as a Migrant Trainer in 2025. Instead of 10, however, David has set his own challenge: he wants to find 20 students.